A bill that aims to streamline procedures for asylum seekers, which will likely be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, does not recognize Turkey as a “safe third country”.
Instead, the bill includes the criteria for what constitutes a safe third country, as included in the revised European Directive 2013/32, which is fully integrated into Greek legislation.
Additionally the bill will simplify and expedite the asylum procedures, so that the whole process does not exceed 14 days. The applications will be examined within one week, with appeals filed by applicants examined within the next.
The Asylum Service will now have regional offices and teams operating in Attica, Thessaloniki, Thrace, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Rhodes.
Finally, the bill includes provisions for the creation of a Directorate of Social Integration, which will spearhead initiatives to help refugees and migrants integrate into Greek society.
