Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] European Commission report sees improvements in migration management, guarding of borders

[02] President Pavlopoulos sends telegram of condolence for loss of Shimon Peres

[01] European Commission report sees improvements in migration management, guarding of borders

The Commission adopted its Third Recommendation to Greece on improvements to its asylum system so as to gradually resume Dublin Transfers of asylum seekers to Greece.

Greece's progress included "completing a large-scale pre-registration exercise, increasing the overall reception capacity as well as doubling the capacity of the asylum service, establishing new Appeals Committees and legislation on free legal aid and education for school-aged asylum seekers and refugees," the Commission said. It also noted the need for further progress in reception facilities, access to asylum procedures and structures for vulnerable applicants, before a resumption of Dublin transfers to Greece can be considered.

"A future resumption of transfers to Greece under the Dublin Regulation should also take account of the impact this challenging situation has on the overall functioning of the asylum system, and should therefore start gradually, on a case by case basis. The Commission envisages taking stock of the progress made in this regard and issuing further recommendations before the end of the year," the Commission said.

The report noted the success of the EU-Turkey agreement in reducing refugee flows and deaths at sea, as well as an increase in the numbers returned to Turkey.

"The Greek administration has made further efforts to increase the rate of returns, in full compliance with EU and international law," the report said.

It also reported an increase in the number of relocations from Greece (4,445) and Italy (1,196) and said that, with the increased capacity of the Greek Asylum Service, and if Member States step up their efforts, it should notably be possible to relocate the remaining relocation candidates present in Greece (around 30,000) within the next year.

[02] President Pavlopoulos sends telegram of condolence for loss of Shimon Peres

"As the last representative of the generation that founded the State of Israel and helped it find its way through various challenges that [Israel] faced from the first day of its existence and throughout the course of its achievements, Shimon Peres will remain in our memory as a man of peace, as one of the wisest and most popular leaders of the country and a strong champion of democracy and freedom," the Greek president noted.

"On behalf of the Greek people and myself personally, I express my deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones of the deceased and the people of Israel," the president concluded.

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