information on asylum and act as the first point of reference for the irregular arrival to the
country. There is currently one First-Reception Centre in Fylakio (Evros). On the islands, first
reception services are currently provided by two Mobile Units.
The establishment of both the First Reception Centre and the First Reception Mobile Units was
supported financially by the External Borders Fund. The total EU funding of such infrastructural
projects amounted approximately to EUR 9 million. 106 Further financial support was also
provided through the External Borders Fund emergency measures, in order to provide some
additional targeted assistance to the actual reception/identification/screening procedures of
irregular migrants by the FRC and the Mobile Units. There is a serious shortage, however, in
covering extant needs. Within this context UNHCR has assumed a significant operational role by
focusing on strategic entry points.107 Nonetheless, the allocated budget is indicative of the
different weight placed on the facilities and the importance allocated to detention and the
critical first reception. 108
Table 18. Planned Constructions under Greece's 2013 revised National Action Plan 109
Item
First Reception x 4
Centres
Pre-removal
Centres
Annual Running Cost
Progress of Implementation
21 million
1 operative centre (240 places)
In search of funding for the rest
x9
57 million
6 operative centres (4,985 places)
Funding secured for remaining
constructions
Open Accommodation
Since detention is a measure of last resort, Greece is expected to establish open accommodation
facilities to shelter irregular migrants. Open accommodation centres are currently primarily
designed for unaccompanied minors, families and vulnerable categories (victims of torture).
Some facilities are also open to adult women and one of those may also shelter men. Run in
their majority by NGOs, the pre-condition for tenants is that they are registered asylum seekers.
106
Supra 90
107
Interview with UNHCR Officer, 20 April 2014
108
See Greek Police, Reply to Greek Ombudsman, 17 July 2013, available at
http://www.synigoros.gr/resources/apanthsh-elas-19-07-13.pdf
109
In its review of the Implementation of the National Action Plan, the Commission noted that “the first reception
capacity continues to be in need of significant further financial and human resource investment ”, see Commission Staff
Working Document 2014, p. 6
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