Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Another interesting Wikileaks cable
According to a Wikileaks leaked US Embassy cable the then Minister for Citizen’s Protection Mr Michalis Chryssochoides, during a meeting with the US Ambassador Mr Daniel Speckhard in November 2009, emphasized that organized crime is the “main enemy of social cohesion” and pointed out that Albania is a major source of organized crime. Moreover, he noted that Greece cannot solve the problem of illegal immigration without the assistance of Albania and - especially - Turkey.
The full text of the Wikileaks cable can be read in full here (in English)
Ministry of Justice set up a special work-group in order to speed-up repatriations
The special work-group will propose changes to the current legislation on repatriations in order to lift legal obstacles and impediments which obstruct the prompt removal of illegal immigrants from the country.
The relevant press release by the Ministry of Justice can be read here (in Greek only)
The Minister for Citizen’s Protection unveiled the Ministry’s plan for the management of external borders
The Minister for Citizen’s Protection Mr Christos Papoutsis unveiled to the Cabinet the detailed plan for the management of the country’s external sea and land borders and the curbing of illegal immigration.
The Ministry’s relevant press release can be read here (in Greek only)
Parliament approved the construction of a mosque in the Eleonas area in central Athens
The debate in Parliament reveals how each parliamentary party views Muslim immigration and integration.
The relevant Parliamentary minutes can be read here (in Greek only)
Parliament debated the “loosening” of the residence permit requirements
A new Bill that reduces from 12 to 10 the number of years required by an immigrant to have been living in Greece – legally or illegally - in order to be eligible for a temporary residence permit was debated in Parliament. The discussion is quite revealing of each party’s stance on immigration policy and immigrant integration.
The relevant Parliamentary minutes can be read here (in Greek only)
Unemployment much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (2nd trimester of 2011) the unemployment rate of foreign nationals was much higher compared to the Greeks (18% compared to 16.2% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)
About 2.3 million foreigners live in Greece
Unnamed sources from the Hellenic Police HQ claim so…
The relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 22/9/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)