Research Institute for European and American Studies
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Foreign workers constituted 42% of those working uninsured
During 2012 Social Security Foundation (IKA) checks showed that 42% of workers found to be employed without any social security were foreigners. This means that 6 out of 10 uninsured workers were Greeks.
The relevant article (Ethnos, 15/01/2013) can be read here (in Greek only)
How many immigrants live in Greece?
According to the Ministry of Interior the number of immigrants with valid residence permits reaches 550,000. Illegal immigrants are estimated to be as many – or even more!
The relevant article (Ta Nea, 18/01/2013) can be read here (in Greek only)
Sham marriages: another way to get a residence permit!
Police in Thessaloniki smashed a ring which had arranged dozens of sham marriages between foreigners and Greeks in order for the former to obtain residence permits. The ring’s “tariff” was 7,000 euros per “marriage”. The police have arrested 11 of the ring’s members and are looking for five more.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 24/01/2013) can be read here (in Greek only)
RIEAS makes a significant contribution in the public debate on immigration
Dr John Nomikos and Ioannis Kolovos publicize in the weekly “Epikaira” magazine an extended article on Greece’s current situation regarding illegal immigration.
The article can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Council of State rules 2010 Citizenship Law unconstitutional
As reported in our newsletter of October-November 2012, the Council of State’s plenary session of judges ruled that Law 3838 of 2010 is unconstitutional. The Law eased the granting of citizenship to immigrants and their children and offered them the right to participate in local elections.
The Council of State’s ruling and its rationale can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Evros fence: a success story
According to Hellenic Police data the inflow of illegal immigrants has been minimized in the area where the fence has been erected.
A relevant article (Kathimerini, 9/2/2013) can be read here (in Greek only)
2012 illegal immigration data
Hellenic Police HQ publicized the data of illegal immigration in 2012. 76,878 foreigners were arrested for illegal entry and/or illegal stay in Greece and at the same time 22,117 foreigners were repatriated. This means that the absolute number of illegal immigrants in Greece must have increased.
The relevant Hellenic Police HQ press release can be read here (in Greek only)
Police release data on the number of foreign criminals
The Ministry of Public Order released data on the number of foreign criminals broken down per nationality for the period from 1998 to 2012. According to these data the number of foreign criminals more than tripled (from 6,094 in 1998 to 20,265 in 2012) peaking in 2010 (27,016 people).
The relevant Ministry of Public Order announcement can be read here (in Greek only)