Πρόγραμμα Ελλάδας – Μέσο Χρηματοδοτικής
Στήριξης για τη Διαχείριση των Συνόρων και την
Πολιτική Θεωρήσεων του Ταμείου για την
Ολοκληρωμένη Διαχείριση των Συνόρων

 

1. Programme strategy: main challenges and policy responses Reference: points (a)(iii), (iv), (v) and (ix) Article 22(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (CPR)

Current Situation

Following recent Schengen Evaluation Reccommendations (SR) and the strategic framework for European Integrated Border Management (EIBM), the National Integrated Border Management Strategy (NIBMS) Plan aims at achieving situational awareness and early warnings. It is structured in 4 pillars:

  • Measures to be implemented in Third Countries
  • Cooperation with neighboring Countries
  • Border Controls
  • Measures in the free movement area

NIBMS is implemented through National Coordination Centre (NCC), namely through:

  • Amendments and monitoring of NIBM strategy
  • 6-monthly progress reports identifying delays on predefined
  • Mid-term assessment and proposals for necessary

Consistency between BMVI and the NIBMS as well as the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) capability development planning, in particular the National Capability Development Plan (NCDP) and the future capability roadmap is to be ensured. The NCDP is in place and provides a comprehensive picture of the national capabilities of all competent authorities, aligned with the National and European IBMS.

New External Service Providers (ESPs), BREXIT and Greek tourism, led to an increase in Schengen visa applications. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 14-20 supported VIS. To maintain a robust and up-to-date system additional workstations, software, infrastructure, operational costs and other costs related to consular authorities are forseen.

 

Border management

Relevant Data (source: Hellenic Police)

Border Crossing Points (BCPs): 106 (9 land, 59 maritime and 28 air); 6 of them operate during the summer only.

Following the decrease observed in 2017, migratory flows increased significantly in 2018. Arrests of irregular Third Country Nationals (TCNs) rose up to 54,859 (27% higher than 2017). The largest increase was on Evros and Greek (EL)-Bulgarian (BG) borders, and the largest decrease on north Dodecanese islands and Chios. Irregular entries continued to rise in 2019, amounting to 77,522. 97% of all irregular entries occur in EL-Turkish (TK) borders.

In 2020, 16,897 individuals were arrested for illegal entry; 5,296 were arrested during the first semester of 2021.

Inflows of 2015-2016 (over 500,000) led to depletion of resources. The Internal Security Fund for Borders (ISF-B) supported border management with EUR 285.2 mil. During 2018-2019 arrivals increased by 40%, while in 2020 they decreased by 78%. From 2017 to 2021 migrant apprehensions remained relatively high, with 77,522 in 2019 and 16,897 in 2020, mainly due to COVID19. Migrant entries decreased in 2021 (first 7 months) to 5,296, yet there is a 100% increase compared to the same period in 2020.

Lessons learnt

Automated surveillance systems contributed to border protection. However, the primary focus was to reinforce police in BCPs rather than updating technical equipment and transportation means.

Challenges & Needs

  • Up-to-date, efficient border surveillance system at sea and land borders
  • Upgraded border surveillance equipment and infrastructures
  • New technology for border control and situational Upgrade EUROSUR to meet the requirements of Reg 2019/1896 & 2021/581
  • Quick and effective passport controls at BCPs
  • Maintenance of Multipurpose Reception and Identification Centers (MPRICs) within the remit of BMVI
  • Enhance border support through enforcement and administrative staff
  • Collection of verifiable data verifiable by national and international Develop/upgrade Schengen Information System (SIS) , European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), Visa Information System (VIS) and Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
  • Implementation of large-scale IT Systems and its interoperability
  • Upgrade of risk analysis methodology and dissemination to all relevant authorities
  • Staff engaged in border management training
  • Organize, manage, operate, provide security and maintenance to ETIAS National Unit
  • Host the National Uniform Interface (NUI), essential component of EES and ETIAS system that allows interoperability within Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Data Centers
  • Connect national border infrastructure, Central Access Points (CAPs) and competent Authorities to the NUI
  • The establishment of an Automated Border Surveillance System at the borders with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as the majority of surveillance means that will be acquired through BMVI, will enhance the national situational picture already established by NCC in accordance with Art. 25 of Reg. 2019/1896
  • Human Resources (HR) strategy is not in place and for that purpose. A study under technical assistance will be conducted in order to define a sustainable strategy. The HR strategy (more details for the study to the annex) is to increase, inter alia, the Hellenic Police’s (HP) capacity via the creation and use of pools of experts in certain areas, such as screeners, debriefers and Advanced Level Document Officers (ALDOs).. The scope is to achieve a standard procedures on staffing or reinforcing front-line police units providing border management tasks at the EU external border, such as BCPs.

National Strategy

  • Improve BCPs to ensure efficient controls
  • Reinforce authorities at BCPs to enhance the level of control
  • Upgrade situational awareness capabilities
  • Implementation of EUROSUR in line with Reg. 2019/1896 & 2021/581
  • Strengthen surveillance operations and focus on controlling secondary flows
  • Enhance staff skills, including those deployed to the Standing Corps (Cat.2, 3);
  • Cooperate with other MSs and EBCGA
  • Facilitate legitimate border crossing
  • Prevent and detect irregular migration and cross-border crime

Main Actions

  • Improve border control capacity, deploying border guards to areas whith large migratory flows, materializing lessons learnt during the recent migration crisis
  • Increase effectiveness in travel document controls at BCPs resulting in better migration flow
  • Preserving Schengen area without controls at internal borders. This requires efficient controls at the external borders and ensuring that border controls at internal borders are reintroduced only as a last resort measure for limited period of time.
  • Member States should allow to prioritise border management measures taking into account the likely development of the legislative framework
  • Digitalization of travel documents (harmonised standards implemented by all Member States will facilitate the whole travel process and interoperability);
  • Equipping BPCs with the technical capacity to check fingerprint biometerics encoded in electronic travel documents against holder of the document. Related training will also be prioritized.
  • Enhance existing surveillance system at the EL-TK border in compliance with the Schengen acquis
  • Prioritise development of the legislative framework for border management
  • Acquire surveillance technology equipment and land and sea vehicles
  • Develop an Automated Border Surveillance System (ABSS) at the borders with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, similar to the already installed at the EL-TK land and riverine
  • Develop a National Integrated Maritime Surveillance System (NIMSS)
  • Upgrade of IT infrastructure in the NCC to ensure exchange of classified information up to EU classified level
  • Upgrade of the NCC in order to ensure 24/7 operation (including staff training)
  • Development of automated reports into EUROSUR to ensure machine-to-machine communication
  • Development of necessary technical tool in order to ensure smooth transmission of information from the National Situational Picture (NSP) to the European Situational Picture;
  • Enhancement of inter-institutional cooperation at national level in order to ensure effective provision of information from national authorities to the NSP.

Schengen Evaluation Recommendations (SR)

Based on the 2021 SR from the Council Implementing Decision 8184/22 and the new Action Plan Greece will prioritise addressing the majority of the SR under the BMVI. Namely, the streghthening of the national capacity to control and monitor the borders, the establishment of a coherent and comprehensive basic, continuous and specialised training system for border guards, the development of a coherent and comprehensive risk analysis system and a national methodology based on CIRAM. The procurement of the necessary equipment to perform border surveillance, scanning and detection is also included. Such information is further detailed in the supporting document “Additional Information and clarifications”.

Flagship Activities

All the equipment (see section 2) purchased will comply with technical standards set out by Frontex and large-scale operating equipment for border management will be registered in the Agency’s Technical Equipment Pool. It shall be used at national level and deployed for operations at EU level. It will be complementary to equipment purchased with Custom Control Equipment Instrument. At the same time, several of the actions refer to the acquisition of equipment, with a view to ensure effective border management, prevention and detection of cross-border crime and timely identification persons entering EU borders (including vulnerable persons).

In particular, the equipment of the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) may be used for assistance to persons in distress and supporting search and rescue operations in situations which might arise during a border surveillance operation at sea.

National capacity shall be reinforced with training and deployment of staff, such as advisers to fight identity fraud, in line with the national capability development plans for border management (see actions in section 2).

Greece prioritises all the requirements stemming from the most recent legislation of EU Acquis, such as EBCG Regulation, and transform these initiatives into actions.

  • The quality control mechanism plan and the updated CIRAM are not in place and this and the enhancement of the collection and exchange of data for the purpose of risks analysis as required in the EBCG 2.0 Regulation will be funded by BMVI (see “Development of a National Quality Control Mechanism ” under section 2) and (“Preparation of a training curriculum related to efficient implementation of CIRAM”Development of national component of EBCG: All national authorities ensure efficient cooperation with EBGC and relevant authorities in other MSs, as well as with the Frontex. Training of national staff being deployed to the Standing Corps Categories 2 and 3, has already received basic and post-training courses focused on border management. This continues to be a priority under BMVI.
  • Ensure the comperehensive implementation of Reg 2019/1896, including development of national component of EBCG, comply with technical standards set out by Frontex and register large-scale operating equipment in the Technical Equipment Pool of Frontex; measures related to the updated CIRAM;
  • Development of a comprehensive training system for basic, continuous and specialised training of border guards as the current system is not efficient and not sufficient.
  • Preserving Schengen area without controls at the internal borders; and measures taking into account the likely development of the legislative framework;
  • Digitalisation of travel documents and equipping border crossing points with the technical capacity needed in order to check fingerprint biometrics encoded in electronic travel documents against the holders of the document. Related training will also be prioritised.
  • Implementation of EUROSUR in line with the latest developments;
  • Measures addressing all, currently and future outstanding shortcomings identified in the Vulnerability Assessment and SR.

Shortcomings to EU Acquis

A detailed list of elements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 regarding EUROSUR is already in place and is provided in the supporting document “Additional Information and clarifications”. Greece will prioritise the following elements to be implemeneted during the period 2021-2027:

  • information exchange via NCC
  • adequate number of staff to ensure 24/7 functionality
  • Compliance with technical standards established by Frontex (in cooperation with Member States) machine-to-machine’ communication
  • Infrastructure (monitors, IT equipment, competent staff, securitised area) to be operational by the end of 2022
  • Full implementation of the NCC functionalities (National Quality Control Mechanism).
  • Correct composition of an NSP
  • Certified Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model (CIRAM) experts from all national competent authorities will be appointed in a working group, tasked with the drafting of the national methodology for risk analysis.

Visa policy

Relevant Data (source: MFA)

Greece has 129 consular authorities (with 350 officers) which receive Schengen visa applications. Additional personnel are deployed every year from the MFA central services or from the Police, according to needs.

Total arrivals: 11,613,000 (2017), 11,668,000 (2018), 12,795,000 (2019), 2,485,000 (2020). Visa

Applications: 1,029,564 (2017), 855,285 (2018), 880,892 (2019), 111,870 (2020).

Challenges & Needs

  • New obligations and opportunities of the new Visa Code and VIS and interoperability rules
  • Consulates allocate resources to detect “marriages of convenience” and to identify the actual purpose of a journey in the Schengen area
  • Implement smart solutions to achieve resilience and flexibility
  • Establish an evaluation system to ensure that EU law and SR are properly implemented
  • Achieve mobility to implement new Visa Code provisions, including stricter monitoring of ESPs
  • TMI to be addressed together with other Identify its effectiveness and future impact on the health system.
  • BREXIT creates needs for additional consulate personnel
  • Further explore consular cooperation options
  • Digitalization of the Visa Process (pilot Visa On-Line system)
  • Achieving sufficient Consular presence and Consular cooperation
  • Develop IT tools for risk analysis and training
  • Ensure interoperability of VIS with other EU large-scale IT systems

National Strategy

  • Develop VIS to fully interoperate with other IT systems
  • Modernize consular services, digitalize visa process, training and risk analysis
  • Increase consular coverage and cooperation with other MS
  • Increase the number of trained consular staff
  • Monitor ESPs more efficiently

Main Actions

  • Improve application processing & large-scale IT systems – VIS
  • Reinforce HR dedicated to examine visa applications, especially in locations where processing time exceed the permitted maxima
  • Train consular personnel to ensure streamline with Visa Code, VIS Regulation and other EU legislation
  • Modify and upgrade VIS to implement the revised Regulation and relevant EU legislation
  • Upgrade consular services and refurbish premises, to align with security and other Visa Code requirements
  • Monitor ESPs and visit Consuls and Consulate IT officers regularly

Flagship activities

  • All the flagship activities in the area of Common Visa Policy are prioritized within BMVI
  • Upgrading of VIS and its interoperability with other EU systems, the uniform application of the EU acquis in relation to visas and the improvement of quality of services for visa applicants are in place and will continue to be prioritized by BMVI
  • The digitalization of visa procedure is not in place and will be financed by BMVI based on the requirements of upcoming EU legislation

Justification on SO2 allocation below 10% threshold

The budget allocationfor SO2 is 13,47% of initial BMVI allocation prior to the transfer of other CPR funds. Moreover, it covers all needs to address the Common Visa Policy, incl. Flagship activities.

Synergies and complementarities

Based on the Partnership Agreement, 3% of other Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) funds (EUR 620 million) is being transferred to BMVI (from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Cohesion Fund (CF) and European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)).

The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) supports facilities for eligible target group (asylum seekers, refugees, beneficiaries of international protection, returnees). Services provided in islands and in Evros are eligible under BMVI before and/or within 25 days after the asylum application.

ERDF covers the “Establishment of an IT System for event management and pre-trial investigation” and “Establishment of an IT System for internal security and border surveillance” projects.

HORIZON 2020 supports projects that create synergies with BMVI, such as BorderUAS, TRESSPASS, FOLDOUT, NESTOR.

Planned use of financial instruments

The use of financial instruments is not foreseen for any of the activities of this programme.

Administrative Capacity

The new Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA) impacted the structure of competent authorities, in particular the Management and Control Systems (MCS). The Responsible Authority’s (RA) move between Ministries implied changes in the procedures adopted. The authorities gained experience and know-how from the implementation of the MFF 14-20, but still face difficulties in covering the needs, mainly in terms of human resources and technical capacity.

The Managing Authority (MA) and key partners’ capacity will add staff, outsource consulting services, IT systems and improve procedures through technical assistance. MCS will be simplified in cooperation with experienced delegated authorities.

Additional info in ANNEX I

2. Specific Objectives & Technical Assistance Reference: Article 22(2) and (4) CPR

 Selected

Specific objective or Technical assistance

Type of action

 

1. European integrated border management

Regular actions

 

1. European integrated border management

Specific actions

 

1. European integrated border management

Annex IV actions

 

1. European integrated border management

Operating support

 

1. European integrated border management

STS

 

1. European integrated border management

Emergency assistance

 

1. European integrated border management

ETIAS regulation Art. 85(2)

 

1. European integrated border management

ETIAS regulation Art. 85(3)

 

2. Common visa policy

Regular actions

 

2. Common visa policy

Specific actions

 

2. Common visa policy

Annex IV actions

 

2. Common visa policy

Operating support

 

2. Common visa policy

Emergency assistance

 

TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR)

 

 

TA.37. Technical assistance - not linked to costs (Art. 37 CPR)

 

2.1. Specific objective: 1. European integrated border management 2.1.1. Description of the specific objective

Baseline situation

The total length of the Hellenic land border is approximately 1,200 km.

National border protection needs constant improvement, in order to overcome smugglers adaptions to prevention means regularly used by border authorities. Consequently, border protection authorities need to reinforce their capacities continuously and invest in emerging technology for surveillance to continue responding effectively.

It is difficult to estimate the number of arrivals in the following years. However, climate crisis and war disputes will probably lead to an increased migratory pressure in the future.

Source: HP, Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), NCC

Entries from BCPs:

  • 2017: 28,315,526: 18,252,864 (EU),10,062,662 (TCNs)
  • 2018: 26,915,673: 17,521,587 (EU), 9,394,086 (TCNs) ,
  • 2019: 29,296,596: 19,960,599 (EU), 9,335,997 (TCNs),
  • 2020: 5,808,567: 4,242,676 (EU), 1,565,891 (TCNs),
  • 1st half of 2021: 3,140,372: 1,567,420 (EU),1,572,952 (TCNs)

Arrests for illegal entry: 43,211(2017), 54,859 (2018), 77,522 (2019), 16,897 (2020) and 5,296 (2021 1st sem).

Specific Challenges/Needs

  • Prevent usage of forged/falsified travel documents
  • Prevent border crossings through unauthorized entry points
  • Prevent illegal border crossings of stowaways hidden in all possible means of transportation
  • Combat trafficking of irregular migrants
  • Ensure long term smooth cross-border traffic, despite of any increase
  • Facilitate cross-border flows, while ensuring border security
  • Use assets and tools from previous Funds to propose new actions, complementary to this NP, through specific actions, or to use the technical specifications material for the ToRs of new procurements
  • Potential use of the iProcureNet network for joint cross border procurement

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

During MFF 14-20, Greece invested in personnel recruitment and training, supply of vehicles/vessels, IT systems, border control and surveillance assets and equipment, resulting in:

  • Reduction of operating costs
  • Reduction of the number of illegally incoming aliens
  • Control of secondary migration flows, with the provisions of 1052/2013 (EUROSUR) (Reg. 2019/1896).

Many actions financed in MFF 14-20, either due to necessity or due to effectiveness, are foreseen for funding under MFF 21-27 also. Such actions include:

  • Acquiring transportation means and patrol vehicles
  • Renewing the fleet used for border surveillance
  • CCTV surveillance systems and heartbeat detectors
  • CCTV surveillance systems installed at border crossing points to assist the surveillance of its premises and the control of illegal entries
  • Acquisition of heartbeat detectors to identify people hidden in modified crypts of vehicles
  • Training personnel deployed at the BCPs
  • Transition from temporary reinforcement of Border Services to a more permanent scheme (e.g. recruitment of personnel)

Implementation measures - Annex II, par.1, (a)

  • Preserving Schengen area without controls at internal borders. Ensuring efficient controls at the external borders and ensuring that border controls at internal borders are reintroduced only as a last resort measure for limited period of time. Prioritise border management measures taking into account the likely development of the legislative framework
  • Measures related to the implementation of updated CIRAM and the enhancement of the collection and exchange of data for the purpose of risks analysis as required in the EBCG 2.0 RegulationEquipping border crossing points with the technical capacity needed in order to check fingerprint biometrics encoded in electronic travel documents against the holder of the document
  • Upgrading EUROSUR through the acquisition of all the necessary IT infrastructure complying with Frontex technical standards and the necessary equipment to ensure that NCC’s performance of tasks provided for in Reg. 2019/1896 and Reg. 2021/581. In addition, the development of necessary technical tool to ensure smooth transmission of information from the NSP to the ESP.

Indicative Types of Actions (in line with Article 13(14)(b) and technical standards set out by Frontex)

Land Vehicles: [Annex III, (1), (b)]

  • Vehicles equipped with integrated thermal imaging cameras and satellite communication
  • Supply and maintenance of Unmanned Ground vehicles
  • All-terrain vehicles
  • SUVs equipped with thermal imaging
  • Vans equipped with x-ray identification

Maritime Vehicles: [Annex III, (1), (b)]

  • Multi-Purpose Vessels over 70 m, all-weather, with a helipad suitable for a 10-ton helicopter and a launch pad for an emergency intermediate speedboat with emerging technology surveillance equipment (radar, thermal cameras etc)
  • High-speed patrol boats up to 13 m, with emerging technology surveillance equipment (radar, thermal camera etc.) that can exceed 50 knot-speed
  • Patrol and rescue boats over 5, 18 and 30 m

Aerial Vehicles [Annex III, (1), (b)]

  • Drones
  • Quadcopter UAVs
  • UAV Helicopter
  • Upgraded AS-365 N3 Helicopters
  • Activation of HC-33 helicopter type AS-365 N3
  • Acquisition of new medium-range surveillance aircraft
  • Acquisition of two (2) super medium helicopters for personnel transport

Provision of Border Surveillance assets and equipment [Annex III, (1), (a) and (b)]

  • Automated surveillance system, and interconnection of the Regional Centres for Integrated Border Management and Immigration
  • Develop NIMSS
  • Supply of an over-the-top surveillance and video system, using a regular balloon
  • Improve information analysis data of i2 type
  • Portable thermal imaging cameras
  • CCTV systems and necessary equipment
  • Heartbeat detectors
  • Equipping border crossing points with the technical capacity needed in order to check fingerprint biometrics encoded in electronic travel documents against the holder of the document
  • Document forgery recognition devices and equipment for border and passport checks
  • Automated license plate recognition system for vehicles crossing the country’s official entry-exit points
  • Long-range high-accuracy Surveillance Radars
  • Specialized means and equipment for improving the electronic system for Management and coordination of surveillance land and sea borders
  • Remote long-range high-accuracy Surveillance Radars
  • Long Range Electro-Optical Surveillance Systems for NIMSS
  • Extension of NIMSS in southwestern Greece, mainly between Zakynthos and Innovative solutions, such as offshore surveillance platforms, will be explored.
  • Radar Emissions direction finder Systems for the 2-18 GHz frequency
  • Portable Iridium Radios
  • Rescue Diver Intercom
  • Prioritising investments into the digitalisation of travel documents, which will facilitate the whole travel process and interoperability.
  • Training for Pilot Simulator (training for aircraft operators)
  • Vest Secular Type, Diver Wetsuits, Baby Rescue Bag, Rescue Harness, First Aid Bags with Equipment and Drugs, Thermal imaging googles, Night vision goggles, Anti-ballistic vests, and equipment
  • Modernization, upgrade and acquisition of electronic equipment
  • Supply of canine cars and of dogs for HP and HCG
  • Construction of aircraft hangars for air fleet maintenance and surveillance
  • Achieving a secure and direct communication between the HCG staff working on the ground and the staff working in the Head Quarters (purchase of mobile phones)
  • Enhance existing surveillance system at the Hellenic-Turkish border in order to detect illegal crossings, thus protecting the lives of those who are encouraged by traffickers or state-actors to do so. Such system can be composed of technological surveillance border management infrastructure, electronic software and staff.

Ensuring the uniform application of the Union acquis [Annex II, (1), (d)]

  • Prioritising measures addressing all currently and in the future outstanding shortcomings identified in Vulnerability Assessment and the Schengen Evaluation.

Identification Facilities [Annex III, (1), (b)]

  • Operation of the Reception and Identification Service (RIS) with food provision, cleaning services, security, technical support and maintenance)
  • Deployment of interpreters in MPRICs to reduce time needed for identification and acquisition of necessary documents for the Persons of Concern (POCs)
  • Develop the necessary workstations at BCPs

Training and capacity development in the field of border management [Annex III, (1), (c)]

  • Ensure the comperehensive implementation of Reg 2019/1896, including development of national component of EBCG, comply with technical standards set out by Frontex and register large-scale operating equipment in the Technical Equipment Pool of Frontex; measures related to the application of the updated CIRAM;
  • Training of personnel, including EUROSUR operators, as well as those deployed to the Standing Corps (Cat. 2 and 3), as well as staff to carry out checking fingerprint biometrics encoded in electronic travel documents against the holder of the document at the border crossing points (border surveillance, identification of nationality, passport control, fundamental rights, information, risk assessment - strategic analysis, legality control, foreign languages and dedicated training for Immigration Liaison Officers)
  • Preparation of a training curriculum related to efficient implementation of CIRAM
  • Development of National Quality Control
  • Training of HP and MFA personnel on issues related to the implementation of the EES, including GDPR
  • Training in large-scale IT systems operators
  • Training personnel coming into contact with third country nationals
  • Training and capacity building activities to relevant staff on fundamental rights for the The train-the-trainers actions will be covered by eu-LISA.
  • The eu-LISA provides training but this training is not a part of a national training programme for the competent personnel for the HP. However, complementarity may be achieved, since HP staff (technical administrators) that will be assigned with the use of Large Scale IT systems (EES, SIS, Eurodac etc) will receive relevant training from eu-LISA during the years 2022 and 2023. And training on interoperability components.
  • Personnel training of the Air Media Service HCG
  • Training of HCG personnel on Integrated Border Management as part of the development of a comprehensive training system for basic, continuous and specialised training of border

Implementation measures

Annex II, par.1, (e)

Indicative Types of Actions

IT systems [Annex III, (1), (h), (l) ]

  • Develop / upgrade large-scale IT Systems and ensure their interteroperability (EES, ETIAS, interoperability components)
  • Implementing the EES
  • Service used for the interconnection of National Border infrastructure
  • Ιnterconnection of National Border infrastructure, CAPs and competent authorities with the NUIs (EES - ETIAS-VIS-Interoperability).
  • Developing national interfaces for access and connection to communication infrastructures and integration of the existing national systems
  • Establishing an IT System for the HP related to border protection duties (The main characteristics of the system will be the following: Decision making and administration based on information deriving from other IT systems. Development of an integrated risk analysis system. Standardization of the operating mode of all Regional HP Services, by dividing administrative and operational activities.
  • Development of IT tools for risk analysis for ETIAS NUI.Specific Action BMVI/2021/SA/1.5.4/009 “Support to comply with the implementation of the relevant interoperability legal framework”

Desired outcomes and expected results

  • Facilitate legitimate border crossings
  • Reinforce border controls and surveillance across the border (land, sea, air)
  • Prevent unauthorized entries through all BCPs with increased efficiency
  • Ensure sufficient number of trained staff for border control; ansure a coherent HR strategy and a comprehensive training system for border guards
  • Reduce operating costs
  • Strengthen the operational capacity of operational personnel in the performance of their duties
  • Optimal protection of country’s borders
  • Strengthen and renew the fleet and consequently upgrade the response capacity of the HCG
  • Increase effectiveness of border surveillance, cross-border surveillance, and the pre-border area, which are objectives of Integrated Border Management Strategy 2018-2020
  • Contribute to the prevention and fight against illegal crossings of sea borders
  • Ensure high added value in the pursuit of dismantling organized criminal networks
  • Reduce migrant population residing in RIS facilities at the border
  • Extend technological capabilities
  • Provide sufficient processing time required for the conduction of work and collection of information that is processed through outdated or analogue methods
  • Minimize the time required to process vehicles and individuals, and prevent illegal crossings
  • Establish quality control mechanisms of EU and in particular the Schengen assessment process and the vulnerability assessment methodology
  • Ensure effective information provision and exchange in EUROSUR in compliance with the

requirements deriving from Reg. 2019/1896 and 2021/581, as well as with technical standards and data security rules developed by the Agency

  • Ensure full fuctionality of the NCC

Operating Support [Annex III, (1), (l)]

To assure effective border management, Greece identified the need to add more competent and experienced personnel. Training and recruitment of Border Guards will increase the operational capacity of the competent authorities, which are in charge of the Greek border control, surveillance and the management of migration flows. In addition, recruitment of police personnel will contribute to the reduction of seconded staff temporarily transferred to these Police Directorates, optimizing both human and financial resources. The presence of Police personnel at the near-border Police Directorates will contribute to the reduction of migratory pressure in these regions and will ensure more effective control and optimal surveillance at the country borders. Personnel recruitment and training will enhance the management of the migrant and asylum-seeking population that currently resides in the MPRICs; this will contribute to reducing the time needed for identification and acquisition of necessary documents for the POCs. Specifically, the proposed actions that fall under the eligibility of operating support based on the BMVI regulation are:

Personnel Recruitment and Training

Hellenic Police [Annex III, (1), (c)]

  • Increase the existing number of police personnel by 1,600 new recruits, while covering their operating expenses as part of the ongoing operating support
  • Coverage of: a) payroll costs for Border Guards and b) daily allowances away from the main base of activity/operations, overnight and travel expenses for the deployment of police personnel
  • Support personnel training to enable the use of new large-scale IT-systems, and other border management-related trainings

Hellenic Coast Guard [Annex III, (1), (c)]

  • Coverage of expenditure for the transfer of 80 executives per year to Border Port Authorities
  • Providing short-term traineeship programmes for the new personel of HCG on border surveillance as part of the development of a comprehensive training system for basic, continuous and specialised training of border guards. Its necessary element should be a training on Fundamental Rights (theory + practice during surveillance, and related possible Search and Rescue (SAR) acitvities)

Management of MPRICs [Annex III, (1), (c)]

  • Recruitment of staff for the purpose of guarding, security, and emergency response in the MPRICs, where migrants and refugees entering the Hellenic territory are temporarily hosted
  • Deployment of interpreters in MPRICs to reduce the time needed for identification and acquisition of necessary documents for the POCs

The added value of supported Staff to the achievement of the BMVI scope:

  • Ensuring a high level of operational readiness and efficiency
  • Preventing border crossings at unauthorized entry points in line with the Schengen acquis and with respect for fundamental rights
  • Ensuring more efficient management of mixed migration flows
  • Continuous and effective monitoring of the situation on the land, river and lake, as well maritime borders of the country
  • Provide necessary services to first-comers to EU territory migrants within the remit of BMVI

IT systems [Annex III, (1), (l)]

  • Operating costs for supporting and maintaining the information/IT systems (hardware and software) under development
  • Maintenance of ETIAS National Units (NUIs) and competent authorities with the NUIs and Central EES, ETIAS and Information Operations

Maintenance of Infrastructure/ Facilities [Annex III, (1), (a)]

In order to increase the quality of services provided, the fund will support upgrading and renovation of certain buildings and infrastructures located at the national border. Specifically, the proposed actions are:

  • Developing the necessary workstations at Border Crossing Points and at the Operational Centres to enable the use of the new IT systems and equipment,
  • Configuration of buildings / port infrastructures and supply of material and technical equipment for the Repair Base HCG in Elefsina& Thessaloniki
  • Maintenance of RIS accommodation facilities in the MPRICs

Goals of the proposed actions:

The operating support is expected to strengthen and develop the country’s reception system at the border areas by improving and maintaining the living conditions for beneficiaries residing in MPRICs temporarily within the timelimites defined above. It is of paramount importance to comply with legal requirements for TCNs as per determined in the EU acquis

Indicative list of Beneficiaries both from actions and operating support, including their statutory responsibilities

  • Ministry of Citizen Protection / National Coordination Centre (NCC)
  • Hellenic Police (HP) (Surveillance of the land border, BCPs/border control (land, sea, air), enforcement of aliens legislation and the national anticrime policy)
  • HCG (Surveillance of sea borders and enforcement of anticrime measures in its area of responsibility)
  • Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF) (subsidiary role) - (Surveillance of land, sea and air borders for ensuring country’s national integrity and defence)
  • Reception & Identification Service (RIS) (Implementation of identification procedures of illegally entered TCNs or stateless persons)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) ((Implementation of the national foreign policy (EU and third countries cooperation), Visa policy)

Specific actions

BMVI/2021-2022/SA/1.2.1/015 -Project REACTION

BMVI/2023-2024/SA/1.2.2/12 - Equipment for EBCG

BMVI/2023/SA/1.1.4/009


2.1. Specific objective 1. European integrated border management 2.1.2. Indicators Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Table 1: Output indicators

IDIndicatorMeasurement unitMilestone (2024)Target (2029)
O.1.1Number of items of equipment purchased for border crossing pointsnumber3,9917,876
O.1.1.1of which number of Automated Border Control gates / self-service systems / e- gates purchasednumber00
O.1.2Number of infrastructure maintained / repairednumber24
O.1.3Number of hotspot areas supportednumber04
O.1.4Number of facilities for border crossing points constructed / upgradednumber00
O.1.5Number of aerial vehicles purchasednumber442
O.1.5.1of which number of unmanned aerial vehicles purchasednumber025
O.1.6Number of maritime transport means purchasednumber250
O.1.7Number of land transport means purchasednumber3301,019
O.1.8Number of participants supportednumber5,18013,102
O.1.8.1of which number of participants in training activitiesnumber98511,742
O.1.9Number of immigration liaison officers deployed to third countriesnumber00
O.1.10Number of IT functionalities developed / maintained / upgradednumber0240
O.1.11Number of large-scale IT systems developed / maintained / upgradednumber22
O.1.11.1of which number of large-scale IT systems developednumber22
O.1.12Number of cooperation projects with third countriesnumber00
O.1.13Number of persons who have applied for international protection at border crossing pointsnumber00
2.1. Specific objective 1. European integrated border management 2.1.2. Indicators Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Table 2: Result indicators

ID

Indicator

Measurement unit

Baseline

Measurement unit for baseline

Reference year(s)

Target (2029)

Measurement unit for target

Source of data

Comments

R.1.14

Number of items of equipment registered in the Technical Equipment Pool of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency

number

0

number

2021

331

number

Hellenic Coast Guard

 

R.1.15

Number of items of equipment put at the disposal of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency

number

0

number

2021

79

number

Hellenic Coast Guard

 

R.1.16

Number of initiated / improved forms of cooperation of national authorities with the Eurosur National Coordination Centre (NCC)

number

0

number

2021

0

number

N/A

 

R.1.17

Number of border crossings through Automated Border Control gates and e-gates

number

0

share

2021

0

number

N/A

 

R.1.18

Number of addressed recommendations from Schengen Evaluations and from vulnerability assessments in the area of border management

number

0

number

2021

100

percentage

Hellenic Police, Hellenic Coast Guard

 

R.1.19

Number of participants who report three months after the training activity that they are using the skills and competences acquired during the training

number

0

share

2021

10,064

number

Ministy of Defence- Ministry of Citizen Protection - Hellenic Coast Guard

 

R.1.20

Number of persons refused entry by border authorities

number

0

number

2021

0

number

N/A

 
2.1. Specific objective 1. European integrated border management 2.1.3. Indicative breakdown of the programme resources (EU) by type of intervention 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

Type of intervention

Code

Indicative amount (Euro)

Intervention field

001.Border checks 

43,000,000.00

Intervention field

002.Border surveillance - air equipment

58,000,000.00

Intervention field

003.Border surveillance - land equipment

72,506,500.00

Intervention field

004.Border surveillance - maritime equipment

141,000,000.00

Intervention field

005.Border surveillance - automated border surveillance systems

165,000,000.00

Intervention field

006.Border surveillance - other measures

91,786,299.76

Intervention field

007.Technical and operational measures within the Schengen area which are related to border control

450,000.00

Intervention field

008.Situational awareness and exchange of information

0.00

Intervention field

009.Risk analysis

750,000.00

Intervention field

010.Processing of data and information

1,875,000.00

Intervention field

011.Hotspot areas

0.00

Intervention field

012.Measures related to the identification and referral of vulnerable persons

0.00

Intervention field

013.Measures related to the identification and referral of persons who are in need of, or wish to apply for, international protection

0.00

Intervention field

014.European Border and Coast Guard development

525,000.00

Intervention field

015.Inter-agency cooperation - national level

0.00

Intervention field

016.Inter-agency cooperation - European Union level

0.00

Intervention field

017.Inter-agency cooperation - with third countries

0.00

Intervention field

018.Joint deployment of immigration liaison officers

0.00

Intervention field

019.Large-scale IT systems  - Eurodac for border management purposes

0.00

Intervention field

020.Large-scale IT systems  -  Entry-exit System (EES)

886,000.00

Intervention field

021.Large-scale IT systems  -  European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - others

2,250,000.00

Intervention field

022.Large-scale IT systems - European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Article 85(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1240

0.00

Intervention field

023.Large-scale IT systems - European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Article 85(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1240

0.00

Intervention field

024.Large-scale IT systems  -  Schengen Information System (SIS)

0.00

Intervention field

025.Large-scale IT systems - Interoperability

37,732,529.25

Intervention field

026.Operating support - Integrated border management

328,014,457.79

Intervention field

027.Operating support - Large-scale IT systems for border management purposes

10,000,000.00

Intervention field

028.Operating support - Special Transit Scheme

0.00

Intervention field

029.Data quality and data subjects’ rights to information, access to, rectification and erasure of,their personal data, and to the retriction of the processing thereof

0.00

2.1. Specific objective: 2. Common visa policy 2.1.1. Description of the specific objective

Baseline situation/Relevant data (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

With the support of the previous funding instrument, Greece increased the rate of Schengen visas issued in 2017 by more than 8.7% in comparison to 2015 (166,559 more visas) and 2016 (57,313 more visas). In order to maintain the steady increase of visa application numbers, Greece with the use of the BMVI funding instrument will address the challenge of fully digitizing the visa process, by providing personnel training to those assigned to complete relevant processes and by ensuring that the data is swiftly and accurately gathered, recorded and disseminated to the relevant authorities through the use of interconnected IT systems and the national Visa Information System (N-VIS). Regarding personnel capacity for the verification of means of subsistence and fraudulent documents, it should be noted that there was an increase in the refusal rate of visa issuance in comparison to 2016, from 2.8% to 3.5%.

Specific challenges/needs

The specific challenges that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to address in the following years are mainly the following:

  • Delays in procurement
  • Lack of legal expertise
  • Upcoming personnel retirement
  • Frequent personnel mobility in consular authorities
  • Lack of experts (Schengen and IT experts)
  • Budgetary restraints that limit the national capacity to address the needs
  • Political, health and security situations in third countries and the new visa trends
  • Advanced methods in identification or document forgery

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

MFF 14-20 allowed optimal response and performance of the VIS system. Applicants were served faster and working conditions were improved. In this context, Greece considers that it is vital to keep a robust and up-to-date system (regarding IT hardware and software needs). Therefore, the continuation of actions such as procurement of additional VIS workstations, upgrades of IT software, infrastructures and line bandwidth, coverage of operational telecommunication costs, as well as the cost of relocating consular authorities premises, where needed, to continue supporting VIS interoperability with other systems.

The implementation of a pilot action called “Field Workers” – with the reinforcement of Police Officers and additional specialized MFA employees at Consular Authorities bearing a high workload – increased the visa application rejection rate, while numbers of granted visas remained high (statistics 2019). Such improvement in the quality of control indicated the need to continue this action.

Health precautions for Consular personnel requires expenditure in infrastructure to continue. The new Visa Code commands limited physical presence of visa applicants (once every five years to collect fingerprints). Thus, Greece will fully digitalize the visa process in this programming period.

Finally, relevant experience gained previously by the SR on ESPs operation, will be used to properly implement contracts allowing Consuls and IT officers to perform necessary visits, allowing for constant monitoring and report.

Implementing Measures Annex II, par.(2), (a)

The indicative types of actions: Annex III, par.2, (e)

  • Develop IT tools for risk analysis and Relevant tools already used by the Netherlands and Austria were pointed out as a best practice by the Schengen evaluation mechanism. Such tools could be shared by those countries or be developed gradually in cooperation with Frontex and national authorities. A Risk Analysis tool will be incorporated in the VIS system similar to the national risk analysis system and its products to assist Consular staff in decision making for granting visa, or not. A Training IT tool, that includes production of video educational material with Q&A, mobile application etc.
  • Monitor ESPs by allowing Consuls and IT officers to conduct regular visits. The New Visa Code requires consular monitoring by conducting on site visits at the ESPs and frequently reporting back to central authorities. This is a demanding task, as it requires IT-competent personnel. For this reason, it is necessary to have additional support from IBMF.

Annex II, par.(2), (c) / Annex III, par.2, (e)

Study on the Impact of TMI (Travel Medical Insurance) to the national health system. This study focuses on third-country nationals, holders of Schengen Visas with a TMI by an insurance company up to the amount of € 30,000. The following issues will be examined:

  • How does insurance coverage work in practice from an institutional and administrative point of view?
  • Are there distortions in the system (from the activation to the compensation by the insurance company)?
  • What are the conclusions and proposals for hospitals and Consulates?
  • The study includes the creation of questionnaires, skype interviews with Consular authorities, collection of all statistical data related to the study subject, collection of all relevant studies already

Digitalization of visa files. Greece has high expenditure for archive space, where visa applications files and relevant documents are kept. The new visa code allows digital files. The new applications may be digitally stored mainly by ESPs, however older files need time and adequate funding to be digitized as well.

Procurement of Visa Stickers.

Annex II, par.(2), (e) / Annex III, par.2, (b)

IT systems

  • Visa Information System (VIS) IT system modifications and upgrades to implement the revised VIS Regulation and relevant EU legislation, including trainings for authorised personnel (end users etc.) on fundamental rights, such as the prohibition of discrimination, the right to the protection of personal data, including the obligation of authorities to inform third-country nationals about their data subject rights, the respect of human dignity when collecting biometric data, the rights of children, the rights of persons with disability etc.
  • Upgrade of NET -VIS for the interconnection of Hellenic Consular authorities in third countries with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NUIs, which includes: monitoring of all SLA indicators, upgrading network management software, network elements and interfaces as well as operation control of services provided over the network. Troubleshooting the network through a fault monitoring system and all repairs and interventions in network equipment.
  • Procurement of appropriate software for monitoring the configuration of active equipment per point/node.
  • Upgrade N-VIS, including technical support for N-VIS system includes all N-VIS hardware and

 

software in the Foreign Ministry premises in Athens, Thessaloniki and all Consular Authorities.

  • Ensure proper functioning of equipment and systems
  • Preventive & Remedial software (rehabilitation problems, shortages, defects, deviations from specifications and applications software malfunctions, upgrades, supply and install updated versions of software).
  • Preventive & Remedial Upgrade Material H /W of Foreign Ministry nodes in Athens and Thessaloniki and all Consular Missions (rehabilitation failures and malfunctions, installation parts, accessories and other necessary materials for maintenance, replacement with spare equipment in case of serious damage and also custom duties, custom fees, transportation and other expenses incurred).
  • Further development of the Visa On-Line

Desired outcomes and expected results

  • More efficient response of Consulates to the increased demands, especially in high-demand seasons, including fast visa processing
  • Upgrading Consular service delivery, contributing to proper application of VIS and provision of flexible and innovative Consular services
  • Ensuring system integrity and continuity and preventing VIS network failures due to obsolete systems
  • Increase in data security (crypto products), improvement of response times for biometric data retrieval and processing
  • Increase in network security and access control of the Consular Offices to the VIS and their systems which are interoperable with VIS (EES, etc.)
  • Significant reduction of misuse-abuse of visa applications and better protection of the Schengen area from security, public order and epidemiological threats
  • Providing on-the-job training to all Consular officials in their country of accreditation and subsequent reduction of personnel needing to move to the MFA HQ for training purposes
  • Enhanced capacity of Consular staff, including local staff, related to Schengen visa processing and consular cooperation
  • Improving ESPs’ monitoring
  • Saving resources by creating AI tools for training and risk analysis
  • Decreasing the need for physical presence of visa applicants by developing electronic visa processing tools
  • Decreasing budget allocation for renting spaces for archiving visa files and contributing to a more efficient and secure storage mode
  • Ensuring and verifying that officers have adequate capacities in the field to address any new challenges regarding Visa application processes
  • Preventing irregular migration and helping protect European MS citizens The new systems will allow easier third-country nationals travel while it becomes easier for operational officers to efficiently identify over-stayers as well as document and identity fraud.

Operating Support - Annex II, par.(2), (e) / Annex III, par.2, (a)

Facilities / Infrastructure

Upgrade Consular services and refurbish premises to align with security and other Visa Code requirements, subject to location-specific requirements. More specifically:

  • The Action focuses on renovation-refurbishment (incl. security services) of Consular premises subject to location-specific requirements in order to align with security requirements, in compliance with the Visa Code and VIS Regulation. Indicatively, subject to a per location evaluation approach: improve accessibility for disabled people, install security doors, bullet-proof windows, security cameras, seating area equipment, room separators, air-conditioning, intercom systems, crowd control equipment, shredders Additional infrastructure will be acquired for the protection of personnel from health hazards.
  • In-situ training will be customized subject to each Consulate’s identified training needs and will include its entire serving personnel. Apart from generic issues on visa policy, it will also cover specified topics, depending on the identified training needs of each Consular Authority, such as the identification of false / forged travel documents, data protection and their capacity to respond to the needs of the Schengen evaluation mechanism. The training will be carried out by a team consisting of both personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hellenic Police Officers, with expertise in Schengen and visa policy.
  • The above-mentioned actions have already received funding by ISF and the Final Beneficiary is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Staff training

Secondment of expert “field workers”, in addition to the national secondments during high season for the support of the visa administrative process, the reduction of misuse/abuse of visa applications, including “visa-shopping” and the detection of false or falsified documents.

To be more specific:

Increase in visa processers is a major challenge for the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For this purpose, an innovative pilot programme of secondment of visa experts (“field workers”) to Consular Authorities is already being implemented successfully during high season, in order to support the visa administrative process, reduce cases of misuse and abuse of visa applications, including “visa-shopping”, detect false or falsified documents, and swiftly issue Visas to bona fide travellers. According to experience gained so far, “field workers” have significantly assisted the Consulates with their work, especially in recognizing false and falsified documents and ensuring a swift and secure visa process.

Staff reinforcement is allocated according to workload, depending on requests submitted by Embassies/Consulates. The length of temporary secondment depends on the specific requests and workload of each Embassy/Consulate. Specially trained officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Citizen Protection receive additional training and are seconded for a short period of time, in order to support the Consulates during the high season. Additionally, the current visa trends indicate that a significant increase in visa applications is to be expected in certain countries. Furthermore, it should be underlined that the cooperation with External Service Providers and intermediaries has led to an increased number of short stay visas from tourism markets.

The above-mentioned Action has been considered as a good practice to similar actions by EU member states, during Greece’s Schengen assessment, presented under the Romanian Presidency (EU "Visas").

IT systems

  • Maintenance and support of VIS system (NET-VIS network and N-VIS system)
  • Maintenance and support of the NUIs Data Centers

Indicative list of Beneficiaries

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2.1. Specific objective 2. Common visa policy 2.1.2. Indicators Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Table 1: Output indicators

 

ID

Indicator

Measurement unit

Milestone (2024)

Target (2029)

O.2.1

Number of projects supporting the digitalisation of visa processing

number

1

1

O.2.2

Number of participants supported

number

0

268

O.2.2.1

of which number of participants in training activities

number

0

240

O.2.3

Number of staff deployed to consulates in third countries

number

0

680

O.2.3.1

of which number of staff deployed for visa processing

number

0

600

O.2.4

Number of IT functionalities developed / maintained / upgraded

number

0

3

O.2.5

Number of large-scale IT systems developed / maintained / upgraded

number

0

1

O.2.5.1

of which number of large-scale IT systems developed

number

0

0

O.2.6

Number of infrastructure maintained / repaired

number

0

20

O.2.7

Number of real estates rented / depreciated

number

0

0

2.1. Specific objective 2. Common visa policy 2.1.2. Indicators Reference: point (e) of Article 22(4) CPR

Table 2: Result indicators

 

ID

Indicator

Measurement unit

Baseline

Measurement unit for baseline

Reference year(s)

Target (2029)

Measurement unit for target

Source of data

Comments

R.2.8

Number of new / upgraded consulates outside the Schengen area

number

0

number

2021

20

number

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

R.2.8.1

of which number of consulates upgraded to enhance client-friendliness for Visa applicants

number

0

number

2021

20

number

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

R.2.9

Number of addressed recommendations from Schengen Evaluations in the area of the common visa policy

number

0

number

2021

0

percentage

N/A

 

R.2.10

Number of visa applications using digital means

number

0

share

2021

0

number

N/A

 

R.2.11

Number of initiated / improved forms of cooperation set up among Member States in visa processing

number

0

number

2021

1

number

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

R.2.12

Number of participants who report three months after the training activity that they are using the skills and competences acquired during the training

number

0

share

2021

240

number

Minitry of Foreign Affairs

 

2.1. Specific objective 2. Common visa policy 2.1.3. Indicative breakdown of the programme resources (EU) by type of intervention 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

 

Type of intervention

Code

Indicative amount (Euro)

Intervention field

001.Improving visa application processing

3,000,000.00

Intervention field

002.Enhancing the efficiency, client-friendly environment and security at consulates

1,000,000.00

Intervention field

003.Document security / document advisors

0.00

Intervention field

004.Consular cooperation

0.00

Intervention field

005.Consular coverage

9,000,000.00

Intervention field

006.Large-scale IT systems  - Visa Information System (VIS)

33,000,000.00

Intervention field

007.Other ICT systems for visa application processing purposes

3,000,000.00

Intervention field

008.Operating support - Common visa policy

9,000,000.00

Intervention field

009.Operating support - Large-scale IT systems for visa application processing purposes

0.00

Intervention field

010.Operating support - Special Transit Scheme

0.00

Intervention field

011.Issuance of visas with limited territorial validity

0.00

Intervention field

012.Data quality and data subjects’ rights to information, access to, rectification and erasure of, their personal data, and to the restriction of the processing thereof

0.00

2.2. Technical assistance: TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR) Reference: point (f) of Article 22(3), Article 36(5), Article 37, and Article 95 CPR

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
2.2. Technical assistance TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR) 2.2.2. Indicative breakdown of technical assistance pursuant to Article 37 CPR

Table 4: Indicative breakdown

Type of intervention

Code

Indicative amount (Euro)

Intervention field

001.Information and communication

6,240,430.72

Intervention field

002.Preparation, implementation, monitoring and control

12,480,861.44

Intervention field

003.Evaluation and studies, data collection

6,240,430.72

Intervention field

004.Capacity building

37,442,584.32

3. Financing plan Reference: point (g) Article 22(3) CPR 3.1. Financial appropriations by year

Table 5: Financial appropriations per year

Allocation type

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

Total

Initial allocation

 

69,121,265.00

83,982,874.00

90,577,059.00

70,132,698.00

58,052,963.00

58,843,976.00

430,710,835.00

Mid-term review

        

Thematic facility WPI

 

3,956,481.00

     

3,956,481.00

Thematic facility WPII

  

16,966,890.00

29,993,760.00   

46,960,650.00

Thematic facility WPIII

        

Transfer (in)

 

104,812,817.00

107,248,962.00

109,241,110.00

111,197,672.00

93,027,191.00

95,320,376.00

620,848,128.00

Transfer (out)

        

Total

 

177,890,563.00

208,198,726.00

229,811,929.00

181,330,370.00

151,080,154.00

154,164,352.00

1,102,476,094.00

3.2. Total financial allocations

Table 6: Total financial allocations by fund and national contribution

Specific objective (SO)

Type of action

Basis for calculation Union support (total or public)

Union contribution (a)

National contribution (b)=(c)+(d)

Indicative breakdown of national contribution

Total (e)=(a)+(b)

Co-financing rate (f)=(a)/(e)

Public (c)

Private (d)

European integrated border management

Regular actions

Total

596,022,299.76

198,674,099.92

198,674,099.92

 

794,696,399.68

75.0000000000%

European integrated border management

Specific actions

Total

48,035,029.25

9,267,225.48

9,267,225.48

 

57,302,254.73

83.8274680051%

European integrated border management

Annex IV actions

Total

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

0.00

 

European integrated border management

Operating support

Total

338,014,457.79

112,671,485.93

112,671,485.93

 

450,685,943.72

75.0000000000%

European integrated border management

ETIAS regulation Art. 85(2)

Total

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

0.00

 

European integrated border management

ETIAS regulation Art. 85(3)

Total

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

0.00

 

Total European integrated border management

  

982,071,786.80

320,612,811.33

320,612,811.33

 

1,302,684,598.13

75.3883010676%

Common visa policy

Regular actions

Total

49,000,000.00

16,333,333.34

16,333,333.34

 

65,333,333.34

74.9999999923%

Common visa policy

Annex IV actions

Total

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

0.00

 

Common visa policy

Operating support

Total

9,000,000.00

3,000,000.00

3,000,000.00

 

12,000,000.00

75.0000000000%

Total Common visa policy

  

58,000,000.00

19,333,333.34

19,333,333.34

 

77,333,333.34

74.9999999935%

Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR)

  

62,404,307.20

   

62,404,307.20

100.0000000000%

Grand total

  

1,072,482,334.00

339,946,144.67

339,946,144.67

 

1,442,422,238.67

76.4322723571%

3.3. Transfers

Table 7: Transfers between shared management funds1

 

Transferring fund

Receiving fund

AMIF

ISF

ERDF

ESF+

CF

EMFAF

Total

BMVI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1Cumulative amounts for all transfers during programming period.

Table 8: Transfers to instruments under direct or indirect management1

 

Instrument

Transfer Amount

1Cumulative amounts for all transfers during programming period.

 

4. Enabling conditions Reference: point (i) of Article 22(3) CPR

Table 9: Horizontal enabling conditions

Enabling conditionFulfilment of enabling conditionCriteriaFulfilment of criteriaReference to relevant documentsJustification
1. Effective monitoring mechanisms of the public procurement marketYes

Monitoring mechanisms are in place that cover all public contracts and their procurement under the Funds in line with Union procurement legislation. That requirement includes:

1. Arrangements to ensure compilation of effective and reliable data on public procurement procedures above the Union thresholds in accordance with reporting obligations under Articles 83 and 84 of Directive 2014/24/EU and Articles 99 and 100 of Directive 2014/25/EU.

 
  • Law 4412/2016 (Articles 45, 277, 340, 341)
  • Joint Ministerial Decision 06.2021
  • Positive Opinion of Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority

Greece has transposed into Greek law the relevant provisions of the Directives and has taken the actions induced by them:

In Article 340 of Law 4412/2016, Articles 83(1-5) of Directive 2014/24/EU and 99(1- 5) of Directive 2014/25/EU are intergated, by appointing the Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (H.S.P.P.A.) as the competent body for monitoring the system, according to its competences. Furthermore, by delegation of the above Article 340, the Common Ministerial Decision no.

70362/24.06.2021 was issued, which determines the details for drafting the monitoring report for the implementation of public procurement rules (Government Gazette B’ 2802/30.06.2021, see also corrections in Government Gazette B’ 3488/30.07.2021).

In Article 45 of Law 4412/2016, Articles 83(6) and 84(2) of Directive 2014/24/EU are incorporated. In article 277 of the same Law, paragraph 6 of Article 99(6) and 100(2) of Directive 2014/25/EU are integrated.

In article 341 of Law 4412/2016, Articles 84(1), 84(3)of Directive 2014/24/EU and 100(1), 100(3) of Directive 2014/25/EU are incorporated.

2. Arrangements to ensure the data cover at least the following elements:

a. Quality and intensity of competition: names of winning bidder, number of initial bidders and contractual value;

b. Information on final price after completion and on participation of SMEs as direct bidders, where national systems provide such information.

Yes• Joint Ministerial Decision 76928/9-7-2021

The requested data can be retrieved from the following information systems:

a) Central Electronic Public Procurement Registry (KIMDIS);

b) Integrated Information System of the National System of Electronic Public Procurement (OPS ESIDIS) and

c) Monitoring Information System of the National Strategic Reference Framework (OPS NSRF).

For the retrieval of requested data, the competent departments of the Ministry of Development & Investments and the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport as well as the Special Service of the Monitoring Information System of the NSRF cooperate.

The details of the contractors are registered in KIMDIS in the registration tabs of award decisions, contracts and payments.

The number of submitted bids is available in OPS ESIDIS.

The value of the contract without VAT is included in every contract registered in KIMDIS.

The final value of a contract is reflected in the value of the respective award decision and the contract which are registered in KIMDIS.

There is no information available on the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the electronic public procurement systems.

3. Arrangements to ensure monitoring and analysis of the data by the competent national authorities in accordance with article 83 (2) of  directive 2014/24/EU and article 99  (2) of directive 2014/25/EU.Yes

• Law 4412/2016 (Article 340)

• Law 4013/2011

• Organization chart of Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority

Greece, in order to meet the requirements for monitoring the public procurement system, as set out in Articles 83(2) of Directive 2014/24/EU and 99(2) of Directive 2014/25/EU, has taken the following actions:

• With Article 340 of Law 4412/2016, H.S.P.P.A. was appointed as the competent body for monitoring the system, according to its relevant competencies and responsibilities, as described in its Establishment Act (Law 4013/2016) and its Internal Rules of Operation (Government Gazette A’ 52/01.04.2019).

• With the Common Ministerial Decision no. 70362/24.06.2021, published in Government Gazette B’ 2802/30.06.2021 and corrected in Government Gazette B’ 3488/30.07.2021, the details for the collection and analysis of data were determined.

4. Arrangements to make the results of the analysis available to the public in accordance with article 83 (3) of directive 2014/24/EU and article 99 (3) directive 2014/25/EU.Yes

• Monitoring Report of the Public Procurement System for 2017 (Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority)

• DG-GROW Country reports

• Hellenic public procurement monitoring report for the period 2018 – 2020

• Monitoring Report of the Public Contract System for the period 2018-2020 (Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority)

• Announcements of Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority

The monitoring report of the public procurement system of article 340 of Law 4412/2016 is published on the website of H.S.P.P.A. as well as on the DG-GROW website, where all respective MS country reports are published:

https://eaadhsy.gr/index.php/category-articles-eaadhsy/347-ek8esh-parakoloy8hshs-toy-systhmatos-twn-dhmosiwn-symvasewn-etoys-2017 and  https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/public-procurement/country-reports_en.

Following publication of Common Ministerial Decision no. 70362/24.06.2021, co-signed by the Minister of Development and Investments and the Minister of Interior, published in Government Gazette B’ 2802/30.06.2021 and corrected in Government Gazette B’ 3488/30.07.2021, H.S.P.P.A. received the information provided by the liable entities and drafted the Public Procurement Monitoring Report for the period 2018-2020, which was approved by Decision No. 1ES/2022 of the Authority’s Council:

https://eaadhsy.gr/index.php/category-articles-eaadhsy/671-ekthesi-parakolouthisis-tou-systimatos-ton-dimosion-symvaseon-periodou-2018-2020

5. Arrangements to ensure that all information pointing to suspected bid-rigging situations is communicated to the competent national bodies in accordance with Article 83(2) of Directive 2014/24/EU and Article 99(2) of Directive 2014/25/EU.Yes

• Law 4412/16 (Ar. 340)

• Law 3959/11

• MoU between Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (HSPPA) and Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC)

• https://whistle2eaadhsy.disclosers.eu/#/

• https://www.epant.gr/en/whistleblowing.html

• HSPPA Guidelines 20/17 & 9/15

• Corruption Risk Management Guide (National Transprarency Authority)

• Guide for detecting and preventing collusion practices in procurement tenders (HCC)

• Notice on tools to fight collusion in public procurement and on guidance on how to apply the related exclusion ground (2021/C 91/01)

Greece, in order to ensure the proper management of cases of unfair competition or situations that distort or threaten to distort competition, has transposed into Greek Law the relevant provisions of Directives 2014/24/EU & 2014/25/EU. Said provisions were integrated through article 340 of Law 4412/16. Furthermore, HSPPA, as the competent Authority for monitoring the public procurement system cooperates closely for this purpose with the HCC, being the competent Authority for the protection of free and fair competition.

It is pointed out that suspected cases of bid-rigging situations can be detected through:

• The anonymous complaints "whistleblowing" of HSPPA and HCC, submitted directly or through designated platforms.

• Random sampling

In order to raise awareness of contracting authorities/contracting entities for the detection and management of such cases, the following documentation was issued:

• Guidelines 20 and 9 of HSPPA

• The National Transparency Authority's Corruption and Fraud Risk Management Guide

• The HCC Guide: "Detection and prevention of corruptive practices in public procurement procedures" (2014)

3. Effective application and implementation of the Charter of Fundamental RightsYes

Effective mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ('the Charter') which include:

1. Arrangements to ensure compliance of the programmes supported by the Funds and their implementation with the relevant provisions of the Charter.

Yes

• Law 4914/2022 on ‘Management, control and implementation of development interventions for the 2021-2027 programming period,...’.

• Policy statement on respect for fundamental rights

• Memorandum of Cooperation of HRC/EUCA

• Law 4780/2021 "National Accessibility Authority, National Commission for Human Rights..." 2021-2027 HOME funds

• Establishment of the Fundamental Rights Officer and of the Committee on the compliance with the Fundamental Rights  in the Ministry of Migration

The arrangements for compliance with the Charter cover all stages of the programme’s implementation i.e. partnership principle; management and control systems, roles and trainings of authorities/bodies; calls for proposals/tenders; evaluation, implementation and verifications of operations.

A Task Force for Fundamental Rights Compliance (TFFRC) will be set-up within the Monitoring Committee to monitor the progress of the procedures followed at all stages. A Fundamental Rights Officer within the Ministry of Migration and Asylum will be a point of reference for compliance with the Charter. The National Transparency Authority (NTA) and the Ombudsman will investigate alleged breaches.

The TFFRC will report to the Monitoring Committee at least once a year on complaints and cases of non-compliance. National authorities such as the NTA and the Ombudsman are clearly defined in the handling of complaints. The National Commission for Human Rights will provide support to all actors.

2. Reporting arrangements to the monitoring committee regarding cases of non-compliance of operations supported by the Funds with the Charter and complaints regarding the Charter submitted in accordance with the arrangements made pursuant to Article 69(7).Yes

• Procedure of “ΔVII_3 Reception and Examination of Complaints” in Chapter LV.VII, Management & Control System

• Law 4443/2016

• Law 4622/2019

The TFFRC will oversee and report to the Monitoring Commitee at least once a  year on complaints and cases of non compliance. National authroities such as the National Transparency Authority and the Ombudsman are clearly defined in the handling of complaints and the National Commission for Human Rights will provide support to all actors involved.
4. Implementation and application of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/ECYes

A national framework to ensure implementation of the UNCRPD is in place that includes:

1. Objectives with measurable goals, data collection and monitoring mechanisms.

Yes

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, legislated by EU: 23/12/10 & by Greece: Law 4074/2012,11/04/12

• "Directorates - Organizational Provisions for the Implementation of the UN Convention on Rights of persons with Disabilities", art. 59 - 74, Law 4488/2017, Nat.Gazette 137 - 13/09/17

• National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NAP)

• Law 4780/21 "National Accessibility Authority" (Nat. Gazette 30A/28-02-21)

• Digital portal for people with disabilities

• ESAmeA Disability Observatory

• National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR)

• Law 4488/17

• 2020: NAP was completed following public consultation; Individual Reference Points were defined in Ministries, Regions, and Municipalities and activated for its monitoring

• The NAP is a road map with a framework of actions especially for the period 2020-23 (however, it contains permanent actions with an implementation horizon until 2029) with 6 pillars and 30 objectives that is updated

• Its implementation is monitored by the Coordinating Mechanism in the Government, the Minister of State and the GS of the Coordination of the Government, using the MIS for the Government: "MAZI". The NAP compiles into a single strategic planning actions of Ministries and competent bodies that are broken down into individual projects with an implementation schedule, monitoring and evaluation indicators and those in charge of implementation

• All bodies involved in the implementation of the NAP consult with the National Confederation of Disabled People and its members. The results of the monitoring and evaluation are made available annually to the public, while consultation actions on the course of the implementation of the NAP are supported.

2. Arrangements to ensure that accessibility policy, legislation and standards are properly reflected in the preparation and implementation of the programmes.Yes

• Planning NSRF & other Programmes 2021-2027

• Programme Consultations

• Law 4914/2022 on the "Management, control and implementation of development interventions for the Programming Period 2021-2024”

• Communication guide 2021-2027

• Policy Statement on respect for the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities

• Law 4780/2021 "National Accessibility Authority"

• Digital portal for Persons with Disabilities (PWD)/legislation

• Working Group for PWD

• PWD: joint action to strengthen the institutional capacity and development of the PWD Observatory

The NAP Coordination Mechanism brought together every legislation on disability issues (6th 2021).

Arrangements to incorporate the principles of non-discrimination and accessibility of the disabled into:

- Programming: partnership, consultation with social partners, circulars with reference to the observance of horizontal principles. Contact with NCHR, Ombudsman, FRA, National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP)

- Management and Control System (MCS): responsibilities of MA (evaluation and selection of actions), Monitoring Committee (incl. NCDP), implementation of operations, handling of complaints

- Implementation: design of MCS procedures, advisory support from NCDP. Using instructions from NCDP & control points, MAs/IBs to ensure accessibility in particular through:

• Proposal Template: field where the beneficiary fills in how accessibility is ensured (evaluated)

• Evaluation: on/off criterion for accessibility (specified in Annex II)

• Implementation: accessibility review with checklists & checkpoints

• In case of non-compliance: Corrective measures (fiscal correction/recovery)

• Accessibility check by AA in MCS is foreseen

3. Reporting arrangements to the monitoring committee regarding cases of non-compliance of operations supported by the Funds with the UNCRPD and complaints regarding the UNCRPD submitted in accordance with the arrangements made pursuant to Article 69(7).Yeshttps://www.espa.gr/el/Pages/SDE_Diadikasies.aspx the "ΔVIII_3 Reception and Examination of Complaints" in chapter ΛΠ.VIII: Risk management

The National Authority for receiving complaints is the Hellenic AFCOS/National Transparency Authority (NTA). NTA examines incoming complaints and decides on their handling. If it considers that a complaint should be investigated, it refers it to a competent national investigation authority (Ombudsman, judicial authorities, etc.) or to the MA.

The MA examines the case in detail with a checklist. If a violation regarding accessibility of PWD is found, it is handled in the same way as an irregularity, i.e. corrective measures are taken within the MCS and a notification is made to the EU via IMS. National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) provides advisory support regarding checkpoints.

The MA informs the Monitoring Committee, at least annually, in case of non-compliances regarding accessibility of PWD identified by the NTA or the authorities of the MCS and in case of complaints against violations regarding the accessibility of PWD with a relevant reference on the case number, its course and the investigation results as well as possible corrective measures in the context of the MCS (depending on the results of the investigation process).

5. Programme authorities Reference: point (k) of Article 22(3) and Articles 71 and 84 CPR

Table 10: Programme authorities

Programme Authority

Name of the institution

Contact name

Position

Email

Managing authority

Special Service for the Coordination and Management for Migration and Home Affairs Funds

Theofanis Papadopoulos

Head of Special Service for the Coordination and Management for Migration and Home Affairs Funds

th.papadopoulos@migration.gov.gr

Audit authority

Ministry of Finance/ General Accounting Office/ Financial Audit Committee

Athinais Tourkolia

Head of Financial Audit Committee

a.tourkolia@edel.gr

Body which receives payments from the Commission

Special Service for the Coordination and Management for Migration and Home Affairs Funds

Theofanis Papadopoulos

Head of Special Service for the Coordination and Management for Migration and Home Affairs Funds

th.papadopoulos@migration.gov.gr

6. Partnership Reference: point (h) of Article 22(3) CPR

Preparation

During the development of the NP, the MA identified and consulted with a wide range of programme stakeholders, to increase efficiency of policy-planning and ensure that the proposed main actions sufficiently cover critical and actual needs in the field. In particular, the MA carried out several meetings –both in person and online– with all de jure monopoly stakeholders, i.e. the following: Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In parallel, the MA carried out many meetings, per SO, with relevant actors to collect all lessons learnt from the programming period 2014-2020, examine all proposed actions and decide which ones should be integrated into the NP 2021-2027.

To sum up, the MA received and took into consideration all follow-up contributions from the above stakeholders, including their concerns, comments and proposals. In principle, the goal of the above procedure during the preparation phase of the programme was to incorporate the competent national agencies’ strategic planning into the main actions of each specific objective.

Implementation/Execution

The MA focused on presenting the stakeholders with a more active role in the implementation of actions by organizing one-in-one meetings during the implementation period. Potential stakeholders are:

  • Ministry of Migration and Asylum
  • Ministry of National Defense
  • Ministry of Citizen Protection
  • Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monitoring and evaluation

During the monitoring and evaluation phase of the programme, according to the management and control system, the MA will collaborate closely with all stakeholders. The MA will implement verification and on-the-spot controls of actions and take corrective measures when necessary. Authorities that implement actions under BMVI (Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc) will participate in the monitoring committee of the Migration and Home Affairs Funds (AMIF, BMVI, ISF) and will therefore contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the programme. Based on the last updated Ministerial Decision, the members of the monitoring committee are allowed to propose successful practices, while bringing their own experiences and operational expertise during the evaluation phase of the programme.

In addition, the Greek Ombudsman, the Chair of the National Committee for Human Rights, representatives from UNCHR and IOM participate to the Monitoring Committee and are involved in all Programme phases. As far as National Data Protection issues are concerned, all the Ministries have their own independent Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsible for monitoring all actions’ implementation. On the latest updated national legislation, the MA has a DPO focal point with the Ministry of Development and Investment.

MA will repeat periodically every year the meetings with all potential stakeholders other than Monitoring Committee Meeting, 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 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.

Communication

Authorities that implement actions under BMVI (Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.) will contribute and participate to every communication and visibility action of the programme.

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 Investment.

7. Communication and visibility 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 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 5,952,220.55 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 Investment.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The evaluation will be implemented by 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.

 

8. Use of unit costs, lump sums, flat rates and financing not linked to costs Reference: Articles 94 and 95 CPR

Intended use of Articles 94 and 95 CPR

Yes

No

From the adoption, the programme will make use of reimbursement of the Union contribution based on unit costs, lump sums and flat rates under the priority according to Article 94 CPR

 x

From the adoption, the programme will make use of reimbursement of the Union contribution based on financing not linked to costs according to Article 95 CPR

 x
Appendix 1: Union contribution based on unit costs, lump sums and flat rates A. Summary of the main elements

Specific objective

Estimated proportion of the total financial allocation within the specific objective to which the SCO will be applied in %

Type(s) of operation covered

Indicator triggering reimbursement (2)

Unit of measurement for the indicator triggering reimbursement

Type of SCO (standard scale of unit costs, lump sums or flat rates)

Amount (in EUR) or percentage (in case of flat rates) of the SCO

Code(1)

Description

Code(2)

Description

         

(1) This refers to the code in Annex VI of the AMIF, BMVI and ISF Regulations

(2) This refers to the code of a common indicator, if applicable

Appendix 1: Union contribution based on unit costs, lump sums and flat rates

B. Details by type of operation

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

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.

 
Appendix 2: Union contribution based on financing not linked to costs

A. Summary of the main elements

Specific objectiveThe amount covered by the financing not linked to costsType(s) of operation coveredConditions to be fulfilled/results to be achieved triggering reimbusresment by the CommissionIndicatorsUnit of measurement for the conditions to be fulfilled/results to be  achieved triggering reimbursement by the CommissionEnvisaged type of reimbursement method used to reimburse the beneficiary(ies)
Code(1)DescriptionCode(2)Description

(1) Refers to the code in Annex VI of the AMIF, BMVI and ISF Regulations.

(2) Refers to the code of a common indicator, if applicable.

B. Details by type of operation

Appendix 3 Thematic facility (Article 11 AMIF Reg., Article 8 BMVI Reg., Article 8 ISF Reg.)

 

Procedure referenceProgramme versionStatusAccept/Decline dateComments
C(2022)8993 - 12 Dec 2022 - 22.0Accepted22 Nov 2023 
Specific objectiveModalityType of interventionUnion contributionPre-financing rateDescription of the action
1. European integrated border managementSpecific actions 28,296,000.00 

BMVI/2023/SA/1.1.4/009 Specific Action “Maximising the impact of e-surveillance through the strengthening of communication links - Enhancing the capacity of the Hellenic Police for Land border's surveillance" (EU Contribution EUR 28 296 000.00).

The project’s purpose is the purchase of 27 Mobile Incident Management Centers (MIMCs) to meet specialized surveillance and operational requirements (mobile system of surveillance cameras and audio and video reception-transmission control center with integrated drone system). The MIMCs will be used for surveillance purposes at the land borders, as well as coverage purposes in areas that cannot be monitored via the existing means. Twenty out of 27 MIMCs will be installed in specially configurated VAN type AWD vehicles, and the remaining 7 in containers that can be transported and placed at operational border areas.

TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR)  1,697,760.00 Increase of Technical assistance (6%) stemming from Specific Action BMVI/2023/SA/1.1.4/009 (EU Contribution: EUR 1 697 760).
Procedure referenceProgramme versionStatusAccept/Decline dateComments
C(2022)8993 - 12 Dec 2022 - 11.3Accepted5 Jul 2023 
Specific objectiveModalityType of interventionUnion contributionPre-financing rateDescription of the action
1. European integrated border managementSpecific actions 16,006,500.00 

BMVI/2023-2024/SA/1.2.2/12Specific Action Equipment for EBCG national components, purchased under BMVI and put at the disposal of Frontex (EU Contribution: EUR 16 006 500.00).

This Specific Action aims to increase Frontex operational capacity and the EL operational capacity to implement its obligations with regard to the overall protection of the EU external borders, through the purchase of equipment – to be put at the Agency’s disposal - under the following categories:

1.Maritime means of transport and surveillance capacities

-  1 Coastal Patrol Vessel

2.Land-based means of transport and surveillance capacities

- 20 Patrol cars

-  5 Patrol cars equipped with canine team inserts

TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR)  960,390.00 Increase of Technical assistance (6%) stemming from Specific Action BMVI/2023-2024/SA/1.2.2/12 (EU Contribution: EUR 960 390.00).
Procedure referenceProgramme versionStatusAccept/Decline dateComments
C(2022)3163 - 19 May 2022 - 11.2Accepted  
Specific objectiveModalityType of interventionUnion contributionPre-financing rateDescription of the action
1. European integrated border managementSpecific actions 3,732,529.25 

SA Innovation -  EUR 2.750.400 - Greece and Cyprus will implement in partnership the project “REACTION: REal-time ArtifiCial InTellIgence for BOrders Surveillance via RPAS data aNalytics to support Law Enforcement Agencies”, which is led by the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum (HMMA). The project objective is to integrate, validate, and demonstrate a fully functional, next generation, holistic border surveillance and awareness platform, providing pre-frontier situational awareness beyond remote areas as an effective mean for early identification of critical situations. The platform will also be integrated and interconnected with the already installed information platforms for proactively actions.

SA Interoperability – EUR 982.129,25 - BMVI/2021/SA/1.5.4/009 -Support to comply with the implementation of the relevant interoperability legal framework” under BMVI. The objective of this Specific Action is to support Schengen countries to comply with the implementation of the interoperability legal framework. The action has two aspects: 1) preparing the end-users of EU IT system for handling properly the information on identities contained in other systems as a result of interoperability and 2) extending the capacity of the SIRENE offices to resolve yellow links during the period that makes the Multiple Identity Detector (MID) operational.   Greece implements both aspects.

TA.36(5). Technical assistance - flat rate (Art. 36(5) CPR)  223,951.75 TA

DOCUMENTS

Document titleDocument typeDocument dateLocal referenceCommission referenceFilesSent dateSent by
Methothological Approach BMVI revisedSupplementary Information22 Nov 2023 Ares(2023)7966568Methothological Approach BMVI revised22 Nov 2023Παπαδόπουλος, Θεοφάνης
EL BMVI Programme - The changes on 22_11_2023Supplementary Information22 Nov 2023 Ares(2023)7966568EL BMVI Programme - The changes on 22_11_202322 Nov 2023Παπαδόπουλος, Θεοφάνης
Programme snapshot 2021EL65BVPR001 3.0Snapshot of data before send22 Nov 2023 Ares(2023)7966568Programme_snapshot_2021EL65BVPR001_3.0_en.pdf Programme_snapshot_2021EL65BVPR001_3.0_el_en.pdf Programme_snapshot_2021EL65BVPR001_3.0_el.pdf22 Nov 2023Παπαδόπουλος, Θεοφάνης


Κείμενο Προγράμματος:

Συνημμένα