G. Information for asylum seekers and access to NGOs and UNHCR 1. Provision of information on the procedure Indicators: Information on the Procedure 1. Is sufficient information provided to asylum seekers on the procedures, their rights and obligations in practice? Yes With difficulty No ❖ Is tailored information provided to unaccompanied children? Yes No According to Article 74 paras 1 to 8 of the Asylum Code (Greek Law 4939/2022 ratifying the Code on reception, international protection of third-country nationals and stateless persons, and temporary protection in cases of mass influx of displaced persons) applicants should be informed, in a language that they understand and in a simple and accessible manner, on the procedure to be followed, their rights and obligations, the consequences of the rejection of their application, as well as on the possibilities of challenging it. The Asylum Service assists applicants in understanding an information document provided upon registration, explaining basic rights and obligations of applicants deriving from the procedure. and state whether they have actually understood its contents. A copy of the document is provided to the applicant while one with the applicant's signature is kept in the applicant's file. Detailed information can be found at the website of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.875 Interpretation, (or tele-interpretation using appropriate technical means when the physical presence of the interpreter is not possible) is provided during the submission of the application for international protection, as well as in all the stages of the examination of the asylum application, meaning both in first and second instance as long as the necessary communication cannot be ensured without an interpreter. The cost of interpretation is borne by the State where it is demonstrably impossible to provide interpretation in the language of the applicant's choice. Interpretation shall be provided in the official language of the applicant's country of origin or in another language that the applicant is reasonably expected to understand, including international sign language. All information regarding the operation and structure of the Reception and Identification Service, the operation of the Asylum Service and the Regional Asylum Offices, information and updates about the Asylum Procedure on first and second instance, as well as press releases and announcements pertinent to those who seek or have been granted international protection are available in Greek and English at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum’s website.876 For accurate and timely dissemination of the latest update on asylum and migration issues, the Ministry has also created a Viber community.877 Since 2020, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum launched a new platform, 878 where applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, as well as their representatives, can proceed to the following actions: ❖ Schedule an appointment with the competent Regional Asylum Office ❖ Be informed on the renewal of international protection cards ❖ Apply for change of personal data and contact information ❖ Submit application for separation of files ❖ Submit application to request statement of application status ❖ Submit application to postpone/ expedite the interview date ❖ Submit additional documents ❖ Request for copies of personal file ❖ Apply for legal aid at second instance ❖ Apply for notification of ΠΑΑΥΠΑ (Provisional Social Security and Health Care Number) ❖ Apply for notification of Tax Registration Number Although these initiatives were supposed to make the Asylum Service accessible to everyone, as well as to avoid congestion and long waiting queues outside the Regional Asylum Offices, especially during the pandemic, the adjustment of the applicants and beneficiaries to this new reality was not easy, and at 875 876 877 878 See website of the MoMA, available at: https://migration.gov.gr/gas/diadikasia-asyloy/. See: https://bit.ly/39WDeDR. See: https://bit.ly/3J1xTKx. See: https://bit.ly/3tLovGq. 170