1: LEGAL AND POLICY BACKGROUND This chapter outlines key policy changes in 2021 and 2022 leading to the introduction of mandatory reception and identification procedures on the Greek mainland, as well as the relevant legal frameworks and legal disputes emerging since the implementation of the new system in September 2022. (A) The introduction of uniform reception and identification procedures on mainland Greece, Crete and Rhodes Since November 2021, Greece has prevented the registration of asylum claims on the mainland for persons who have not previously undergone reception and identification procedures, which is mandatory for all irregularly arriving or staying third country nationals and stateless persons who cannot prove their identity with a document issued by a Greek public authority. Unaccompanied minors and persons who are in criminal or administrative detention are exempt from the screening procedure and may lodge their asylum claim directly with the Greek Asylum Service (GAS). Prior to this policy change, reception and identification procedures were only implemented within RICs located on the islands and in the land border region of Evros (Fylakio RIC), whilst all irregularly arriving or staying third country nationals on the mainland had the possibility to lodge their asylum application directly with the GAS, after being given an appointment through Skype or without an appointment if they were vulnerable. In November 2021, the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA) issued a Circular¹⁴ terminating the Skype system for first instance claims and introducing mandatory screening for people who have not previously undergone reception and identification procedures. A second Circular and accompanying decision issued on 31st Aug 2022¹⁵ established that persons on the Greek mainland, Crete or Rhodes who are not identified should lodge applications after undergoing reception and identification procedures at two RICs located in Malakasa and Diavata, close to Athens and Thessaloniki respectively. Appointments at the two mainland RICs are booked using an online form on the MoMA’s website,¹⁶ launched in July 2022, where applicants provide basic personal information and choose one of the two facilities for the registration of their claim. Before the two RICs on the mainland started operations in September 2022, only those who could prove their identity and nationality through a Greek public document (e.g. a note issued by the police) or those who entered Greece on a visa were able to register an asylum claim at competent asylum offices. Between November 2021 and September 2022 there was effectively no access to asylum on the Greek mainland, Crete and Rhodes for the vast majority of third country nationals.¹⁷ The RIC in Fylakio continued to operate only for registering arrivals at the land border. 12