»The truth may be bitter, but it must be told« Digression: Notes on the asylum system in Greece System and practice of asylum in Greece Applications submitted and granted In the past five years the number of asylum applications in the EU has halved. Greece is one of the few EU countries that, according to statistics, has experienced an increase. According to the Ministry of Public Order, Greece recorded 9,050 asylum seekers in 2005. This is double the figures for 2004, when 4,469 people applied for asylum. In 2006, the Greek authorities noted a further increase to 12,270. From 1st January to 1st July 2007 there were 14,594 applications for asylum.45 94.76 % of all applications were made in Athens (13,997); 0.7 % were made on the borders (103 applications). There were 24 applications from unaccompanied minors, including 11 from Afghanistan, 4 from Pakistan, 3 from Iraq and 1 each from Sudan and Syria.46 Countries of origin of asylum seekers in Greece during the first six months of 200747 Pakistan Iraq Bangladesh Afghanistan Georgia Syria Somalia Turkey 4,759 applications for asylum 3,483 2,322 769 830 723 110 102 The number of those granted refugee status in Greece is almost zero: in 2004, it was 0.3 % of all asylum seekers. If one takes into consideration the forms of humanitarian protection, the rate is 0.9%. This was the lowest recognition quota in the EU before enlargement. In 2005, the rate of protection – refugee status plus other forms of protection – increased marginally to 1.9 % (39 people)49; in 2006 it fell again to 1.2 %50. Between 1st January and July 2007 a total of 13,445 applications for asylum were rejected (Somalia 77, Iraq 2,649, Afghanistan 685, Iran 222, Sudan 75, Syria 545). Until the end of August 2007, 16 people were granted refugee status and 11 were granted humanitarian status.51 Greece does not have an adequate system of reception. It has currently just under 740 accommodation places in the whole country.52 Most of these, according to UNHCR Greece, do not even meet even minimum standards. The UNHCR criticises that the access to medical treatment and schooling are inadequately provided for. There are also no provisions for those needing special protection. There are no special measures for victims of torture, unaccompanied minors, pregnant women or those with disabilities.53 The consequences of this lack of accommodation and social care are clear: even whilst their application is being processed, asylum seekers in Greece are for the most part homeless and without any social support. Even those who are in particular need of protection are forced to cope alone or to hope for private help. It is obvious that in such a situation, countless refugees see dubious offers of help from smugglers to flee to another European state as a way out of their misery. Main countries of origin of asylum seekers in Greece for 200648 Asylum procedure Bangladesh Pakistan Iraq Afghanistan Georgia Nigeria Sudan Ethiopia India The asylum process in Greece is set out in the Presidential Decree 61/1999 (PD 61/99). It states that applications for asylum must be examined by the Security Police Department and Aliens Department (which report to the Ministry of Public Order) within three months. In the case of applications from those detained at ports and airports such examination should take place on the same day. The examination of asylum cases entails a hearing of the applicant. An interpreter is provided by the 30 3,750 applications for asylum 2,378 1,415 1,087 428 391 183 170 162 Digression: Notes on the asylum system in Greece