EU funding for migration in Greece aims at achieveing:
up to standard reception capacity for people newly arrived
improvement of living conditions for people awaiting asylum decisions
faster asylum procedures that respect fundamental rights
integration of recognised beneficiaries of international protection
effective and sustainable returns, including via assisted voluntary return and reintegration programme
The EU’s financial support to Greece in the period 2014-2020 comes from three EU funds:
€2.44 billion from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
€450 million from the Internal Security Fund (covering borders, visa and security) and
€643.6 million from the Emergency Support Instrument
Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, and Deputy Director-General in charge of the Task Force Migration Management in DG HOME, Beate Gminder, signing the grant for the construction of reception centres on Samos, Kos and Leros
To learn more on how and to whom the above funds are allocated, check the factsheet below:
Improved reception capacity and up-to-standard reception conditions
Most of the EU funding provides support to the Greek reception and accommodation system.
EU funding managed by the Greek authorities and international organisations currently provides accommodation to some 50 000 asylum seekers on the mainland. This includes long-term accommodation provided in sites and apartments, including in dedicated shelters for unaccompanied children, and in Semi Independent Living apartments for teenagers above 16 years old.
EU funding furtherimproves reception conditions for people awaiting a decision on their asylum request on the Greek mainland and islands. This includes:
Islands
Safe Zones for children, which provide a protected environment for unaccompanied children and teenagers.
Construction of new multi-purpose reception and identification centres on the five Aegean islands, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros.
Islands and mainland
protection activities towards the most vulnerable asylum seekers, including psychosocial counselling, legal aid, support in sex-gender-based violence (SGBV) cases
access to health services and deployment of medical experts to support migrant population
social, recreational and educational activities and access to formal education
projects that promote self-reliance
cash support to the asylum seekers in line with the Reception Conditions Directive
A creativity workshop organised for unaccompanied children
Fast and Fair Asylum Procedures
EU funding also contributes to fair and efficient asylum procedures on the Greek mainland and islands by:
training and staffing with 300 new as well as experienced Asylum Service staff
the creation of fully equipped workstations and the deployment of interpreters
Integration into the Greek society
Besides relocations, it is important to provide long-term prospects to the recognised refugees and beneficiaries of international protection to integrate into the Greek society after they leave the reception system. This also aims to keep enough reception capacity for people still awaiting the decision of their asylum request.
EU funding supports integration measures focusing on:
language classes
soft skills training
job counselling
financial support for the rent of housing
Effective and sustainable returns
EU funding contributes to the implementation of returns of those who are not eligible to stay from Greece to the countries of origin of migrants. More concretely, the support covers:
the operational costs of the Pre-departure Detention Centres in Greece and the costs of the returns
the operational costs of the Open Centre for the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration and the costs of these returns
EU funding coming from the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund has been channeled via:
Emergency Assistance awarded directly by the Commission for the implementation of a specific project.
The Greek National Programmes (75% EU contribution), where the Greek Authorities are responsible for the programming, implementation and monitoring of the projects. Additional information on the projects under the Greek National Programmes can be found on the dedicated website.