COUNTRY FACTSHEET: Greece 2015 - European Commission · newspaper Athens Voice published a fourfold...

COUNTRY FACTSHEET: Greece 2015 EUROPEAN MIGRATION NETWORK

1. Introduction

This EMN Country Factsheet provides a factual

overview of the main policy developments in migration

and international protection in Greece during 2015,

including latest statistics.

2. Common European Asylum System

From January 2015 until 4 January 2016, 859,508

third country nationals have entered the Greek

territory and many of them were rescued by the

Hellenic Coast Guard. The report published by the

Asylum Service on 22 June 2015 showed that the

service recorded 20,000 requests for international

protection. While in 2013 and 2014 the main country

of origin was Afghanistan, in 2015 it was Syria.

Another significant change was the increase in the

number of families and unaccompanied minors

seeking asylum. If in 2013 the recognition rate was

15%, by July 2015 the rate reached almost 50% (the

increase was driven mainly by the number of Syrian

refugees).

The procedure for recording incoming populations by

the First Reception Service was simplified in 2015 by

removing some of the questions during the registration

process and the use of the police online system was

improved. The mission of the First Reception Service is

the effective management of mixed migration flows,

with the inclusion of third country nationals who enter

without the legal formalities in the country.

On 1 July 2015 a funding agreement was signed

between the Director of the First Reception Service

and the European Commission to meet the manpower

needed to support the operations of Mobile Units

(located on the Samos and Lesvos islands) and of the

First Reception Centres (located in Fylakio - Evros

region and in Moria - Lesvos island).

In 2015, the Presidential Decree 113/2013 entitled

“Establishing a joint identification process for

foreigners and stateless individuals with refugee status

or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection" was

amended to incorporate the new provisions of the

recast Directive 2013/32/EU on common procedures

for granting and withdrawing international protection.

The publication of the new Presidential Decree draft is

expected within the first months of 2016.

On 27 August 2015 with the publication in the Official

Gazette the Service Management of European

Programmes of Asylum, Reception and

Integration (YDEPAYE) was established via a Joint

Ministerial Decision. The service focuses on first

reception, reception of asylum seekers and

unaccompanied minors and integration of third country

nationals and beneficiaries of international protection

and operates within the wider Asylum, Migration and

Integration Fund (AMIF) of the EU.

To facilitate the implementation of AMIF activities,

Greece created the Executive Structure of National

Strategic Reference Framework on 7 October 2015

to supervise and monitor the policies on Asylum,

Migration, Integration and Internal Security in program

period 2014-2020. The new structure collaborates

closely with the European Commission and issues

recommendations.

On 13 May 2015 an agreement was signed

between EASO and Greece to continue the support

provided to Greece until May 2016. More specifically,

EASO experts will provide special technical and

operational support to Greece for a period of one year.

This includes preparation and training of personnel

working in the First Reception Service and boosting

their capacity.

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In 2015, the First Reception Service has sent five

employees in a study visit to Norway (March), three

experts to Malta (November) as part of EASO activities

and two more employees to Austria (November) and

Belgium (October) to learn more about reception,

refugee camp management, relocation and

resettlement.

According to Council Decisions no. 1523/2015 and

1601/2015, Member States have agreed to

support Greece with the relocation of 66,400

individuals in need of international protection.

However this number is small and until 15 December

2015 only 64 asylum seekers were relocated from

Greece. Furthermore, Norway, Switzerland and Ireland

have not signed the Decisions and Greece is in the

process of signing a bilateral agreement with

them.

In January 2015, the handbook of the Asylum

Service was reprinted (initially released in 2013)

containing basic information for applicants seeking

international protection in Greece.

Within the Dublin procedure, in 2015, Greece

registered 1,073 outgoing requests and 131 incoming

request.

3. Unaccompanied Minors and other Vulnerable Groups

On 24 June 2015 the personnel of the First

Reception Service completed the course entitled

“Training in the Identification and Management of

Cases of Child Trafficking and in the Protection of

Unaccompanied Minors”.

The institutionalised procedures for the age

assessment of minors among the incoming

populations as carried out by the First Reception

Service were updated by a Joint Ministerial Decision on

15 February 2016.

In March 2015, the second edition of the First

Reception Service handbook regarding vulnerable

groups was published. At the same time in December

2015 the second edition of the handbook regarding

determination of age was published with the assistance

of UNHCR.

4. European Policy on Legal migration and Integration

A. PROMOTING LEGAL MIGRATION CHANNELS

In October and November 2015 the Athens radio

station 9.84, the Hellenic Post Office and the

newspaper Athens Voice published a fourfold leaflet

with the slogan “Are you a refugee? All you need to

know” representing a survival manual that was

disseminated to all refugee reception areas. The

manual was published in English-Arabic and English-

Afghan. At the same time the Athens radio station

9.84 broadcasts a daily 15 minutes bulletin in

Arabic every evening at 9 pm (rebroadcasted at 6 am

in the following morning) with news and useful

information about reception centres, new measures as

well as news from other European countries.

In June 2015 a multi-guide for male and female

migrants was published as part of a European

Integration Fund project. The multi-guide aims to be a

functional tool for the daily life of third country

nationals who are living in Greece. The guide was

published in an electronic version in nine languages

(including French, Swahili, Albanian, Russian, Punjabi

and Urdu) and in printed version in two languages

(Greek and English).

B. ECONOMIC MIGRATION

In 2015, Greece adopted a series of ministerial

decisions and a new legislative framework

concerning employment of third country

nationals (TCN) in order to meet domestic labour

needs. Law 4332 from 9 July 2015 established and

amended the provisions of the Migration and Social

Integration Code (Law 4521/2014) to align Greek

legislation with EU Directives dealing with residence,

work permit, worker rights and entry of TCNs for

seasonal work.

Law no. 4332 from August 2015 was incorporated in

national legislation according to Directive 2014/36/EU

on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country

nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal

workers. The law includes a multiple entry visa for

seasonal workers and provides basic rights for third

country nationals such as minimum wage and equal

labour and social security rights to those of

Greek citizens.

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C. FAMILY REUNIFICATION

In 2015, Greece supplemented the principles of

investigation of the criteria of integration for

family members whose reunification is requested by

the sponsor. No further policy developments were

reported under this policy area in 2015.

D. INTEGRATION

Law no. 4332/2015 also incorporated in national

legislation Directive 2011/98/EU guaranteeing the

same rights and treatment (equal to Greek

citizens) to TCNs that have not yet acquired the

status of long-term resident, but they have been

admitted in a Member State in order to work and

reside or they have been admitted for reasons other

than work (e.g. family reunification) and thereafter

they are given access to the labour market of the

Member State in accordance with European and

national provisions.

On 23 April 2015, the Hellenic Centre for Disease

Control and Prevention completed a comprehensive

plan for health coverage and monitoring of incoming

populations in the country.

During 2015, the Migrant Support Centres,

established within the Multiannual Programme 2014-

2020 of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund,

facilitated access of TCNs to public services, provided

counselling (including combating of xenophobia and

racism), supported TCNs to participate in groups and

organisations at local level, provided specialised

guidance and training and helped TCNs cooperate with

other associations of migrants.

E. MANAGING MIGRATION AND MOBILITY1

As of 20 November 2015 the implementation of the

Visa Information System (VIS) by Greece was

completed worldwide and all Greek consulates issue

biometric visas.

Funds were allocated on 5 March 2015 by the

European Commission to develop five mobile units

of asylum that currently operate on the border islands

of Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Kos and Attica. By December

2015 Greek authorities established five first

reception centres and temporary structures of

hospitality and reception for asylum seekers and

vulnerable groups of third countries on the islands

(also known as hotspots).

1 “Managing migration and mobility” refers to the following themes: visa policy, Schengen governance and border monitoring.

The mobile unit’s role is to examine asylum

applications coming from Syrians and other

nationalities via an accelerated procedure. Over 290

Frontex agents have already been deployed in

hotspots and 213 in outside areas.

On 3 December 2015, Greece activated the

mechanism of civil protection of the European

Union in order to receive material support so as to

address the influx of refugees and asylum seekers in

the country. Items such as tents, generators, beds,

sanitary equipment and emergency first aid kits were

requested.

On 6 July 2015 the Regional Asylum Office of

Thessaloniki began its operations. Greece has

committed to increase the reception capacity to

30,000 places for asylum seekers by the end of

2015.

On 14 December 2015, the special team of the

European Commission played a key role to launch the

implementation of the rent subsidy programme of the

UNHCR in Greece, aiming at 20,000 reception

places for asylum seekers in the country.

F. EXTERNAL DIMENSION OF EU MIGRATION POLICY

The National Strategic Reference Framework

(2014-2020) was signed on 23 May 2014, but actions

are being implemented in 2015 and include activities

of social integration of marginalized communities, such

as immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees based on

four pillars: housing, employment, education and

health.

5. Irregular Migration and Return

On 3 December 2015, Frontex concluded an

assistance agreement with Greece and by 28

December Frontex announced the deployment of

293 officers and 15 ships to Greek islands as part

of a new operation entitled “Rapid Intervention

Poseidon”. The total number of participants involved

in the operation so far amounts to 681 officers of

which 224 are Greek. Additional ships, machinery and

other technical equipment will be provided due to the

unprecedented migratory pressure at the external

borders of Greece. Moreover, 46 fingerprint detection

machines have been put into operation, while an

additional 30 will start operating in the future and

immigrant fingerprints will be systematically

recorded in the Eurodac system.

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6. Actions against Trafficking in Human Beings

On 24-25 October 2015, a two-day multi-thematic

conference on human trafficking was organized in

Athens entitled: “Breaking the chain”. The event

informed the public and raised awareness on issues

related to trafficking in human beings.

The First Reception Service published in November

2015 the first edition of the handbook entitled

“Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings”

which will be used by its staff.

STATISTICAL ANNEX

The Statistical Annex provides an overview of the

latest available statistics for Greece on aspects of

migration and asylum (2013-2015), including

residence, asylum, unaccompanied minors, irregular

migration, return and visas. Where statistics are not

yet available, this is indicated in the Annex as “N/A”.

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Statistical Annex: Immigration and Asylum in Greece (2012-2015)

1. COMMON EUROPEAN ASYLUM SYSTEM

Figure 1: Asylum applications as a share of the total population in Greece, EU average and EU high and low (2012-2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 04/07/2016

Figure 2: Number of asylum applications and as a share of the total number of applications in the EU (2012-2015)


Table 1: Asylum applications: Top five third-country nationalities (2012–2015)

2012 2013 2014 2015

Nationality Nr % of total




Pakistan 2,340 24% Pakistan 1,360 17% Afghanistan 1,710 18% Syria 3,500 27%

Bangladesh 1,005 10% Afghanistan 1,225 15% Pakistan 1,620 17% Pakistan 1,825 14%

Georgia 895 9% Bangladesh 730 9% Syria 785 8% Afghanistan 1,725 13%

Afghanistan 585 6% Albania 580 7% Bangladesh 635 7% Albania 1,005 8%

Albania 385 4% Georgia 535 7% Albania 570 6% Bangladesh 740 6%


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Figure 3: Asylum applications: Top five third-country nationalities as a share of EU total per given nationality (2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyappctza), data extracted 04/07/2016 Note: the figure reads as: Greece received 3,500 asylum applications from Syrians or 0.95% of all asylum applications lodged by Syrians in EU in 2015

Table 2: Asylum applications - First instance decisions by outcome (2012-2015)

Total

decisions

Positive

decisions

Of which: Humanitarian

reasons Negative

decisions Refugee

status

Subsidiary

protection

2012 11,195 95 30 45 20 11,095

2013 13,080 500 255 175 70 12,580

2014 13,310 1,970 1,270 590 115 11,335

2015 9,640 4,030 3,665 355 10 5,610

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 04/07/2016.

Figures 4-7: Asylum applications - First instance decisions by outcome (2012-2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 04/07/2016

Figure 8: Negative decision rate for the top five nationalities of applicants at the first instance in comparison with EU for the same given nationality (2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asydcfsta), data extracted 04/07/2016

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Figure 9: Third-country nationals resettled (2012-2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_asyresa), data extracted 04/07/2016

2. UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Figure 10: Unaccompanied minors applying

for asylum (2012-2015) Table 3: Unaccompanied minors (2012-2015)

2012 2013 2014 2015

Unaccompanied

minors (total) NA NA NA NA

Unaccompanied

minor asylum

applicants

185 380 605 8,805

Source: Eurostat Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors by citizenship, age and sex Annual data (rounded) [migr_asyunaa], data extracted 23/07/2015, EMN NCPs

3. EUROPEAN POLICY ON LEGAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION

Figure 11: First residence permits, by reason (2012-2015)

Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst), data extracted 04/07/2016

Table 4: First residence permits: Top five third-country nationalities (2012-2013)

2012 2013 2014 2015

Nationality Number Nationality Number Nationality Number Nationality Number

Albania 9,544 Albania 10,250 Albania 13,100 Albania 26,342

Russia 1,095 Russia 1,311 Russia 1,378 Russia 1,175

Ukraine 742 Ukraine 885 Georgia 1,096 Georgia 1,147

Georgia 676 Georgia 809 Ukraine 836

China

(including

Hong Kong) 925

8

2012 2013 2014 2015

Nationality Number Nationality Number Nationality Number Nationality Number

India 587 Philippines 413

China

(including

Hong Kong) 649 Ukraine 850

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_resfirst), data extracted 04/07/2016

Figure 12: Resident population of third-country nationals as a share of total population in Greece, EU average, EU high and low (2012-2015)

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_pop1ctz), data extracted 04/07/2016

4. IRREGULAR MIGRATION AND RETURN

Table 5: Number of third-country nationals refused entry at external borders (2012-2015)

Third country nationals: 2012 2013 2014 2015

Refused entry at external borders 9,415 6,995 6,445 6,890

Found to be illegally present 72,420 42,615 73,670 911,470

Ordered to leave 84,705 43,150 73,670 104,575

Returned following an order to leave 16,650 25,465 27,055 14,390

Source: Eurostat migration statistics (migr_eirfs)(migr_eipre)(migr_eiord), data extracted 04/07/2016

Table 6: Third-country nationals returned (2012-2015)

Returned as part of forced

return measures

Returned

voluntarily

Returned through an Assisted

Voluntary Return Programme

2012 11,586 10,531 6,324

2013 18,653 NA NA

2014 20,314 7,496 NA

2015 17,097 53 3718

Source: EMN NCPs

5. SECURING EUROPE’S EXTERNAL BORDERS

Table 7: Number of Schengen visas applications (2012–2015)

2012 2013 2014 2015

Uniform visas (short-stay visas) 1,001,341 1,531,384 1,375,287 876,786

Source: DG Migration and Home – Complete statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States

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Figure 13: Uniform visa applications received in Greece as a share of the total number of uniform visa applications in all Schengen states consulates (2012-2015)

Source: DG Migration and Home affairs – Complete statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States

Table 8: Top five countries in which the highest number of visa applications for Greece was lodged

2012 2013 2014 2015

Country Number Country Number Country Number Country Number

Russia 657,199 Russia 1,030,830 Russia 853,537 Russia 421,940

Ukraine 129,854 Ukraine 203,098 Turkey 147,468 Turkey 145,878

Turkey 92,992 Turkey 131,598 Ukraine 145,621 China 82,401

China 23,293 China 36,567 China 65,138 Ukraine 53,679

Lebanon 8,573 Lebanon 12,710 India 18,816 India 22,454

Source: DG Migration and Home affairs

6. ASYLUM AND MIGRATION EU FUNDING SOURCES (2007-2013 AND 2014-2020)

Table 9: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) allocation in

euro per area

Areas AMIF 2014-2020 Asylum 99,214,500

Legal Migration and Integration 32,324,440

Return 122,559,936

Technical Assistance 5,250,000

Special cases (resettlement/transfer) NA

TOTAL 259,348,877


Table 10: Internal Security Fund (ISF) allocation in euro per area

Areas ISF 2014-2020 ISF Borders 166,814,388

ISF SA Frontex 27,540,000

ISF SA Consular cooperation NA

ISF Borders Emergency Assistance 3,400,000

ISF Police 20,489,650

TOTAL 218,244,038


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Table 11: SOLID funds allocation in euro and share of total funds allocated to Greece (2007-2013)

SOLID FUNDS 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 TOTAL

European Refugee

Fund (ERF)

NA 1,571,280(2.1%)

3,313,487(3.4%)

4,832,783(5.1%)

5,042,269(5.1%)

4,015,377 (3.8%)

3,163,323 (2.8%)

21,938,521 (3.8%)

European Return

Fund (RF)

NA 5,379,393 (9.7%)

7,497,847

(12.1%)

14,389,434

(17.6%)

24,975,340

(22.9%)

37,357,613

(24.7%)

35,544,340

(20.3%)

125,143,967

(19.7%)

European Fund for

the Integration of

TCN (EIF)

1,527,627 (2.4%)

2,063,576 (2.7%)

7,096,302 (7.3%)

2,946,352 (2.7%)

3,280,006 (2.5%)

4,115,432 (2.5%)

4,178,416 (2.3%)

25,207,711 (3%)

External Borders

Fund (EBF)

13,466,667

(9.3%)

13,743,089

(10.2%)

23,459,508

(14.8%)

27,448,281

(14.3%)

40,919,760

(17.2%)

44,745,804

(13.9%)

44,033,646

(10.4%)

207,816,755

(12.9%)


Table 12: Number of Inspections carried out to detect employment of irregular migrants and share of inspections as a percentage of the employers in sector (in %)

Risk sector

2014 2015

No. % No. %

Crop and animal

production, hunting and

related service activities

11* 1%* 37 0.58

Food and beverage service

activities

NA NA 20 0.01

Retail trade, excluding

motor vehicles and

motorcycles

NA NA

9 0.00

Construction 124 1% NA NA

Manufacture of wearing

apparel 1,405 1%

8 0.08

Food industry NA NA

6 0.01

Fishing and aquaculture NA NA

5 0.12

Other personal service

activities

NA NA 3 0.01

Accommodation 6,511 2% 3 0.00

Manufacture of wood and

of products of wood and

cork, except furniture;

manufacture of articles of

straw and plaiting

materials.

See ‘Manufacture of wearing apparel’

(total figure)


(total figure)

2 0.06

Sports activities and

amusement and recreation

activities

NA NA

2 0.01

Manufacture of furniture See ‘Manufacture of

wearing apparel’ (total figure)


(total figure) 1 0.02

Rental and leasing

activities

NA NA 1 0.02

Water transport NA NA

1 0.01

11

Risk sector

2014 2015

No. % No. %

Advertising and market

research

NA NA

1 0.01

Other professional,

scientific and technical

activities

NA NA

1 0.01

Civil engineering works NA NA

1 0.01

Activities of head offices;

management consultancy

activities

NA NA

1 0.00

Wholesale and retail trade;

repair of motor vehicles

and motorcycles

1,078 4% 1 0.00

Wholesale trade, excluding NA NA 1

0.00


* data only includes Foresting Sector

Table 13: Number of inspections in which irregular migrant workers were detected (I)

and number of irregular migrant workers detected (IWD) – 2015

Risk sector

2014 2015

Number of

inspections in

which irregular

migrant workers

were detected

Number of

irregular migrant

workers detected

Number of inspections

in which irregular

migrant workers were

detected

Number of

irregular migrant

workers detected

Crop and animal production,

hunting and related service

activities

NA 27* 137 37

Food and beverage service

activities NA NA 5,003 20

Retail trade, excluding

motor vehicles and

motorcycles

NA NA 7,791 9

Construction NA 16 NA NA

Manufacture of wearing

apparel NA 3 8

Food industry NA NA 1,268 6

Fishing and aquaculture NA NA 32 5

Other personal service

activities NA NA 672 3

Accommodation NA 37 1,067 3

Manufacture of wood and of

products of wood and cork,

except furniture;

manufacture of articles of

straw and plaiting

See ‘Manufacture of

wearing apparel’

(total figure)


wearing apparel’

(total figure)

40 2

12

Risk sector

2014 2015

Number of

inspections in

which irregular

migrant workers

were detected

Number of

irregular migrant

workers detected

Number of inspections

in which irregular

migrant workers were

detected

Number of

irregular migrant

workers detected

materials.

Sports activities and

amusement and recreation

activities

NA NA 217 2

Manufacture of furniture See ‘Manufacture of

wearing apparel’

(total figure)


wearing apparel’

(total figure)

104 1

Rental and leasing activities NA NA 119 1

Water transport NA NA 115 1

Advertising and market

research NA NA 50 1

Other professional,

scientific and technical

activities

NA NA 70 1

Civil engineering works NA NA 269 1

Activities of head offices;

management consultancy

activities

NA NA 85 1

Wholesale and retail trade;

repair of motor vehicles and

motorcycles

NA 6 641 1

Wholesale trade, excluding NA NA 1,506 1


* data only includes Foresting Sector

COUNTRY FACTSHEET: Greece 2015 - European Commission · newspaper Athens Voice published a fourfold...

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