Samos, Leros and Rhodes. It is possible to establish more than one Regional Asylum Office per region by way of Ministerial Decision for the purpose of covering the needs of the Asylum Service. 7 At the end of 2022, the Asylum Service operated in 23 locations throughout the country.8 Regional Asylum Office/Units RAO Attica RAO Piraeus RAO Alimos AAU Amigdaleza RIC Malakasa AAU under custody AAU Corinth RAO Thesaloniki AAU Albania/Georgia AAU Safe Countries of Origin RIC Diavata RAO Patra AAU Ioannina RIC Filakio RAO Thrace AAU Xanthi AAU Paranesti CCAC Lesvos CCAC Chios CCAC Leros CCAC Kos RAO Rhodes RAO Crete Registrations 2022 4,876 2,370 2,267 2,129 1,377 310 1,153 1,913 609 104 1521 449 483 5,052 616 212 69 3,733 1,474 1,345 2,572 88 380 Source: MoMA, Factsheet December 2022 & RSA, The Greek asylum procedure in figures in 2022. EUAA: In April 2016, the law introduced the possibility for the Asylum Service to be assisted by European Asylum Support Office (EASO) personnel “exceptionally” and “in cases where third-country nationals or stateless persons arrive in large numbers”, within the framework of the Fast-Track Border Procedure.9 a subsequent amendment in June 2016, national legislation explicitly provided the possibility for the asylum interview within that procedure to be conducted by an EASO caseworker.10 The IPA has maintained this option, and has inserted the possibility for fast-track border procedure and admissibility interviews to be conducted by personnel of the Hellenic Police or the Armed Forces in particularly urgent circumstances.11 Since May 2018, Greek-speaking EASO personnel could also assist the Asylum Service in the Regular Procedure. Greece has received operational support by EASO/the EUAA since 2011. The 2022-2024 plan was amended in April 2022 to take into account the changes in the operational context in light of the invasion of Ukraine.12 7 8 9 10 11 12 Article 1(3) L 4375/2016. MoMA, Factsheet December 2022, https://bit.ly/3ka1evV and https://bit.ly/3kgmy2K. Article 60(4)(b) L 4375/2016. Article 60(4)(b) L 4375/2016, as amended by Article 80(13) L 4399/2016. Articles 77(1) and 90(3)(b) IPA. EUAA, Operational Plan 2022-2024 agreed by the European Union Agency for Asylum and Greece, 1 April 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/420NLHL. 26