Source: European Parliament
A steady increase in arrivals on the Greek islands in the second half of 2023 has contributed to a challenging situation, including on Samos.
It has improved since, with faster registrations and occupancy in the Multi-Purpose Reception and Identification Centre (MPRIC) of Samos standing at 66%[1]. Daily water provision in the MPRIC of Samos has increased to 9 hours per day.
The new healthcare project called ‘Hippocrates’[2] (replacing PHILOS II) is being rolled out and is expected to offer renewed support towards comprehensive health provision.
The Commission and the EU agencies will continue to support Greece in view of ensuring sufficient reception capacity and adequate standards of living.
The new Reception Conditions Directive[3] gives more prominence to how Member States organise reception systems, by introducing possibilities and clarifying the actions Member States can undertake to manage their reception capabilities, including mechanisms to assess and address the needs of national reception systems and allocation of applicants for international protection to specific geographical areas or accommodation.
Decisions on detention of applicants should be subject to the principles of necessity and proportionality and be based only on grounds set out in the directive.
This is accompanied by procedural safeguards to ensure that the applicants’ rights are upheld, and detention remains a measure of last resort, following an individual assessment of each case.
Transposition and implementation of the new Reception Conditions Directive by Member States is a key part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, to ensure efficient, rights-based and well-organised reception systems.
- [1] https://www.scribd.com/document/768803516/NSP-Eastern-Aegean-12-09
- [2] Hippocrates is implemented by IOM since July 2024 under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
- [3] Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection.