ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 Greece156 which requested in February 2011 to be provided with emergency support in order to address the challenges of the increasing pressures on its borders. Since then, under Phase One of the Operational Plan signed with Greece in 2011, EASO has developed more than 40 groups that support Greece in its efforts to build a new asylum system in accordance with the National Action Plan for Asylum System Reform and Migration Management. In particular it has provided support for the establishment of the First Reception Service, of the Asylum Service, of the Appeals Authority and for the improvement of reception conditions. EASO manages on site these groups and works closely with the Greek government, UNHCR, FRONTEX and the other interested parties. On November 13th an EASO delegation visited Greece and following a meeting with the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection an amendment of the EASO Operations Action Plan in Greece was signed. Then on November 15th the Minister visited the offices of EASO in Malta, where he met with Dr. Robert K. Visser, Executive Director of EASO. Under the operation plan, EASO and the Greek authorities have managed: 1. To draft a training plan for staff of the new services, which has been initiated. Some trainers who belong to the new services have been trained over the sections of the European program on asylum and they have then trained staff employed most recently. 2. To plan the transition of databases and Eurodac DubliNet to the new services 3. To develop guidelines for the determination of age, the assessment of vulnerable groups and a strategy to increase reception and accommodation facilities. According to the schedule contained in the business plan, the activities of EASO in Greece will continue at least until April 1, 2013. Greece participates in the following activities of EASO: 1) Participation in the Management Board, 2) Participation of Greek NGOs in consultative forums and 3) Delivery of statistics and information on the situation of asylum in Greece to assist in achieving the objectives of the European Asylum System. Greece also took part in 2012 in six Specialist training sessions of EASO which aim to implement the Action Plan for the increased protection of unaccompanied minors entering the EU and covered the following issues: determination of age, minors interview, available medical instruments for determining age (eg radiography), specific legal issues for the protection of minors, the role of age determination in the asylum procedure and the procedure that must be followed in the future in order to meet the objectives of this Action Plan. 156 http://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Consultative-Forum-Operational-Plan.pdf 57