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

Maria Dimitrakopoulou 169 Specifically, in accordance with article 14(2) L 4375/2016, people arriving after 20 March 2016 are subject to a 3-day restriction on their “freedom of movement” and are not allowed to leave the premises of the Reception and Identification Centres (RIC). This 3 day period can be extended by a maximum of 25 days if reception and identification procedures have not been completed. Therefore, the restriction on freedom of movement, as defined in the same article in paragraph 3, amounts to de facto detention in the framework of the reception and identification proce- dures. According to the above law, seven categories of people are considered vulnerable: a) unaccompanied minors; b) persons who have a disability or suffering from an incurable or serious illness; c) the elderly; d) pregnant women or women who have recently given birth; e) single parents with minor children; f) victims of torture, rape, or other serious forms of psychological, physical, or sexual violence or ex- ploitation, persons with a post-traumatic disorder, in particular survivors and rela- tives of victims of ship-wrecks; and g) victims of trafficking in human beings. Since April 2016 a fast-track border procedure has operated in hotspots. AIDA states that the fast track border procedure functions as ‘an extremely truncated asylum procedure with fewer guarantees’. The provision allows EASO experts to conduct the asylum interview and reduces the asylum procedure to less than two weeks. 77 While initially limited to six months, the fast-track border procedure has recently been extended to August 2019 by legislative amendment. 78 In principle, shorter processing times are lawful, provided adequate safeguards are in place. Nevertheless, according to AIDA, such a rapid procedure affects the guarantees available to asylum seekers in the fast-track border procedure. 79 The comprehensive legislative framework in place sets out applicants’ rights and other procedural safeguards. However, practical barriers and the continued intro- duction and changing of policies do not guarantee the respect of the applicants’ rights. In an effort to increase returns from the islands to Turkey, policies and pro- cedures have been changed repeatedly. Thus, the asylum process has rendered ex- tremely complicated, contributing to the confusion, anxiety and well-document- ed deterioration of mental health and well-being for the many who have already media/2015-07-06-10-08-36/item/471-ekthesi-esp-sto-plaisio-ektelesis-tis-apofasis- mss-kata-velgiou-kai-elladas-maios-2015. 77. Article 60(4)(a-e). AIDA, Country Report: Greece, 2016 update – March 2017, http:// www.asylumineurope.org/reports/country/greece. 78. Article 96(4) of Law 4485/2017 (official gazette 114A/4.8.2017). 79. AIDA, Country Report: Greece, 2016 update – March 2017, http://www.asylumineurope . org/reports/country/greece.