14. Nevertheless, the CPT must recall once again that the principle of cooperation between Parties to the Convention and the Committee is not limited to steps taken to facilitate the task of a visiting delegation. It also requires that decisive action be taken to improve the situation in light of the CPT’s recommendations. In this respect, the CPT found once again that the general approach towards the treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty with a view to removal had not evolved since 2013. Foreign nationals detained in pre-removal detention centres are still effectively warehoused for between six and 18 months. The exception was Xanthi PDRC where real efforts to develop a proper regime and offer decent treatment are being made. Certain specific police detention facilities such as Drapetsona Police Station still provide appalling conditions of detention, despite repeated recommendations by the Committee to improve or close them down. The lack of implementation of long-standing recommendations of the Committee could well raise an issue of cooperation. Further, given the totally unsuitable living conditions for them there, the detention of children at Athens Airport Special holding facility should be ended. Having regard to Article 3 of the Convention, the CPT urges the Greek authorities to take concrete measures to improve the conditions, regime and treatment of foreign nationals held in immigration detention centres in light of this report. The CPT must stress that a persistent non-implementation of its recommendations by the Greek authorities will leave the Committee with no choice but to consider having recourse to the procedure provided for in Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention.3 The Committee trusts that the action taken in the light of this report will render such a step unnecessary. D. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention 15. In the course of the visit, the CPT delegation made two immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention, in respect of matters requiring urgent attention. These observations were confirmed by letter of 12 December 2023 when transmitting the delegation’s preliminary observations. The Greek authorities were requested within one month: - to establish a proper risk and needs assessment to identify persons in a vulnerable situation together with a comprehensive medical screening for all new arrivals in the CCACs of Lesvos, Kos and Samos – on the day of their arrival – and to put in place a properly regulated accommodation policy. This will require reviewing the current procedures and reinforcing the staff, as necessary; - to end the practice of holding children at Athens Airport Special Holding Facility, in line with the principle of the best interests of the child. The delegation requested that those held at the facility should be transferred together with their parents to appropriate open accommodation, capable of catering for the needs of children. On 19 January 2024, the Hellenic Police and the Hellenic Coast Guard provided a response and, on 5 February 2024, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum replied to the delegation’s preliminary observations. An additional response from the Ministry of Citizen Protection was received on 12 February 2024. This information has been taken into account in the relevant sections of the present report. 3. Article 10, paragraph 2, reads as follows: “If the Party fails to co-operate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee’s recommendations, the Committee may decide, after the Party has had an opportunity to make known its views, by a majority of two-thirds of its members to make a public statement on the matter.” 8