Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Government gives border control a whole new meaning!
Coast guard cannot properly patrol the sea borders south of Crete as, due to lack of funding, almost all patrol boats either lack fuel or their engines are not being repaired!
The relevant article (Ethnos, 6/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Diseases on the rise due to increase in illegal immigrant prostitution
Deputy Minister of Health Mr Michalis Timosides noted the dramatic rise in the number of cases of AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C which is the result of the increase of prostitution by illegal immigrants.
The relevant article (Ethnos, 13/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Government sets up the legal framework for the speeding up of the repatriation of illegal immigrants
Now that the framework is there, it is up to the Government to increase the numbers of repatriated illegal immigrants.
The relevant article (Ta Nea, 13/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
The full text of the Ministry of Interior’s relevant circular can be read here (in Greek only)
Not so innocent after all…
Four Moroccan immigrants were arrested at the Athens Airport before embarking on a flight to Tunisia, as stolen goods were found in their luggage. The Moroccans were part of the group of the 250 illegal immigrants that occupied the Athens Law School Building last January demanding an amnesty for all illegal immigrants.
The relevant article (Ethnos, 21/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Details on the occupation of the Athens Law School Building can be found at the RIEAS Newsletter on Immigration to Greece of January and February 2011
Frontex Risk Analysis Network (FRAN) quarterly report has been publicized
Frontex emphasizes that “the Greek land border with Turkey remains an area of key concern for irregular migration” and that “Turkey remains the main transit country for irregular migrants seeking to enter the EU by both land and air”.
The full text of the report can be read here (in English)
A positive side-effect of Greece’s economic crisis? Illegal immigrant inflow significantly decreased!
According to data publicized by the Hellenic Police, the total inflow of illegal immigrants during the first semester of 2011 showed a significant decrease of 43.41% compared to the same period in 2010. An increase of illegal entries (+22.13%) took place in the Greek-Turkish land border.
The relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 23/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Immigrants will constitute more than 20% of Greece’s population by 2060
Population projections by former Athens University of Economics and Business Professor Manolis Drettakis indicate that, at the current rate of immigrant influx, by 2060 the population of immigrant origin will be 2,392,531 people, thus constituting 21.2% of the country’s population. Meanwhile, the (aging) Greek population is estimated to be 8,902,133 people by 2060.
The relevant article (Avgi, 24/7/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)