the omission of a personal interview does not adversely affect the in-merits decision on the application,
in which the reasons for omitting the interview should be stated. 360
The Asylum Code further provides that, where the interview has been scheduled within 15 days from the
lodging of the application and where the applicant is vulnerable, the authorities provide them with
reasonable time not exceeding three days to prepare for the interview and obtain counselling. The
possibility to request reasonable time is not granted to asylum applicants who are not vulnerable or whose
interview has been scheduled more than 15 days after the lodging of the application.361
Under the regular procedure, the interview takes place at the premises of the RAO or remotely, with
applicants remaining at the Camp they reside on the designated day, and is conducted by one
caseworker, who can be physically present or connect remotely. The personal interview of adult asylum
applicants takes place without the presence of the applicant’s family members, unless the competent
Asylum Service handler considers their presence necessary.362 Moreover, the personal interview must
take place under conditions that ensure confidentiality.363
The person conducting the interviews should be sufficiently qualified to take into account the personal or
general circumstances regarding the application, including the applicant’s cultural background. In
particular, the interviewer must be trained on the special needs of women, children and victims of violence
and torture.364 In case of female applicants, the applicant can request a case worker/interpreter of the
same sex. If this is not possible, a note is added to the transcript of the interview. 365
The EUAA’s role in the regular procedure
In 2025, the number of interviews carried out by EUAA caseworkers in Greece increased once more, with
interviews in the asylum cases of 13,886 applicants compared to 11,973 in 2024. Of these, 85% related
to the same 10 citizenships, in particular Afghans (3,680), Syrians (2,096), Egyptians (1,305), Sudanese
(1,289), Somalis (1,139), Nepalis (614), Sierra Leoneans (580), Yemenis (478), Palestinians (345), and
stateless persons (321).366
The number of concluding remarks issued by EUAA was 604 in 2025, a decrease from 972 in 2024.367
Concluding remarks by the EUAA in 2025 mostly concerned Egyptians (197), Sierra Leoneans (113),
stateless persons (45), Sudanese (34) and Guineans (31). 368
Interviews conducted through videoconferencing
In GCR’s experience, interviews continued to be conducted through video conferencing in 2025, with
either the interviewer or interpreter (or both) participating through digital means. This was particularly the
case for applicants residing in mainland camps, who were interviewed without having to leave the camp,
as well as in certain RAOs with certain interviewers being based in other RAOs. There have also been
some cases where the interview was conducted remotely by phone rather than through video
conferencing.
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
Article 82(9) Asylum Code.
Article 82(4) Asylum Code.
Article 82(10) Asylum Code.
Article 82(11) Asylum Code.
Article 82(12)(a) Asylum Code.
Article 82(5) Asylum Code.
Information provided by the EUAA, 05 March 2026.
According to the workflows developed jointly between EUAA and the Greek Asylum Service the drafting of
concluding remarks by EUAA caseworkers is no longer required for a large share of cases (those examined
on admissibility), while in parallel is has been agreed that for efficiency reasons (as regards EUAA support to
first instance processing), EUAA caseworkers will be mainly conducting interviews, and should only draft
concluding remarks for a limited number of cases: Information provided by the EUAA, 05 March 2026.
Information provided by the EUAA, 05 March 2026.
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