ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 Greek-Turkish land borders) were established as a permanent measure. The operations are considered as successful by the Greek government and the responsible Minister of Public Order and Citizen’s Protection, based on the observed significant change in the urban landscape of the center of Athens and a spectacular decrease of the number of illegally entering third country nationals at the borders. The construction of the artificial obstacle (fence) in Evros has contributed to the latter. Furthermore, detention centers/centers of temporary or closed accommodation/pre-departure centers in old military camps or facilities of the Hellenic Police Force operated. These centers accommodate aliens arrested during the operations 'Xenios Zeus' until they are deported. In addition, construction works of a First Reception Center at the borders (region of Evros) for the third-country nationals attempting to enter Greece without authorization began in 2012. Measures concerning healthcare and nursing of illegally residing third country nationals, as well as sanctions against employers of illegally staying third country nationals, were also adopted through Ministerial Decisions and L. 4052/2012 transposing Directive 2009/52/ΕC, respectively. With regard to the particular policy area of the fight against human trafficking, including sex trafficking and trafficking for forced labor, there was no significant legislative development for the issue per se, with the exception of the abovementioned transposition, by Law 4052/2012, of Directive 2009/52/ΕC on the sanctions against employers of illegally residing third country nationals. Still, it is remarkable that involved state and non-state actors are particularly active in undertaking actions (such as sport and artistic events) for raising awareness on the issue at stake. The launch of the '1109-Human trafficking resource Line' (3rd April 2012) for victims of human trafficking by the international NGO A21 is also notable. At the operational level, the responsible unit of the Hellenic Police Force cooperated with the counterpart law enforcement authorities of other states for the education and training of its officials and the dismantlement of human trafficking networks and rings of organized crime in the form of joint operations. Coordination of co-responsible state actors, their cooperation with non-state actors and the extroversion of relevant actions constituted the task of the informal National Rapporteur/Coordinator for the fight against human trafficking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In respect to the visa policy, with the consent of the European Commission, a four-months pilot programme was implemented, encouraging few days tourist arrivals from Turkey with the issuance of the visas required at the entry points of the country on the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Chios, Mytilene. In total, during 2012, the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs fostered Visas' Centers in certain third countries with the cooperation of external providers, so as to respond fast -in 48 hours- to the increased demand resulting from respective entry applications. Greece implements VIS at the countries where the EU has set it in operation. As regards policy of external borders management and the implementation of Schengen acquis, the Greek government has revised the existing National Action Plan 'Greece-Schengen' aiming at the further enhancing coordination of 7