model multi-annual programme - Έφη Αχτσιόγλου · under the provisions of presidential...

EUROPEAN REFUGEE FUND - MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME 2008-13 - GREECE

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MULTI-ANNUAL PROGRAMME

initial version revised version 2( 11 November 2008) following dialogue with the Commission

version revised for other reasons

MEMBER STATE: GREECE FUND: EUROPEAN REFUGEE FUND RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY: Directorate of Social Perception & Solidarity - Section A, General Directorate of Welfare, Ministry of Health & Social Solidarity Address: 17 Aristotelous Str 101 87 Athens Greece

Head of the Directorate: Mr. Tassopoulos Ioannis

Tel/Fax: + 30.210.5222380

Head of the sector: Ms Charissopoulou Ioanna

Tel: + 30.210.5236184

Fax: + 30.210. 5237948

Contact person: Mr Avranas Ioannis, permanent servant of Social Perception

& Solidarity Directorate

Tel/Fax: +30.210.5237948

E-mail: [email protected]

PERIOD COVERED: 2008-2013


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1. SITUATION IN THE MEMBER STATE

1.1. The national situation and the migratory flows affecting it Greece stands at the external borders of European Union, in the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe. Because of its sensitive geographical position, Greece is a destination for a number of third country nationals intent on seeking international protection either in Greece or in another Member State of the EU, using Greece as a transit station towards their final destination. However from the eleven millions individuals which constitute the population of the country, foreigners exceed the one million.

Therefore there has been a constant increase in the number of asylum seekers over recent years, peaking in 2007, when the number of asylum applications more than doubled in comparison with 2006.

Number of annual asylum applications:

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

3,083 5,499 5,664 8,178 4,469 9,050 12,267 25,113

Of the 25,113 persons who applied for asylum in 2007, 36.41% were from Pakistan, 21.80% were from Iraq, 11.81% were from Bangladesh and 6.20% were from Afghanistan.

Moreover, within the first nine months of 2008, concerning newcomers, whose arrival depends on different grounds such as the political and social situation in the country of origin and generally by all incidents that affect the international scene, the number of asylum applications reached 15.028

Additionally, the number of the third country nationals finally returned to Greece, after illegally crossing the borders with other MS, under the light of 343/2003 Council Directive is considerably high. According to official data, the number of third country nationals’ arrivals, under the 343 directive, increased to 2.616 persons.

Number of annual third country nationals returned to Greece:

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Until September

20 404 350 509 622 711


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The number of persons granted refugee status (as defined in the Geneva Convention) over the last eight years was as follows:

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (until June)

222 147 36 4 11 39 64 140 61

Although the number of persons granted refugee status is still low in absolute terms, as a percentage it has more than doubled year on year. Of the persons granted refugee status, 76.43% were Iraqis, 7.86% were Iranians and 4.29% were Afghans.

In addition, 75 persons were granted leave to remain in Greece in 2007 on humanitarian grounds in accordance with national legislation. By Presidential Decree 96 (FEK 152/30-7-2008), subsidiary forms of protection under Directive 2004/83/ΕC has been transposed into Greek law. The number of persons granted leave to remain are included retroactively under the subsidiary forms of protection provided for in the Directive. Due to the retrospective force (beginning on 10/10/2006) of the Presidential Decree 96 (Art. 38), for the year 2006, 37 persons granted leave to remain in Greece. Finally, concerning 2008 (until September) 15 persons granted leave to remain in Greece.

There has also been an increase in the number of applications made to social services by particularly vulnerable persons, such as persons with disabilities, women with no social support environment, persons with very serious health problems, single-parent families, very large families, pregnant women etc. These were dealt with as a matter of priority.

The Greek government, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs (with which the Ministry of Public Order has now merged), the Ministry of Health & Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, has taken the following measures in cooperation with the UNHCR and non-governmental organisations in terms of the reception, integration and voluntary repatriation of refugees, improving asylum procedures and passing national asylum and immigration laws in keeping with Community legislation:


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Α. ASYLUM PROCEDURES

These are governed by presidential decree 220/13.11.2007 transposing the provisions of Directive 2003/9/ΕC on minimum standards for accepting asylum seekers in the Member States. Under this decree, the authorities responsible for receiving and examining asylum applications notify applicants directly within a fortnight, by sending them an information leaflet in a language they can understand. This leaflet, which is distributed by Hellenic Police Headquarters, describes the examination procedure, the applicant’s rights and obligations (with particular reference to their obligation to cooperate closely and to make themselves available to the competent authorities when their application is examined) and the consequences of failure to honour these obligations. This information leaflet also describes the current reception conditions, including medical and pharmaceutical treatment and the representation in Greece of the UNHCR and other organisations offering assistance and legal support to asylum seekers. If applicants do not understand the languages in which the information leaflet has been published or if they are illiterate, they are advised verbally with the help of an interpreter and a minute of the advice is drafted and stored in the applicant’s file. Asylum seekers’ obligations: Applicants must cooperate with the competent authorities insofar as this obligation is necessary in order to complete the application. More importantly, they must in all cases:

1. Appear before the competent authorities in person without delay or at an appointed time.

2. Hand over the documents in their possession relating to their application, such as their passport.

3. Advise the authorities responsible for receiving and examining their application of their present place of residence if they are staying outside the refugee centre.

4. Cooperate with the competent authorities during any legal investigation in relation to their application.

5. Allow their fingerprints to be taken, if they are above 14 years of age. The fact that applicants have been advised of their above obligations and that documents have been handed over (case 2 above) is confirmed in writing. Official documents: As soon as the results of fingerprinting are available but no later than 3 days after submission of the application, the authority responsible for receiving and examining applications grants asylum seekers a free foreign asylum seeker’s form allowing them to stay in Greece while their application is being considered. This form states if the holder is entitled to circulate freely within all or parts of Greece. The form bears the applicant’s photograph and is valid and renewable for six months at a time,


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pending a final decision on the application. Foreign nationals must hand the form over to the competent authority when served with the final decision on their asylum application; it is then destroyed and its destruction minuted. The foreign national’s family are given similar forms. No such form is granted if the applicant is detained during the examination of applications submitted at borders in accordance with the provisions of presidential decree 61/1999 (Government Gazette 63A). The aforementioned form does not constitute proof of the asylum seeker’s nationality. In serious humanitarian cases requiring the applicant’s presence in another state, the central authority grants a travel document on request, to be submitted to the authorities responsible for receiving and examining applications. Applications for asylum/international protection may have one of the following alternative outcomes:

1. Refugee status is granted in accordance with the Geneva Convention. 2. Humanitarian leave to remain is granted. This status does not at present

mean that some form of subsidiary protection has been granted, as Directive 2004/83/ΕC has not yet been transposed into Greek law. Transposition is expected to be completed this year, with retroactive effect from the date on which the Member States were required to comply with the directive (10.10.2006) and will include all applicants granted humanitarian leave to remain since then.

3. - It is rejected and the applicant is sent official notice of deportation from the country by the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a reasonable period of time for voluntary departure to their country of choice. - An administrative or judicial deportation order is enforced.

Β. HOUSING

At points of entry into Greece, especially in cases of mass arrivals, the state takes action to mobilise and coordinate the local authorities and actively involve local community. The target group is housed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs in temporary structures, pending completion of the formal procedure for submitting an asylum application.

Applicants who have nowhere to live or sufficient resources to cover their housing needs are housed in the refugee centre or elsewhere on request, to be submitted to the authorities responsible for receiving and examining applications.

The central department of the Ministry of Home Affairs advises the Directorate of Social Affairs and Solidarity at the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity of any asylum applications submitted, which then advises it in writing of the housing available for applicants. Applicants are allocated to these centres and premises by the central authority, taking account of the need to keep the applicant’s family together and to keep social services functioning and to maintain harmonious


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relations between applicants and the possibility of moving applicants to their stipulated place of residence.

At present there is the capacity to house approximately 900 persons divided between 7 refugee centres under a programme to house the target group in supervised flats for 4-5 persons and hotels. Housing is funded from national and Community resources.

As part of the effort being made to improve the conditions under which the target group is housed and helped, the Ministry of Health has closed the 130-bed refugee centre in Kokkinopilos (Larissa), the location of which caused numerous difficulties (it was difficult to access due to its altitude, numerous applicants refused to be housed there and those who were housed there were cut off from the job market). The possibility of opening a new refugee centre under the European Refugee Fund is being examined instead.

At this particular moment in time, following the huge increase in the incoming target group in Greece, the occupancy rate of refugee centres is close to 100%. Efforts are being made to reduce the period of time spent in centres, where applicants are staying over 6 months.

C. MEDICAL/PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENT Under the provisions of presidential decree 266/1999 and joint ministerial decision 139491/30.11.06 (Government Gazette 1747Β):

1. recognised political refugees 2. foreign nationals who have applied for refugee status and whose

application is being considered and 3. persons granted residency on humanitarian grounds or a deadline which

has not yet expired, are entitled to free medical/pharmaceutical care and hospital treatment on presentation of their refugee’s identity card or foreign asylum seeker’s form or foreign national’s special humanitarian residency form to National Health Service departments.

Medical/pharmaceutical care includes:

1. Examination in the outpatients’ department of national health hospitals, health centres and regional national health surgeries and laboratory tests.

2. Medication on prescription from a doctor attached to one of the departments referred to in the previous paragraph, certified by the director of the clinic.

3. Hospital treatment, including treatment in a class C bed in a national health hospital.


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In addition to medical/pharmaceutical care and hospital treatment, mine victims are entitled to have artificial limbs fitted, where needed for the purpose of rehabilitation. Furthermore, foreign nationals entering the country who have lost limbs for some other reason are entitled to the same treatment as mine victims.

Under section 23 of legislative decree 3989/59, Greece is obliged to afford refugees legally resident in Greece the same treatment as that afforded to its own citizens in terms of the statutory welfare and assistance provided by the state. Furthermore, under section 71 of law 3386/25.08.2005 (Entry, residence and social integration of third country nationals in Greece, Government Gazette 212A), third country nationals legally resident in Greece are insured with appropriate insurance organisations and have the same insurance rights as Greek nationals.

D. WORK

Under section 10 of presidential decree 220/13.11.2007, asylum seekers have immediate access to the job market, provided that the job market has advertised their specific profession and no interest has been expressed by a Greek national, EU citizen or recognised refugee.

Applicants wishing to work are granted a free work permit which expires thirty days after the expiry date of their forms.

Persons in possession of a temporary work permit who intend to work outside the region in which they are resident must report to the local labour inspectorate, the Hellenic Police and the Human Resource Development Organisation in order to register their new home address and work address. Applicants who start work while staying in a refugee centre must inform the director of the centre. The right to work is not revoked during the examination of any appeal filed by the applicant or until such time as the decision rejecting it is served. Applicants are also entitled to join vocational training programmes run by government or private organisations on the same terms and conditions as Greek citizens. It should, however, be noted that integration into the job market has been especially difficult over recent years due either to the cultural or other peculiarities of refugees/asylum seekers or due to a lack of adequate jobs in keeping with their professional qualifications. Persons in the target group often work as unskilled labourers in casual jobs, mainly in trade and the agricultural economy.


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Ε. EDUCATION

Under section 9 of presidential decree 220/13.11.2007, underage children of asylum seekers and underage asylum seekers are entitled to education under similar conditions as those which apply to Greek citizens, provided that no enforceable removal measure is pending against them or their parents.

They are integrated into the education system within three months of the date of receipt of the application filed by the minor or the parents. This interval may extend to one year if special language tuition is being given in order to facilitate access to the education system. If there are special personal reasons why a minor cannot be enrolled in the education system, suitable measures are taken in accordance with national law.

Under section 72 of law 3386/25.08.2005 (Entry, residence and social integration of third country nationals in Greece, Government Gazette 212A):

1. Third country minors resident in Greece must undergo the same compulsory education as Greek nationals.

2. Third country minors studying at all levels of education have unrestricted access to school or class activities.

3. Similar documentation as that demanded of Greek nationals is required in order to enrol third country minors in state schools. By way of exception, if the documentation is missing, children of third country nationals may be enrolled in state schools provided that:

a. they are under the protection of the Greek government with refugee status or are under the protection of the UNHCR;

b. they come from areas in which there is an abnormal situation;

c. they have applied for asylum;

d. they are third country nationals resident in Greece, even though their legal residence in Greece has not been finalised.

4. The terms and conditions on which primary and secondary school certificates obtained in the country of origin are recognised and converted to grades under the Greek education system and on which pupils from third countries are enrolled in state schools may be stipulated by decision of the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, who may also issue decisions regulating matters such as optional mother tongue and culture lessons under support actions by the ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, where sufficient pupils are interested, and defining the terms of employment and qualifications of the teachers to give lessons in the mother tongue and culture of their country of origin.


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5. Third country nationals who graduate from secondary schools in Greece are entitled to apply for university places on the same terms and conditions as Greek nationals.

Finally, law 2413/1996 makes provision for the founding of cross-cultural schools, which have helped considerably in integrating foreign minors into the Greek community. In order for a school to qualify as a cross-cultural school, the number of repatriated and foreign pupils must account for nearly 45% of the total number. Greece has 13 primary, 9 secondary and 4 sixth-form cross-cultural schools.

1.2. Measures undertaken by the Member State so far Recent developments in asylum and immigration policy have resulted in changes to national legislation on the protection of refugees and asylum seekers in keeping with the new circumstances in Greece and in a new strategy for dealing with the consequences of receiving displaced persons and persons under international protection. The ever-increasing flow of asylum seekers to Greece is resulting in more measures and services in the form of extended and improved programmes, benefits and refugee infrastructures and a policy to deal with immediate requirements during mass arrivals at points of entry into Greece. In order to harmonise with the EU, Greece has strengthened border controls considerably in an effort to combat illegal immigration. Furthermore, Greek immigration laws contain strict preconditions to the granting of entry visas, sanctions and large fines for persons helping and inciting illegal immigration. On the other hand, however, migratory flows often include refugees and sufficient discrimination is not always made between economic migrants and persons in need of international protection.

In order to ensure that persons in need of protection are identified, visits are made to detention centres for foreign nationals (by non-governmental organisations, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity and the UNHCR) and educational seminars organised in cooperation with the police and port authorities have been stepped up. Everyone detained on the grounds of illegal entry or residence is entitled to consult a lawyer and humanitarian organisation and to receive suitable advice.

Greece has been implementing programmes under the European Refugee Fund since 2000 and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Solidarity at the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity has been appointed as the responsible authority for the said programmes.

Cooperation has been developed with a number of organisations offering selected services to the Fund’s target group. The programmes being implemented are funded by the European Commission (75%) and a national contribution (25%) and come


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under action for the Reception, Social Integration and Voluntary Repatriation of foreign asylum seekers or recognised refugees, as applicable. The actions included in these programmes include the administration of reception and temporary accommodation centres, the provision of free legal assistance during administrative and judicial steps taken by asylum seekers, translation services and linguistic assistance for foreigners, encouraging the independence and self-determination of refugees and preventing social exclusion, advisory and psycho-social support, individualised services for vulnerable groups (e.g. torture victims), raising public awareness of matters relating to these specific groups and the smooth return of those who wish to return to their country of origin.

Furthermore, three temporary accommodation centres funded from the national budget (Lavrion, Sperkheida and Anoyeia) implement supplementary actions, such as diagnosing needs and abilities, providing guidance, supporting the psycho-social development of children and adolescents, providing medical services and helping refugees to access the job market. The Anoyeia temporary accommodation centre used solely for unaccompanied foreign asylum seekers has achieved positive results, especially in terms of social integration into the local community. A separate structure to house 30 unaccompanied minors was opened on 24.02.2008 at the government facilities at the Autistic Persons Support Centre in Magnisia, in cooperation with the Greek Red Cross and the 5th Regional Health Service of Thessalia and Sterea Ellada. This new structure is being funded from national resources. Although accommodation centres have had inadequate capacity at times, especially during 2007 (due to the large influx of third country nationals seeking asylum in Greece), there have been no negative effects on housing services for asylum seekers, as the ministry and non-governmental organisations took immediate action and increased appropriations in order to house them in hotels where it was considered necessary. Repatriation only commenced in 2003, as conditions prevented it any earlier. The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity has instructed the International Organisation for Migration to apply the programme in question, the purpose of which is to create the mechanisms and procedures needed for the safe, smooth and dignified assisted return of refugees and rejected asylum seekers who wish to return home. Smooth reintegration in the country of origin is being achieved in cooperation with the Organisation’s local missions implementing social reintegration programmes.

The system of free legal assistance provided for under national legislation has been improved considerably over recent years, with asylum seekers being given the necessary information about the asylum procedure and their rights and obligations. However, the many and unpredictable increased requirements at the points of entry into Greece were not all met by the actions implemented within the framework of


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reception. Several difficulties arose in finding interpreters in languages understood by asylum seekers, especially in the case of rare languages or dialects.

Under a Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity decree, implementation of the following nationally funded programmes was awarded as follows:

• “Reception programme for newly arrived foreign refugees seeking asylum”, which is being implemented by the Hellenic Refugee Council (non-governmental organisation). This programme provides reception facilities for newly arrived foreign asylum seekers, interpreting services, legal assistance for foreign asylum seekers staying in the Lavrion foreign asylum seekers’ temporary centre and housing for asylum seekers in hotels in emergencies when the centres are full.

• “Legal support and information programme for unaccompanied foreign minors in the Patras refugee camp”, which is being implemented by the Hellenic Red Cross. This programme provides legal support and information for unaccompanied foreign minors staying in the refugee camp near Patras. The programme was started following a visit to the camp, during which it became clear that rights and asylum application procedures needed to be explained to the vulnerable group staying there (unaccompanied minors).

• “Health and social support programme for foreign refugees seeking asylum”, which is being implemented by the Disease Prevention Control Centre, in cooperation with the Directorates of Social Affairs & Solidarity and Public Health & Hygiene of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, at foreign refugee asylum seekers’ camps. This programme involves mobile units visiting the Attica Aliens’ Department and the centres offering temporary accommodation to foreign asylum seekers in order to examine, vaccinate, check and evaluate their state of health, focusing on epidemically infectious diseases.

• “Lavrion Cross-Cultural Centre”, a new advisory structure offering psycho-social support and job advice to asylum seekers staying at the Lavrion foreign asylum seekers’ temporary accommodation centre or in the area of Eastern Attica as a whole. The centre aims to support asylum seekers’ social and professional skills, suitably designed to correspond to their particular needs and characteristics.

During the implementation of European Refugee Fund programmes, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity has participated as a partner in “Community actions” 2005, viz.:

1. Italian International Organisation for Migration proposal entitled “Local Communities and Refugees: Fostering social integration”.

2. Hellenic Refugee Council proposal entitled “Identifying and promoting good practices for unaccompanied minors in the EU asylum legislation”. The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity covered the cost of national participation (EUR 10,000.00). The implementation of this proposal includes a seminar to be held in Greece this year entitled “Unaccompanied minors: best practices for applying European legislation”, at which policy matters relating to unaccompanied


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minors will be discussed in accordance with the harmonisation of national laws of the Member states with the provisions of Community directives and their application.

In addition, since 2002:

Α. The first part of the legal framework for combating human trafficking was created by revising the relevant sections of the Penal Code and specifically addressing smuggling (law 3064/2002 on combating human trafficking, crimes against sexual freedom, child pornography and sexual exploitation in general and assistance for the victims of such crimes). Presidential decree 233/2003 was issued and entered into force pursuant to the above law, defining the protection and assistance provided for the victims of the crimes referred to in sections 323, 323Α, 349, 351 and 351Α of the Penal Code in accordance with section 12 of the above law.

The main state agency responsible for providing assistance and accommodation to the victims of illegal trafficking and smuggling for the purpose of sexual exploitation is the NATIONAL SOCIAL SOLIDARITY CENTRE (E.K.K.A.), a public corporation supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social solidarity which is the main coordinating agency for the network of social solidarity and welfare information services:

− the E.K.K.A. was instructed under joint ministerial decision no. Π2α/Γ.Π.οικ.110026/13.12.2004 by the Deputy Ministers of Economy and Finance, Foreign Affairs and Health & Social Solidarity to open hostels to provide temporary accommodation for the victims of trafficking (one in Athens and one in Thessaloniki). These short-stay hostels offer temporary accommodation (housing, food, psychological support, medical/pharmaceutical care) to the victims of human trafficking and smuggling;

− there is a social assistance hotline (197 or 210197 for areas outside Athens) for reporting trafficking and smuggling, which offers advice and psychological support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and refers victims both to the relevant departments of the Ε.Κ.Κ.Α. and to other organisations for action;

− the E.K.K.A. Reception, temporary accommodation and local intervention department (which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) provides accommodation in highly critical cases pending completion of the procedures to deal with the problem, such as collating personal information, medical examinations etc. A specialist team travels by car in order to intervene locally wherever accusations are made.

In addition to the above, the Ε.Κ.Κ.Α. cooperates with all the agencies involved, such as the police, the public prosecutor and non-governmental organisations with which programme contracts have been signed to operate hostels offering temporary accommodation (“Hamoyelo tou Paidiou”, International Family Support Company). A programme contract (16.02.2007 to 16.02.2009) has been signed with the non-governmental organisation ARSIS to operate a hostel offering accommodation to


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abused, neglected children and adolescents and to the victims of trafficking on the E.K.K.A. premises in Oraiokastro (Thessaloniki).

Victims of trafficking and smuggling reach the Ε.Κ.Κ.Α. either via the hotline or social support centres or are referred by the police (Anti-trafficking department), the public prosecutor or the non-governmental organisations involved.

Finally, sections 46-52 of law 3386/2005 (Government Gazette 212A) on the entry, residence and social integration of third country nationals in Greece clearly defines a victim of human trafficking and regulates the overall matter of protection and assistance for victims of human trafficking.

The special committee set up at secretariat general level was upgraded in May 2006 by the Minister of Justice and a special legislative committee broadened its powers so that it can also submit legal proposals or other measures to combat human trafficking.

Β. Law 2999/2002 was passed ratifying the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The Ottawa Convention entered into force for Greece on 1 March 2004 and requires Greece to provide care and treatment, fit artificial limbs etc. to mine victims. The hospitals to which such cases are transferred provide care and fit artificial limbs where necessary. Foreigners missing limbs for other reasons on illegal entry into Greece are given the same treatment as mine victims for humanitarian reasons. On completion of their initial treatment and care, patients follow the asylum procedure provided for under the relevant legislation.

ΜEASURE 3.1 OF THE HEALTH/WELFARE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME 2000-2006 :

“ACTIONS TO SUPPORT PERSONS AT RISK OF OR SUFFERING EXCLUSION FROM THE JOB MARKET

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ACTIONS BY THE NETWORK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES AT LOCAL

LEVEL”

Measure 3.1 of the Health/Welfare Operational Programme under the 3rd Community Support Framework (2000-2006) is designed to develop local primary social care services. This measure relates directly to the new social services network which has already been applied in 140 municipal offices throughout the country providing support services designed to combat poverty and social exclusion.

The network’s basic objectives are to provide specialist primary social support services based on an individualised approach and on referring the persons served to job-seeking services. The measure therefore aims to make a substantial contribution towards the coordinated action already being developed at national level to achieve an integrated approach to the socio-economic (re)integration of persons at risk of or suffering exclusion from the job market. The main objective in this direction is integrated and systematic intervention in order to prevent and address social needs,


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strengthen job opportunities and provide specialised services targeted at persons having difficulty integrating into the job market.

Measure 3.1 therefore aims to support the operation of a new decentralised social services model implemented by action taken by the social services network at local level. The social services network targets vulnerable groups at risk of or suffering exclusion and persons who have no access to services and are unable to deal with their problems.

The target group includes asylum seekers and refugees.

Social support services are directed towards the following interventions:

• recording the individual needs of the person to be helped, so that they can be taken into account and used as input when designing the package of actions needed to address their problems;

• referring beneficiaries to departments which run job-seeking programmes; • developing actions for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of beneficiaries,

including once training or other job-seeking programmes have been completed and during the initial period following their integration into the job market.

EQUAL Community Initiative:

The EQUAL Community Initiative is a tool of the European Employment Strategy to investigate new job market policies for the benefit of vulnerable groups of the population. The strategic objective is to identify and promote new employment policies to combat discrimination on the job market.

The initiative has been implemented through development cooperatives (strong and binding agreements between organisations in both the public and private sectors) and transnational cooperation and the active involvement of the implementing organisations and target groups have given rise to best practices which include assisting asylum seekers by supporting their social and professional integration.

The programme was implemented in two cycles (2001-2003 and 2004-2006) under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, with funding from the European Social Fund (75%) and a national contribution (25%).

Equality in health

This programme was implemented under the Community action programme to combat discrimination by the International Organisation for Migration in Greece, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration in Finland and the International Organisation for Migration in Italy. The Ministry of Health and Social


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Solidarity covered the cost of the national contribution (EUR 8,000,00). The objective of the programme was to create an innovative evaluation and control tool to record and evaluate discriminatory practices and attitudes at all levels in the health services.

This involved:

- creating and operating an advisory body/observatory in each country comprising representatives from public departments, non-governmental organisations, agencies, migrant communities and other organisations dealing with socially excluded persons;

- developing a quality tool based on semi-structured questionnaires to be used in interviews with the senior administrative staff of national health hospitals in order to identify possible discriminatory behaviour;

- designing a tool to measure discriminatory behaviour by health workers at individual level;

- developing a tool to identify discriminatory attitudes and practices by health services on a daily basis (outpatients) and access patients’ records.

Join in – Mainstreaming of Equality and Non-Discrimination

The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity participated as a partner in the transnational programme entitled Join in – Mainstreaming of Equality and Non-Discrimination (VS/2004/0066 and VS/2004/0465) co financed by the Commission under the programme of Community action to combat discrimination.

Implementation of the programme commenced on 01.03.2004 (preparatory 6-month phase and two-year implementation phase), with the Provisional State Office of Southern Finland as the lead agency and Greece, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Hungary as transnational partners.

The programme was implemented by the Ε.Κ.Κ.Α. (National Social Solidarity Centre).

The objective of the programme was to create models and methods and transfer expertise in matters of equality and combating discrimination in the health/welfare, education and employment sectors.

Main actions:

- national working parties in each Member State for information, staff training and public awareness-raising;

- development tasks (D/T) to support groups experiencing discrimination;

- capacity-building seminars in each Member State;


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- preparation of educational material on combating discrimination;

- transnational seminars on developing skills for equality and to combat discrimination and evaluate and analyse the results in order to develop models and practices;

- managing committees;

- setting up a website and creating a programme publicity plan;

- creating newsletters and leaflets translated into the languages of each Member State and into English. The target groups of these actions are persons experiencing ethnic, religious, racial or ideological discrimination (gypsies, refugees, asylum seekers, disabled persons etc.).

During the current period:

1. Special accommodation is being arranged for foreign minors under the aegis of the Attica Aliens’ Department. The purpose of these premises is to provide special treatment for this vulnerable group of minors held pending deportation.

2. A three-day seminar on hygiene measures and measures to prevent transmittable diseases, manage health incidents involving persons detained by the police and provide first aid was held by the Attica Aliens’ Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

3. – The programme to create mechanisms for the effective and viable implementation of the readmission agreement between Albania, the European Community and interested third parties (Aeneas Community programme) is being implemented.

- Approval of Greece’s participation in the new series of seminars under INTI programmes

Greece’s involvement in the European INTI programme (leader partner: Ministry of Population and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Estonia) was approved in 2007.

Greece is to organise a technical seminar in March 2008 on the awareness of civil society and empowerment of migrants.

In organizing this seminar, Greece will highlight the methods and actions which need to be introduced by the Member States in order, firstly, to increase the awareness of the host community and maximise its tolerance of diversity and, secondly, to empower third country nationals so that they can communicate satisfactorily with


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their fellow men, develop a high level of understanding of the habits and customs of the host community and make an active contribution towards the cohesion and prosperity of the multicultural community into which they have been received.

1.3. The total national resources allocated The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity allocated the following amounts from the national budget in previous years for receiving, accommodating, providing social support to and arranging the voluntary return of asylum seekers and refugees:

The above amounts do not include the cost of medical/pharmaceutical care or vocational training, as no separate statistics are kept for refugees and asylum seekers.

Greece has funded the implementation of the European Refugee Fund programme with the following national resources since 2000 (NB: programmes up to and including the European Refugee Fund 2004 have been closed):

FIN. YEAR

AMOUNT APPROVED BY

EU (75%)

FINAL EU CONTRIBUTION

NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION

APPROVED (25%)

FINAL NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION

TAKE-UP

RATE

2000 652,057.17 644,094.07 217,352.39 214,698.02 98.78%

2001 629,043.03 605,274.43 209,681.01 201,758.14 96.22%

2002 535,611.36 519,198.25 178,537.12 173,066.08 96.94%

2003 439,481.17 416,622.57 146,493.92 138,874.38 94.80%

2004 459,296.30 442,891.66 153,098.77 147,630.56 96.43%

2005 738,841.43 246,280.48

2006 816,091.64 272,030.55

2007 1,283,253.07 427,751.02

TOTAL 5,553,675.17 1,851,225.26 876,027.18

YEAR Funding from national budget – Cost of receiving, accommodating, feeding and

providing social support to refugees

2000 EUR 1,065,885.96

2001 EUR 1,459,568.60

2002 EUR 2,102,812.86

2003 EUR 2,111,948.00

2004 EUR 1,813,000.00

2005 EUR 1,974,501.00

2006 EUR 2,165,000.00

2007 EUR 2,265,000.00

TOTAL EUR 14,957,716.42


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Furthermore, the former Ministry of Public Order (now merged with the Ministry of Home Affairs) funded educational seminars from national resources for the staff involved in asylum affairs at the departments in receipt of the majority of applications, in the aim of improving the standard of asylum procedures.

Monitoring and evaluation of asylum policy

UNCHR is the main organisation that monitors and evaluates the asylum policy in Greece, through reports that are not always published in the general public. These reports are the result of cooperation with NGOs and public Authorities involved in the area of asylum policy. Occasionally the UNHCR through newsletters and updated information on its website (www.unhcr.gr) refers to the asylum policy of the country, with remarks, comments and proposals. In addition, meetings are being organised between public Authorities and the UNHCR about the situation of Greece concerning the asylum policy. UNHCR supports relevant educational seminars that are organised in cooperation with the frontier, mainly, regions and the Institute of Training – National Centre of Public Administration.

Indicatively UNHCR has announced its place regarding the asylum policy in Greece on February 2006, providing its opinions and proposals concerning the development and the evaluation of asylum policy. Moreover, on November 2007 UNHCR published a Study of Implementation of the E.E. Qualifications Directive where the research included seven Member States, one of which was Greece. On April of the running year UNHCR published a study concerning the asylum policy for the vulnerable group of unaccompanied minors asylum seekers in Greece.

Finally UNHCR provides educational handbooks regarding asylum the refugees’ protection to all interested organisations.


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2. ANALYSIS OF REQUIREMENTS IN THE MEMBER STATE

2.1. The requirements in the Member State in relation to the baseline situation

RECEPTION

• The huge increase in the number of asylum seekers seeking housing means that new accommodation structures need to be found in order to increase the overall capacity of premises used to receive the target group.

• The provision of legal and linguistic assistance, advice and psychological support services, social assistance and action in general designed to provide a smooth procedure for receiving asylum seekers needs to be continued and expanded.

• The local communities and the staff at local authorities which come into contact with new arrivals need information on the correct way of dealing with the target group.

INTEGRATION

• Continuing provision of advice on matters such as integration into the labour market, housing, means of survival and other ways of improving the smooth and immediate integration of refugees into Greek society.

• Support for actions which help make the target group independent and meet its needs without any contribution from the state.

• Continuing provision of linguistic support/education services and job-seeking actions.

• Support for actions to encourage beneficial contacts and constructive dialogue between the target group and departments of the Greek state.


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IMPROVED CAPACITY TO DEVELOP, MONITOR AND EVALUATE ASYLUM POLICIES

The requirements of Greece under a common European asylum system are as follows:

• Support for actions to promote and strengthen the compilation, use, analysis and dissemination of information and statistics on asylum, reception and integration procedures and on persons entitled to international protection and to develop a system of indicators that will improve Greece’s capacity to monitor and evaluate the asylum system more effectively.

• Support for actions to strengthen the capacity to evaluate asylum applications and evaluate asylum policies.

TRANSFER BETWEEN MEMBER STATES OF PERSONS ENTITLED TO OR WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

• Support for actions to help safeguard the smooth transfer of persons entitled to or who have applied for international protection.


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2.2. Operational objectives designed to meet its requirements

According to the results of the analysis of requirements and in compliance with the general and particular objectives of the European Refugee Fund, the global objective of the multi-annual programme 2008 – 2013 has been defined as follows: “Supporting and encouraging efforts made by the Greek State in receiving, and in bearing the consequences of receiving, refugees and displaced persons”

To achieve the global objective, the following operational objectives have been defined:

Operational objective 1 Improving reception conditions and asylum procedures In line with the Reception Conditions Directive (2003/9/EC), Greece aims at having the necessary resources so as to be able to provide and maintain an adequate standard of accommodation to asylum seekers. Due to the constant tendency of new comers who are seeking asylum in Greece over the last years, the increase of accommodation capacity and of relevant services, such as medical – social assistance, legal assistance and interpreting services, come up to the first needs of the country.

Quantified indications:

a. Increase accommodation capacity: up to 1200 persons: 500 persons will be accommodated in structures co-financed by ERF and the rest 700 persons will be accommodated in structures financed by the State. The accommodation under the ERF co-financing will be achieved through: a. the extension/renovation of existing accommodation structures, and b. new structures obtained either by rental of real estate, in accordance with Annex 11/ chapter II.4.3 of the Implementing Rules for ER, or granted by institutions of the State.

b. Improve facilities in 3 existing Refugee Centres

c. Legal aid provision to 20.000 asylum seeker

d. Provision of medical care to 7.000 persons

e. Social and psychological care provision to 5.000 persons

f. Special support to vulnerable cases for 500 persons

g. Training of involved personnel to 3 entrance points

h. Enhacement of interpretation services to 3 entarance points


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Operational objective 2 Integration of target group’s persons whose stay in Greece is of lasting and stable nature. For the coming six years Greece aims at keeping on facilitating integration while striving to improve and expand related actions, for the benefit of both parties, Greek society and target group, on the cultural, civic, social and economic level. Greece’s strategy to support the integration and interaction of target group aims at providing target group with tools in areas such as education (language training, intercultural activities, enrolling refugees children in schools etc), labour market (promotion, advice services etc), housing (rent subsidy), medical, psychological and social care, in order to improve the smooth and immediate integration into Greek society.


a. Advice support services to 2.000 persons. This number concerns : a. The total number of recognized refugees (from 2000) b. the total number of subsidiary protection beneficiaries (from 2006), c. the expected number of persons referred to in Article 6 of 2007/573/EC Decision, whose stay in Greece will be of a lasting and stable nature.

b. Promotion to the labour market for 500 persons

c. Cultural orientation classes and relevant information to the target group for 100 persons

d. Vocational and other educational training of target group to 500 persons

Operational objective 3 Enhancement of country’s capacity to develop, monitor and evaluate the asylum policy, especially as regards the involvement in practical cooperation of the Member States. In the framework of the ongoing pressure that asylum policy receives due to the continuous increase of the target group over the last years, Greece aims at strengthening and enhancing the capacity to develop, monitor and evaluate the current asylum policy, through actions such as collection, use, analysis and dissemination of information and statistics on asylum, reception and integration procedures, improvement regarding the evaluation of asylum applications and asylum policies and other related actions.


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a. One Conference to be attented by representatives of other MS asylum services

b. Two Indepentent Reports on the operation of the National asylum system

Operational objective 4 Transfer between Member States of persons entitled to or who have applied for international protection Due to the fact that the burden on the country’s financial and human resources highly exceeds the capacity, Greece, putting in practice the principle of burden sharing, aims at making transfer of persons to other EU Member States for better managing its load of asylum seekers, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. Greece will strive to arrive at arrangements with other countries which are capable and willing to receive and integrate these persons. In addition, Greece fully appreciating person’s right to family reunification, in line with the adoption of the Council Directive 2003/86/EC, aims at arranging such cases through intra-community transfer based on family reunification. Quantified indications:

a. Transfer of 400 persons (either asylum seekers or persons enjoying international protection) to another Member State


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3. STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES For the programme period 2008-2013, Greece has decided to include all three

priorities to be supported within the multiannual programme, as stated in the

573/2007/EC Decision of 23 May 2007. Given the pressure on the country in the area

of Priorities 1 & 3, actions under Priority 2 are programmed to be implemented only

for the AP 2009, 2011 & 2012

The particular order of fulfilling operating objectives will be defined by annual programmes identifying the requirements of Greece, according to the progress achieved in previous years and to updated requirements.

In the period 2008-2013, support will be afforded directly or indirectly to all involved areas, i.e. non-profit organisations, non-governmental sector, state administrations, territorial self-administrations (municipal bodies) and university communities.

In the framework of the ERF implementation, the Ministry of Health & Social Solidarity will issue and give wide publicity to calls for proposals for the implementation of actions with respect to the requirements/needs that the State meets annually. Those types of actions will be financed by means of individual projects submitted on the basis of a call for proposal. The Ministry of Health & Social Solidarity will finance up to 25% of project amounts from the national budget as a part of co-financing.

To ensure the complexity and efficiency of the achievement of defined objectives, the contribution of ERF programme is considered to be reinforcing to actions, referring to the target group, which are financed exclusively by the national budget.

For each priority, there have been defined quantifiable indicators, which will be used for monitoring and evaluation of defined objectives. The indicators shall measure the progress achieved by the execution of supported actions within annual programmes. The results and indicators that are not quantifiable will be defined for each year in annual programmes, or will be monitored from a qualitative point of view and evaluated by a short description of the achieved degree of completion of defined objectives.


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3.1. Priority 1 Implementation of the principles and measures set out in the Community acquis in the field of asylum, including those related to integration objectives.

The main objective of this priority is to contribute in ensuring adequate reception conditions, fair asylum procedures and complete and inclusive application of the Geneva Convention for target groups defined by the Fund. Specifically, the drawn actions under this Priority, mainly aim at covering the needs that arise from the Council Directives 2003/9/EC, 2005/85/EC and 2001/55/EC. Due to the fact that Greece is dealing with an increasing number of newcomers, the majority of assistance is needed for the improvement of reception conditions and especially concerning accommodation facilities and legal assistance. Regarding integration, the Greek society, for the benefit of both parties, aims at promoting the self-empowerment of the target group at cultural, civic, social and economic level through relevant actions. Therefore the biggest financial amount is allocated for Priority 1. The methods and means provided for in regulations and directives for the first priority of the strategic guidelines will be supported by the 2008-13 ERF programme, through key actions designed in order to meet Operational Objectives 1 and 2, aiming at improving the way in which Greece deals with the huge increase of asylum seekers. Operational Objective 1: Improving reception conditions and asylum procedures

Key Action 1

Renovating and increasing capacity of accommodation facilities for asylum seekers

Greece’s strategy is to better accommodate the continuously increasing number of newcomers (asylum seekers, vulnerable groups etc) by increasing the number of Reception Centres and consequently increasing the accommodation capacity. This will be achieved through extension and improvement of present facilities, but also through new facilities. By reaching these targets Greece will accomplish a reduction of the strain on the present facilities and the capacity to provide their inhabitants with safer, healthier and more adequate facilities to live.

Targets: Increased accommodation capacity Continually improved facilities in the existing centres

Indicators:

Enhanced distribution of persons in accommodation facilities Continuous provision of adequate living conditions


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Key Action 2

Improve living conditions in existing accommodation centres, focusing on housing unaccompanied children and other vulnerable persons.

Greece fully appreciating human rights for a decent life, aims at improving living conditions in existing accommodation centres regarding unaccompanied children and other vulnerable persons through actions focusing on their specific needs.

Targets:

Improvement of accommodation facilities for vulnerable groups Capacity building to be able to address the special needs of vulnerable

asylum seekers

Indicators:

Enhanced distribution of vulnerable persons in properly set accommodation facilities

Vulnerable asylum-seekers attended since their arrival, or as soon as identified

Vulnerable asylum-seekers have better access to the necessary assistance and services

Key Action 3

Legal advisory services and provision of legal aid to asylum seekers and persons granted international protection

Greece aims at supporting the provision of legal aid, in order to ensure legal protection and advice to asylum seekers, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. Target groups’ rights guarantee remains an objective and therefore there will be a continuation regarding the collaboration with NGOs and international organizations which are active in this field. On their part, authorities will keep on providing free legal assistance at the stage of appealing.

Targets:

Continuation of legal aid provision by NGOs and international Organizations Continuation of free legal aid provision by authorities at the stage of

appealing

Indicators:

Number of asylum seekers that have been supported legally so as to be able to access their rights, including the process of determination of their protection claim

Number of asylum seekers that have been supported legally at the first, second or both stages of the asylum procedure

Number of asylum seekers that have been supported legally at the entrance points


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Key Action 4

Social care and related advisory services, health or psychological care with specific emphasis on the care of vulnerable groups (unaccompanied minors, applicants who have suffered from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, single mothers with children, etc.)

Greece’s strategy remains the provision of basic medical, social or psychological care and more specialized treatment as the needs arise, to all asylum seekers, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and refugees. In addition, actions concerning medical care will include medical examinations in the entrance points in order to anticipate dangerous pestiferous illnesses before the target group's distribution in the Reception Centers in order to address their needs.

Targets:

Continuation of basic medical care provision and more specialised treatment to those in need

Continuation of social and psychological care provision and more specialised treatment to vulnerable cases

To reduce the danger of pestiferous illnesses in the Reception Centres To address special needs for the support of vulnerable cases

Indicators:

Number of group members who benefit from medical services Number of group members who benefit from medical examinations at the

entrance points Number of group members who benefit from psychological services Number of group members who benefit from advisory services Provision of special support to vulnerable cases

Key Action 5 Provision of information for local communities, including increasing awareness and positive influence of the general public opinion and also special training for employees of relevant authorities and local organizations that will come into contact with persons received in the host country. Greece concentrates on a two-way process concerning integration of target group. Apart from attempting to increase understanding and respect by target group concerning protection of the values of the hosting society, Greece aims at addressing host society sensitization activities in order to increase the understanding of the situation of target groups and to counteract racism and xenophobia arising form lack of knowledge. For the achievement of this goal activities such as information campaigns, seminars, publications in press, published booklets will be organized in order to inform society and employees of authorities and services, who in the future may contact with the target group persons. These activities aim at providing


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information about the reasons that cause people to abandon their countries of origin, about cultural, political differences etc.

Targets:

Improved understanding of the situation of target group Fighting discriminations, racism and xenophobia against target group Improve treatment of involved personnel towards target group

Indicators:

Raised awareness of target group persons situation and positive influence of public opinion

Key action 6 Provide effective operation of the asylum procedure in cases of mass-influx of asylum seekers, by the means of developing an action plan for emergency situations, training personnel and improving the collaboration between the involved organizations.

In case of mass influx, it would be necessary to grant temporary protection to a group of people. Therefore, it is necessary for the responsible organisations to obtain information about the MS’s national legal regulation for provision of temporary protection, as well as practical experience in providing protection to groups of people. In addition, responsible organisations will provide employee training in order to react accordingly in the event of a large inflow of asylum seekers, creating spare trained human resources.

Targets:

Availability of response in case of mass influx according to 2001/55/EC Directive

Indicators: Number of persons trained to cope in the action plan, in case of mass influx Number of organizations involved in the action plan for the case of mass

influx

Key action 7 Interpreting & Translation Services in terms of human resources at the asylum authorities, at the entrance points. At the eastern borderline of Greece, which represents the main entrance point of the country, the responsible services of the police authorities, where the applications for asylum are being submitted, should be underpinned by staff. The services most in need of enforcement are the Interpreting/ Translation & Law


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Services of the relevant units at the entrance points of the country. According to the official data of the Ministry of Interior, the great majority of the asylum applications are being submitted in Athens. An essential cause of this centralization is the lack of reliable translators and the shortage concerning the human resources in the services on the border points, where the third-country nationals first arrive. This support is expected to boost the asylum procedure taking place on regional level, decentralize a part of the workload and contribute to the acceleration of the total process. The difficulties faced in the communication with asylum-seekers due to the lack of available professional people knowledgeable of such asylum-seekers’ languages is well known. A pool of professionals, trained also on the cultural and social background and gender balanced in relation to the asylum- seekers’ population is a necessity to reinforce the assessment methodologies and to improve the quality of the procedures for deciding upon applications. Apart from addressing the need for reliable translation/ interpreting services, this would benefit the asylum seekers and also facilitate the work of those working in close contact with them. Targets - Enhancement of the asylum procedure by enforcing the regional reception system - Setting up of a pool of translators/ interpreters - Better communication between the responsible authorities and asylum seekers Indicators: - The total duration of the asylum process - The number of the applications submitted on the border points Operational Objective 2: Integration of target group’s persons whose stay in Greece is of lasting and stable nature. Key Action 1 Advice and assistance in areas such as housing, means of subsistence, integration into the labour market, medical, psychological and social care This action refers to the continuation and expansion of advice support services, through provision of advice in matters which concern each individual of the target group, such as housing, means of subsistence etc. The supporting services will be provided by specialized staff of the NGOs which will be financed for this action. Targets:

Continuation and expansion of advice support services Indicators:

Number of persons who benefit from advice support services, concerning every kind of advice – support individually

Number of persons who found occupation in the labour market and kind of occupation


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Key Action 2 Actions enabling target group to adapt to Greek society in socio-cultural terms Greece aims at providing cultural orientation classes to target group persons in order to facilitate their integration and communication with the host society in general on a day-to day basis. They will be introduced to values and social norms that are necessary for living and managing to integrate in the Greek society

Target:

Cultural orientation classes and relevant information to the target group persons

Indicators:

Number of target group persons benefiting from cultural orientation classes and relevant information

Key action 3 Activities focusing on education, vocational training and language classes and acquisition of skills Greece, in order to facilitate integration of target groups and ease the difficulties in the inter-relation between them and local society aims at providing language – training courses in collaboration with NGOs, while also vocational and educational training .

Targets:

Strengthen the ability of target group persons to access to society’s services Improve level of vocational and other educational training of target group

persons

Indicators:

Increase number of target group persons who benefit from language courses Increase number of target groups persons who benefit from vocational and

other educational training


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3.2. Priority 2 Development of reference tools and evaluation methodologies to assess and improve the quality of procedures for the examination of claims for international protection and to underpin administrative structures in an effort to respond to the challenges brought forward by enhanced practical cooperation with other Member States.

The objectives of the strategy and examples of key actions In line with Priority 2 of the European Refugee Fund, and in view of the continuous increase in the workload, another priority objective for Greece is that of improving the quality of procedures for the examination of claims for international protection by supporting the existing interpreting services as well as law services. Specifically, this strategy can be achieved by targeting areas such as interpreting and translating services, together with secondment of more human resources to handle the increased workload as well as the improvement of the premises and equipment where interviews are held. This capacity-building is envisaged on the human resources level, especially with regard to interpreting, translating & law services; Operational objective 3: Enhancement of country’s capacity to develop, monitor and evaluate the asylum policy, especially as regards the involvement in practical cooperation of the Member States. Key action 1 Retain a specialist organisation to draft independent reports on the operation of the national asylum system, to include proposals on how to make it more effective. The indicators developed to monitor ERF actions will also be used to measure and evaluate the asylum system. In order to get the full picture of the asylum system in the country, without excluding any part of it, and provide the appropriate feedback to the responsible authorities, an independent report system should be established in order to enable the responsible authorities to monitor and evaluate the total aspects of the system. So as to achieve this result, an independent appropriate organization, with relevant experience shall be selected. In the frame of ERFIII, in order to reflect the situation and the progress of the asylum system, the elaboration of an indicators' system is being planned. This attempt aims at enhancing the capacity of the Authorities in monitoring and evaluating the system function, mainly in reception and accommodation terms. The main aspects of these


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actions will be put under supervision, in order to get the full picture of the asylum system and monitor its process through the years. Targets - Setting up of a representative indicator system, in order to monitor the main aspects of the asylum system of the country - Selection of a suitable, experienced organization to assume this responsibility Indicators: - Detection and improvement in any aspects of the asylum system Key action 2 Conference to be attended by representatives of the asylum services of other Member States in order to promote cooperation, identify best practices and exchange expertise relating to the development of an evaluation methodology to improve the standard of procedures. The results of the conference will be summarised in a manual to be prepared and notified to the organisations jointly responsible and the EU. On the halfway of the 6-year period, a conference shall be organized, where representatives from a number of member states shall participate, in order to exchange opinions on several matters in the asylum field. The persons who will take part in the conference will be the ones occupied at the key-points of the relevant services in Greece and the respective services of the guest MS. The experiences shared will give the opportunity to spot good practices on several fields, and search for solutions in problematic situations, encountered in the interior. Moreover, there will be a chance to bring forth matters that puzzle each national asylum system and create a forum to exchange views and promote eventual solutions. The manual which will be prepared after the conference will be notified to the responsible organisations, providing the total information of the meeting and the possible future actions that may be proposed. Targets - Setting up of a conference, in order to exchange views on the main aspects of the asylum system of the country and promote good practices - Selection of a suitable, experienced organization to assume this responsibility Indicators: - Number of MS representatives to take part in the conference - Solutions promoted on specific problems detected in the asylum system


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3.3. Priority 3 Actions helping to enhance responsibility sharing between Member States and third countries. The objectives of the strategy and examples of key actions Greece, due to its sensitive geographical position, comprises one of the first destination countries for newcomers in their attempt to enter in the European territory. This, in combination with the increase of migration flow over the recent years, it has as consequence the huge pressure that is put on the country in order to correspond to the requirements that arise from the community and national legislation.

Having in mind the European policy, that forecasts the solidarity and the promotion of the fair burden sharing between Member States, Greece places as strategic objective the development of a transfer programme, concerning international protection beneficiaries and asylum seekers, to other Member States that meet less pressure.

This transfer programme will be based on the practical cooperation and communication with the Member States that intend to accept in their territory people, at all stages of asylum procedures (asylum seekers, refugees, persons under complementary protection). In addition, target group’s transfer will function reinforcing to the Council Directive 2003/86/EC concerning family reunification, considering the fact that the cases that fall into the above mentioned Directive might be arranged through this transfer programme.

Operational objective 4 Transfer between Member States of persons entitled to or who have applied for international protection Key Action 1: Seeking ways to implement responsibility sharing initiatives in the area of asylum, in particular on matters related to intra-Community transfer of asylum seekers and those enjoying some form of protection. Description of targets concerned and the indicators used: Targets:

Transfer of persons enjoying protection to another Member State, per year, putting into practice the principle of burden-sharing which is especially important in the case of Greece.

Indicators: Increased number of persons transferred to other EUMS per year; Alleviation of the burden posed by the large number of asylum seekers,

beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and refugees in Greece.


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It is intended that Key action 1 indicated under this Priority targets the implementation of specific priority 2, “aimed at transferring asylum-seekers or beneficiaries of international protection from Member States facing particular pressures on their asylum systems”.

4. COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

Most of the actions to be implemented under the European Refugee Fund for 2008-2013 follow on from the European Refugee Fund 2005-2007. With the integration of the Fund into the general programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows, they complement actions to be applied by the Integration, Return and External Borders Funds to form a joint European asylum and migration flow management system.

The preparation of the multiannual programme is the result of the consultation between the Responsible Authority, the UNHCR, the Administrative Authority of the European Social Fund, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Interior.

In addition, concerning the implementation of annual programmes and the proposals submitted in continuity of call for proposals, through an Advisory Committee, consisted for the selection of projects, with representatives from the Ministry of Interior (Responsible Authority of European Integration Fund), the UNHCR, the Administrative Authority of the European Social Fund and as through the participation of the ERF Responsible Authority in the inter ministerial Project Management Teamwork of EIF have rights to evaluate the submitted proposals.

4.1. Priority 1

The actions to be implemented under the first priority are in keeping with and complement the programmes referred to in paragraph 1.2 (The measures undertaken by the Member State so far)

4.2. Priority 2

During the implementation of European Refugee Fund programmes, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity has participated as a partner in the Community Actions 2005, viz.:

1. Proposal by the International Organisation for Migration of Italy entitled “Local Communities and Refugees: Fostering social integration” with partner countries Germany, Italy, Malta and England.

2. Proposal by the Greek Refugee Council entitled “Identifying and promoting good practices for unaccompanied minors in the EU asylum legislation, with partner organisations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Ministry of


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Health and Social Solidarity covered the national contribution of EUR 10,000.00.

The implementation of this proposal includes a seminar to be held in Greece this year entitled “Unaccompanied minors: best practices in the application of European law”, at which policy matters relating to unaccompanied minors will be discussed in accordance with the harmonisation of national laws of the Member States with the provisions of Community directives and their application.

4.3 Priority 3

Regarding the action of asylum seekers transfer between Member States, there is no gained experience by state services or other instruments in the field. It is the first time it‘s being planned for Greece, and the closer relevant activity in the country refers to repatriation missions, implemented through the ERF programmes, during the previous years. Subsequently, this action fills a gap in the current policy, following the progress of the European guidelines and corresponding to the raising needs of the migration flows.


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5. FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY

5.1. The publication of the programme

Actions concerning the visibility of and information about the multiannual programme are scheduled annually by the Responsible Authority. It will provide information about the multi annual programme, annual programmes and about the European Refugee Fund for all expected grant recipients and the general public. This will be accomplished through a website setting up, which will include all the necessary information concerning ERF. More specifically after the approval of each annual programme the Responsible Authority in step with the publication of call for proposals will organise an information activity focused on the presentation of multiannual programme priorities and targets but also on the information for expected final grant recipients concerning the justification conditions for obtaining financing within the frame of the ERF annual programme, the evaluation procedures, the timeframe, grand applications selection, the eligibility etc. This activity will be held before the submission of proposals. The Responsible Authority in the publication for call for proposals will also inform the fixed date of the meeting, which will be organised an interval before the dead-line date proposals submission, in order to ensure that all the interested bodies will be informed before they draw up and submit their application.

After the selection of projects the Responsible Authority will publish in the web site the list of approved projects, the list of grant recipients and the amount of public and Community funding allocated to them.

In addition, the Responsible Authority will ensure the use of EU logo and the indication of ERF funding on all documents relating to the co financed programme.

Finally, the Responsible Authority will support actions of grant recipients to publicise projects through posters, symposia, TV advertisements etc and will hold seminars, working meetings in cooperation with the competent authorities of Integration, Return and External Borders Funds and the UNHCR.

In general, as far as the publication of the programme is concerned, the Responsible Authority will fully respect the articles 31, 32, 33 and 35 of the Implementing Rules for the ERF.


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5.2. The approach chosen to implement the principle of partnership

The principle of partnership has been the primary objective of the Greek state, in compliance with article 11 of the No 573/2007/EC Commission Decision. Both multiannual and annual programmes for the entire financial period (2008-2013) will be implemented at all levels of governance, with the participation of all the jointly competent ministries and organisations supervised by them, the regions, the local authorities and the representatives of civil society and non- governmental organizations active in this sector.

More specifically, in order to achieve this partnership, it has been established a monitoring committee with representatives from the four Funds (European Refugee Fund, European Integration Fund, External Borders Fund, and European Return Fund) regarding the management of the general programme and each programme separately but parallel to each other. In this way a close communication and therefore cooperation is achieved between competent ministries.

The preparation of the multiannual programme is the result of the consultation between the Responsible Authority, the UNHCR, the Administrative Authority of the European Social Fund, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Interior.

In addition, concerning the implementation of annual programmes and the proposals submitted in continuity of call for proposals, through an Advisory Committee, consisted for the selection of projects, with representatives from the Ministry of Interior (Responsible Authority of European Integration Fund), the UNHCR, the Administrative Authority of the European Social Fund and as through the participation of the ERF Responsible Authority in the inter ministerial Project Management Teamwork of EIF have rights to evaluate the submitted proposals.

Finally, the Responsible Authority will organise regular meetings with all co- financed organisations, in the aim of continuing and promoting close cooperation during the ERF application. Additionally, it and supports and encourages actions as well initiatives to promote close cooperation between organisations jointly responsible for reception and integration such as symposia, working meetings, seminars etc.


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6. INDICATIVE FINANCING PLAN

6.1. Community Contribution

6.1.1. Table Multiannual Programme - Draft Financial Plan

Table 1: Community Contribution

Member State: Greece

Fund: European Refugee Fund

(in euros - current prices) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 TOTAL

Priority 1: 1.401.780,36 2.926.548,63 1.300.500,00 1.524.500,00 1.485.000,00 1.880.000,00 10.518.328,99

Priority 2: 0,00 50.000,00 0,00 20.000,00 60.000,00 0,00 130.000,00

Priority 3: 30.000,00 75.000,00 75.000,00 75.000,00 75.000,00 75.000,00 405.000,00

Technical Assistance: 139.500,00 261.939,25 122.500,00 89.500,00 89.000,00 112.000,00 814.439,25

TOTAL

1.571.280,36 3.313.487,88 1.498.000,00 1.709.000,00 1.709.000,00 2.067.000,00 11.867.768,24


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6.1.2. Comments on the figures/trends The above table only shows the Community contribution. The amounts reported for financing each priority and technical assistance will be enhanced by the national contribution and any private funding. The Certifying Authority (C.A.) and the Audit Authority (A.A.), operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy & Finance are common to all four Funds, that is to say the European Integration Fund, the External Borders Fund, the Return Fund and the European Refugee Fund. In accordance with Article 14 of the Implementing Rules, the expenditure on TA concerning CA and AA will allocated between the Funds concerned, on a basis of a simple and apportionment formulae. In any case, the expenditure on TA will not exceed the maximum amount on each annual programme concerned, which complies with Article 16.2 of the Basic Act.


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6.2. Overall financing plan

6.2.1. Table Multiannual Programme - Draft Financial Plan

Table 2: Overall financing plan

Member State: Greece

Fund: European Refugee Fund

(in euros - current prices) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 TOTAL

Community contribution 1.571.280,36 3.313.487,88 1.498.000,00 1.709.000,00 1.709.000,00 2.067.000,00 11.867.768,24

Public co-financing 477.260,12 1.017.182,88 458.500,00 539.833,33 540.000,00 651.666,67 3.684.443,00

Private co-financing - - - - - - -

TOTAL 2.048.540,48 4.330.670,76 1.956.500,00 2.248.833,33 2.249.000,00 2.718.666,67 15.552.211,24

% Community Contribution (including TA) 76,70 76,51 76,56 75,99 75,99 76,03 76,31

6.2.2. Comments on the figures/trends

It is impossible to predict the amount of any private funding and it has therefore not been included in the above table. However, in case of no private co-financing, the 25% of co-financing will be provided by national resources as indicated in the above table.

TASSOPOULOS IOANNIS

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