From the 49,000 migrants currently accommodated in Greek mainland camps, 35,000 should be resettled in other European countries in the next two years, Kathimerini reports.
According to the paper, the so-called pre-registration process, implemented by the Asylum Service in cooperation with UNHCR and the European Support Office on Asylum , should be realized by late July.
The program allows individuals who entered the country between January 1, 2015 and March 19, 2016 to get a foot on the national asylum procedure ladder. It also gives them access to the EU’s relocation scheme. Individuals who skip the procedure will be deemed illegal and be subject to deportation by the authorities.
The situation is different for the estimated 8,556 migrants and refugees stranded on the Aegean islands – mainly on Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos. These arrived after March 19, when the EU signed its migration deal with Ankara, and authorities are currently examining their asylum claims.
Successful applicants will be transferred to the Greek mainland, but will be denied access to the relocation program. The rest will be returned to Turkey.