Recommendations to the Greek state:
End the deprivation of liberty of applicants of international protection for the purpose of
reception and identification procedures
Ensure that all authorities comply with Greek court rulings establishing that people who have
booked an appointment at the RICs of Malakasa and Diavata are legally recognised as asylum
seekers and accordingly provided with a document attesting to their right to stay on Greek
territory and to receive full reception conditions
Provide the RICs of Malakasa and Diavata with sufficient staff and resources to ensure
efficient access to the procedure and at a minimum complete “simple” registration of claims
within the legal maximum of three working days
Ensure that RICs are equipped to offer clean accommodation, regular and free access to basic
items including hygiene products, high quality food and facilities that guarantee alignment
with the standards required for dignified living and international human rights
Ensure that people undergoing the reception and identification procedure at Malakasa and
Diavata RICs have timely and adequate access to healthcare, including psychosocial support,
medication and adequate follow-up treatment
Ensure that vulnerability assessments are carried out consistently and by qualified
professionals with the support of a translator
Establish a mechanism to flag vulnerabilities prior to entering RICs to ensure that individual
needs can be adequately addressed and special reception conditions can be provided to
ensure alignment with EU law
Guarantee that applicants have effective access to information regarding their situation and
rights in a language that they understand
Ensure that a translator is present in all communications between authorities and people on
the move in RICs
Accommodate asylum seekers and refugees in dignified community-based accommodation
schemes, which respect their freedom of liberty and from where they can access services and
support.
Recommendations to the EU Commission:
Ensure that Greece aligns its practice and domestic legislation with EU provisions
Abolish the systematic deprivation of liberty for the purpose of registering applicants of
international protection
Given the failings of the Greek reception and identification procedure, delete Article 5 of the
proposed Screening Regulation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum which suggests a
similar system to be rolled out across member states
In case Article 5 of the proposed Screening Regulation is not deleted, in relation to Article
9(1), ALL third country nationals subject to screening procedures, including those submitted
to procedures located within member state territories under Article 5, should undergo a
medical examination and vulnerability assessment carried out by a qualified professional to
ensure timely and adequate support in view of their physical and mental health
Guarantee that information provided during the screening procedure, as proposed by Article
8(3) of the proposed Screening Regulation, shall be given in a language which the third
country national understands.
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