ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 Regarding national developments in the area of return a crucial matter is the signing of readmission agreements with third countries both bilaterally and in European level. Specifically, in 2012 the Implementing Protocol of the EU/Russia Readmission Agreement was signed. Also, a draft text of the Implementating Protocol of the EU/Serbia Readmission Agreement was agreed with Serbia and is pending signature by the competent Ministers. Additionally, a revised version of the existing draft bilateral protocol in implementation of the EU/Albania Readmission Agreement was promoted. Finally, it is worth noting here that on 21/06/2012 the Readmission Agreement between the EU and Turkey was initialled and its signature is pending. Regarding the most important developments in 2012 in the field of asylum and international protection, the efforts to fully implement the provisions of Law 3907/2011 "Establishment of asylum service and first reception, adaptation of Greek legislation to the provisions of Directive 2008/115/EC «on common standards and procedures in Member - States for returning illegally staying third country» and other provisions" were maintained, mainly through the gradual staffing of the Asylum Service (which is the first autonomous structure of the country that deals with the examination of asylum claims and, more broadly, international protection) and the staffing of the First Reception Service. However until the new Asylum Service becomes fully operational, the number of pending asylum applications continues to rise. By December 2012, according to a statement by the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection in response to a Parliamentary question, there were 55,000 pending applications41. Also, within the scope of Law 3907/2011, the Presidential Decree 102/2012 "Organization and Operation of the First Reception Service at the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection" and the PD 104/2012 "Organization and Operation of the Asylum Service in the Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection." were enacted, thus regulating issues of organisation and operation of the abovementioned services. Subsequently, the PD 116/2012, which amends the provisions of P.D.114/2010, prolonged detention period of asylum seekers beyond three months provided there is a specially reasoned decision by the competent Police Director and, in the case pf the General Police Directorate of Attica and Thessaloniki, by the competent Aliens' Police Director, if the reasons for it continue to exist, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 13 of Presidential Decree 114/2010. The extension of detention period coupled with the prevailing conditions in the detention centers of asylum seekers brought sharp criticism in that PD in December 2012 after a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants Francois Crepeau, who visited 11 detention centers. He stated that living conditions are unacceptable in some of them, and he added that deprivation of freedom of people who have not 41 http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/a08fc2dd-61a9-4a83-b09a09f4c564609d/es20121210.pdf 23