CCI 2021EL65AMPR001 – Έκδοση 2

Reference: Article 22(2) and (4) CPR

Baseline Situation

Despite the continuous efforts of competent authorities and the significant increase in AS productivity, its backlog still stood at 87,622 cases (31/12/2019). Ever since, there has been a steady decrease at 57,347 in 2020 and 43,849 cases in 2021. The implications of the COVID 19 pandemic imposed further delays on asylum procedures. On the other hand, the AS increased productivity significantly over the last 2 years, and managed to reverse the backlog increase and further reduce it by approximately 20% since the beginning of 2020.

This increase in productivity is attributed partially to the increase of AS workforce. Currently, the AS has a staff of 1,006, of whom 651 are fixed-term contractual staff funded by the AMIF NP 2014-2021 and deployed to more than 20 different locations in the mainland and on the islands. Working groups and expenses for AS missions and field visits are currently funded by EMAS Grant Agreement HOME/2018/AMIF/AG/EMAS/0083 until 30/04/2022.

Relevant Data (AS):

Asylum Process

• Average time per first instance decision was 342 (2020), 60 (2021) and 23 (2022) days.
• Recognition rate at first instance has been rising steadily from 30.2% (2021) to 39.6% in 2022.
• On average, recognition rates are 26% (2021) and 29.75% (2022).
• Long-pending asylum applications (first instance backlog) range from 31,787 (12/2021) to 26,156 (31/03/2022).
• Long-pending asylum applications (second instance backlog) range from 5,282 (12/2021) to 4,550 (31/03/2022).
• On December 2020, out of the 70,445 beneficiaries (38,715 families) who received cash assistance, 21% were women, 44% men and 35% children. Also, 27% of all cash assistance beneficiaries in December 2020 were families of five members or more and a further 38% were single adults.

The following outgoing requests (a) and transfers (b) were effectively carried out through the Dublin system during the following years:

• 2019: a) 5,124, b) 2,550
• 2020: a) 6,971, b) 1,938
• 2021: a) 2,896, b) 2,118
• 2022: a) 585, b) 317

During the previous NP, there were 11,546 open cases and only 33 law professionals to process them. Subsequently, this number was raised to 109 law professionals, who handled 3,655 cases as of July 2021.

Reception (RIS)

• There were 15,024 (2021) and 2,179 (04/2022) beneficiaries transferred to various locations in the mainland.

Occupancy rate was approximately 85% (2019), 89% (2020), 75% (2021) and 49% (2022) including all accommodation facilities. “ESTIA”, has a capacity of 24,084 (2021) and current occupancy rate has set at
(16,411) 73%.

Specific challenges/needs

The MS share the international legal responsibility of hosting asylum seekers in a dignified manner.

Also, the MS must provide optimum reception conditions for migrants/ refugees, based on the Reception Conditions Directive. The measures described below aim at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of asylum procedures and reception conditions in Greece and at catering for their specific reception and procedural needs (as is the case of unaccompanied minors and vulnerable persons). In this context, the fields that AMIF focuses on are:

• Providing Cash assistance to cover basic liquidity needs of asylum seekers, who currently reside in government-run accommodation facilities in Greece
• Running adequate accommodation schemes to provide appropriate, safe and dignified accommodation for applicants of international protection, including vulnerable persons and UAMs in 2nd line reception.
• Providing housing to asylum seekers, providing food, internet, cleaning services and security conditions, including UAMs safe zones on the islands
• Providing access to transportation and interpretation services
• Recruiting, training and deploying adequate personnel, and covering other costs that allow to speed the asylum process up, such as the rental of Regional Asylum offices
• Providing health services (such as medical personnel in the camps, interpretation service for medical purposes, mental health support)
• Providing adequate legal information free of charge during the first instance procedure, as required under Directive 2013/32/EU (e.g. leaflets, info sessions) on procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection
• Fast and unimpaired access to the asylum procedure

Continuity and changes compared to the current funding period / Lessons Learnt:

In the previous PP, the main difficulties faced by the MA consisted in delays in public procurement procedures as well as in project planning and awarding processes. As a result, and as a remedial action, the MA will proceed with grouping all related services to reception structures using framework contracts (e.g. for security, cleaning). Another remedial action consists in following a different method to recruit lawyers for the AS. Considering that the main actions of PP 14-20 will continue in the new PP, the risk of delays will be mitigated.

An indicative list of actions per implementation measure are analysed below:

Implementing Measures Annex II

Annex III, par.1(a) - The indicative list of actions

• ESTIA Accommodation Scheme (see flagship activity “reception”)
• Provision of a package of accommodation and basic support services through eligible partners (accommodation fully furnished, with rent and utilities covered), to AS/TCN incl. vurnebale persons.
• Case management
• Appointments with the authorities (e.g., asylum interviews).

CASH scheme

• Provision of cash assistance, by distributing multi-purpose cash grants (MPGs)

Sea and land transportation of TCNs

Transportation of TCNs (TCNs) and their belongings within the islands and the mainland (including accompaniment costs for UAMs):

• to/from MPRICs/mainland,
• to/from camps in the mainland,
• between camps,
• between ESTIA apartments
• to and from health structures and hospitals,
• emergency transportation,
• transportation of minors to schools/shelters,
• transportation for administrative purposes (asylum application),

Facility Management

• Facility Management services for Temporary Reception and Accommodation Structures where asylum seekers reside and all other related infrastructures and facilities (such as security, cleaning maintenance, etc.), including building infrastructure of competent Services responsible for providing services to Asylum Seekers and Migrants and security services. The needs for security of Regional Asylum Offices will be covered by EUAA OP.

Health Services

Provision of health services incl. medical and psychosocial support, through the recruitment of the appropriate medical staff (i.e. doctors, nurses, midwifes etc.).

Annex III, par.1(b)

Acquiring a Logistics Centre

• Operation of a logistics centre for the storage of all equipment and goods that will be transferred to the regional offices of the Reception and Identification Service in the islands and on the mainland
• Rental costs, logistics equipment (forklifts, carts, pallets, etc.), vans
• Cost of purchase of winterization items, destined to be delivered to asylum seekers residing in the RIS facilities

Providing Services

• Improved access to Legal aid and representation of asylum seekers during the second instance procedure.
• Provision of free adequate legal information at the first instance stage (e.g. leaflets, info sessions) on procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection
• Training seminars on International Protection Law for all lawyers registered on the Asylum Service Lawyer Roster
• Interpretation and Translation Services for asylum applicants, to ensure provision of free and highquality interpretation services available to all individuals seeking international protection, during the various stages of the asylum process (registration, interview, communication with the applicant, document processing, medical services etc.). Interpreters will be made available to all Reception facilities, Regional Asylum Offices (RAOs) and Asylum Units, subject to demand (see flagship activity “improve decision”).
• Use of tele-interpretation or video-interpretation systems
• Support the implementation in the Member State of the amended migration statistics Regulation (Regulation 2020/851), reinforcing national capacity to provide timely and accurate data (see flagship activity “data”)

Vulnerables incl. UAMs:

• Capacity-building and monitoring of professionals working with and for minors on issues of prevention of violence, exploitation, and abuse
• Improving data collection on UAMs. Advancing information systems for the collection of data on unaccompanied minors including accommodation facilities.
• Protection-tailored measures (such as case management, vulnerability assessment, cultural mediation, community based prevention/awareness raising) for all vulnerables, UAMs and adult asylum seekers and accompanied children who either are victims or are at risk of falling victims of trafficking in human beings (accumulation of vulnerability factors).
• Protection UAMs at safe zones in the islands. Provision of all the relevant services (healthcare, recreational activities, communication services, psychological support, representation, legal aid and interpretation services, food, clothing and non-food items).

Desired outcomes and expected result

• Alleviate the pressure of persistent reception needs, while providing a sound provision for vulnerable and extremely vulnerable applicants
• Meet the requirements of the 2013/33 EU Directive for material reception conditions for asylum seekers
• Provide appropriate, safe, and dignified accommodation for applicants of international protection, as well as a series of accompanying social services, subject to the individual needs of beneficiaries
• Continue providing appropriate reception conditions, in line with the EU Directive on Reception Conditions, to the target-population, i.e., asylum seekers, prioritized according to their vulnerability, as defined in the national legislative context
• Build on the experience gained from actions implemented during the previous years
• The expected outcome of all proposed actions is to improve reception conditions and access to the asylum system, and ultimately, enhance protection and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Greece
• Address overcrowding in the MPRICs, both on the islands and in Evros
• Allow effective burden allocation between different regions of Greece
• The State’s due response to all valid requests for legal aid in the second instance, under the condition that such requests are filled on a timely manner
• Unhindered implementation of the national reception strategy for UAMs and young adults

Planned use of financial instruments

The majority of the above-mentioned actions will be implemented through public procurement process and call for proposals (e.g. ESTIA accommodation scheme, facility management etc.).

Operating Support for Specific Objective 1 – CEAS

Recruitment / Staff Costs

The Action’s added value, in addition to meeting the international obligations of the national asylum system, is the acceleration of the reception and asylum procedures by ensuring the uninterrupted operation of all reception and asylum offices and units and cover over 95% of beneficiaries’ needs for interpretation and translation services.

Hence, in line with the national strategy, it is foreseen to provide the AS with adequate workforce to maintain its administrative capacity and copy with the significantly high number of applications, while providing asylum seekers with a fair and efficient access to and asylum process in Greece.

The improvement of the Hellenic reception and asylum system is expected to allow migration management if flows remain stabilised. The Action will provide contractual personnel for operational support.

Operating Support under SO1 will be in complementarity with EASO personnel who will reinforce these competent Services, as foreseen under the new EASO operational plan 2022. The MA will ensure that double funding will be avoided.

The extra staff will be deployed to:

• AS/MoMA for supporting (a) the governance, strategic planning, quality and procedures (additional to 42 by EUAA OP); (b) the first instance (additional to 266 by EUAA OP); (c) the processing of Dublin requests; (d) the second instance. Based on EUAA OP 2022-2024, only 180 embedded interims will be deployed to the AS (100 administrative staff and 80 asylum experts). The duties of the EUAA additional staff are currently restricted to conducting interviews while examining the acceptable or non-acceptable asylum applications and express opinion on accepting or not asylum applications. The duties of the staff funded by AMIF will be complementary to the above-mentioned staff and are focused on drafting the final decisions, taking into account the opinion of “EUAA” staff.
• RIS/MoMA for supporting (a) the governance, strategic planning, quality and procedures; (b) firstline; (c) second-line reception; (d) community engagement in reception. The staff (180 embedded persons) from EUAA OP 2022-2024, will be complementary to the staff funded by AMIF, avoiding any overlapping. The main duties of staff for RIS funded by AMIF will be: (a) administrative support; (b) reporting qualitative and quantitative data and needs of migrants at all regional areas; (c) monitoring scope and financial aspects (including statistical data) of EU and other projects run by RIS.

Expected Outcome and results

• Enhanced capacity of the Greek authorities in processing asylum applications and reception conditions in compliance with the CEAS (strategic planning, quality and procedures)
• Support to the AS in registering applicants for international protection, as well as in providing information, in facilitating administrative procedures and in conducting interviews
• Support the Appeals Authority in the preparation of essays for the Appeals Committees, including COI research, through professional activities targeting judges and staff (rapporteurs, statisticians and operational staff)
• Central support of the RIS HQ on procedures and on reception centre/site management
• Support in strengthening the capacity of the RIS on case management
• Improving the logistics aspect of the public procurement procedures, executed by the competent authorities

Indicative list of beneficiaries

• Asylum Service
• Reception and Identification Service
• Appeals Authority

Specific Actions

·AMIF/2022/SA/2.4.1/004 “Provision of services to victims of trafficking in human beings who are thirdcountry nationals”

·AMIF/2023/SA/1.2.1/12 “COMPASS-COMPlementAry Mechanism for Supporting the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in Greece”

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Table 1: Output indicators

Table 2: Result indicators

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Reference: Article 22(5) CPR; and Article 16(12) AMIF Regulation, Article 13(12) ISF Regulation or Article 13(18) BMVI Regulation

Table 3: Indicative breakdown

Table 3: Indicative breakdown

Baseline situation

Integration

The social integration policy in Greece, addressed to the total population of the country, is a national policy, with a central, regional, and local dimension. Concerning especially third-country nationals, it is necessary to mention as well the National Strategy for Integration, which is designed by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and implemented with the cooperation of various agencies and services at the central, regional, and local level.

The integration policy mainly concerns both migrants legally residing in the country and beneficiaries of international protection. Since 2015, social integration programs and actions are focusing on BIP’s integration.

According to Presidential Decree 106/2020, the Social Integration Directorate, which is under the portfolio for Social Integration Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum and operates administratively under the General Secretariat for Migration Policy, is responsible for the planning, monitoring and implementation of the integration policy and the National Strategy for Integration of legally residing thirdcountry nationals, in collaboration with other Ministries, local authorities and their organizations, international organizations and the civil society organizations engaged in social integration activities.

As for the UAMs the main actions mentioned below are embedded in the National Strategy for the Protection and Integration of Unaccompanied Minors and TCNs. The objective is to initiate and implement policies and actions to ensure the protection and well-being of TCNs and stateless individuals, who are unaccompanied or separated minors in Greek territory. Having as a starting point the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014), as developed by the European Commission, the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the protection of children in migration, as well as the current protection framework for unaccompanied minors in place in Greece, this National Strategy aims at improving the situation of the significant numbers of unaccompanied minors present in Greece and providing concrete responses to their needs, while fully protecting their rights and safeguarding their best interests. The National Strategy constitutes a coordinated plan to establish an ecosystem for the care and protection of all unaccompanied minors in Greece.

Relevant Data (Directorate of Social Integration and AS and SSUAM)

In 2019, 3,330 new asylum applications of UAMs were lodged and 517 decisions granting international protection status at first and second instance were issued. Moreover, the same year, the competent authority for the accommodation of UAMs received accommodation requests ranging from 459 (02/2019) to 1,271(12/2019) on a monthly basis.

During 2020, the above numbers were as follows: 2,788 new asylum applications of UAMs; 401 decisions granting international protection, and monthly accommodation requests ranged from 239 (04/2020) to
1,063 (01/2020). In 2021, 2,280 asylum applications were lodged, 409 positive decisions were issued at first instance and 4,749 accommodation requests were submitted to the Special Secretariat for the Protection of UAMs. During the first quarter of 2022, 579 asylum applications have been lodged, 218 positive decisions have been issued and 923 accommodation requests have been submitted to the Special Secretariat for the Protection of UAMs (31/3/2022).

Since 2019, Greece gradually established 71 Accommodation Centres (shelters) and 91 SILs. The capacity of accommodation centres was increased from 1,007 (01/2019) to 1,973 (31/3/2022) long-term accommodation places and of places in Semi-Independent Living (SILs) apartments from 28 (01/2019) to 364 (31/3/2022) places.

The occupancy rate ranged from 80% to 90% for Accommodation Centres and from 91% to 54.6% for SILs. In the first quarter of 2022, the average occupancy rate is 82% for Accommodation Centres and EN 19 EN 63% for SILs.

Currently, there are approximately 2,018 UAMs in Greece (31/3/2022). The estimated number of UAMs at the end of 2022 is projected at 3,150 -3,500 taking under consideration that:

• 1,627 UAMs (April 2021-December 2021) and 562 (1/1/2022-31/3/2022) were referred to Special Secretariat for the Protection of UAMs through the National Emergency Response Mechanism for Unaccompanied Minors in precarious living conditions
• New arrivals may increase due to Ukraine crisis and possible infringement of the EU- Turkey agreement
• 774 UAMs currently accommodated in Accommodation Centres and SILs will reach majority in 2022

Greece’s strategic priority is to provide specific integration-oriented measures to the UAMs located in Greece, based on their needs and best interests.

Legal migration/Integration is centred on supporting the development of policies promoting legal migration and the implementation of the relevant Union acquis, including through the development of mobility schemes, cooperation with recruitment agencies and employment services of third countries and assistance to TCNs with the acquisition of legal residence and family reunification. In addition to that, Legal migration/Integration’s objective is to promote integration of asylum seekers and TCNs and prepare their active participation in the receiving society through tailored support and actions promoting equality in the access to both public and private services, also through strengthening the involvement of and cooperation between local and regional authorities and NGOs.

Added to the numbers and statistical data to those mentioned in the first section above, the number of legally residing TCNs in the country (under valid residence permit or residence card) in the past 4 years has fluctuated as follows:

• 2018: 596.312
• 2019: 603,453
• 2020: 651,801
• 2021: 666,399 (1/9/2021)

The following projects are funded by ESF 2014-2020 (overall baseline situation both for integration and
legal migration):

• Operation of 11 Local Integration Centres in the mainland
• Operation of 39 counselling offices for women who are victims of crime
• Operation of 21 shelters in 13 regional areas
• Presence of 34 Cultural Mediators at 32 municipalities
• Providing health care to migrants at the camps/areas at the regional level

Specific challenges/needs

• Spatial isolation (educational sector) and school segregation
• Language skills – Temporary “catch-up” classes – Specific and ad hoc classes
• Lack of recognition of TCNs qualifications
• Education and skills as a prerequisite to labour market participation
• Quick link/access UAMs to formal national educational system
• Providing language lessons to UAMs in Camps
• Special assistance and services to UAMs
• Enhancement of TCNs language skills
• Establishment of a guardianship system
• Link training of TCNs to labour market needs
• Enhance speeding up culture in processing legal migration cases
• Increasing administrative capacity of competent authorities

Comprehensive data on medical records and on legal status other than international protection (e.g. residence permit on humanitarian grounds) is not available. Under law 4554/2018, three (3) registries have been established: (a) that of unaccompanied minors; (b) that of accommodation facilities for unaccompanied minors and (c) that of professional guardians. The first two have been developed since 2018 with the support of UNICEF. The registry for unaccompanied minors was designed with the aim of collecting the necessary information related to unaccompanied minors in one single database. Yet practice showed that the completion of information depended heavily on the information that professionals supporting minors had and passed on to the competent state agency. Professionals should be well-informed and well-networked, given that a minor may have changed places of living.

Continuity and changes compared to the current funding period (including lessons learnt)

As there are few projects implemented in the field of integration and legal migration during the programming period 2014-2020, all the following projects will launch under the next programming period 2021-2027.

During the previous PP, the MA faced difficulties in determining the minimum requirements for certain projects, which led to the non-implementation of actions. The lack of clear link between the actions that were foreseen under AMIF and those under ESF, as well as delays in the procurement procedures, hindered the successful launch of specific projects.

To remediate this situation, in the PP 2021-2027, the MA has proceeded with a better planning of all projects, based on the experience gained from the PP 2014-2020, and foster best practices from ESF. Moreover, the use of programming frameworks, rather than classical public procurement processes, will accelerate the launch and implementation of specific projects.

Complementarity with other funds:

Based on the national strategy and the EU toolkit for the integration of people with a migration background, the actions described will be developed in complementarity with ESF+, ERDF Regional Operational Programmes and the RRF.

Moreover, under Operational plan 2022-2024, EUAA will deploy 34 staff to the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors (hereinafter SSUAM) and 64 in the field of temporary protection support.

Implementing measures (Annex II, par. 2)

Indicative list of actions (Annex III, par.2 (d)):

Actions (target group: TCNs and Vulnerable Persons incl.UAMs)

• Language training for newly arrived children with a migrant background (see EU integration toolkit - Education)
• Basic skills training for (TCN/AS/UAMs)such as language, literacy, numeracy, knowledge of foreign languages, science and information technology (IT) skills and civic orientation training.
• Individualized mentoring and general coaching of jobseekers, general training and orientation courses for unemployed TCNs. This consists of the preparatory stage for migrants to have access to specific educational courses.
• Continue implementation of “Helios Junior” (From UAMs to Adulthood period) Subprojects “Preparation phase for individual stay”, Provide housing, movements, job counseling, educational training, cash assistance.
• Vocational Training (equivalence/certification of qualification courses) and training of personnel in charge of diploma and skills recognition (TCN/AS/UAMs)
• Implementation of the Guardianship project – Real Implementation through the recruitment of guardians, interpreters and lawyers (The staff from EUAA OP 2022-2024 will support the designation of the guardianship project.) This project includes inter alia the payroll of guardians, coordinators, trainings and interpreters, and free legal aid.
• Providing mental health promotion and mental illness prevention including sexual and reproductive health of minors.
• Assessing the level of educational attainment and skills for UAMs over 15 age through an evaluation tool.
• Establishing a tracing and referral mechanism.
• Establishing emergency accommodation facilities for UAMs.
• Providing temporary accommodation of families (TCN/AS/Refugees) with children in need of hospitalization.
• Running UAMs SILs and Shelters, and providing all the relevant services
• Educational Capacity (Training of trainers)
• Integration – Fast course on Greek Language, Promotion of the European way of life - Counselling for UAMs.
• Ensuring the provision of mentorship for minors.

Desired outcomes and expected result

• Reliable and accurate statistical and monitoring system for UAMs
• Trained and qualified UAMs and adults
• Adequate living conditions for vulnerable persons incl.UAMs secured
• The importance of gathering quantitative and qualitative data to ensure that the presence of unaccompanied minors in Greece is known to the full extent; to ensure their full traceability from the point of arrival and regardless of their legal status, it is imperative to improve the country’s data collection mechanism
• Information on missing minors, on minors who are victims of violence, exploitation and abuse, victims of trafficking in human beings, or minors at risk of falling victims of trafficking, as well as information on minors’ vulnerabilities and mental and physical health concerns, will help map the actual needs of minors and introduce the necessary changes in law, policy and service provisions, as complete and reliable data are the foundation to draw informed policies. Furthermore, consideration will be given to safeguard that data sets employed nationwide shall be valuable and comparable in relation to EU wide databases.

Implementing measures (Annes II, par. 2)

The indicative list of actions (Annex III, par. 2(b))

• Development of cooperation of the Ministry for Migration and Asylum with other national organizations / authorities and international organizations, in order to impart know – how in selected issues of legal migration management to the national administration.
• Development of cooperation of the Ministry for Migration and Asylum with selected third countries, in order to promote legal, safe and well - organized migration in order to satisfy national labour market needs and needs of the national economy.
• Further development and extension of the Migration Information System in order to be able to provide fully electronic services (e-services) to TCNs, electronic interconnection of the Migration Information System with all other electronic services of national public administration and safeguarde continuous and steady support for approximately 1,000 users of the Migration Information System working for one stop shop services and the competent authorities of the Ministry for Migration and Asylum
• Upgrade workstations in the Migration Offices (one-stop shops) in order to improve migration services to TCNs, to speed up application processing for residence permits and to upgrade IT system, on a 24/7 basis
• Upgrade of the infrastructure for obtaining biometric and identification data (photo, facial fingerprints & signature) from third-country nationals who apply for a residence permit
• Completion of the development process of applications for Android & IOS mobile devices, for reading the electronic card of the migrant and verifying the validity of the residence permit on-line in real time on the one hand, and for the provision of electronic services on the other
• Development of an e-platform for education purposes in the workplace of migration offices
• Strengthening the Migration Offices operation
• Holistic system of services and daily coaching on all issues related to TCN integration.

Desired outcomes and expected result

• Further reducing the time needed for granting or renewal of the residence permits with a view to provide effective access of the TCNs to their rights, with respect to their residence status,
• Reinforcing the security features of the residence permits process (new biometric hardware, expansion of the IT system).

Planned use of financial instruments

The majority of the projects related to integration will be implemented through Grants. The projects related to legal migration will be implemented through public procurement process (open call for tender).

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR
Table 1: Output indicators

Table 2: Result indicators

Reference: Article 22(5) CPR; and Article 16(12) AMIF Regulation, Article 13(12) ISF Regulation or Article 13(18) BMVI Regulation

Table 3: Indicative breakdown

Baseline Situation

Migration flows both from sea and land border with Turkey have been particularly high during the programming period of 2014-2020 but a steady decline has been observed due to the financial aid received at the time. The instability in the Middle East and parts of Africa makes the forecast of migration flows unpredictable, especially due to current instability in the region of Afghanistan, and some unforeseeable destabilisation in other countries under stress.

Relevant data (Hellenic Police)

Specifically in the area of forced and voluntary returns, there were 19,096 cases in 2017, 12,744 cases in 2018, 9,906 cases in 2019, 4,413 cases in 2020, 6,467 cases in 2021 and 1,693 cases in 2022 (until March), with forced returns being the majority of the total returns.

As far as return decisions are concerned, we had 38,724 in 2020, 28,792 in 2021, and 6,024 until 03/2022.

Specific Challenges/Needs

Countering Illegal migration, Return & Readmission is centred on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of return procedures and detention conditions in Greece, including through the development of alternatives to detention, such as temporary residence permits, case management support, residential accommodation, open centres or semi-open centres, supervision, return counselling, and prioritizing voluntary return and reintegration. Likewise, with view to achieving the purposes of Specific Objective 3, the EU Member States concentrate on strengthening the cooperation with third countries on countering irregular migration and enabling sustainable return, including through capacity building for readmission of their nationals. In this context, the fields that AMIF focuses on are the improvement of IT systems, the supply of necessary equipment, transportation services but also other operating support.

Due to its geographical location as the European Union’s external border, Greece continues to be one of the main gateways to the European Union where thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, try to enter illegally and then move to the rest of the European Union.

Continuity and changes compared to the current funding period (incl. lessons learned)

During the previous PP, Greece faced challenges in implementing projects under specific national objectives, such as NO3 “Cooperation with third countries”. The implementation of commercial flights for returns was also kept to a minimum, due to delays in the issuance of travel documents for beneficiaries.

Delays in the public procurement processes significantly delayed the renovation of pre-removal centres. Also, gaps between different procurement processes created difficulties in ensuring continuation of certain projects (e.g., provision of food services).

To remediate this situation, the MA will ensure closer cooperation with the Embassies of third countries (TCs) to speed up the process of issuing travel documents. An improvement of the “return network” is also foreseen with TCs through, e.g., covering travel costs through AMIF. Moreover, a better planning for the continuation of long-term projects will ensure their successful implementation. In terms of the pre- removal centres, the MA aims at securing long-term rented spaces and speeding up public procurement processes for their renovation.

Implementing measures - Annex II, par. 3 (a)

Indicative list of actions - Annex III, par.3 (a)

Pre-departure centres

The National Return Policy foresees the continuation of operation of Pre-Departure Detention Centres for irregular migrants including all provided services to detainees such as medical, physiological, social, interpretation and legal support, with detention used as a measure of last resort for ensuring their forced return to their Country of Origin. Ensuring the operation of the above centres is part of the overall plan for the effective and efficient management of irregular migrants. Indicatively, actions supported under this category are:

• Healthcare to TCNs at Pre-removal Centres (medical, physiological, social support)
• Free interpretation and legal aid service to all irregular migrants detained in view of their
• The leasing of premises
• Increase of the capacity and renovation of Pre-removal Centres
• Improve the detention conditions providing specific services (e.g. wi-fi, leisure activities)
• Provision of food, cleaning services and Security & Operation Services by recruiting personnel
• Supply of the necessary logistical equipment (e.g., facility furniture or leisure equipment) and consumables (e.g., blankets, clothing, bed sheets, sanitary ware) (see flagship “implement Sch-eval rec”)
• Running costs (cleaning, catering, staff) for all facilities located in the mainland and in the
• Training personnel of Pre-removal Facilities on fundamental rights
• Other complementary actions to the staff of Pre-removal Centres, such as training on Fundamental human Rights, treatment of vulnerable groups, escort security, emergency situations in the centres, first aid provision, international political & economic developments, intercultural sensitivity

Fighting against employment of irregular migrants:

• raising awareness on the risks of illegal employment
• strengthening of inspections of employers including through developing risk assessments of the sectors at risk
• collecting data on the inspections carried out and sanctions applied
• training of staff and capacity building
• strengthening mechanisms for complaints and compensation, as well as providing information to irregular migrants on their rights

Implementing measures - Annex II, par. 3 (b)

The indicative list of actions (Annex III, par.3 (b))

Forced Returns

• Supply special type vehicles for return operations (See flagship activity“Reinforce national capacity”)
• National Charter Flights
• National Commercial Flights with and without police escorts organized by the Hellenic Police, covering the cost of Travel Documents issuing and of conducting interviews
• Transportation of irregular TCNs within the Greek territory by sea & land
• Improve the Return Case Management System (RECAMAS) of Forced Returns by land to CoO (e.g., Albania) or Transit Countries (e.g., Turkey) according to Readmission Agreements (bilateral or EU level). (see related flagship activity)
• Training of Police Officers on Fundamental Rights, EU acquis and to all return legal framework

External monitoring system of forced returns

The Greek Ombudsman (Independent Authority enshrined in the Greek Constitution) carries out random inspections at all stages of the process that follows the issuing of a return decision for a third-country national, namely their potential administrative detention to ensure removal and the execution of the operation of the removal by land, sea, or air, including national and European Joint Return Operations and readmissions. The findings of these external individual inspections are sent to the Administration, along with the observations and recommendations of the Ombudsman, and are published in summary in an annual report which is submitted to the Hellenic Parliament.

This action consists of the following main projects with their respective sub-projects:

• Monitoring of forced removal operations by the Greek Ombudsman’s staff and on-site inspections in Pre-removal Centres and other detention facilities of third-country nationals in view of return
• Prepare and publish, bilingual (Greek & English) annual reports concerning the external control mechanism of returns, interim or periodic reports and other information material
• Support projects: (a) design and implement educative and training programs for Ombudsman’s staff involved in forced returns; (b) organization of information events and workshops with all stakeholders in the procedures or in the return strategy of public bodies, the international community and civil society; and (c) provision of communication material.

Implementing measures - Annex II, par.3 (c)

The indicative list of actions - Annex III, par.3 (c)

AVRR (Assisted Voluntary Return/ Reintegration) (see flagship activity “support re-integration measures)

Based on lessons learnt from previous AMIF Programme, as well as on relevant Union Return recommendations, it is expected to promote an efficient and effective Return Policy with emphasis to Assisted Voluntary Return programs, ensuring at the same time the safety and dignity of the returnees. The proposed Action under this Strategy consists of two main projects, on one hand the implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns and on the other the Reintegration Measures (in kind assistance). More specifically, the action includes information campaign activities and promotion of the possibility for voluntary return and reintegration, pre departure information and counselling, identification and finalization of return logistics before departure, issuance of travel documents and performance of the process of return and the implementation of reintegration measures in kind in the Country of Origin.

Based on our statistics the Top 5 CoOs for the years 2019-March 2022 are the following:

• Pakistan with 2,481 voluntary returnees
• Georgia with 2,238 voluntary returnees
• Iraq with 2,097 voluntary returnees
• Iran with 558 voluntary returnees and
• Afghanistan with 469 voluntary returnees

which represent almost 80% of the total voluntary returns throughout these years.

Based on our statistics the Top 5 CoOs for the years 2019-March 2022 are the following:

• Pakistan with 1,301 cases receiving reintegration assistance in kind
• Georgia with 843 cases receiving reintegration assistance in kind
• Iraq with 364 cases receiving reintegration assistance in kind
• Bangladesh with 148 cases receiving reintegration assistance in kind and
• Iran with 147 cases receiving reintegration assistance in kind

which represent 90% of the total reintegration schemes throughout these years.

Open Accommodation Centre for AVRR

The purpose of continuing the operation of the open accommodation centre for voluntary returnees is to prevent the absconding of returnees and facilitating the return process. The beneficiaries will be provided with all the services (such as daily meals, cleaning, hygiene and security services during their stay in the Centre), in order to ensure their safe and dignified living until their return to their home country.

Information on the risks of irregular migration in TCs.

• awareness raising campaigns to provide trusted, factual and balanced information on the risks of irregular migration and migrant smuggling in third countries, relevant legal alternatives for migration in the country or region of origin (e.g. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Albania)

Desired outcomes and expected result

• Speeding up the return process
• Increasing the number of returns
• Increasing the detention capacity of illegal migrants in pre-Departure Detention Centres
• Improving TCNs’ living conditions in the Pre-Departure Detention Centres
• Increasing the capacity of the Hellenic Police in managing illegal migration and returns, and
• Strengthening the implementation of Return Readmission

Operating Support

In addition to the above mentioned actions, Greece proposes to fund an action in order to ensure that return management systems (RECAMAS) to be set up, operated, maintained and further developed in order to process all the necessary information about irregular migrants and returnees contributing to countering irregular migration in a valid, reliable, efficient and effective way. This is planned to be achieved by digitalization of the return process leading to faster and more accurate statistical reporting, improving awareness to support policy –making and by increasing adaptability of the operational level to new environmental factors.

The National Return Policy includes the continuation of the operation/function of the Pre-Departure Detention Centres for irregular migrants, for their forced return to their Country of Origin.

Ensuring the function of the above centres, their maintenance and repair, and their staff costs (fixed- contract Security Guards), are planned to be financed under Operating Support enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and detention conditions.

There are a large number of new residents in the centers every year while a very large part of them stay there for a very long time, on average over than six months. As a result of the long stay and the frequent changes in the composition of the residents, damages on purpose in facilities of these centers, are a common phenomenon with the last typical example being the case of Lesvos. Security Staff, the maintenance and repair of these facilities are more than necessary.

The main beneficiary according to national legislation is the Hellenic Police.

Indicative list of beneficiaries

The Hellenic Police, which is responsible for managing the return process.

The MA will ensure that double funding will be avoided.

Operating Support for SO3 will be in complementarity with actions ensured by FRONTEX.

Planned use of financial instruments

The majority of the above mentioned actions will be implemented through public procurement process and call for proposals (e.g.AVRR).

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR
Table 1: Output indicators

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR
Table 2: Result indicators

Reference: Article 22(5) CPR; and Article 16(12) AMIF Regulation, Article 13(12) ISF Regulation or Article 13(18) BMVI Regulation
Table 3: Indicative breakdown

Greece is planning to use this specific Objective in order to support the transfers from Greece to another MS of applicants for international protection or beneficiaries of international protection.

All the actions will be caried out in close cooperation with EUAA. For instance, based on the EUAA OP 2022-2024, there will be a significant support to the staff of Ministry of Migration and Asylum in coordination and harmonisation of relocation activities, including the design of tools, workflows and templates with other type of support, inter alia, such as:

• Delivery of relevant, including tailor-made, training and guidance
• Support in conducting relocation interviews and drafting assessments
• Provisions of interpretation services for interviews
• Matching of relocation requests with Member State claims,

The above-mentioned support will be provided by ad hoc deployment of caseworkers and team leaders via the EUAA surge team and by ad hoc provision of interpretation services, according to needs.

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR
Table 1: Output indicators

Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR
Table 2: Result indicators

Reference: Article 22(5) CPR; and Article 16(12) AMIF Regulation, Article 13(12) ISF Regulation or Article 13(18) BMVI Regulation Table 3: Indicative breakdown

Technical and legal assistance will be provided for the implementation of the new regulations and obligations for Greece derived from them in order the new IT systems and relevant processes to be better implemented, as well as ongoing technical support throughout the programmed actions to be provided.

Additionally, the technical assistance addresses the need to adjust to national legislation in terms of security, data protection and fundamental rights.

Such assistance includes the provision of advice, expertise, research, analysis, training or other assistance in connection with, inter alia:

• Reinforcing systems and processes of management and coordination including anti-fraud actions
• Enhancing human resources, administrative organization and operation of entities involved in the implementation of the interventions and actions
• Upgrading the managerial and delivery capacity of the beneficiaries of the fund
• Completing necessary formal procedures in case and data handling in relation to the actions described above
• Analysing the national legislation and reviewing of national laws aimed at ensuring compliance with international legal obligations or implementing E.U. laws and regulations
• Drafting non-legislative texts (such as arbitration rules) based on the documents and procedures of national and international law.

Current technical assistance programmes are undertaken in accordance with the mandate of each respective department, office, agency, fund or programme and within the existing financial resources allocated for such purposes under their respective programme budgets.

Allocation of Technical Assistance and indicative Actions

Information & Communication (allocation: 10%)

• Information Campaigns
• Communication Action Plans
• Public events and visits
• Information campaigns
• Commemorative plaques
• Press releases
• Leaflets, brochures, newsletters, and magazines
• Web site for Migration & Home Affairs Funds (AMIF, BMVI, ISF)
• Participation of the Managing Authority in exhibitions and other commercial events
• Production and distribution of Magazine for Migration & Home Affairs Funds (AMIF, BMVI, ISF)

Preparation, implementation, monitoring and control (allocation 20%)

• External Consultancy for planning, monitoring, verification and evaluation process
• External Consultancy for the on-the-spot controls
• External Consultancy for Financial planning
• Costs for the meetings of the Monitoring Committee for Migration and Home Affairs Funds
• Costs for the on-spot-controls

Evaluation and studies, data collection (allocation 10%)

• External Consultancy for the collection of relevant data, statistics and indicators
• Studies (eg: impact of programmes, SCOs, impact of various events on migration, best practices, establishment of new tools etc)

Capacity building (allocation 60%)

• Fixed-term staff for the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Bodies
• External Consultancy for the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Bodies
• External Consultancy for final beneficiaries to assist in the field of public procurement, planning and smooth project implementation
• Training for the Management and Control System
• External Consultancy to assist the Managing Authority for the Home Affairs Committee and relevant legal or strategic documents of the Home Funds
• Contracting services (e.g., recording of meetings, translation/interpretation, operating costs of the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Bodies, travel costs etc.)
• Contracting supplies for the operation of the Managing Authority and the Intermediate Bodies

Table 4: Indicative breakdown

Table 2: Result indicators

Table 7: Transfers between shared management funds

Cumulative amounts for all transfers during programming period.

Table 8: Transfers to instruments under direct or indirect management

Cumulative amounts for all transfers during programming period.

5. Programme authorities

Reference: point (k) of Article 22(3) and Articles 71 and 84 CPR

Table 10: Programme authorities

Reference: point (h) of Article 22(3) CPR

For the sound preparation of the NP, the MA identified and consulted with a wide range of programme stakeholders, in order to ensure that the main actions of the programme reflect the actual needs in the policy field. In particular, MA carried out one meeting and many other webinar meetings with all the de jure monopoly stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Regional and Local authorities. In parallel, MA carried out three round-table sessions, one per SO with relevant bodies representing civil society, such as NGOs and IOs and collect all the lessons learnt from the programming period 2014-2020, examine all the proposed actions while integrating some of them into the NP 2021-2027. After the round- table sessions, we receive the feedback and contributions from NGOs in all SOs which have been considered during the designation of the strategy and main actions of AMIF. At the same time, this feedback also linked with lessons learned from the current period in each SO. The feedback was related mainly to integration actions, as well as to all other issues regarding the financial/systematic barriers (such as delays in payments, etc.).

To sum up, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum received the follow-up contributions of all stakeholders, which included concerns, comments and proposals. In principle, the goal of the partnership during the phase of the programme preparation focused on integrating the strategic planning of the competent national agencies, as well as the suggestions of the relevant International Organisations and NGOs into the main actions of each specific objective.

The MoMA has repeated the bilateral meetings with all NGOs during May 2022, to avoid any financial obstacle and enable the NGOs to start implementing ESTIA projects without any delays.

Although, the MA carried out the above-mentioned meetings to receive inputs form the operators; also, the MA focused on giving them a more active role into the implementation, monitoring and evaluation phase of the program, by repeating these meetings during its implementation, drafting minutes and revising (if necessary) the Management and Control System.

MA will repeat periodically every year the meetings with all potential stakeholders (with those who participate to the Monitoring Committee during the committee's Meetings and with those who do not participate during seperate meetings), to take their feedback related to potential problems into implementation process, and on how to reprogram or re-adjust some projects. The meetings will be conducted either bilaterally (as the MA did on May 2022) or with all stakeholders at the same time. In any case, all beneficiaries will have the opportunity to express their proposals in order to improve the quality of the projects and thus the quality of services provided to migrants.

The names of the partners are:

Non-governmental organizations and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights, rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality and non-discrimination. All the following NGOs are certified to the NGO’s Registry of Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

• ACTIONAID HELLAS
• ARBEITER SAMARITER BUND V.
• CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES US CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS HELLAS
• HOPETEN CIVIC NOT-FOR-PROFIT SOCIETY
• INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE HELLAS
• PRAKSIS PROGRAMS OF DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MEDICAL COOPERATION
• UNICEF
• SOLIDARITY NOW
• HUMAN RIGHTS 360
• APOSTOLI NGO
• ARSIS ASSOCIATION FOR THE SOCIAL SUPPORT OF YOUTH
• DYNAMI ZOIS-NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
• YOUTH CENTRE OF EPIRUS
• MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES - GREEK SECTION
• INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ICSD
• INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION IOM
• NETWORK OF SOCIAL SOLIDARITY & ASSISTANCE
• EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY "PLOIGOS"
• ELIX- CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS GREECE
• GREEK COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES
• HELLENIC RED CROSS
• NOSTOS ORGANIZATION FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION
• EUROPEAN SOCIETY POLITICAL EXPRESSION INSTITUTIONS EKPETHE
• ZEUXIS NGO
• ILIAKTIDA CIVIL NON- PROFIT COMPANY OF LESVOS
• IASIS NGO
• MEDICAL INTERVENTION
• CARITAS ATHENS
• CARITAS HELLAS
• KEAN CELL OF ALTERNATIVE YOUTH ACTIVITIES
• SOLIDARITY CENTRE NESTORAS
• CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES AND RESEARCH
• SOCIAL INSTANT AID GREEK TEAM
• METADRASI ACTION FOR MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
• NGO FAROS
• SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES GREECE
• SOCIETY FOR THE CARE OF MINORS AND YOUTH
• CHANIA PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
• SYNIPARXIS - ECUMENICAL REFUGEE PROGRAMME
• OPEN ARMS HUG - FRIENDS OF SOCIAL PAEDIATRICS AND MEDICINE
• THE SMILE OF THE CHILD
• NGO FAROS ELPIDAS
• ACTION FOR SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
• THE HOME PROJECT
• UNHCR

Regional Authorities

• Managing Authority of Attica
• Managing Authority of Continental Greece
• Managing Authority of Western Greece and Epirus

Local Bodies

• DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF TRIKALA
• HERAKLEION DEVELOPMENT AGENCY A
• DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF KARDITSA, DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
• PARNONAS A. ORGANIZATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
• MUNICIPALITY OF VOIO
• MUNICIPALITY OF THESSALONIKI
• MUNICIPAL PARKING OF KATERINI A.
• MUNICIPAL UTILITY COMPANY LARISSA
• DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PROMOTION COMPANY OF ATHENSA.
• KODEP UTILITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PIRAEUS
• PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF LIVADIA
• MUNICIPALITY OF TILOS
• PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PHILADELPHIA, CHALKIDON

Public Authorities

• Ministry of Migration & Asylum
• Ministry of Citizen Protection
• Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
• Greek Ombudsman Independent Authority

Reference: point (j) of Article 22(3) CPR

The communication strategy will ensure that any and all relevant stakeholders that have an active role in the course of the funding period will receive constant and relevant information, in due time. The stakeholders outlined in the actions’ descriptions include but are not limited to national government officials of the relevant Ministries, General Secretariats, the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard and others. Additionally, the stakeholders that will be included in the internal communication of the programme include the relevant E.U., international, member-states, and third-country officials that are relevant to the actions of the funding instrument, which will be outlined in the individual Action Proposal documents. The purposes of the communication plan are:

Objectives

Communication will focus on achievements and impact of the funded actions, not only on administrative or procedural milestones.

In order to maximize the impact of communication efforts, MA will use all the update activities such as:

• Display panels (50)
• Banners (50)
• Promotional items (50)
• Photographs (200)
• Audiovisual productions (15)
• Public events and visits (20)
• Information campaigns (15)
• Commemorative plaques (1.000)
• Press releases (200)
• Leaflets (50), brochures (40), newsletters (100), and magazines (14)
• Participation of the Managing Authority in exhibitions (6) and other commercial events (6)
• Web site for the Migration and Home Affairs Funds (AMIF, BMVI, ISF) (1)

The target audience(s) will be:

• Public bodies
• Universities
• Regional and Local communities in the islands and in the mainland
• Asylum Seekers
• Migrants and Refugees
• Irregular migrants

Communication channels (including social media outreach):

• Web site,
• Creating apps
• Other communication channels

The communication and visibility actions are estimated to cost 2.302.408,03 for the programming period 2021-2027.The communication officer is in the Programming and Evaluation Unit of the Managing Authority and will be the link with the central communication officer from the Ministry of Development and InvestmentMonitoring and EvaluationThe evaluation will be implemented using output, outcome and impact indicators.

Output indicators: Facebook Target Value (TS) 30,000 followers, Twitter TS 30,000 users, LinkedIn TA 1,000 users, TS Website 100,000 visits, number of TA helpdesk inquiries 50/month

Outcome indicators: 1,500 engagement / post on social media. Recognition rate, audience recall of campaign/activity, degree of satisfaction/usefulness from event, website conversions (downloads, registrations, bouncing rate, connection duration) and degree of user satisfaction, number of participants per event/conference/seminar, social media followers/impressions/views, website visitors, number of Helpdesk enquiries.

Impact Indicators: Disseminating a positive message about the Program and the EU, degree of trust in national/European authorities.

Evaluation will be caried out of the communication strategy and for activities based on the EU toolkit.

Reference: Articles 94 and 95 CPR

A. Summary of the main elements

• This refers to the code in Annex VI of the AMIF, BMVI and ISF Regulations
• This refers to the code of a common indicator, if applicable

B. Details by type of operation

C. Calculation of the standard scale of unit costs, lump sums or flat rate

1. Source of data used to calculate the standard scale of unit costs, lump sums or flat rates (who produced, collected and recorded the data, where the data is stored, cut-off dates, validation, etc.)

2. Please specify why the proposed method and calculation based on Article 94(2) CPR is relevant to the type of operation.

3. Please specify how the calculations were made, in particular including any assumptions made in terms of quality or quantities. Where relevant, statistical evidence and benchmarks should be used and, if requested, provided in a format that is usable by the Commission.

4. Please explain how you have ensured that only eligible expenditure was included in the calculation of the standard scale of unit cost, lump sum or flat rate.

5. Assessment of the audit authority(ies) of the calculation methodology and amounts and the arrangements to ensure the verification, quality, collection and storage of data.

A. Summary of the main elements

• Refers to the code in Annex VI of the AMIF, BMVI and ISF
• Refers to the code of a common indicator, if

B. Details by type of operation

DOCUMENTS