ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΕ: ΕΞΕΛΙΞΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ ΠΕΔΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΥΓΙΚΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΚΛΗΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΕ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ

The ‘hotspot’ approach: key findings from Greece Η προσέγγιση των hotspots: σημαντικά συμπεράσματα από την Ελλάδα Maria Dimitrakopoulou Lawyer, PhD Candidate International law and legal studies, Member of the Free legal aid program of the Greek Council for Refugees Μαρία Δημητρακοπούλου Δικηγόρος, Υπ. Δρ. Διεθνούς δικαίου και νομικών σπουδών, Μέλος του προγράμματος δωρεάν νομικής συνδρομής του Ελληνικού Συμβουλίου για τους Πρόσφυγες This report demonstrates a legal assessment of the current operation of the Eu- ropean Union (EU) hotspot approach, a Union–member state hybrid approach to the registration, identification and filtering of new arrivals into asylum and return procedures. The implementation of hotspots approach includes an important ele- ment of «joint processing of asylum applications» through a pooling of national and EU agency resources. In particular, the study takes stock of the implementa- tion of the hotspots in Greece mainly since the entry into force of the EU-Turkey Statement in March 2016, analyzing the legal framework and practices developed in each country, the role of the different actors involved, and the challenges that have emerged. The key question throughout the study is whether and how imple- mentation is in line with EU asylum law and legal standards and whether it ensures that the fundamental rights of the migrants and refugees are respected. Additionally, the research includes an overview of current fundamental rights is- sues in the hotspots, with a focus on concerns related to access to asylum proce- dures and reception conditions. There are gaps in information about international protection in the hotspots. In some cases, new arrivals are provided information within a few hours of disembarkation without the opportunity to rest, while in other hotspots there is a lack of interpreters for less common languages.