Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
An assessment of the “Xenios Zeus” operation so far
Four months after the launch of the “Xenios Zeus” operation against illegal immigration there has been a significant decrease of the inflow of illegal immigrants in the Evros area. Nevertheless, at the same time, an increase of illegal immigrant inflow is being recorded at the Aegean Sea.
The relevant article (Ta Nea, 6/12/2012) can be read here (in Greek only)
What’s the cost of illegal immigrants’ repatriations?
According to Ministry of Public Order data, which were presented in Parliament, the average cost for the repatriation of an illegal immigrant is 1,100 euros.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 6/12/2012) can be read here (in Greek only)
Immigrants living in Greece sent more than 900 million euros to their countries of origin
According to Eurostat data immigrant remittances in 2011 reached almost 922 million euros compared to 1.08 billion in 2010. The largest part of this sum (777 million euros) was sent to countries outside the European Union.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 12/12/2012) can be read here (in Greek only)
Unemployment much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (3rd quarter of 2012) the unemployment rate of foreign nationals was much higher compared to the Greeks (33.1% compared to 24% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)
Evros fence is ready
The fence, which has been erected in the Greek-Turkish land border, is 10,365 meters long and 4 meters high and its aim is to stem the inflow of illegal immigrants.
Relevant articles can be read (in Greek only) here (Ethnos, 17/12/2012)
Land border sealed, Greek police chief says
An EUObserver.com article on the current situation in the Greek-Turkish land border.
The article can be read in full here (in English)