In early January 2023, the Minister of Citizens’ Protection announced that a first 35km (out of 140km) extension of the fence had been approved by the Ministry of Finance and would cost the state budget 100 million euros. 26 The Border Surveillance System in Evros: Moreover, a border surveillance system on the Evros land border with Turkey, funded by the EU Internal Security Fund (DG Home) has been operational since November 2021. It consists of a network of cameras and long-range radar systems installed along the border, transmitting real time images and data on the conditions in the area. 27 The pushback cases of asylum seekers at the Greek-Turkish border presented below raise concerns about the Greek authorities’ possible misuse of EU funded surveillance technology in Evros. Instead, this technology should be used to support search and rescue missions and ensure access to territory and asylum. 28 Formal Detention & Official Reception and Identification Procedures in Evros: Persons entering Greece through the Greek-Turkish land border in Evros are subject to reception and identification procedures at the Reception and Identification Center (RIC) of Fylakio, Orestiada, which operates as a closed facility. 29 However, depending on the number of arrivals, newly arrived asylum seekers, including families and children, once detected, are apprehended [arrested] by the authorities and may first be transferred to a border guard police station or the pre removal center in Fylakio, where they remain in detention pending their transfer to the RIC Fylakio. In 2021, the Greek Asylum Service registered 3,123 asylum applications in Fylakio, Evros. 30 The Neo Cheimonio Border Guard Station: The last visit of the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to Police and border guard sites in the Evros region, including the Neo Cheimonio Police and Border Guard Station, took place between 13 and 17 March 2020, almost 3 years ago. 31 According to the CPT report (published in November available at: https://bit.ly/3WkcIdt Greek Reporter, Greece Ready to Extend Turkey Border Fence by 35 kilometers, available at: https:// bit.ly/3GyXsmP, Documentonews, Αντιμεταναστευτικό κρεσέντο κυβέρνησης- Θα δώσουν 100 εκατ. ευρώ για φράχτη στον Έβρο, 7 January 2023, available [in Greek] at: https://bit.ly/3XGyDfR, Tvxs, Θεοδωρικακός: Ξεκινάει άμεσα η επέκταση του νέου φράχτη στον Έβρο, 20 January 2023, available [in Greek] at: https://bit.ly/3iVUhxS 26 27 Ekathimerini, Surveillance system ready to go in Evros, 22 October 2021, available at: https://bit. ly/3B6IqCZ 28 DW, Is Greece failing to use EU-funded border surveillance, 9 August 2022, available at: https://bit. ly/3XRj1GX ECRE, AIDA Report - Greece 2021, pp. 47-48, available at: https://asylumineurope.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/05/AIDA-GR_2021update.pdf 29 30 Ibid, p. 51. COE, CPT, Anti-torture Committee undertakes rapid reaction visit to Greece to examine treatment of migrants, 17 March 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3h0TASJ 31 10 AT EUROPE’S BORDERS: BETWEEN IMPUNITY AND CRIMINALIZATION