Research Institute for European and American Studies
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
13.2% of births in Greece come from foreign mothers
According to 2014 data 13.2% of births in Greece came from foreign mothers (12,173 births out of a total of 92,148). Moreover, the Greek population continues to decline and age.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 1/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
An important admission...even if it is 20 years late!
The Hellenic League for Human Rights admitted that, in the mid-90s, the Greek citizenship was granted to "a significant number of people who were not of Greek-Pontian descent".
HLHR's press release can be read in full here (in Greek only)
How much "Syrian" are self-declared Syrian refugees?
It turns out that 1 out of 4 self-declared Syrian refugees is not Syrian at all. They usually are Iraqis or North African Arabs.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 11/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
The new deputy Minister on Immigration Policy laid down his plan!
Mr Yiannis Mouzalas, the new deputy Minister on Immigration Policy, laid down the government's plan on how to tackle the issue of refugee and illegal immigrant inflow. One apparent weakness in the plan is that there is no assurance for the repatriation of the tens of thousands of people who have reached Greece but who obviously do not have a valid reason to apply for asylum (or are found not to have one after the screening processes).
Mr Mouzalas' interview (Efimerida ton Syntakton, 12/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
The cost of illegal immigrant and refugee inflow for the Hellenic Armed Forces
According to data which were presented by the Minister for National Defense Mr Panos Kammenos to the PM Mr Alexis Tsipras the annual cost of illegal immigrant and refugee inflow for the Hellenic Armed Forces is estimated at 2.7 billion euros.
The relevant article (Ethnos online, 14/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
A new record is set!
According to Hellenic Police data for the first nine months of 2015 the arrests for illegal entry and/or illegal stay reached 422,113, almost eight times as many as in the same period of 2014 (53,510 arrests). This year's inflow of illegal immigrants to Greece will be the highest ever recorded!
The relevant Hellenic Police data can be found here (in Greek only)
Migrant crisis: Arrivals to Greece top 500,000
BBC reports on the current situation in Greece
The news-report can be read in full here (in English)
An official estimation for the cost of migration management
According to the Ministry of Immigration Policy the cost of migration management for Greece for the next two years was estimated to be at 480 million euros.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 23/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
The vast majority of Greeks are against the permanent settlement of refugees in the country
A Public Issue opinion poll showed that 46% of Greeks consider the refugee inflow as a threat and 65% are against the permanent settlement of refugees in the country.
The relevant article (Avgi, 25/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)
Bound to fail!
The plan to create "hot spots" and hospitality infrastructure for 50,000 refugees is bound to fail as the state mechanisms cannot cope with such numbers in such short period of time.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 28/10/2015) can be read here (in Greek only)