Immigrants will constitute one third of the young and active population of Greece in 50 years’ time
Population projections by former Athens University of Economics and Business Professor Manolis Drettakis indicate that, at the current rate of immigrant influx, the population of immigrant origin will constitute almost one third of the country’s young and active age groups. By 2060 immigrants will constitute almost 32% of the population of the 0-14 year olds and more than 29% of the 15-64 year olds.

The relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 3/12/009) can be read here (in Greek only)

Foreigner participation in December’s riots
According to police data 31 foreigners were arrested during the riots from December 4th to December 8th. They constituted 15% of the arrests made during the same period. Not surprisingly Albanians constituted the majority of the arrested foreigners (15 arrests – 48%). Moreover, if the “revolution tourists” are excluded from the arrested foreigners (1 from France, 1 from Cyprus, 3 from Spain, 3 from Italy and 1 from Canada) then Albanians constitute 68% of the total number of foreigners arrested.

The relevant data can be found here (Kathimerini, 9/12/2009)

Immigrant children do worse at school compared to native children
An international study showed that school failure is more serious a problem among immigrant pupils than among Greek pupils.

The relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 11/12/2009) can be read here (in Greek only)

Government to offer amnesty to 100,000 illegal immigrants?
Minister of Labor Mr Andreas Loverdos revealed in Parliament that the government plans to regularize (ex post facto) 100,000 illegal immigrants in order to bolster social security.

The full text of Mr Loverdos’ speech can be read here (in Greek only)

It should be noted that large scale ex post facto regularizations of illegal immigrants are discouraged by the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, which was signed by Greece in October 2008.

The European Pact on Immigration and Asylum can be read here (in English)

Frontex director visits Greece
Frontex executive director Mr Ilkka Laitinen visited Greece and had talks with Citizens’ Protection Minister Mr Michalis Chrysochoidis on how to improve the co-operation between Greece and Frontex. Mr Chrysochoidis also presented an action plan for the tackling of the illegal immigrant influx and the improvement of the repatriation rate.

The Ministry’s relevant press release can be read here (in Greek only)

“Greece is situated in an extremely difficult neighborhood”
Citizens’ Protection Minister Mr Michalis Chrysochoidis admitted that “We are situated in an extremely difficult neighborhood. We have bad neighbors who are very dangerous regarding our national and social security – and I am not referring to the Turks simply because of our national security issue”. Moreover, he added that “Organized crime, human trafficking, drugs and our national issue comprise an extremely dangerous and explosive mix of matters…”

A relevant news-report (To Vima, 16/12/2009) can be read here (in Greek only)

Greece’s foreign population higher than EU average
According to Eurostat data 906,000 foreigners live and work in Greece, representing 8.1% of the country’s population. Only 158,000 (1.4%) come from other EU countries while 6.7% come from countries outside the EU. The EU average for the total foreigner population is 6.2% while the average for the non-EU foreigner population is 3.9%. It should be noted that almost 64% of the total foreigner population living in Greece comes from neighboring Albania.

A relevant news-report (To Vima, 17/12/2009) can be read here (in Greek only)

The relevant Eurostat report can be read in full here (in English)

20 “intercultural liaisons” to operate in the Police
The Police are to hire 20 “intercultural liaisons” who will operate in Athens’ Police Departments in order to record issues regarding foreigners and report them to Police high-ranking officers. These liaisons will come from “second-generation” foreigners and will work alongside 20 social workers and 35 translators who will also start operating in police stations by early next year.

The relevant news report (To Vima, 19/12/2009) can be read here (in Greek only)

Government reveals Bill on immigration
The government has publicized the much awaited Bill which offers citizenship and voting rights to immigrants. The discussion of the Bill in the Parliament will take place in the weeks to come.

The full text of the Bill can be read here (in Greek only)

Majority of Greeks consider immigrants “a threat”
According to a poll by Kapa Research 51.6% of Greeks consider immigrants as “a threat” and only 30.6% as “an opportunity”. Moreover, 79.3% of Greeks consider that immigrants who live in this country are “too many”.

The relevant article (in.gr, 22/12/2009) can be read here (in Greek only)

Secretary General for Immigration Policy plans to offer temporary residence permits to illegal immigrants
The secretary general for immigration policy (and former deputy Citizens’ Ombudsman) Mr Andreas Takis plans to offer temporary residence permits to illegal immigrants who cannot be readily repatriated. How is this different – in essence – from an amnesty?

Mr Takis’ relevant article (Metarithmisi, no. 32) can be read here (in Greek only)

Government’s Bill offering citizenship and voting rights to immigrants has come under heavy fire from the public
The Bill was publicized on the internet for a public debate, which ended on January 7th. The vast majority of the public’s comments were strongly against it. Moreover, a request for a referendum on the Bill has been put forward.

The public debate on the Bill can be found here (in Greek only)

The main blog of the supporters of the referendum can be found here (in Greek only)

Main Opposition party will vote against the new citizenship Bill
New Democracy leader Mr Antonis Samaras sent a letter to the Minister of Interior Mr Yiannis Ragoussis presenting all the reasons behind his party’s decision to vote against the Bill which offers citizenship and voting rights to immigrants.

The full text of Mr Samaras’ letter can be read here (in Greek only)

PM calls New Democracy’s position on the new citizenship Bill an “extreme right-wing view”
Prime Minister Mr Yiorgos Papandreou branded New Democracy’s stance on the new citizenship Bill as an “extreme right-wing view”. It is a pity that instead of a full and honest public debate the PM resorts to name-calling.

The PM’s relevant comment can be found here (in Greek only)

Ioannis Kolovos on prime-time TV on the new citizenship Bill
RIEAS research assistant and editor of this newsletter Mr Ioannis Kolovos appeared on Alter TV in a public discussion of the government’s new citizenship Bill.

Mr Kolovos’ TV appearance can be viewed here (in Greek only)

[Many thanks to Evonymos for posting the video on youtube]

PM pledges asylum-system reform
Greece’s PM Mr George Papandreou reassured UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr Antonio Guterres that a new independent agency will be created in order to effectively process asylum claims and clear the backlog of previous years. Mr Guterres recognized that Greece faces significant immigration pressures and carries a disproportionate weight.

The relevant press release by the PM’s office can be read here (in Greek only)

Franco-Greek cooperation in favor of Frontex
The Minister for Citizens’ Protection Mr Michalis Chryssochoidis and Mr Eric Besson, France’s Minister of Immigration and Integration, sent a joint letter to the Spanish government, which currently presides over the EU, proposing an upgrade of Frontex’s role in guarding EU’s border and a wider operational cooperation in order to reduce illegal immigration.

The relevant press release by the Ministry for Citizens’ Protection can be read here (in Greek only)