Greece to set up independent asylum agency

Nov 27, 2009, 12:36 GMT

Athens - Greece will set up an independent agency for processing asylum applications for thousands of migrants after coming under fire for its poor record in accordance with human rights laws, Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said Friday.

Officials said the working committee will comprise a string of non-governmental organisations which will begin considering asylum applications in 2010, while the role of the police will be minimised.

'These measures will help to rapidly integrate immigrants into Greek society,' said Chrysochoidis.

'The policy of providing asylum will change drastically,' he said, adding that applications would be 'considered and dealt with quickly.'

The agency would be responsible for processing a backlog of more than 30,000 asylum applications by immigrants that have built up over the past few years.

Sitting at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Africa and Asia - Greece has become the main transit point for immigrants seeking entry into the European Union.

The Hellenic Migration Policy Institute estimates that 120,000 were picked up after having covertly entering Greece in 2008.

Refugee advocates and human rights groups, such as New York-based Human Rights Watch, have slammed Greece for its treatment of migrants, accusing the country of illegal deportations and misleading migrants about their right to apply for asylum.

Last year fewer than 1 per cent of the 25,000 people who applied for asylum from the Greek government were successful, far below rates of 18 per cent in Germany, 11 per cent in Italy and 4 per cent in Spain.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized Greeces asylum policies during his visit to Athens for the third Global Forum on Migration and Development in early November.

At the forum, newly elected Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced a series of measures aimed at the integration of immigrants into Greek society, such as to revise the residence permit system and give second generation migrants access to citizenship.