ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 asylum procedure.  The Greek Council for Refugees, which focuses on the support of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece by means of various psychological, social, legal services, aiming at their smooth integration in Greece. Regarding the legislative framework within which the aforementioned institutions and actors operate and interact, the Basic Law on migration issues is L. 3386/2005, as amended and set in force, and, depending on the issue at stake, specific legislative acts (Laws, Presidential Decrees, Decisions), which are discussed in detail in the respective thematic sections of the Report. As regards changes in the structure of central public administration in 2012, the following have taken place: a) establishment of Departments and Offices for tackling racist violence (P.D. 132/2012 “Establishment of Departments and Offices for tackling racist violence-Amendment of provisions in P.D. 14/2001” , GG Α΄ 239/11-12-2012). b) re-establishment of the Ministry for Maritime Affairs and transfer of the Hellenic Coastguard from the Ministry of Public Order & Citizen’s Protection under this Ministry, along with renaming the said Ministry into Ministry for Maritime Affairs and the Aegean (P.D. 85/2012, GG Α΄141/2012 and P.D. 94/2012, GG Α΄149/2012, respectively). c) renaming the Ministry of Citizen's Protection to Ministry of Public Order and Citizen's Protection (P.D. 85/2012, GG Α΄141/2012). d) establishment of the National Coordinating Center for the Surveillance and the Control of Borders (Ε.Σ.Κ.Ε.Ε.Σ.), as an autonomous Agency, directly liable to the Minister of Public Order and Citizen's Protection. Its mandate comprises coordination of Greek authorities taking part in external border control; cooperation with EU institutions, third countries, international organizations; supervising implementation of EU and national measures on managing the external borders of Greece (article 27 L. 4058/2012, GG Α΄ 63/2012). e) transfer to the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Welfare. (ar.9 of L.4052/2012, GG A’ 41/2012) of the General Secretariat of Social Welfare and of its supervised entities, and among others the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA) 2. OVERVIEW OF ASYLUM AND MIGRATION POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 2.1 Political developments The impact of the deep fiscal crisis and the concomitant crises in the financial, economic and social ambit were tangible already the first months of 2012. The government that emerged late 2011 on the basis of the participating political parties' consensus (PASOK, ND, LAOS), headed by Loukas Papademos, former Vice President of the European Central Bank, pursued the Prime Minister's proclaimed goals, so as to conclude its content and time-specific mandate. Respective policy priorities comprised inter alia confirming compliance with 13