CONTENTS Acknowledgements 2 Acronyms and Terminology 4 Executive Summary 5 Key Findings 7 Introduction 8 Methodology 10 1. Policy and Legal Background 12 A) The introduction of uniform reception and identification procedures on mainland Greece, Crete and Rhodes B) Legal framework: access to the asylum procedure C) Legal framework: timeframe for registration of asylum claims D) Legal framework: the reception and identification procedure E) The legal status of persons who have requested an appointment via the online platform F) Legal assessments of de facto detention within RICs 12 2. Mainland Reception Facilities 18 Malakasa Reception and Identification Centre Diavata Reception and Identification Centre 18 19 3. Barriers to Accessing the Procedure 20 A) Lack of information on the procedure B) Appointment delays and unavailability C) Inaccessibility of the online platform D) Barriers to accessing the mainland RICs E) Access to the procedure for vulnerable people 20 20 22 23 24 4. Excluded from Support and Protection 26 A) Denial of material reception conditions and healthcare B) Lack of legal protection 26 28 5. The Reception and Identification Procedure 30 A) 25-day de facto detention B) Detention of vulnerable applicants C) Vulnerability screenings D) Lack of access to information and legal support within RICs E) Accelerated procedures within RICs F) Lack of access to healthcare and psychosocial support within RICs G) Living conditions in the RICs i) Accommodation ii) Provision of food, drinking water and basic items iii) Access to leisure facilities 30 32 32 33 34 36 37 37 39 40 Conclusions and Recommendations 41 Conclusions Recommendations to the Greek State Recommendations to the European Commission 41 42 43 14 14 15 16 16 3