CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS This report has revealed serious deficiencies in the procedure for registering first instance asylum claims on the Greek mainland, including the policy of 25-day de facto detention for asylum seekers, the lack of a standard procedure for vulnerable cases, and the continuation of delays in the processing of asylum applications. The new system for registering asylum claims on mainland Greece imposes blanket 25-day de facto detention measures on asylum seekers Despite European Union and Greek law establishing that detention should only be used as a measure of last resort, applicants for international protection are systematically deprived of their liberty in order to register their asylum claims on the Greek mainland; The application of blanket detention measures to all applicants has proved to be a deterrence factor, as people must travel to remote and prison-like facilities to register their claim, where they may be detained with limited access to legal support and information to help them understand their rights. The new system for registering asylum claims does not ensure effective access to international protection within the timeframes laid out in Greek and EU law Long-standing issues including a lack of available appointments and translators, unavailability of the online platform for periods extending beyond three months and an inability to function in times of high arrivals has significantly impacted access to international protection on mainland Greece, resulting in delays of up to 11 months in some cases; While waiting to book or attend an appointment, people seeking asylum are excluded from legal protection and reception conditions, depriving them of access to basic services including healthcare, and leaving applicants vulnerable to arbitrary arrest, detention and possible removal from Greece. Vulnerable persons are not effectively identified in the new system and the screening process does not ensure that applicants have access to adequate medical and psychosocial support The lack of a standard procedure for the identification and prioritisation of vulnerable cases puts already vulnerable groups at risk of further harm, restricting access to basic services and legal protections; During screening applicants undergo inconsistent medical and psychosocial support checks, in some cases leading to their vulnerability going undetected and no follow-up treatment provided; Applicants report a lack of psychosocial support within mainland RICs and a deterioration of their mental health during their de facto detention - including feelings of anxiousness, depression, retraumatisation and a general sense of not feeling safe. 41