Yes No 3. Is there a maximum time limit for a first instance decision laid down in the law? Yes No ❖ If yes, what is the maximum time limit? 7 days Although the fast-track border procedure was initially introduced as an exceptional and temporary procedure, it has become the rule for a significant number of applications lodged in Greece. The total number of first time applications lodged before the island RAOs (Chios, Kos, Leros, Lesvos and Samos) was 22,550 throughout 2025, according to the official monthly statistics published by the MoMA.565 The impact of the EU-Türkiye Statement has been, inter alia, a de facto dichotomy in the asylum procedures applied in Greece.566 This is because the fast-track procedure is only applied in cases of applicants subject to the EU-Türkiye Statement, i.e., applicants who arrived on the Greek Eastern Aegean islands after 20 March 2016 and have lodged applications before the RAO of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos. Moreover, since 2023, asylum applicants arriving in Rhodes are transferred inter alia to Leros and Kos CCACs and lodge applications before Leros and Kos RAOs, respectively. They are therefore channeled into the fast-track border procedure despite having arrived on another island.567 It should be noted that no reception conditions are provided in Rhodes during the period pending their transfer. The same practice has continued throughout 2025.568 By contrast, applications lodged before the Asylum Unit of Fylakio by newly arrived persons who entered through the Greek-Turkish land border and remain in the Fylakio RIC in Evros are not examined under the fast-track border procedure. In 2025, a total of 7,644 first-time applications were lodged before the Asylum Unit of Fylakio.569 Article 95(3) Asylum Code foresees that the fast-track procedure can be applied as long as third country nationals who have applied for international protection at the border or at airport / port transit zones or while remaining in RICs, are regularly accommodated in places close to the borders or transit zones. Initially, a JMD issued on 30 December 2020, provided for the application of the fast-track border procedure under Article 90 (3) IPA (L. 4636/2019) for those who arrived at the Greek Eastern Aegean Islands.570 Main features of the fast-track border procedure under the Asylum Code The fast-track border procedure under Article 95(3) Asylum Code repeats the previous legal framework and provides inter alia that: (a) The registration of asylum applications, the notification of decisions and other procedural documents, as well as the receipt of appeals, may be conducted by staff of the Hellenic Police or the Armed Forces, if police staff are not sufficient. 565 566 567 568 569 570 MoMA, Statistics: Consolidated Reports, December 2025 - International Protection | Appendix A, available at: https://tinyurl.com/26ynfarp Table 7b. GCR, Submission of the Greek Council for Refugees to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the case of M.S.S. v. Belgium & Greece (Appl. No 30696/09) and related case, 9 May 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2XYhHpj. Ertnews, Συνεχίζεται η μεταφορά προσφύγων από Ρόδο προς τις δομές Κω και Λέρου – Πάνω από 4.000 οι φιλοξενούμενοι, 22 September 2023, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/3ykvddaa. Information obtained by the LWG partners and GCR, during the year 2024. MoMA, Statistics: Consolidated Reports – Overviews for January to, December 2025 - International Protection | Appendix A, available at: https://tinyurl.com/26ynfarp Table 7b. Joint Ministerial Decision for the application of the provisions of par. 3 and 5 of Article 90 of IPA, No 15996/30.12.2020, Gov. Gazette 5948/B/31.12.2020. 124