ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 With the bulk of illegal immigrants coming from Turkey, the signing on 28 May 2012 of the "Memorandum of Understanding" between Frontex and Turkey, which came into force the next day, was crucial for the control of the Greek border. This memorandum was signed in order to enhance and develop cooperation between the Agency and the competent Turkish authorities by carrying out joint assessments with regard to illegal flows and the development of programs, which will be funded by the European Union. On a practical level it enables the secondment of national staff of the Turkish authorities responsible for border management, in coordination centers (Focal Point Offices) that are created for specific activities of Frontex after a proposal from the latter and with the agreement of the host Member State108. This Memorandum is not considered to be a document legally binding under international law and the implementation of its content, in practical terms, is not considered as a fulfilment of international obligations by Turkey. Furthermore, it should be noted that the ability to design and conduct operations on Turkish soil does not clearly derive from the Memorandum. Considering that the activation of the competent Turkish authorities through the conduction of joint operations, jointly designed and simultaneously implemented, in Turkish, as well as in Greek territory, is quite significant, Greece came into an agreement with the Turkish authorities to conduct simultaneous operation to combat illegal immigration in the Evros region109. Finally, due to the alarming increase of immigration flows from the shores of Turkey to the islands of the eastern Aegean, Greek authorities requested, in early September, to strengthen the manpower of Frontex. This aid was given by the presence of four patrol boats, one aircraft and two mobile units110. Within the framework of Frontex joint operations in Greece, the following Operations took place: Joint Operation POSEIDON 2012 land, Joint Operation POSEIDON 2012 sea, Joint Operation FOCAL POINTS 2012 land, Joint Operation FOCAL POINTS 2012 air.111 In addition to funding and organization of joint operations, particularly important is the contribution of Frontex in the field of training, with training seminars addressed specifically to border guards on the identification of illegally entering third countries nationals’ citizenship (screening) and interviewing arrested illegal immigrants in order to collect operational information for networks of smuggling and illegal migration flows. Other training activities of the Agency concern the identification of stolen vehicles and the detection of false documents. In the spirit of solidarity, and considering the support our country receives in personnel and equipment, Greece engages in joint operations of the Agency implemented in other member-states. However, Greece’s participation is 108 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2012-008071&language=EL 109 http://www.minocp.gov.gr/images/stories/2012/kb_elegxos/24092012-er1180.pdf 110 http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=473212 111 For a detailed description of the operations, see ANNEX: “2012 National Contribution of Greece to Commission and to EASO Annual Reports, Section II.2 42