In early 2024, NORCAP embarked on a short-term project with the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, to ensure better emergency preparedness and reception of migrants arriving in Greece.
Continued support to Greek authorities
The project focused on improving communication and collaboration between the different stakeholders involved in emergency reception, particularly in areas of Greece where there are no current reception facilities.
Three NORCAP experts worked with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and organised workshops in collaboration with the General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. The goals of the workshops were to strengthen the relations of all relevant parties and identify gaps in the reception system in remote areas where the Ministry’s Reception and Identification Service structures are not present.
Participants included representatives from national authorities (Coast Guard, Reception and Identification Services, Greek police), academia, governmental and non-governmental organisations.
During the workshops, participants elaborated on action plans for various reception scenarios and exchanged views on standard operating procedures. NORCAP also presented the basic specifications and best practices for creating temporary stays and the EU methodology on legal framework and service mapping.
The result of the workshops led to the drafting of standard procedures on:
1) immediate preparation and response to arrivals in remote areas
2) methods for managing newly arrived third-country nationals and stateless individuals, and the collaboration methods needed between the involved stakeholders
3) ensuring continuous evaluations
“People’s movements and reception should be in everyone’s attention and the only way to manage them is with solidarity and cooperation”, says Sotiria Tsilavi, one of the NORCAP experts working on the project.
Georgia Plaka from the Hellenic Coast Guard noted that “The main gain of the workshop was the creation of strong bonds between the participants, which will contribute to more effective responses in cases of emergencies.”
The project was funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, PROGRAMME G: “Capacity building of national asylum and migration management systems” and the “Small Grant Scheme – Improved Strategic Planning and Response to Emergencies”
The project focused on improving communication and collaboration between the different stakeholders involved in emergency reception, particularly in areas of Greece where there are no current reception facilities.
Three NORCAP experts worked with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and organised workshops in collaboration with the General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. The goals of the workshops were to strengthen the relations of all relevant parties and identify gaps in the reception system in remote areas where the Ministry’s Reception and Identification Service structures are not present.
Participants included representatives from national authorities (Coast Guard, Reception and Identification Services, Greek police), academia, governmental and non-governmental organisations.
During the workshops, participants elaborated on action plans for various reception scenarios and exchanged views on standard operating procedures. NORCAP also presented the basic specifications and best practices for creating temporary stays and the EU methodology on legal framework and service mapping.
The result of the workshops led to the drafting of standard procedures on:
1) immediate preparation and response to arrivals in remote areas
2) methods for managing newly arrived third-country nationals and stateless individuals, and the collaboration methods needed between the involved stakeholders
3) ensuring continuous evaluations
“People’s movements and reception should be in everyone’s attention and the only way to manage them is with solidarity and cooperation”, says Sotiria Tsilavi, one of the NORCAP experts working on the project.
Georgia Plaka from the Hellenic Coast Guard noted that “The main gain of the workshop was the creation of strong bonds between the participants, which will contribute to more effective responses in cases of emergencies.”
The project was funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, PROGRAMME G: “Capacity building of national asylum and migration management systems” and the “Small Grant Scheme – Improved Strategic Planning and Response to Emergencies”