Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS)
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Another ring which provided illegal immigrants with forged documents has been smashed
Two Pakistanis and an Indonesian were arrested for forging travel documents and selling them to illegal immigrants. Among other items the Police found 42 stamps of various public services, of the Police and of the Embassy of Pakistan.
A relevant news report (Ethnos on-line, 2/12/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Council of State considered Citizenship Law
The Council of State’s plenary session of judges considered the government’s 2010 Law, which eased the granting of citizenship to immigrants and offered them the right to participate in local elections. The final decision will be publicized in the first months of 2012.
Unemployment much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (3rd trimester of 2011) the unemployment rate of foreign nationals was much higher compared to the Greeks (19.8% compared to 17.5% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)
Juvenile crime rising and foreigners commit most of it
According to data by Athens’ Juvenile Courts, out of the 4,579 juveniles who were put on trial, only 2,165 were Greek nationals. This means that 52.7% of the juveniles arrested and prosecuted for criminal offences were foreigners.
The relevant news item (Kathimerini, 17/12/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
Athens’ “historical” center sinks to new low
Hotels are closing, the locals leave, illegal immigrants are occupying all public spaces and ethnic gangs boost criminality.
A relevant news item (Ethnos, 20/12/2011) can be read here (in Greek only)
EU orders Britain not to send asylum seekers back to Greece
The European Court of Justice decided that no asylum seeker should be returned to the European country from where he/she entered the EU area, if that country cannot uphold his/her ‘fundamental rights’.
A relevant news item (Daily Mail, 22/12/2011) can be read here (in English)
The Mayor of Athens has finally seen the light!
The Mayor of Athens Mr Georgios Kaminis admitted in an interview that “there is no immigration policy because we have been overwhelmed by illegal immigration. The borders are full of holes”.
Mr Kaminis’ interview (To Vima, 31/12/2011) can be read in full here (in Greek only)