Description
During the last 10-15 years, Greece has experienced a sharp rise in illegal migration making the country the main entry point to the EU and Schengen-area.Thus, the Greek government established First Reception Service (FRS) during a reform of its asylum- and migration system. The purpose of creating FRS is twofold: ensure access to the asylum procedure to all people entering Greece by providing them with specific information about their respective rights; and through a screening procedure identify persons in need of immediate medical care or belonging to vulnerable groups in order to refer them to the appropriate structure/organization of protection/assistance. The Project targets a specific group (illegal migrants/asylum seekers), taking specifically into account the needs of migrants belonging to vulnerable groups. It establishes and maintains a screening procedure, and at the same time facilitate asylum seekers’ access to asylum procedures by providing adequate information on the right to seek asylum and facilitating access to the competent Asylum Authorities. It will be implemented in cooperation with the DPP - Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Summary of project results
The Pre-defined Project was to finance the Reception and Identification Service (RIS) which according to the Law 4375/2016, is responsible for the management of the mixed migration flows entering Greece. The Project included the implementation of subprojects necessary for the reception and effective management of third-country nationals (TCNs) in the Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) in Fylakio Evros, in the northern part of Greece, in accordance with Greek and European directives. Greece in its Action Plan for the management of migration and asylum system had set, among others, three main horizontal objectives: 1. Effective implementation of the procedures for the reception and identification of third-country nationals or stateless persons entering our country without legal formalities. 2. Full access to a fair and effective process of affiliation to international protection. 3. Increasing the capacity of open accommodation facilities for applicants for international protection. Through EEA Grants and with respect to the first horizontal objective, the RIC in Fylakio provided: a) Immediate screening of TCNs and identification of their citizenship. b) Medical control, vulnerability assessment and provision of any necessary care and psychosocial support. c) Provision of adequate information to TCNs on their rights and obligations, in particular for the procedure of applying for international protection or even for the procedure of voluntary return or readmission. d) Accommodation, catering, security, cleaning services, provision of clothes and personal hygiene objects. During the implementation of the Project, there were 13.263 TCNs accommodated in RIC Fylakio while the target was 9.210 TCNs. In addition to that, the implementation of this project has contributed to the development of bilateral relations between Greece and the Donor countries in particular by:a) widening cooperation between Greece and these countries, b) achieving common results on issues related to migration and reception policies and the asylum procedures, c) dissemination of knowledge and mutual understanding. Moreover, bilateral actions took place, involving representatives from RIS and partners from Norway. These actions achieved the exchange of knowledge and good practices. The Programme gave the opportunity for further wider cooperation between the Norway and Greece in the area of Asylum and Migration.
Summary of bilateral results