REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Progress report on the implementation of the hotspot approach in Greece
Date: 2016-03-04
Institutions: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU financing, EU migration policy, Greece, biometrics, border control, external border of the EU, migratory movement, refugee, removal

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 4.3.2016  COM(2016) 141 final   REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Progress report on the implementation of the hotspot approach in Greece   
 
 
As part of the immediate action to assist Member States facing intense migratory pressures at 
the EU’s external borders, the European Agenda on Migration adopted in May 2015 set out a 
new  hotspot  approach1.  Greece  and  Italy  are  the  two  Member  States  where  this  hotspot 
approach is currently being implemented.  

Under this approach, all relevant EU Agencies and experts from Member States work on the 
ground with national and local authorities to help the Member States concerned to fulfil their 
obligations  under  EU  law.  Five  key  areas  have  been  identified:  establishing  functional 
hotspots, implementing the relocation decisions, ensuring the effective return of migrants not 
entitled to international protection, improving border management, and creating sufficient and 
adequate reception capacity. 

In  September  2015,  the  Commission  took  this  one  step  further  by  outlining  the  priority 
actions  for  the  EU  to  address  the  refugee  crisis2.  These  included  the  full  rollout  of  the 
relocation scheme and migration management support teams working in 'hotspot' areas. The 
Commission  followed  this  up  with  a  report  on  the  state  of  play  in  October3.  This  included 
detailed information on the next steps needed in the key areas, including specific actions to be 
implemented by Greece.  

In  December  2015,  the  Commission  issued  a  detailed  report  on  the  implementation  of  the 
hotspot  approach  in  Greece  in  the  five  areas  mentioned  above4.  On  10  February,  the 
Commission  reported  on  the  overall  implementation  of  the  priority  actions5,  and  annexed  a 
state of play report on Greece. 

To support Greece implementing the priority actions, the EU has shown firm solidarity with 
Greece through the substantial financial support provided to the country, in particular during 
the last months. In addition to Greece’s overall allocation under its national programmes for 
the  Asylum,  Migration  and  Integration  Fund  (AMIF)  and  the  Internal  Security  Fund  (ISF), 
which amounts to €509 million for the period 2014-2020, substantial emergency assistance of 
approximately €150 million under both AMIF and ISF has also been awarded in the last year. 
Under  the  national  programmes,  pre-financing  payments  amounting  to  around  €70  million 
(€33 million for 2014/15 and €37 million for 2016) have been made, and for the emergency 
assistance pre-financing payments of approximately €70.3 million were made available. 

Putting  together  the  allocation  under  its  national  programmes  and  the  emergency  assistance 
provided to the benefit of the country so far, Greece is the first beneficiary of EU funding in 
the area of Home Affairs, with an overall amount of some €660 million. Greece should make 
best  use  of  all  the  resources  available  under  the  national  programmes  and  should  also  fully 
exploit the possibilities offered by other EU funding mechanisms such as ESIF (Structural and 
Investment Funds). 

1   Communication from the Commission "A European Agenda on Migration" (COM(2015) 240, 13 May 2015). 
2   Communication from the Commission "Managing the refugee crisis: immediate operational, budgetary and 

legal measures under the European Agenda on Migration" (COM(2015) 490, 23 September 2015). 

3   Communication from the Commission " Managing the refugee crisis: State of play of the implementation of 

the priority actions under the European Agenda on Migration" (COM(2015) 510, 14 October 2015). 

4   Communication  from  the  Commission  "Progress  Report  on  the  Implementation  of  the  hotspots  in  Greece" 

(COM(2015) 678, 15 December 2015). 

5   Communication from the Commission "State of Play of the implementation of the priority actions under the 

European Agenda on Migration (COM(2016) 85, 10 February 2016).  

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
The  annex  to  this  report  updates  the  10th  February  analysis,  taking  stock  of  the 
implementation of the priority actions in the five areas set above and the steps which remain 
to be taken. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex:  

Recommendation December 2015 
Hotspot 
Areas  

line  with 

Greece needs to complete the 
construction  of  the  hotspots 
at  Lesvos,  Leros  and  Chios, 
the  planned 
in 
Construction 
timetable. 
works 
should 
at  Kos 
commence  immediately  and 
a  location  in  Samos  should 
be identified in order to roll-
out  the  hotspot  by  end  of 
January. 

Status 
  Four  hotspots  (Lesvos,  Chios,  Samos  and 
Leros) are operational with the assistance and 
temporary 
the  Army, 
coordination  of 
although  several  actions  still  needed  to  be 
completed  to  make  them  function  at  full 
speed (e.g. third line of registration in Lesvos, 
completion  of  accommodation  in  Samos, 
certain services in Leros and Samos, etc.).  
X  Works  have  started  in  Kos  (Pyli  former 
camp)  and 
the  hotspot  could  be  partly 
operational by 4 March.  
X The national procurement procedure for the 
services  necessary  for  the  operation  of  the 
hotspots  (namely  catering,  cleaning)  has  not 
yet been finalised. The Greek Army is in the 
process  of  launching  this  week  expedited 
procurement  for 
the  following  services: 
transportation,  catering,  medical  services, 
cleaning  for  all  hotspots  and  reception  and 
reception centers.  

4 

 
 
 
 
to 

of 

and 

island 

migrants 

Status 
  Coastal  Patrol  Teams  have  been  deployed 
by  Frontex  in  Lesvos,  Chios  and  Samos.  In 
Leros,  the  disembarkation  procedures  are 
undertaken  in  a  controlled  manner:  almost 
taking  place  at 
100%  of  arrivals  are 
Farmakonisi 
subsequently 
migrants  are  transferred  to  Leros  by  Coast 
Guard and FRONTEX officers. 
 In the short term the local authorities have 
assumed responsibility for the coordination of 
from 
transportation 
disembarkation  points 
the  registration 
centres  and  from  the  registration  centres  to 
the ports. 
X The government has committed to table the 
framework  legal  act  (in  the  form  of  an 
amendment  of  Law  3907/2011)  concerning 
coordination 
the 
mechanisms  of  the  hotspots  in  Parliament  in 
the  week  of  7  March.  Once 
legal 
framework  act  is  in  place,  the  Standard 
Operating Procedures will be adopted through 
a  common  ministerial  decision  which  will 
define 
the 
management of the hotspots.  
X  A  sufficient  number  of  buses  should  be 
swiftly  made  available  in  order  to  further 
upgrade  the  disembarkation  system  on  the 
respond 
islands.  Member  States  should 
urgently  to  the  request  for  buses  under  the 
Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). 
X Transportation of those who are not in need 
of  international  protection  from  the  hotspots 
areas  directly  to  available  detention  facilities 
needs to be established. 

and  procedures 

establishment 

roles 

and 

the 

in 

Recommendation December 2015 

should, 
with 

in 
Greece 
collaboration 
the 
European  Commission,  EU 
and  UNHCR, 
agencies, 
optimise  the  organisation  of 
the  hotspots  based  on  an 
island by island evaluation of 
the needs and drawing on the 
findings  of  the  inter-Agency 
pilot  project.  In  this  context, 
for 
a 
disembarkation  at  official 
disembarkation  points 
as 
well  as  transportation  to  the 
hotspot  areas 
should  be 
established.  

structured 

system 

5 

 
 
 
Status 
X The Hellenic Police should increase further 
its presence in the hotspots facilities in order 
to  ensure  the  security  of  the  facilities  and  of 
the personnel of the agencies deployed. 
X Frontex and the European Asylum Support 
Office (EASO) have increased their presence 
officers 
(currently 
respectively),  but  more  experts  are  still 
needed  especially  since  additional  hotspots 
are  operational.  Member  States  have  not 
provided sufficient experts. 
X  Greece  should  complete  the  process  of 
providing team leaders 

516 

and 

14 

at 

In terms of registration (Eurodac): 
  A  first  wave  of  25  fingerprinting  stations 
has  been  ordered  by  EASO.  This  batch  has 
already been delivered. A second wave of 65 
fingerprinting  stations  have  been  ordered  by 
EASO and are being delivered. 
  6 
fingerprinting  stations  have  been 
procured  by  the  Hellenic  Police  and  have 
been deployed in Lesvos. 
  Both  the  Commission  and  Frontex  have 
observed  that  significant  progress  has  been 
made  since  September  2015  and  at  this  time 
all migrants over 14 referred to the hot spots 
are  registered  in  line  with  the  Schengen 
Borders Code 
X The connections of the Eurodac stations to 
the  IT  network,  and 
the  central  server 
capacity, are not yet secure and reliable. The 
Commission and EU-LISA are supporting the 
Hellenic Police in improving the functionality 
of  its  IT  systems  and  in  order  to  enhance  its 
capacity  to  fully  support  the  registration 
system.  

Recommendation December 2015 

On  the  basis  of  a  refined 
needs  assessment,  Member 
States should make available 
in 
the  necessary  experts 
order  to  ensure  the  full  roll-
out of the hotspots as soon as 
are 
construction  works 
concluded.  Greece  should  in 
turn  ensure  that  a  sufficient 
number  of  team  leaders  are 
deployed  and  should  ensure 
that 
security 
personnel  are  present  in  the 
hotspot areas. 

sufficient 

use 

Greece  should  procure  – 
without  further  delay  and 
of 
making 
accelerated/simplified 
procedures  provided  for  in 
and 
Directives2004/18/EC 
case  of 
2014/24/EU 
in 
or 
"urgency" 
"extreme 
the  necessary 
urgency"  – 
fingerprinting 
additional 
machines. 

6 

 
 
 
 
should 

systems 

Recommendation December 2015 
IT 
be 
updated  to  first  deploy  a 
fully-fledged 
Automated 
Fingerprinting  Identification 
System  (AFIS)  and  then  to 
ensure  that  interconnections 
and 
between 
databases 
EU/international 
are 
thereby 
allowing  for  a  full  check  of 
against 
arriving  migrants 
Information 
Schengen 
System 
II/Interpol 
and  Lost  Travel 
Stolen 
Documents 
(STLD) 
databases. 

established, 

national 

(SIS) 

Greece,  with  the  support  of 
the  European  Commission 
and  EU  Agencies,  should 
define  the  needs  in  terms  of 
cultural 
mediators/interpreters 
and 
strengthen  their  presence  in 
the hotspot areas. 

Status 
In terms of security checks: 
  In  hotspots,  terminals  are  now  technically 
available 
to  allow  checks  against  SIS, 
Interpol  and  Europol  database  in  addition  to 
the  national  police  database  of  third  country 
nationals. 
 A request has been submitted to Europol in 
order  to  ensure  access  to  its  database  for 
security checks purposes. 
 The single automated access system to the 
relevant security databases (national, SIS and 
Interpol), has started operating in all hotspots.  
X  Systematic  checks  against  these  databases 
need to be fully established with the relevant 
follow-up.  A  full  Automated  Fingerprint 
Identification  System  should  be 
further 
developed. 
X  The  Greek  authorities  should  define  their 
needs 
cultural 
terms 
in 
mediators/interpreters. 
X The Greek authorities should put a pool of 
interpreters  in  place,  possibly  through  a 
framework  contract  in  order  to  be  able  to 
provide interpretation services at short notice. 

of 

 The draft act establishing the hotspots (see 
above) will includes dedicated provisions for 
the  appointment  of  hotspots  coordinators, 
police  coordinators  and  special  coordinators 
to  manage  the  relationship  with  all  the 
stakeholders 
hotspot 
procedure. 
X  Once  the  new  legislation  is  in  place,  the 
Greek  authorities  need  to  swiftly  follow  the 
relevant  procedure  in  order  to  appoint  the 
permanent coordinators for  hotspots foreseen 
under the newly adopted legislation. 

involved 

the 

in 

the 

Coordination  needs 
to  be 
further  improved  by  making 
systematic  and  effective  use 
of 
coordination 
mechanisms  that  have  been 
put 
in  place.  Appointed 
coordinators  for  the  islands 
should  be  empowered  by 
way  of  dedicated  Terms  of 
Reference  to  coordinate  all 
relevant  governmental  and 
non-governmental 
players 
involved 
the  hotspot 
locations. 

in 

7 

 
 
 
 
areas 

Status 
  A  Europol  liaison  officer  is  present  in 
Lesvos as well as in EU Regional Task Force 
in Piraeus. 
  Advanced  Level  Document  experts 
(ALDO)  have  been  deployed  by  Frontex  in 
all  hotspot 
alongside  dedicated 
equipment  for  the  detection  of  fraudulent 
documents. 
X  The  Hellenic  Police  has  decided  to  use  a 
new  and  more  sophisticated  registration 
document,  including  security  features,  to  be 
used in all hotspots. However, although a new 
stamp 
is  as  yet 
is  already  used, 
insufficient security paper  
X  Greece  should  procure  more  equipment  to 
detect  document  fraud.  It  is  expected  that  a 
request  for  funding  will  be  submitted  in  this 
regard. 
X  The  Greek  authorities  need  to  ensure 
appropriate  follow-up  on  cases  of  detected 
fraudulent  documents  and  strengthen  law 
enforcement  operations  on  the  islands  to 
curtail the smuggling business. 
X Still under consideration. 

there 

Recommendation December 2015 

should 
EUROPOL 
strengthen  its  presence 
in 
Greece  and  should  conclude 
operational  agreements  with 
the Greek authorities in order 
to  support  them  in  fighting 
smuggling.  Support  should 
include 
of 
financial 
investigations, 
actions  against  document 
fraud,  and  better  use  of 
Immigration Liaison Officers 
(ILO)  networks 
third 
sources  of 
countries 
relevant information. 

launch 

the 

as 

in 

The  Hellenic  Police  should 
provide  training  to  police 
officers 
the 
placed 
hotspots for forged document 
identification. 

in 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
Relocation 

by 

staff  of 

producing 

Information  provision 
to 
refugees about the relocation 
programme  needs 
to  be 
inter  alia  by 
stepped  up, 
increasing  the  presence  of 
the 
the  Greek 
Asylum  Service  and  of 
EASO in the hotspots as well 
as 
and 
distributing 
information 
potential 
to 
material 
relocation  candidates  about 
the  relocation  process  and 
their rights and duties in that 
context.  The  Member  States 
Liaison  Officers 
should 
provide relocation candidates 
the 
information  on 
with 
assigned 
destination 
countries,  including  on  their 
asylum 
reception 
and 
systems. 

Status 
  The  Asylum  Service  is  active  in  Lesvos 
and  Samos.  EASO  has  deployed  experts  in 
Samos  for 
information 
the  provision  of 
including information leaflets.  
X  Information  to  migrants  regarding  their 
rights  as  asylum  applicants  and  their  rights 
and  obligations  under  the  relocation  scheme 
should  be  systematically  provided  in  all 
hotspots.  The  Asylum  Service  and  EASO 
should deploy experts  for  this  purpose in the 
remaining hotspot locations. 
X  More  Member  States  should  provide 
information  packages  for  people 
to  be 
few  Member  States 
relocated 
(Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Portugal) have 
produced  such  information  so  far).  EASO  is 
also leading a process for the co-ordination of 
pre-departure  information  by  Member  States 
of Relocation (guidance being drafted). 

(only  a 

The  capacity  to  register  and 
process  asylum  applications 
needs 
to  be  substantially 
increased.  To  this  end,  the 
Greek  Asylum 
Service 
intends  to  hire  40  additional 
staff  by  mid-February  which 
should  increase  its  capacity 
to be able to register 100-120 
applications  per  day.  Further 
staff  increases  are  needed  to 
step  up  the  registration  as 
required.  

States 

reduce 

should 
Member 
substantially 
the 
response  time  to  relocation 
requests  submitted  by  the 
Greek 
(and 
authorities 
refrain  from  excessive  ad 
hoc  checks  taking  place  in 
Greece).  

9 

to 

screen 

remaining  posts 

  EASO  is  supporting  the  Greek  authorities 
the 
in  Lesvos  and  Samos 
nationalities of the applicants for relocation.  
  37  persons  will  be  recruited  by  April  and 
an additional (up to) 40 persons in June 2016. 
foreseen  will  be 
The 
recruited  in  January  2017.  The  necessary 
funding 
through  emergency 
funding  under  the  Asylum,  Migration  and 
Integration Fund (AMIF). 
  A  pilot  project  to  increase  registration 
capacity  is  also  starting  in  the  coming  days 
with the support of EASO 

secured 

is 

X  Responses  of  Member  States  to  relocation 
requests  continue  also  to  be  slow  and  this  is 
in part the reason for a significant withdrawal 
rate from the relocation process. 
X  Member  States  do  not  provide  adequate 
their 
information 
is  absolutely 
relocation  planning.  This 
necessary 
the  Greek 
authorities  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the 
process. 
X  Several  Member  States  request  systematic 
security interviews to be performed. 

in  advance  concerning 

to  allow 

in  order 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
States 

should 
Member 
substantially 
their 
pledges  under  the  relocation 
programme.  

increase 

Status 
X Insufficient pledges and number of persons 
relocated:  By  2nd  March,  only  16  Member 
States had made relocation pledges to Greece. 
It  should  also  be  noted  that  during  the  last 
couple  of  weeks,  pledges  from  MS  have 
considerably  increased,  and  currently  exceed 
for 
the  number  of  applicants  eligible 
relocation registered by Greece.  

Additional  measures  identified  after  the  adoption  of  the  Communication  in 
December 
A  total  of  123  relocation 
applicants  have  absconded 
and 
their 
88  withdrew 
application  since  the  start  of 
the scheme 

finalise, 

should 

EASO, 

X  Greece  should  make  sure  that  asylum 
applicants  to  be  relocated  are  gathered  in 
dedicated  facilities  where  their  cases  can  be 
closely followed. 
in 
X  Member  States 
collaboration 
targeted 
with 
information  packages.  These  should  to  be 
provided  to  asylum  applicants  who  are  to  be 
relocated upon notification of their country of 
destination (see above). 
X  Greece 
dedicated 
procedures for the transfer of Unaccompanied 
Minors. 
X  Member  States  should  pledge  dedicated 
places for Unaccompanied Minors.  

finalise 

should 

transferred 

One  Unaccompanied  Minor 
to 
has  been 
Finland.  10  requests  are  still 
pending,  3  of  which  have 
been  accepted  by  Finland 
again  since  the  inception  of 
the relocation process 
Some  Member  States  have 
invoked  criteria  other  than 
those foreseen in the Council 
Decision  to  reject  relocation 
files. 

X  Member  States  should  strictly  apply  the 
criteria  foreseen  under  the  Council  Decision 
when  rejecting  relocation  applications.  In 
particular,  relocation  applications  should  not 
the 
reasons 
be 
preferences  expressed  by  the  Member  State 
concerning the profiles of the applicants to be 
relocated. 

rejected 

linked 

for 

to 

10 

 
 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
Return  

The  Greek  authorities  need 
to  develop  a  clear  strategy 
for forced returns identifying 
priority  third  countries  for 
engagement  and  addressing 
shortcomings 
their 
system.  Greece 
detention 
needs 
its 
administrative  procedures  in 
order 
to  allow  for  swift 
return.  

streamline 

in 

to 

Greece  needs 
to  step  up 
forced and voluntary returns, 
as well as take the necessary 
the 
steps 
immediate  absorption  of  the 
available  AMIF  national 
programme funding. 

ensure 

to 

a 

to 

of 

on 

return  decisions 

Status 
  Greece  is  using  simplified  procedures  to 
issue 
third  country 
nationals not entitled to protection. 
  Frontex  launched  on  15  February  an 
operational  support  plan  to  Greece, Italy  and 
Bulgaria. 
X Greece, with the Commission and with the 
technical support of Frontex, should agree, as 
a  matter 
clear 
priority, 
implementation  path  for  the  operational  plan 
for return and readmission activities, based on 
a  clear  planning  and  needs  assessment  by 
Greece,  providing  support  to  all  elements  in 
the  execution  of  the  return  procedure,  as 
necessary. 
 X  Greece  should  make  full  use  of  the 
possibilities  offered  by  the  Greek  legislation 
in  line  with  the  Return  Directive  to  maintain 
irregular  migrants  in  detention  up  to  the  18-
month maximum limit to avoid that detention 
is ended before effective removal. 
X  Greece  should  make  full  and  swift  use  of 
the  possibilities  of  support  from  EU-funded 
programmes on return, in particular EURINT, 
ERIN and Eurlo. 
  An  emergency  Assisted  Voluntary  Return 
(AVR)  programme  has  been  financed  under 
AMIF  supporting  the  voluntary  return  of 
1,000  migrants  .  So  far  over  1,400  migrants 
have registered for voluntary departure.  
X The tendering procedure for the new AVR 
Programme  to  be  financed  under  the  AMIF 
national  programme  has  been  completed  and 
the  awarding  process  should  be  finalized  as 
soon as possible  
X  An  emergency  forced  return  programme 
(to  be  implemented  by  the  Hellenic  Police) 
has been financed under AMIF. However, the 
tendering 
transportation 
tickets)  for  forced  return 
(provision  of 
operations  on  commercial  flights  is  ongoing 
and  needs  to  be  finalised  as  a  matter  of 
urgency. 

procedure 

for 

11 

 
 
 
 
Status 
X  See  above  with  regard  to  an  operational 
plan. Such a plan should take into account the 
nationalities currently entering Greece as part 
of  irregular  migratory  flows,  which  do  not 
fall under a refugee- profile. 

Recommendation December 2015 

on 

The  return  activities  of  the 
should 
Greek 
authorities 
focus  more 
the 
nationalities most relevant in 
context  of  hotspots 
the 
also 
but 
(Pakistanis, 
and 
Iranians 
Afghans, 
Bangladeshis), instead of the 
current focus on nationals of 
former 
Albania  and 
of 
Yugoslav 
Macedonia.  

the 
Republic 

concerning 
Information 
Assisted  Voluntary  Returns 
should  be  promoted 
to 
migrants  already  while  they 
stay in the hotspot areas. An 
outreach  campaign  should 
also  be  considered  in  areas 
close  to  the  border  with  the 
former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia.  

International  Organization 

for 
(IOM)  has  opened  dedicated 

The 
Migration 
offices in Lesvos and is present in Samos. 
X Dedicated arrival points should be urgently 
set up in other hotspots and in Central Greece 
for  migrants  who  are  returned  from  Idomeni 
in  order  to  be  offered  the  opportunity  of 
AVR. 
X The IOM should be present in all detention 
centres in Greece to offer the AVR option to 
migrants to be returned. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 

step 

further 

The  European  Commission, 
supported by Member States, 
should 
up 
third 
engagement  with 
countries  to  ensure  easier 
readmission 
of  migrants 
which  are  not  entitled  to 
international protection. This 
also  includes  in  particular 
further  efforts 
to  ensure 
readmission  of  third-country 
nationals by Turkey.  

for 

is  now 

important  step 

Status 
  The  results  of  the  recent  exchanges  with 
the Pakistani authorities were endorsed by the 
Joint  Readmission  Committee.  As  a  priority, 
to  confirm 
an 
concretely this  positive step with  new flights 
in  the  following  weeks  from  Greece  to 
Pakistan. 
On 1-2 March, 267 irregular migrants were 
readmitted by Turkey. 
X  However,  the  Greek  authorities  should 
enhance their efforts in particular by speeding 
up  the  readmission  requests  to  Turkey  and 
minimising  the  risk  that  migrants  abscond 
during  the  procedure.  Turkey  should  also 
collaborate  more  closely  with  the  Greek 
authorities  so  that  the  number  of  migrants 
accepted 
readmission  and  actually 
readmitted  increases  substantially  (only  8 
persons  readmitted  out  of  5,148  requests 
accepted by Turkey in 2015).  
X Frontex, assisted by Member States, should 
make  swift  practical  arrangements  with 
Greece  under  the  new  operational  plan  in 
order  to  support  with  the  timely  submission 
to  Turkey  and 
of  readmission  requests 
transportation  of  migrants  from  the  place 
where 
in 
detention  to  one  of  the  three  places  of 
the  Greek-Turkish 
in 
departure  agreed 
Protocol. 
X Greece should consider  inviting Turkey  to 
appoint  a  liaison  officer  to  be  deployed  in 
facilitating 
Greece  with 
readmission requests. 
X  Greece  should  ensure 
full  physical 
availability  of  migrants  accepted  by  Turkey 
for  readmission  (where  necessary  by  means 
of timely pre-removal detention). 

they  are  apprehended  and/or 

the  view  of 

13 

 
 
 
for 

in  order 

joint  return  operation 

Status 
  Frontex,  assisted  by  Member  States,  is 
coordinating  and  supporting  all  joint  return 
operations with stopovers in Greece.  
  A  Frontex 
to 
Pakistan,  with  a  stopover  in  Greece,  is 
planned  for  16  March,  as  a  first  step  in  a 
series of new efforts to intensify Frontex joint 
return  operations  with 
involvement  of 
Greece. 
X  The  Greek  authorities  need  to  report  to 
Frontex their specific needs  on a regular and 
timely  basis 
return 
joint 
operations to be planned and executed. 
 The Greek authorities are proceeding with 
a  Framework  Contract  for  the  provision  of 
catering  services  for  the  closed  pre-removal 
centres  for  2016-2018.  On  the  basis  of  legal 
provisions  adopted  on  29  January  2016,  the 
Hellenic  Police  has  undertaken  to  provide 
food until the relevant agreement is in place. 
X  Beyond  catering  services,  certain  closed 
pre-  removal  facilities,  in  particular  on  the 
islands, 
refurbished  where 
necessary and should be properly maintained, 
appropriate 
in 
accommodation  to  migrants  in  line  with  EU 
standards.  Where  considered  necessary,  new 
locations  for  detention  centres  on  the  islands 
in 
should  be 
particular  in  view  of  swift  readmission  to 
Turkey.  
  The  Joint  Committees  on  Readmission 
with  Turkey  and  Pakistan  were  held  on  19 
January  and  2  February  2016  respectively. 
The Commission visited Afghanistan and will 
visit Nigeria to discuss readmission. 

identified  and  developed, 

should  be 

provide 

order 

to 

Recommendation December 2015 

return 

Frontex  should  ensure  that 
joint 
flights  make 
regular  stopovers  in  Greece 
in  order  to  perform  return 
operations. 

Conditions  in  the  detention 
centres  need  to  be  improved 
urgently. 

step 

further 

The  European  Commission, 
supported by Member States, 
up 
should 
engagement  with 
third 
countries  to  ensure  easier 
readmission 
of  migrants 
which  are  not  entitled  to 
international 
protection 
the 
including 
targeted  use  of  the  Trust 
Fund for Africa. 

through 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
Improving 
border 
management  

Greek 
and 
authorities 
Frontex should swiftly define 
the  operational  details  of  the 
Frontex 
of 
deployment 
officers 
the  northern 
at 
Greek border. 

to 

Further 
the  RABIT 
activation,  Member  States 
immediately  make 
should 
available staff and equipment 
to  ensure 
the  needs 
that 
identified  by  Greece  and 
Frontex are fully met. 

to 

Greece  needs 
rapidly 
complete  the  construction  of 
all  7,000  places  for  all  five 
hotspot islands 
Greece needs to improve the 
vulnerable 
of 
reception 
groups, 
particular 
in 
unaccompanied minors.  

Reception 
capacity 

a 

also 

require 

Status 
  The  Frontex  operation  on  the  Northern 
Greek border is ongoing. As had been agreed 
with  Frontex,  Greece  has  appointed  105 
police  officers,  including  5  team  leaders,  to 
work  alongside  25  Frontex  officers.  The 
refurbishment  of  the  offices  for  the  Frontex-
Hellenic  Police  joint  operations  at  the  old 
railway  station  near  Eidomeni  has  been 
completed. 
X So far Frontex has only been able to deploy 
9 out of these 25 officers due to shortfalls in 
the  pledges  from  Member  States.  A  possible 
extension  of  the  mandate  of  Frontex  in  this 
further 
region  would 
commitment from Member States. 
  Frontex  will  support  the  Greek  authorities 
in  verifying  the  identity  of  third  country 
they  have  been 
nationals  and  whether 
registered in the relevant databases. 
  The  Rapid  Intervention  Poseidon  in  the 
Aegean  islands  has  been  launched  on  28 
December  2015.  Currently  there  are  775 
guest  officers  deployed  under  the  operation 
(243  crew  members,  248  fingerprinters,  53 
screening  experts,  30  advanced  documents 
experts, 75 interpreters, 16 debriefing experts, 
8  Frontex  support  officers,  31  team  leaders, 
71 coordination staff). 
 X Member States' pledges have reached 83% 
of the necessary coverage. 
  The  places  in  the  hotspots  should  be 
available  alongside  the  completion  of  the 
construction works. 

  UNICEF,  the  UNHCR  and  Save  the 
Children  have  started  a  pilot  project  in  Kos, 
Lesvos and Idomeni to provide dedicated care 
for  minors.  This  is  also  intended  to  be 
extended to Samos and Leros. 
  Medical  screening  is  foreseen  in  all 
hotspots  as  a  final  step  in  the  registration 
procedure. 
X  Greece  should  put  in  place  adequate 
accommodation  capacity  for  unaccompanied 
minors  and  other  vulnerable  groups,  after 
they are transferred from the islands. 

15 

 
 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
structural 

More 
solutions 
need  to  be  found  regarding 
the  provision  of  food  and 
the 
other  basic  needs 
reception facilities.  

in 

Status 
 The Greek authorities are proceeding with 
a  Framework  Contract  for  the  provision  of 
catering  services  for  the  reception  facilities 
for 2016-2018. 

16 

 
 
Recommendation December 2015 

Greece  should  continue  to 
increase 
reception 
its 
capacity  in  line  with  the 
Western  Balkans  Leaders' 
meeting commitments.  

Status 
 The total number of places that are 

currently available in reception facilities in 
Greece is 34,419 (excluding the UNHCR 
rental scheme). These include: 

  17,906 places in open reception 

facilities in the mainland (Elaionas, 
Elliniko, Attiko Alsos, Eidomeni, 
Orestiada, Schisto, Diavata, Nea 
Kavala, Cherso). While some of these 
facilities are only suitable for short-
term stay, others are suitable for 
longer stay; 

  1,221 places in dedicated facilities for 
asylum-seekers and unaccompanied 
minors in the mainland and the 
islands; 

  5,500 places in reception facilities in 
the hotspots (including the 1,100 
places in the reserve facility of Kara 
Tepe in Lesvos); 

  4,433 other places in first-line 

reception facilities in the islands 
(outside the hotspots); 

  5,359 places in pre-removal centres. 

When the planned expansion of the Schisto 
and Diavata facilities is completed, the 
total number of places in reception 
facilities in Greece will reach 38,619 
(excluding the UNHCR rental scheme). 

The UNHCR has signed implementing 
agreements with NGOs Praksis, Nostos, 
Iliaktida, Solidarity Now, and Arsis for the 
provision of a total of 16,250 places in 
2016 in the context of the UNHCR rental 
scheme. In addition, negotiations are 
ongoing with the Municipality of Athens, 
Médecins du Monde, and the Greek 
Council for Refugees for the provision of 
an additional 1,880 places in 2016, 
bringing the total number of places to be 
established in 2016 to 18,130. A total of 
2,788 places are currently available by 
NGO Praksis through the hotel voucher 
scheme and in apartments. 

The UNHCR should continue to conclude 
implementing agreements to reach the 
target of 20,000 places under the rental 
scheme as soon as posible. 

With the support of the European 
Commission and the UNHCR, Greece 
should continue to expand and upgrade its 
reception capacity in order to cater for the 
migrants and refugees in its territory. 
the  support  of 

the  European 
 X  With 
Commission and the UNHCR, Greece should 
continue to expand and upgrade its reception 
capacity in order to cater for the migrants and 
refugees in its territory.  

17 

 
 
Recommendation December 2015 
Member 
should 
States 
respond  immediately  to  the 
EUCPM 
for 
assistance.  

request 

Status 
X Only 9 Member States have offered in kind 
assistance  in  the  context  of  the  Union  Civil 
Protection Mechanism (UCPM). 

18