external monitoring, the Ombudsman addressed a letter in October to the leadership of the competent Ministry of Migration Policy and Ministry of Interior - Sector of Citizen Protection, inviting their services to a discussion. The purpose was for the independent authority to have full and timely information about all stages of the returns/ readmissions procedure, in order to be able to form a comprehensive picture of the practices connected to the rights of information, family unity, protection from return, etc., especially at the pre-removal stage. This invitation met with the positive response of the Hellenic Police, but not the First Reception Service of the Ministry of Migration Policy. The Greek Ombudsman, in the context of its special mandate for the external monitoring of the returns, will continue to cooperate with all competent agencies, in order to achieve the greatest possible transparency in all administrative actions. 39