Identification Centre (RIC) or the Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) or Unit, acting on a reasoned proposal of the competent medical staff of the Reception and Identification Centre or the Closed Controlled Access Centres, shall refer persons belonging to vulnerable groups to the competent, based on each case, public institution of social support or protection. A copy of the medical screening and psychosocial support file is transmitted to the Head of the institution where the person resides or is being referred. In all cases, the continuity of the medical treatment followed shall be ensured, where necessary. The assessment that a person is vulnerable shall have as only consequence the immediate provision of special reception conditions.’ According to Article 80 (3) of the Asylum Code regarding applications of UAMs: ‘In case of doubt, the competent Receiving Authorities shall refer the unaccompanied minor to age assessment procedures as per the provisions in force. In cases the above-mentioned referral is considered necessary and until the completion of the procedure, special attention should be paid to the particular characteristics of the minor, especially those related to their gender or cultural peculiarities’ (see below). Based on data published by the MoMA, the number of those registered as vulnerable by the RIS at the borders during 2025 stood as follows:656 Vulnerability category Number of persons Unaccompanied minors 971 Single parent families with minor children 1,986 Victims of Torture 2,613 Persons with serious illnesses 654 Pregnant women – postpartum women 428 Persons with disabilities 249 Separated Minors 189 Elderly persons (>65) 157 Victims of human trafficking 196 Persons with intellectual and mental disabilities 121 Immediate relatives of shipwreck survivors 37 Total 7,601 The number of persons identified as vulnerable after conclusion of the reception and identification procedures and the number of persons identified as vulnerable after re-examination was not available. Moreover, no information was provided regarding the competent authority to cover the expenses in cases where transfer to another island was necessary for the vulnerability assessment. The low quality of the process of medical and psychosocial screening, if any, has remained a source of serious concern also in 2025, since no positive developments occurred. As stated in AIDA report for 2022,657 vulnerabilities are often missed, with individuals going through the asylum procedure without having their vulnerability assessment completed first. Equal Rights Beyond Borders, HIAS Greece and RSA have reported that: [s]evere delays persist when it comes to conducting vulnerability assessments even after the reception and identification procedure formally ends: The time delay ranges from ten days to 656 657 MoMA, Registered Third-country nationals/stateless persons in Regional Units (CCAC / RIC) of Islands and Fylakio of the RIS for January – September, available at: https://migration.gov.gr/en/statistika/. ECRE, AIDA, Country Report: Greece, 2022 Update, June 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3PUOVk9. 147