The new draft law implementing the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum has been put to public consultation.
The draft law provides for a comprehensive overhaul of the national framework for managing illegal immigration, asylum and returns.
According to the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, the new institutional framework aims to strengthen the protection of the external borders of European Union, to speed up asylum procedures and to create stricter and more effective return mechanisms for those who are not entitled to international protection or legal residence in the country.
The bill incorporates key provisions of the new European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, while introducing crucial elements of the new European Return Regulation currently under negotiation, with the aim of shaping a modern, rigorous and operational system for the management of migration flows.
Among the key provisions is the mandatory pre-screening procedure for all irregularly entering third-country nationals, which will include full identity verification, biometric data collection, security checks and health checks.
At the same time, it is envisaged to speed up border asylum procedures with strict and binding timetables for examining applications, as well as to implement faster procedures for rejecting applications that are deemed manifestly unfounded or come from countries with low rates of recognition of international protection.
The new framework also strengthens the regime for detention and administrative monitoring of persons subject to return procedures, and provides for the creation of a more efficient return mechanism through increased cooperation with European agencies and EU member states.
In this context, provision is also made for the use of return hubs in third countries, in line with the new European return policy.
The bill also provides for upgrading the use of European registration and identification systems, including the new Eurodac, and enhancing operational cooperation with the European Union Asylum Agency and Frontex for the surveillance of external borders and the implementation of returns.
According to the Migration and Asylum Ministry, Greece is making timely progress in adapting to the new European framework, seeking to create a system that will combine effective border security, rapid examination of international protection applications and effective implementation of returns for those who are not entitled to stay in the country.
According to the government, the country’s migration policy is based on clear rules: protection for those genuinely entitled to it, but also prompt and effective return procedures for those who do not meet the conditions for international protection or legal residence.
