Samos where interviews were conducted simultaneously in different areas of the same container, which does not grant proper sound insulation and is not line with the principle of confidentiality. The person conducting the interviews should be sufficiently qualified to take into account the personal or general circumstances regarding the application, including the applicant’s cultural origin. In particular, the interviewer must be trained concerning the special needs of women, children and victims of violence and torture.231 In case of female applicants, the applicant can request a case worker/interpreter of the same sex. If this is not possible, a note is added to the transcript of the interview. 232 The EUAA’s (previously EASO's) role in the regular procedure 233 Following the amendments introduced by L 4540/2018, which have been maintained in the IPA, and the Asylum Code,234 the EUAA (formerly EASO) can be involved in the regular procedure,235 while EUAA personnel providing services at the Asylum Service premises are bound by the Asylum Service Rules of Procedure.236 The main form of support provided by EUAA caseworkers includes the conduct of interviews with applicants and the drafting of opinions to the Asylum Service, which retains responsibility for issuing a decision on the asylum application. According to the relevant provision, personnel involved in the regular procedure should consist of Greek-speaking case workers.237 In 2022, the number of interviews carried out by EUAA caseworkers in Greece further decreased to interviews in the asylum cases of 16,639 applicants. Of these, 85% related to the top 10 citizenships of applicants interviewed by the EUAA, in particular Afghanistan (3,799), Bangladesh (1,957), Somalia (1,804), Palestine (1,403), Syria (1,396) and Democratic Republic of Congo (1,158). 238 The number of concluding remarks issued by EUAA decreased to 5,071 in 2022, almost half of those issued in 2021 (9,230). This is due to the fact that, following the new Joint Ministerial Decision designating Türkiye as a safe third country for applicants from five of the most common countries of origin in Greece, the drafting of concluding remarks by EUAA caseworkers is no longer required for a large share of cases, that is those examined on admissibility.239 Interviews conducted through video conferencing According to GCR, interviews continued to be regularly conducted through video conferencing in 2022, either with the interviewer or the interpreter (or often with both) participating through digital tools. This was particularly the case for applicants residing in camps on the mainland, who were interviewed without having to leave the camp, as well as in certain RAOs with certain interviewers being based in other RAOs. There have also been some cases where the interview was conducted remotely though telephone rather than through video conferencing. At the beginning of the interview, the caseworker requests for the applicant’s consent for the use of videoconferencing to carry out the interview. The applicant gives his/her/their consent orally and it is recorded both in the audio recording of the interview as well as in the written transcript. However, applicants were not informed about possible consequences in case of refusal to use digital tools, such as rescheduling the interview at a later date. Other issues arising from the use of digital tools include technical issues such as poor internet connection and inadequate sound quality. Even under the best of conditions, video conferencing may negatively affect the quality of the interpretation and possibly the interview due to the loss of non-verbal communication cues. 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 Article 77(12)(a) IPA and 82(12)(a) ASYLUM CODE Article 77(5) IPA and 82(5) ASYLUM CODE. It should be noted that Regulation 2021/2023 entered into force on 19 January 2022, transforming EASO into the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA). Article. 65(16) IPA and 69(16) ASYLUM CODE. Article 65(16) IPA and 69(16) ASYLUM CODE. Article 1(2) Asylum Service Director Decision No 3385 of 14 February 2018. Article 65(16) IPA and 69(16) ASYLUM CODE. Information provided by the EUAA, 28 February 2023. Information provided by the EUAA, 28 February 2023. 58