ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 aim to implement the Action Plan unaccompanied minors entering the EU. for the increased protection of However, Greece's position as a key gate for illegal immigration into the EU requires greater efforts to the protection of unaccompanied minors. As found by the Commission's interim report159 which updated the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors 2010-2014160 and was published in September 2012, most of unaccompanied minors enter the EU through the main gates of illegal immigration. Unfortunately, as was reported by the Greek Council for Refugees in "Unaccompanied Minors Greek-Turkish border: Evros, March 2011 - March 2012," 161 the conditions of detention of unaccompanied minors who pass the border illegally are intolerable and in any case they do not meet the specifications of the Common European Asylum System. The need to improve the structures for immigrants and asylum seekers, particularly with regard to nutrition and health care was stressed by Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom after visiting Evros on 8-9 October 2012162, where, while acknowledging the efforts and difficulties faced by Greece with mixed flows, she emphasized that there should be further improvements in order for the greek asylum system to be harmonized with the CEAS. 6.2 Other Vulnerable Groups According to the glossary of the European Migration Network, as vulnerable groups are described minors, unaccompanied minors, disabled people, elderly people, pregnant women, single parents with minor children and persons who have undergone torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence163. As already mentioned, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors are those most affected by the shortcomings of the national asylum system. It is therefore important that, in 2012, the staffing of the Asylum Service and the First Reception Service, both established by L.3709/2011, has being continued; when these Services become fully operational, they will be in a position to provide the necessary, increased protection to those vulnerable groups. Also, in an effort to improve reception and living conditions of asylum seekers belonging to vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Health, as the responsible authority of the European Refugee Fund, has funded the following programs 159 Report From The Commission To The Council And The European Parliament “Mid-term report on the implementation of the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors”, {SWD(2012) 281 final}, http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/docs/uam/uam_report_20120928_en.pdf 160 Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament And The Council, Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010 – 2014), SEC(2010)534, http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0213:FIN:EN:PDF 161 Greek Council for Refugees, unaccompanied minors in Turkish border: Evros, March 2011 - March 2012, http://www.gcr.gr/sites/default/files/evros_el.pdf 162 press release for the meeting of Dendias-Malmstrom, http://ec.europa.eu/ellada/presscenter/news/archives/news_20121005_malmstrom_episkepsi_el.htm 163 http://emn.intrasoft-intl.com/Glossary/viewTerm.do?startingWith=V&id=321 61