recommendations that have been made to Greece for the purpose of improving detention conditions impossible. These conditions have been deemed to constitute degrading treatment, in breach of Article 3 ECHR.17 Furthermore, since the beginning of this ‘sweep operation’ in August 2012, 28,957 persons have been deported (‘voluntarily’ and forcibly).18 These developments, in conjunction with the problems that persist in the Greek asylum determination system19, hinder the provision of effective protection towards refugees, while exposing them to human rights violations. In August 2012, 1,800 additional border police officers were deployed to reinforce control of the land border in Evros.20 At the same time, the continuation of Frontex operations in the region was confirmed.21 Finally, by the end of the year, the fence at the Evros’ river was completed. 16 | The new amendment, brought about in the new Presidential Decree 116/2012, published in the Greek Government Gazette on 19 October 2012, established that detention can be further prolonged by up to 12 months, by a Police administrative decision. See: Presidential Decree 116/2012, published in the Greek Government Gazette on 19.10.2012. Available at: http://www.ethemis.gr/p-d-1162012-eos-12-mines-i-kratisi-ton-etounton/ 17 | UN General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau: Addendum – Greece, 18 April 2013, Paragraph 43. Available at: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/23/46/Add.4 and Council of Europe, Report by Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights following his visit to Greece, from 28 January to 1 February 2013, 16 April 2013, Paragraph 145. Available at: https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=2053611&Site=COE ; Ombudsman findings after a visit in the detention centers: http://content-mcdn.feed.gr/pegasus/Multimedia/pdf/diapist_id28634654.pdf ; The Greek Ombudsman’s findings concerning the detention conditions and the administrative treatment of detained migrants. Available at: http://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.el.maziki-kratisi-allodapon.118221 18 | Published by the Hellenic Police 4.10.2013. Available at: http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=%27..%27&perform=view&id=32725&It emid=1179&lang ; More statistical data on deportations per nationality as published on the Hellenic Police site. Available at: http://www.astynomia.gr/images/stories//2013/statistics13/stat_allod/apelathentes.JPG 19 | Campaign for the Access to Asylum in Greece 2012: Fact Finding Report. Available at: http://omadadikigorwnenglish.blogspot.gr/2012/07/fact-finding-report-of-campaign-for.html ; According to Eurostat -Asylum applicants and first instance decisions on asylum applications: first Quarter 2013 [footnote: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-QA-13-009/EN/KSQA-13-009-EN.PDF page 12] Greece: Total decisions: 2.855, total positive decisions: 70, refugee status: 0, subsidiary protection 0, humanitarian reasons:15, rejections 2.785]; Also see: Newsletter, Asylum Office (August-September 2013): (…) From 7.6.13 to 30.9.13 the Asylum Office registered 2.591 asylum claims. Moreover, since 17.6.13 when the first interviews began, more than 1.800 took place. Out of 2.591 persons that have applied for international protection so far, 1.871 were men, 720 were women, while 96 where unaccompanied minors. From 7.6.13-30.9.13 863 first instance decisions have been issued. Fifteen asylum seekers were granted with refugee’s status, while 11 obtained subsidiary protection. (…) Furthermore, since 11.7.13 325 appeals have been submitted and 126 decisions on 2nd degree have been so far issued, out of which 125 were rejected and 1 was granted with refugee’s status. 2 | eUROPE’S pRESSURE oN gREECE While the Greek government could demonstrate a sharp drop in the numbers of people caught attempting to cross the land border 22, a migratory shift had been provoked 23, with an increase in the number of people attempting to enter European territory through Greece’s sea borders. Despite the number of people attempting to cross the sea borders still being quite low, the ex-Minister for the Aegean, Mr. Mousouroulis’ request to obtain further support from Frontex was immediately granted 24 in the framework of ‘Joint Operation (JO) Poseidon’. Despite the crisis in Syria, in 2013 the numbers of new arrivals at the Greek-Turkish borders remain low 25 compared to previous years. Numbers of readmissions 26 based on the relevant protocol with Turkey have also dropped significantly during this time.27 20 | Alpha Fm, Minister of Public Order and Citizens Protection, Nikos Dendias announces the deployment of 1.800 additional border police officers in the Evros region. Available at: http://www.alphafm.gr/archives/49901; Parliamentary Assembly 23.1.2013: The number of police officers present at the Evros border with Turkey, which amounted to a total of some 1.900 persons, was however recently reduced by half, after completion of the border fence and due to the decrease of border crossings. Available at: http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/XRef/X2H-DW-XSL.asp?fileid=19349&lang=en 21 | Frontex Focal Point Operation 2012. Available at: http://www.frontex.europa.eu/operations/archive-of-operations/YQqn2C; See also: Migrants At Sea. Available at: http://migrantsatsea.wordpress.com/tag/frontex-joint-operation-poseidon-sea/ 22 | Ekathimerini 30.10.2013, Evros Crossings Down Radically. Available at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_05/09/2012_459907 ; See also: Official data provided by the Hellenic Police, comparative charted 2011-2012 per month. Available at: http://www.astynomia.gr/images/stories//2012/statistics2012/paranomhmetanasteush/ethsia/2012eth sio_ana_mhna.JPG ; (September 2012: 216 persons, October 2012: 137, November 2012: 71, December 2012: 82) 23 | Frontex, Situational update: Migratory situation at the Greek-Turkish border. Available at: http://frontex.europa.eu/news/situational-update-migratory-situation-at-the-greek-turkish-borderbvud4C 24 | Ibid, more specifically, Frontex provided Greece with four additional aircrafts, four patrol vessels, three surveillance mobile units and eight expertise officers. 25 | Official data provided by the Hellenic Police for the first nine months of 2013 indicates that 8.052 arrests were made in the sea borders with Turkey and 1.329 in Evros at the land borders, while for the same period of 2012 there were 764 and 30,143 arrests at the Aegean sea and in Evros region respectively. Available at: http://www.astynomia.gr/images/stories//2013/statistics13/stat_allod/etsynora.JPG See also comparative charter of the arrests 2012-2013 per month. Available at: http://www.astynomia.gr/images/stories//2013/statistics13/stat_allod/xersaiatourkika.JPG 26 | The Readmission Protocol was signed between Greece and Turkey in 2001. During 2012 and 2013 Greek and Turkish politicians and diplomats met repeatedly to negotiate on the Agreement. No details have become public on changes concerning the Agreement. 27 | In 2013 until summer, readmission applications by Greek to Turkish authorities, dropped dramatically from 20.,464 to 114. In 2012, 113 readmissions were carried out compared to 12 in 2013 until summer. They were all mainly affecting Iraqi and Iranian refugees. Chrissi Wilkens / ORF 11.9.13: Almost no asylum in Greece. Available at: http://fm4.orf.at/stories/1724601/ eUROPE’S pRESSURE oN gREECE | 3