Pre-removal detention orders: 2021
Removal
decisions
Detention
orders
Detention rate
Deportation: L 3386/2005
4,578
4,553
99.5%
Return: L 3907/2011
24,124
15,666
65%
Return decisions under L
3907/2011: 2021
Deportation decisions under L
3386/2005: 2021
25
8548
15666
4553
With detention
Without detention
With detention
Without detention
In the particular case of Kos, the B’ Dodecanese Police Directorate issued 989
deportation decisions with detention and only 2 deportation decisions without
detention. Conversely, it issued 81 return decisions with detention and 78 without
detention.14 This means that, whereas 51% of return decisions pursuant to L 3907/2011
involved detention, 99.8% of deportation decisions pursuant to L 3386/2005 were
accompanied by detention.
Finally, the circumvention of the Return Directive at the borders is compounded by
Article 1 L 4825/2021 which prioritises the use of deportation procedures over return
procedures in those cases, without even complying with the minimum standards set by
Article 4(4) of the Directive and Article 19(2) L 3907/2011.
Detention conditions
Detention conditions in pre-removal detention centres remain problematic and
incompatible with human rights and EU and domestic legal standards, as has recently
been recalled by the Council of the European Union in relation to Tavros, Amygdaleza
and Kos in particular.15
14
15
Ministry of Justice, Reply to parliamentary question, 43/2022, 11 March 2022, available at:
https://bit.ly/3N43ePN.
Council Implementing Decision setting out a recommendation on addressing the
deficiencies identified in the 2021 evaluation of Greece on the application of the
Schengen acquis in the field of return, 13662/21, 10 November 2021, para 9, available at:
https://bit.ly/3xbpgZS.
3
RSA LEGAL NOTE│ 2022