EXTERNAL MONITORING OF RETURN OPERATIONS OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS professionalism and dignity by the escorting police personnel. The Ombudsman observed that the provision of food and water, the use of telephone by prepaid cards, and the protection of the privacy of the detainees are upheld in most cases, but nevertheless he emphasized that they constitute imperative rules for each operation of forced removal. Nevertheless, the problem of a lack of previous prompt information (at least 24 hours before) provided to the detainees regarding their impending removal remains intense and it also creates a chain of further problems for the entire success of the return operation, particularly when it is combined with non-existent information for possible rights for international protection, family cohesion and so forth, thus creating disputes and/or cancellation of the operation at the last minute. Furthermore, a more general problem is the lack of an interpreter to be supplied by the Greek authorities at the gathering point for the returnees (Aliens’ Police Division in Attica). Also, in some instances, a problem appeared regarding information of the escort with regard to the health situation of the returnees shortly before the operation.17 The Ombudsman persists with the recommendation that is reiterated in all his relevant Reports, specifically that the examination aimed at ascertaining the health situation of the returnees must, according to national law, include all the returnees, given the obligation of the Greek Police to care about their health. As we have emphasized, the filling in of a health card for every detainee, as required by the Regulation of the Operation of the Pre-removal Centres, but also their systematic medical monitoring, are still to be met at places of detention, where the responsibility to safeguard the health of the individual lies primarily with the State.18 Operations of readmission to Turkey In 2017, the external monitoring focused on the procedure of readmission to Turkey of third country nationals, mainly from Lesvos, by either air or sea, on the basis also of the Joint EU – Turkey Statement dated 18.3.2016. The readmissions are an exceptional procedure, 17 For example, in an operation, one person suffering from AIDS and another person suffering from hepatitis C, for whom, however, a certificate attesting to their ability to travel (fit to travel) was provided by the doctor of the pre-removal centre in Tavros. 18 Special Report “Migration flows and refugee protection. Administrative challenges and human rights issues”, April 2017, https://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.en.recentinterventions.434107 p. 54 20