- 37 obligations of the Hellenic Police at the Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) for Foreign
Nationals, article 13 par.1, in conjunction with article 11 par.3, provides for an identification and
nationality ascertainment team and for a facilities external guard and security team (article 16).
(ii) The issuance of this Law, in conjunction with the decisions of the Joint EU-Turkey Statement of
18.3.2016 (re-admission to Turkey) also resulted in the adaptation of the detention (legal status) of
newly-entered migrants, ensuring at the same time the necessary institutional guarantees for respect
to human rights of foreign nationals subject to re-admission without losing the quality of and
respect to human dignity.
(iii) Identification and nationality ascertainment team at Reception and Identification Centres
(RICs)
Following consultations with competent agencies and bodies, the Hellenic Police issued instructions
to the Reception and Identification Agency (RIA), the Asylum Agency and the Hellenic Police
(ELAS) follow a parallel (simultaneous) procedure.
In particular, detailed instructions were given so that, on completion of the procedures by the
identification and nationality ascertainment team (falling within the powers of the ELAS)
[ascertainment of identity and nationality, registration, taking and recording fingerprints (eurodac)
and taking a photograph], the Administrator of the Reception and Identification Centre (RIC)
should issue on the same day a "freedom-restricting decision" (on admission of the foreign national
to the RIC).
On completion of the reception and identification procedures, a "delivery decision" is issued by the
Administrator of the Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) to the ELAS in order for the foreign
national to become subject to deportation, return or re-admission procedures, according to the
applicable provisions (stay at the RIC: 1 to 25 days).
In parallel with these procedures, on admission of a foreign national to the Reception and
Identification Centre (RIC), in addition to the action taken by the Reception and Identification
Agency (RIA), the Hellenic Police (competent Police Directorate) issues a deportation/readmission decision of the foreign national (on the basis of the re-admission procedure) within three
(3) days (article 76 of Law 3386/2005, as amended and currently in force).
This parallel procedure, supplementary to the rights stemming from applicable laws on the
"freedom-restricting decision" made by the Administrator of the Reception and Identification
Centre (RIC) (article 76 of Law 3386/2005, as amended and currently in force), the applicable laws
on foreign nationals ensure, as minimum guarantees, an appeal against the foreign national's
deportation decision on the basis of the re-admission procedure, the suspension of enforcement only
of the part relating to deportation/re-admission if an appeal is lodged and the submission of
objections against detention before the competent Administrative First Instance Court.
When this procedure was launched, priority was given to foreign nationals who had entered Greece
irregularly after 20.3.2016.
As regards the further management of foreign nationals who, for various reasons, cannot be
immediately re-admitted to Turkey, especially those who remain for twenty five (25) days at the
facilities of the Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) due to the absence of Pre-Departure
Detention Centres for Foreign Nationals (PROKEKA) at Eastern Aegean islands, a series of orders
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