Research Institute for European and American Studies
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
On asylum applications
In the first five months of 2016, asylum has been granted in 23% of the application cases processed.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 31/7/2016) can be read here (in Greek only)
Foreigners feature disproportionately in Police's statistics on serious crime
According to criminality figures for 2015 released by the Hellenic Police, foreigners contribute significantly in serious crime. Foreigners are 26.2% of those arrested for homicides, 38% of those arrested for rape, 26.6% of those arrested for thefts-burglaries and 37.7% of those arrested for robberies.
The official data on criminality for 2015 can be found here (in Greek only)
ELIAMEP started talking some sense!
The General Director of ELIAMEP, a government-advisory think tank, argued that Greece should take precautionary measures to tackle the issue of Muslim radicalization.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 24/8/2016) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Isis sends new waves of jihadis to attack Europe
Europol’s director Mr Rob Wainwright warned of reports that extremists are attempting to radicalise migrants at refugee reception centres in Greece and the Balkans.
The relevant article (Evening Standard, 26/8/2016) can be read here (in English)
The role and scope of Europol’s guest officers
Europol's deputy director for operations, Mr Wil van Gemert explained the purpose and the role of Europol’s guest-officers who will be stationed in Greece. Their role will be to perform security checks in refugee camps situated in mainland Greece.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 4/9/2016) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
How many refugees are currently in the country?
The government seems to have lost count of the number of refugees currently in the country as 7,800 are unaccounted for and the total number of refugees remains stubbornly low despite the recent increased inflow.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 9/9/2016) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Unemployment much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (2nd quarter of 2016) the unemployment rate of foreign nationals was much higher compared to the Greeks (28.2% compared to 22.7% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)
Low birth-rate is the most important issue facing Greece
A report by the University of Thessaly pointed out that by 2050 Greece’s population will decrease by 800,000 to 2.5 million people, depending on the scenario.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 18/9/2016) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Riots and fire break out at the Moria hotspot in Lesvos
The Aegean Islands of Lesvos and Chios have reached breaking point as the situation at the “hotspots” has become explosive due to overcrowding and mismanagement of the refugee and illegal immigrant inflow.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 20/9/2016) can be read in full here (in Greek only)