Data on outgoing “take back” requests and relevant positive decisions per Member State have not been provided by the MoMA, even though GCR has requested it. Instead, following the latest such request sent by GCR in January 2025, the MoMA replied by referring GCR to the Ministry’s website “and in particular at the link [where] the monthly newsletters are published, alongside relevant annexes, which include summary and detailed statistical data on the work of the First Reception Service, the Asylum Service and the Appeals Authority […]”. Yet a closer look at the public sources referred by the MoMA highlights that the specific data is not available. Regarding the situation of BIPs returned to Greece from other EU Member States, see Content of International Protection – Housing. 4. Border procedure (border and transit zones) 4.1. General (scope, time limits) Indicators: Border Procedure: General 1. Do border authorities receive written instructions on the referral of asylum applicants to the competent authorities? Yes No 2. Where is the border procedure mostly carried out? Air border Land border Sea border 3. Can an application made at the border be examined in substance during a border procedure? Yes No 4. Is there a maximum time limit for a first instance decision laid down in the law? Yes No ❖ If yes, what is the maximum time limit? 28 days 5. Is the asylum applicant considered to have entered the national territory during the border procedure? Yes No There are two different types of border procedures in Greece. The first will be cited here as the “normal border procedure” and the second as the “fast-track border procedure”. In the second case, many of the rights of asylum applicants 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. 577 In the “normal border procedure”, where applications for international protection are submitted in transit zones of ports or airports, asylum applicants enjoy the same rights and guarantees as those whose applications are lodged in the mainland, 578 but deadlines are shorter. For example, when an appeal is lodged, its examination can be carried out, at the earliest, five days after its submission. 579 Article 70 Asylum Code states that 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 border crossing point concerned and impose the limitation of such access. Such limitations must not result in access being rendered impossible. Where no decision on an asylum application lodged at border entry points is taken within 28 days, the applicant is allowed entry into the Greek territory for their application to be examined under the Regular Procedure.580 During this 28-day period, applicants remain in de facto detention (see Grounds for Detention). In practice, the above-mentioned procedure is only applied in airport transit zones, and in particular to people arriving at Athens International Airport – usually through a transit flight – who do not have a valid entry authorisation and apply for asylum at the airport. 577 578 579 580 Article 95(1) Asylum Code Articles 51, 74, 76, και 80 Asylum Code Article 100 (2) c Asylum Code Art. 95(2) Asylum Code. 113