rights of asylum seekers are severely restricted, as it will be explained in the section on Fast-Track Border Procedure. Article 95 Asylum Code establishes the border procedure, limiting its applicability to admissibility or to the substance of claims processed under an accelerated procedure. 392 In the “normal border procedure”, where applications for international protection are submitted in transit zones of ports or airports, asylum seekers enjoy the same rights and guarantees with those whose applications are lodged in the mainland.393 However, deadlines are shorter: for example, when an appeal is lodged, it’s examination can be carried out at the earliest of 5 days after its submission. 394 According to Article 70 of the Asylum Code, the Asylum Service, in cooperation with the authorities operating in detention facilities and at Greek border entry points and/or civil society organisations, shall ensure the provision of information on the possibility to submit an application for international protection. Interpretation services shall also be provided to the extent that this is necessary for the facilitation of access to the asylum procedure. Organisations and persons providing advice and counselling, shall have effective access, unless there are reasons related to national security, or public order or reasons that are determined by the administrative management of the crossing point concerned and impose the limitation of such access. Such limitations must not result in access being rendered impossible. Where no decision is taken within 28 days, asylum seekers are allowed entry into the Greek territory for their application to be examined according to the provisions concerning the Regular Procedure.395 During this 28-day period, applicants remain de facto in detention (see Grounds for Detention). In practice, the above-mentioned procedure is only applied in airport transit zones. In particular to people arriving at Athens International Airport – usually through a transit flight – who do not have a valid entry authorization and apply for asylum at the airport. With a Police Circular of 18 June 2016 communicated to all police authorities, instructions were provided inter alia as to the procedure to be followed when a third-country national remaining in a detention centre or a RIC wishes to apply for international protection, which includes persons subject to border procedure.396 The number of asylum applications subject to the border procedure at the airport in 2022 is not available. 4.2. Personal interview Indicators: Border Procedure: Personal Interview Same as regular procedure 1. Is a personal interview of the asylum seeker in most cases conducted in practice in the border procedure? Yes No ❖ If so, are questions limited to nationality, identity, travel route? Yes No ❖ If so, are interpreters available in practice, for interviews? Yes No 2. Are interviews conducted through video conferencing? Frequently Rarely Never The personal interview at the border is conducted according to the same rules described under the regular procedure. Where the application has been lodged at the Athens International Airport transit zone, the asylum seekers are transferred in most cases to the AAU of Amygdaleza for the full registration of their asylum application and for the interview. Consequently, GCR is not aware of any interview through video conferencing in the transit zones to date. 392 Article 95(1) Asylum Code Articles 51, 74, 76, και 80 Asylum Code 394 Article 100 (2) c Asylum Code 395 Art. 95(2) Asylum Code. 396 Police Circular No 1604/16/1195968/18-6-2016, available in Greek at: http://bit.ly/2ngIEj6. 393 90