In November 2022, the existing facilities in Lesvos and Chios were converted into CCACs,160 while in both the islands, the construction of two new EU funded CCAC has been planned.161 In Chios, no construction work took place during 2023; the examination of the application for interim measures, lodged by the State in order for the latter to exercise a right to access the area of construction, is still pending before the Chios Court of First Instance.162 Reception and Identification Centres (RIC) and Closed Controlled Access Centres of Islands (CCACI) Hotspot RIC (Moria) CCAC (Mavrovouni) CCAC (Vastria) CCAC (Chalkios) CCAC (Akra Pachi – Tholos) Start of operation Capacity Lesvos Non-operational 8,000 Estimated 5,000 Chios February 2016 1,014 Under construction Estimated 1,800 October 2015 September 2020163 Under construction Occupancy Non-operational 5,390 Non-operational 1,082 Non-operational Samos RIC CCAC March 2016 18 September 2021 RIC CCAC June 2016 27 November 2021 RIC CCAC TOTAL June 2016 27 November 2021 3,650 Kos 3,890 2,923 Leros 3,360 2,150 17,737 2,192 15,914 Source: Ministry of Migration and Asylum, National Situation: Migrant and Refugee Issue, Situation as of 31 December 2023, available at https://tinyurl.com/3sa33edh It was initially planned that the five hotspot facilities would have a total capacity of 7,450 places.164 According to official data however, their capacity had increased to 13,338 places by the end of 2020. In 2021, the construction of the CCACs increased capacity to 15,934 places. In 2023, the nominal capacity of Samos, Kos and Leros CCACs,165 as well as of the CCAC of Lesvos166 appeared increased overnight in the statistics of the Ministry, reaching the total capacity of the CCAC to 17.737 places. However, doubts are raised as to whether the capacity of the infrastructures has been actually increased or whether this new capacity includes spaces not intended and suitable to accommodate people.167 In 2023, new arrivals 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 Article 12, Presidential Decree 77/2022- Gov. Gazette 212/A/17-11-2022 European Commission, Annual Activity Report 2020, Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), available at: https://tinyurl.com/2s3fvyb8, p. 9. Ert News, Χίος: Ματαίωση της εκδίκασης για τη Νέα Δομή στο Θόλος, 20 September 2023, available in greek at: https://tinyurl.com/3r7hpr6c. A new facility in Kara Tepe (Mavrovouni) was established in September 2020 after Moria RIC burnt down. In November 2022, the RIC in Mavrovouni has been converted in CCAC. (Article 12, Presidential Decree 77/2022- Gov. Gazette 212/A/17-11-2022). European Commission, Third Report on the Progress made in the implementation of the EU-Türkiye Statement, COM(2016) 634, 28 September 2016, available at: https://bit.ly/47GuGx0. RSA, Disgraceful living conditions in the ‘state-of-the-art’ Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) of Samos, 6 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/465m7vnt. According to the official statistics of MoMA, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/shmvzvru, the nominal capacity of CCAC in Lesvos was 3.840 places on 16 September 2023. However, the day after, the nominal capacity of the structure appears to be 8000 places according to available statistics available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/4rzcrkvz. Joint statement on Samos, "Not again in 2024: call for upholding human rights in Samos closed controlled access centre”, 31 January 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/296rcd82. 50