European Commission Wants Greek Asylum System Report by March 4, 2016

Summary: The European Commission wants an initial Greek asylum system report by March 4, in accordance with the Commission's recommendation on Feb. 10.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship since Nov. 1, 2014, signed the European Commission Recommendation concerning the Greek asylum system on Feb. 10, 2016; photo of Dimitris Avramopoulos, Sept. 14, 2012, during his tenure as Greece's Minister of Foreign Affairs: Dimitris Avramopoulos, CC BY SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The European Commission has itemized seven recommended actions for Greece to restore Greek asylum system compliance with European Union asylum-seeker relocation procedures and has requested an initial Greek asylum system report by March 4, 2016, according to the Commission’s recommendation Feb. 10, 2016.

“Greece is requested to report to the Commission by 4 March 2016 and then on a monthly basis on its progress in implementing the measures identified in this Recommendation,” states the Commission Recommendation of 10.2.2016 addressed to the Hellenic Republic on the urgent measures to be taken by Greece in view of the resumption of transfers under Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013.

The Commission Recommendation acknowledges challenges placed on Greece as a main entry point for continuous arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants aiming for relocation to other European Union (EU) member states.

“In 2015, over 868 000 irregular migrants arrived in the Greek islands, creating an unprecedented migratory and humanitarian crisis requiring urgent action,” notes the Commission Recommendation.

The Commission Recommendation also notes the resources, including funding for the period 2014 to 2020, allocated by the European Union to assist the Greek asylum system in the proper reception and processing of asylum seekers and migrants.

“Under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund it has been allocated a total of €294.5 million, and under the Internal Security Fund – Borders and Visas a total of €214.8 million. A further €133 million has been awarded to Greece under emergency assistance since 2014,” the Commission Recommendation specifies.

The Commission Recommendation notes that shortcomings in the Greek asylum system have prompted the same-day announcement of the European Commission’s pursuit of infringement proceedings against Greece. The overlap of infringing insufficiencies with the Commission Recommendation does not preclude the bringing of additional infringement proceedings.

“The present recommendation is without prejudice to any pending or future infringement proceedings which the Commission may bring related to matters raised in the present recommendation,” states the Commission Recommendation, issued in Brussels, Belgium, on the Commission’s behalf by Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship.

The Commission’s seven recommendations to bring about Greek asylum system compliance with European Union international protection standards focus on adequately staffed, fully operational Greek asylum system infrastructures, such as asylum-seeker legal aid frameworks, reception centers, regional asylum offices and international protection appeal committees. The Greek asylum system needs to include vulnerable applicants within the legal aid framework.

“This means that Greece should ensure that the necessary legal framework is in place and that it is fully implemented so as to guarantee that the needs of vulnerable persons, including unaccompanied minors, are suitably catered for, in particular in terms of accommodation and guardianship,” the Commission Recommendation states.

Greece’s failure to fulfill committed openings of all 50,000 reception places by the end of 2015 needs to be remedied as soon as possible. The cooperative project with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) requires the availability of adequate funding to assure that essential maintenance and services, such as sanitation, are provided continuously.

The seventh recommendation requests Greece to apply both European Union and national budget funds to implementation of the Commission’s recommendations.

After an initial status report by March 4, 2016, on follow-throughs by the Greek asylum system, Greece is requested to make monthly progress reports on implementation of the Commission’s seven recommended measures.

The European Commission's Feb. 10, 2016, recommendations call for an initial Greek asylum system report by March 4, 2016: European Commission @EU_Commission via Twitter Feb. 10, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Dimitris Avramopoulos: Dimitris Avramopoulos, CC BY SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D_Avramopoulos_at_the_Greek_Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs.jpg

The European Commission's Feb. 10, 2016, recommendations call for an initial Greek asylum system report by March 4, 2016: European Commission @EU_Commission via Twitter Feb. 10, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/697384443183570945

For further information:

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Available @ http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/proposal-implementation-package/index_en.htm

European Commission. "Implementing the Common European Asylum System: Commissions acts on 9 infringement proceedings." European Commission > Press releases database > Press release details. Feb. 10, 2016.
Available @ http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-270_en.htm

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Available @ https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/697384443183570945

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Available @ http://www.ekathimerini.com/205835/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/will-the-eu-really-fence-off-one-of-its-own-members

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