The Greek government presented on Tuesday, a new draft bill that implements the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. The bill envisages a comprehensive overhaul of the national legislative framework for managing illegal migration, asylum and returns.
the bill has been uploaded for public consultation.
According to the ministry of migration and asylum, the new legislative framework seeks to strengthen the protection of the European Union’s external borders, accelerate asylum procedures and create tougher and more effective return mechanisms for those not eligible for international protection and legal residence in the country.
The bill incorporates key provisions of the new European Pact, while at the same time introducing crucial elements to the new European Returns Regulation that is still under negotiation, in order to create a modern, strict and functional system for managing migration flows.
Among the key provisions is a mandatory screening process for all irregularly arriving third-country nationals, which will include verification of identity, the taking of biometric data, security and health checks.
It also calls for accelerated asylum procedures at the borders, with strict and binding deadlines for examining applications and the implementation of faster processes for rejecting applications that are clearly invalid or by persons from countries whose citizens have low rates of being granted refugee status.
The new framework also reinforces the regime of detention and administrative surveillance of persons subject to a return process and foresees the creation of a more effective returns mechanism through increased cooperation with European organisations and EU member-states.
This will include the use of return hubs situated in third countries, in line with the new European returns policy.
The bill provides for the enhanced use of European registration and identification systems, including the new Eurodac, as well as strengthened operational cooperation with the European Union Agency for Asylum and Frontex for the surveillance of external borders and the implementation of returns.
As highlighted by the ministry, Greece is moving promptly to adapt to the new European framework, aiming to create a system that combines effective border protection, the swift examination of applications for international protection, and the meaningful implementation of returns for those who are not entitled to remain in the country.
According to the government, the country’s migration policy is based on clear rules: protection for those who genuinely qualify for it, but also immediate and effective return procedures for those who do not meet the requirements for international protection or legal residence.
