According to Article 90 of the Asylum Code, a country shall be considered to be a “first country of asylum” for an applicant provided that he or she will be readmitted to that country, if the applicant has been recognised as a refugee in that country and can still enjoy that protection or enjoys other effective protection in that country, including benefiting from the principle of non-refoulement. The “first country of asylum” concept is not applied as a stand-alone inadmissibility ground in practice. G. Information for asylum seekers and access to NGOs and UNHCR 1. Provision of information on the procedure Indicators: Information on the Procedure 1. Is sufficient information provided to asylum seekers on the procedures, their rights and obligations in practice? Yes With difficulty No ❖ Is tailored information provided to unaccompanied children? Yes No According to Article 74 paras1 to 8 of the Asylum Code (Greek Law 4939/2022 ratifying the Code on reception, international protection of third-country nationals and stateless persons, and temporary protection in cases of mass influx of displaced persons) applicants should be informed, in a language that they understand and in a simple and accessible manner, on the procedure to be followed, their rights and obligations, the consequences of the rejection of their application, as well as on the possibilities of challenging it. The Asylum Service assists applicants in understanding the information document, applicants and state whether they have actually understood its contents. A copy of the document with the applicant's signature is kept in the applicant's file. Interpretation, (or tele-interpretation when the physical presence of the interpreter is not possible using appropriate technical means) is provided during the submission of the application for international protection, as well as in all the stages of the examination of the asylum application, meaning both in first and second instance as long as the necessary communication cannot be ensured without a translator. The cost of interpretation is borne by the State where it is demonstrably impossible to provide interpretation in the language of the applicant's choice, interpretation shall be provided in the official language of the applicant's country of origin or in another language that the applicant is reasonably expected to understand, including international sign language. All information regarding the operation and structure of the Reception and Identification Service, the operation of the Asylum Service and the Regional Asylum Offices, information and updates about the Asylum Procedure on first and second instance, as well as press releases and announcements pertinent to those seeking for or/ and have been granted international protection are available in Greek and English language at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum’s website 617. For accurate and timely dissemination of the latest update on asylum and migration issues, the Ministry has also created a Viber community. 618 Another initiative in 2020 was the launching of the new platform of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum 619, where applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, as well as their representatives, can proceed to the following actions: ❖ Set an appointment with the competent Regional Asylum Office ❖ Be informed on the renewal of international protection cards ❖ Apply for change of personal data and contact information ❖ Submit application for separation of files ❖ Submit application to request statement of application status ❖ Submit application to postpone/ expedite the interview date 617 618 619 See: https://bit.ly/39WDeDR. See: https://bit.ly/3J1xTKx. See: https://bit.ly/3tLovGq. 139