-4I. INTRODUCTION A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation 1. In pursuance of Article 7 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"), a delegation of the CPT carried out a visit to Greece from 20 to 27 February 20071. The visit was one which appeared to the CPT "to be required in the circumstances" (cf. Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Convention). 2. The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT: - Mario FELICE, (Head of delegation) - Pétur HAUKSSON - George TUGUSHI. They were supported by Hugh CHETWYND and Marco LEIDEKKER of the CPT’s Secretariat and assisted by Alan MITCHELL, former Head of Health Care, Scottish Prison Service, United Kingdom, and the following interpreters: B. - Eleanora CAMBAS - Maria LOUCA HOUVARDA - Ionathan MARKEL - Alexander ZAPHIRIOU. Context of the visit 3. In the report2 on the August/September 2005 periodic visit to Greece, which was transmitted to the Greek authorities in March 2006, the CPT expressed its serious concern about the fact that the Committee was obliged to reiterate many of its recommendations, some of which were of very long standing. In particular, the persistent failure by the Greek authorities to tackle the structural deficiencies in the prison service and in the establishments holding foreign nationals was highlighted. A further concern related to the apparent absence of effective action when allegations of ill-treatment were brought to the attention of the authorities, which led to a climate of impunity within the law enforcement agencies. 1 2 The CPT has carried out four periodic visits to Greece (March 1993, May/June 1997, September/October 2001, August/September 2005), as well as two ad hoc visits (November 1996, October/November 1999). See CPT/Inf (2006) 41, paragraph 7.