{"id":35498,"date":"2020-11-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ready-for-feedback3.com\/shape-history\/fmr\/nikolopoulou\/"},"modified":"2024-08-27T15:34:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T20:34:32","slug":"nikolopoulou","status":"publish","type":"fmr_content","link":"https:\/\/www.fmreview.org\/fr\/recognising-refugees\/nikolopoulou\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognising refugees in Greece: policies under scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Prior to 2013, responsibility for refugee status determination (RSD) in Greece, a major entry point to Europe for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, traditionally lay with its police and the ministry responsible for public order. The country\u2019s asylum system was widely criticised for ineffectiveness, lack of guarantees, mass prolonged detention under substandard conditions, and pushbacks, generating fear and mistrust among persons in need of international protection. These deficiencies led the European Court of Human Rights to condemn the country for <em>refoulement<\/em> and inhuman or degrading treatment of asylum seekers; the systemic deficiencies of its asylum procedures were confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Union.<a href=\"#_edn1\" name=\"_ednref1\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[i]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Under pressure from the EU and internationally, in 2010 Greece set up a National Plan on Asylum and Migration and committed to reforming its asylum system by establishing independent civilian asylum authorities to conduct RSD: the Asylum Service at first instance and the Appeals\u2019 Authority at second instance. The Plan was supported by, among others, the European Commission, UNHCR and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The need for independent RSD was at the heart of the Plan\u2019s strategy, and EASO and UNHCR provided considerable support, largely through training and knowledge sharing, and also financially. Through partnerships with NGOs UNHCR has also provided capacity building to staff, and information to newcomers at entry points and to those being held in detention facilities. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The complexities of the legislative and administrative changes required, however, coupled with financial constraints caused by the severe recession, meant that the transition to the new regime was slow. During an initial transitional phase, which lasted until June 2013, the police retained competence for registration and first-instance RSD. UNHCR representatives were permitted to be present at interviews and to ask applicants questions, which improved the quality of interviews.<a href=\"#_edn2\" name=\"_ednref2\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[ii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> However, the number of those being recognised in first-instance decisions remained close to zero. UNHCR\u2019s opinions on cases were advisory only; the Greek authorities retained authority for making decisions and were largely unwilling to grant international protection. As a case in point, in 2012 only two out of 152 Syrian applicants were granted refugee status or subsidiary protection at first instance.<a href=\"#_edn3\" name=\"_ednref3\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[iii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> On the other hand, the establishment of independent Appeals Committees led to a 32% recognition rate within a year.<a href=\"#_edn4\" name=\"_ednref4\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[iv]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The new Appeals Committees consisted of three members: one civil servant, one jurist specialising in refugee\/human rights law (chosen from a pool of experts prepared by the National Commission for Human Rights \u2013 NCHR),<a href=\"#_edn5\" name=\"_ednref5\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[v]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and a second jurist nominated by UNHCR. The independence and impartiality of the Committees were safeguarded through establishing specific recruitment criteria and a robust selection process. The Director of each Committee, for instance, was recruited by a group of experts with the involvement of the independent Greek Ombudsman, academics and UNHCR. In addition, members of the Committees enjoy full independence in their duties.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>This scheme brought improvements in the quality and fairness of RSD and raised recognition rates. As an example, during the first months that such Committees were in place, almost all Syrians, Somalis and Eritreans whose claims had been rejected at first instance were granted international protection at second instance. While many refugees continued to avoid the Greek asylum system due to problems with access, inadequate reception and integration policies, these reforms nevertheless contributed to restoring refugees\u2019 trust in the system to some extent. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The hotspot approach<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The reforms to the Greek asylum system must be seen in the context of the so-called refugee crisis of 2015 when almost one million people from Syria and other countries arrived in Greece via Turkey, mostly through the Eastern Aegean islands, and moved on through the mainland and Western Balkans to other EU States. This situation increased political pressure within the EU for a more restrictive asylum and immigration policy, which resulted in the 2016 EU\u2013Turkey agreement. Under this agreement, all new irregular migrants<em> <\/em>arriving on Greece\u2019s islands \u2013 who would then be transferred to the \u2018hotspots\u2019 that operate on the major Eastern Aegean islands \u2013 would be returned to Turkey. Although the General Court of the European Union subsequently ruled the agreement not binding,<a href=\"#_edn6\" name=\"_ednref6\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[vi]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> Greek law and practice changed overnight in order to comply with the agreement\u2019s commitments. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>RSD claims made on Greece\u2019s mainland are carried out on a merit-based, individualised basis, irrespective of an applicant\u2019s nationality. However, applications that are lodged on the Eastern Aegean islands by Syrians arriving from Turkey by sea after the entry into force of the agreement are examined on admissibility on the basis (set forth in the EU\u2013Turkey agreement) that Turkey is a safe third country to which they can be returned. Until the end of 2019 applications by persons of non-Syrian nationalities (which have a recognition rate of higher than 25%) were rejected on inadmissibility grounds based on the above practice, although this began to change slightly in 2020. This practice is discriminatory and unfair, since the admissibility criterion is applied with respect to the applicant\u2019s nationality and date and point of entry. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Rejections <\/span><\/span><span><span>of claims made by Syrians arriving from Turkey under the above scheme <\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>are made on the basis of a standard template decision which applies identical reasoning to each case and is based on a general, vague perception of safety. This runs counter to the requirements placed on States that applicants be treated equally, are not discriminated against, and have their personal fear of persecution or serious harm given appropriate consideration. Moreover, risk of <em>refoulement<\/em> is not seriously assessed and, <\/span><\/span><span><span>as my own experience and others\u2019 findings show<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>, many decisions are based on country of origin information (COI) that does not reflect the current political situation nor the actual treatment of refugees in Turkey. In addition, transit in Turkey that lasts merely a few weeks or months, without access to effective protection, is considered sufficient to establish an adequate link between the person and the transit country, resulting in rejection of the claim. This concept further distorts the true meaning of the 1951 Convention \u2013 which does not require that refugees arrive directly from their country of origin to the host country.<a href=\"#_edn7\" name=\"_ednref7\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[vii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>In overturning some of these negative decisions, the independent Appeals Committees rebutted the presumption of safety in the light of the individual facts and circumstances of each case, and through a more careful assessment of available COI. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>However, soon after the launch of the new asylum system, questions were raised about the fair and independent character of the authorities. A further reform in June 2016 introduced, among other aspects, restrictions on the right to a personal hearing on appeal, transfer of the competency for granting humanitarian status from the Appeals Committees to the Minister of the Interior, and undue pressure being placed on NCHR for very rapid recruitment of experts <\/span><\/span><span><span>(and, where they were unable to comply within the timeframe required, appointments being made directly by the Minister)<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>. It also altered the composition of the independent Appeals Committees, whereby the two members of each Committee were to be administrative judges, with only one UNHCR\/NCHR expert member remaining. Furthermore, expertise in asylum\/immigration\/human rights was downgraded from being a necessity for appointees to being an asset only. Committees are also now exempt from the obligation to submit periodic reports to the Greek Ombudsman, which raises concerns as to the effective control of the administration.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Eighteen members of the Committees \u2013 almost a third of total members \u2013 publicly complained about these reforms, calling into question the independence and impartiality of the new scheme and criticising the non-conformity of the EU\u2013Turkey agreement with established European and international human rights legislation and decisions.<a href=\"#_edn8\" name=\"_ednref8\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[viii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> The replacement of experts with members of the judiciary who lack the required experience and expertise remains controversial. At the time of writing, the remaining expert member of the Appeals Committee has been replaced by a further administrative judge, meaning the composition is now fully judicial. The Greek Council of State has ruled the reforms to be in conformity with the Constitution and human rights. In so doing, it has accepted the legality of decisions based on an acceptance of Turkey as a safe country, which has generated considerable controversy among legal practitioners and academics. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Questions about EASO\u2019s role <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>After the EU\u2013Turkey agreement, teams from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) were deployed in the Greek hotspots to provide assistance and expertise to the Greek Asylum Service in the management of asylum applications. However, their competencies have been significantly extended beyond their original remit. They now carry out admissibility interviews; conduct interviews as part of the regular procedure (examining the merits of claims); act as rapporteur within the Appeals Committees; issue opinions based on applicants\u2019 personal files; and carry out other application processing duties. Their role in the procedure creates fundamental rights challenges. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Based on the above, the European Ombudsman has expressed concerns about the extent of EASO staff involvement in assessing asylum applications in the hotspots and about the quality and procedural fairness of admissibility interviews. It has also found that, because of the de facto influence that EASO\u2019s involvement has on the decisions taken by EU Member States\u2019 asylum authorities (forbidden under EASO\u2019s founding Regulation), the organisation is being \u201cencouraged politically to act in a way which is, arguably, not in line with its existing statutory role\u201d.<a href=\"#_edn9\" name=\"_ednref9\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[ix]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> Moreover, the fact that EASO staff do not have the same level of independence as do members of the Appeals Committees further undermines the procedural guarantees. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>COVID-19 and other threats<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the suspension of RSD registration and interviews in Greece and created additional obstacles to effective legal aid and representation <\/span><\/span><span><span>which have further affected the right to an effective remedy.<\/span><\/span><span><span> The examination of pending appeals has continued despite the practical inability for applicants to meet with lawyers, and for <\/span><\/span><span><span>asylum files to be obtained in good time and preparations made before the examination of the appeal<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>. Despite this, lawyers report pressure being placed on them by caseworkers not to participate in interviews because of social distancing requirements, meaning some interviews may have taken place without applicants having legal representation<\/span><\/span><span><span>. <\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>In the meantime, hundreds of applicants in the hotspots have had their claims rejected.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>The restrictive approach to protection, as seen in the current RSD procedure and hotspot policy, goes hand-in-hand with Greece\u2019s ongoing construction of new closed camps \u2013 now as a response to the pandemic, and following the fires which destroyed Moria camp \u2013 its abolition of humanitarian status, and the further degradation in the quality and independence of the country\u2019s system. Recent press coverage hints at potential changes, including the asylum service becoming involved in the return of those whose asylum claims have been rejected. The Greek Vice-Minister of Immigration and Asylum has requested that the EU introduce a <em>refoulement<\/em> clause which can be applied by over-burdened frontline EU States at their own discretion.<a href=\"#_edn10\" name=\"_ednref10\"><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>[x]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> For the time being, the EU turns a blind eye to the widespread reports of pushbacks in Greece and elsewhere in the EU. This demands reflection on how the need for a National Plan on Asylum and Migration for Greece emerged in the first place, and what steps need to be taken to assure the fairness and independence of its RSD now. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Angeliki Nikolopoulou <\/span><\/span><a href=\"mailto:annikolopoulou@yahoo.com\"><em><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>annikolopoulou@yahoo.com<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/a><br \/>\n<span><span>Attorney At Law, Thessaloniki Bar Association&nbsp; <\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/angeliki-nikolopoulou-a957941b6\/\"><em><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span><span>www.linkedin.com\/in\/angeliki-nikolopoulou-a957941b6\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref1\" name=\"_edn1\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[i]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>ECtHR [Grand Chamber], <em>M.S.S. v Belgium and Greece<\/em>, 2011 <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asylumlawdatabase.eu\/en\/content\/ecthr-mss-v-belgium-and-greece-gc-application-no-3069609\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>https:\/\/www.asylumlawdatabase.eu\/en\/content\/ecthr-mss-v-belgium-and-greece-gc-application-no-3069609<\/span><\/span><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>; CJEU [Grand Chamber], C-411\/10, 493\/10 <em>N.S. and Others<\/em>, 2011 http:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf;jsessionid=8E5C19150C6442D55A5D2A5A22B6FF61?text=&amp;docid=117187&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=2477482 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref2\" name=\"_edn2\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[ii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span><span>AIDA (June 2013) <em>National Country Report: Greece<\/em>, p22<em> <\/em><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.asylumineurope.org\/reports\/country\/greece\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.asylumineurope.org\/reports\/country\/greece<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref3\" name=\"_edn3\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[iii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span><span>UNHCR Greece (2013) <em>Syrians in Greece: Protection Considerations and UNHCR Recommendations<\/em> <\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.refworld.org\/pdfid\/525418e14.pdf\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.refworld.org\/pdfid\/525418e14.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref4\" name=\"_edn4\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[iv]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span> Asylum Information Database, Greece Country Report June 2013 &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.asylumineurope.org\/reports\/country\/greece\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.asylumineurope.org\/reports\/country\/greece<\/span><\/span><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>; see also UNHCR (2014) \u2018Greece as a Country of Asylum\u2019 <\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.refworld.org\/pdfid\/54cb3af34.pdf\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.refworld.org\/pdfid\/54cb3af34.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref5\" name=\"_edn5\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[v]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\"> The NCHR is an independent institution providing advice and guidelines to the Greek State on human rights protection.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref6\" name=\"_edn6\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[vi]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>General Court of the European Union, \u2018Press release No 19.17\u2019 <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/jcms\/upload\/docs\/application\/pdf\/2017-02\/cp170019en.pdf\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/jcms\/upload\/docs\/application\/pdf\/2017-02\/cp170019en.pdf<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref7\" name=\"_edn7\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span>[vii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>UNHCR (2017) <\/span><\/span><em><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span><span>Summary Conclusions on Non-Penalization for Illegal Entry or Presence: Interpreting and Applying Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.refworld.org\/docid\/5b18f6740\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.refworld.org\/docid\/5b18f6740<\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>.html<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref8\" name=\"_edn8\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[viii]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/thepressproject.gr\/epistoli-melon-epitropis-prosfugon\/\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>https:\/\/thepressproject.gr\/epistoli-melon-epitropis-prosfugon\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref9\" name=\"_edn9\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[ix]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span lang=\"EN-US\"> European Ombudsman \u2018Decision in case 735\/2017\/MDC\u2019, 7 July 2018 https:\/\/www.ombudsman.europa.eu\/en\/decision\/en\/98711; see also FRA (2019) <em>Update of the 2016 opinion of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on fundamental rights in the \u2018hotspots\u2019 set up in Greece and Italy<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/fra.europa.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/fra_uploads\/fra-2019-opinion-hotspots-update-03-2019_en.pdf\"><span lang=\"EN-US\">https:\/\/fra.europa.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/fra_uploads\/fra-2019-opinion-hotspots-update-03-2019_en.pdf<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><a href=\"#_ednref10\" name=\"_edn10\"><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span><span lang=\"EL\"><span><span>[x]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>Aggelidis D \u2018Outrageous request to the EU for legalizing pushbacks\u2019, <em>EfSyn<\/em>, 5 June 2020 [in Greek] <\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.efsyn.gr\/ellada\/dikaiomata\/246592_exofreniko-aitima-koymoytsakoy-stin-ee-gia-nomimopoiisi-epanaproothiseon\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span>www.efsyn.gr\/ellada\/dikaiomata\/246592_exofreniko-aitima-koymoytsakoy-stin-ee-gia-nomimopoiisi-epanaproothiseon<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prior to 2013, responsibility for refugee status determination (RSD) in Greece, a major entry point to Europe for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, traditionally lay with its police and the ministry responsible for public order. The country\u2019s asylum system was widely criticised for ineffectiveness, lack of guarantees, mass prolonged detention under substandard conditions, and pushbacks,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":38862,"menu_order":0,"template":"","fmr_themes":[],"fmr_region":[],"fmr_issue":[113],"fmr_year":[],"fmr_content_type":[27],"fmr_languages":[36],"fmr_list_years":[569],"class_list":["post-35498","fmr_content","type-fmr_content","status-publish","hentry","fmr_issue-113","fmr_content_type-article","fmr_languages-english","fmr_list_years-569","entry","no-media"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Recognising refugees in Greece: policies under scrutiny - Forced Migration Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fmreview.org\/recognising-refugees\/nikolopoulou\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Recognising refugees in Greece: policies under scrutiny - Forced Migration Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Prior to 2013, responsibility for refugee status determination (RSD) in Greece, a major entry point to Europe for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, traditionally lay with its police and the ministry responsible for public order. 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