Regional Bureau Europe Weekly Report 11 07 17 07 Key Figures Mediterranean 241,263 arrivals by sea in 2016* 2,951 dead/missing in 2016* Weekly Report July 20, 2016 3:36 PM data.unhcr.org Trends of Sea Arrivals Between 11 and 17 July, 453 refugees and migrants crossed the sea to Greece, a slight increase from the 258 that crossed the previous week. Thus far in 2016, 158,937 have arrived to Greece by sea, contributing to a total of 241,263 arrivals that crossed the Mediterranean. The primary landing places of sea arrivals in Greece continues to be on the islands of Lesvos, Samos and Chios. However, during this reporting period there were spontaneous arrivals to Kos and Leros as well. Until 14 July, the countries of origin of those who arrived in Greece are mainly from the Syrian Arab Republic (48%), Afghanistan (25%) and Iraq (15%). During the same period in Italy, 2,143 refugees and migrants reached the country by sea, which is a decrease in arrivals from the 6,437 who arrived the previous week. As of 17 July, 79,851 persons arrived by sea in Italy in 2016, compared to 93,540 persons whom disembarked at the end of July 2015. Overall, sea arrivals in 2016 are in line with 2014 and 2015 trends. The top nationalities of origin among arrivals include, Nigeria, Eritrea, Gambia, and Sudan. Key Developments Situation in Greece The pre-registration exercise conducted by the Greek Asylum Service, with support by UNHCR and EASO, continued smoothly. Since 8 June 2016, a total of 25,202 people have been pre-registered and 25,700 have been provided with a wristband to prepare for their pre-registration, seeing an increase from the pre- vious week. In addition, a total of 571 unaccompanied children and 471 separated children were identified and directed to UNHCR along with other child protection partners. Best Interest Assessments (BIA) were then conducted and further referrals are made to the Greek Authorities. The pre-registration in all sites at Thessaloniki and Attica area have been completed, while it is ongoing for the sites in Western and Central Greece, and has begun for the refugee population living in urban settings. An information campaign on the registration exercise for those living in urban settings has been conducted through various NGOs and volunteer organizations. In order to ensure registration access to those living in urban settings a shuttle bus has been made available for three days. Further information and data collected during the pre-registration exercise is available at the UNHCR data portal. A tragic incident resulting in the death of an Afghan asylum-seeker in Elliniko site took place on the evening of 14 July. A fight broke out in the reception site, causing injuries to those involved among which was an Afghan man who was seriously injured and transferred to the hospital where he later died. UNHCR has previously raised concerns over security in reception centres on the mainland and Reception and Identification Centres (RIC) on the islands as tensions remain high. UNHCR and the authorities have held coordination meetings on security, most recently in Leros with an emphasis on safety issues as riots have occurred over the last few weeks. At the meeting it was agreed that the Hellenic Police, the Reception and Identification Service, and UNHCR will work on a joint security plan to address the security concerns for all those on site at the Lepida RIC Daily and Weekly Average Arrivals to Greece 7 March to 17 July 2016 3,500 3,000 65 47 Daily Average Weekly Arrivals 11 July - 17 July 2,500 Daily Average Monthly Arrivals As of 17 July 2,000 1,500 1,400 Weekly average arrival Daily arrival 1,000 600 500 300 374 94 79 113 0 * data.unhcr.org/mediterranean as of 19 July 2016 1 53 69 36 45 40 51 51 58 51 39 37 65 Regional Bureau Europe Key Figures Greece 453 Total Weekly Arrivals to Greek Islands 11 July - 17 July 65 Daily Average Arrivals to Greek Islands 11 July - 17 July Weekly Report July 20, 2016 3:36 PM data.unhcr.org in Leros, including refugees, migrants and humanitarian personnel. It was also agreed that the Police would regularly attend the inter-agency coordination meetings with humanitarian actors on the island. Their inclusion in coordination meetings will provide a platform to discuss security matters with the aim to improve safety measures and enhance regular surveillance in Lepida. UNHCR continues to support the authorities’ efforts to ensure protection and assistance to unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), including by expanding the accommodation capacity for UASC and establishing safe spaces, which are areas in reception sites throughout the mainland where UASC are placed closer to services, site managers, and local authorities to ensure their safety. So far, UNHCR provided 221 accommodation places and is working in close collaboration with authorities and child protection partners towards establishing another 280 places. Currently, two safe spaces for UASC in open temporary sites are operational, located in the sites of Diavata and Lagkadikia. Situation at the Serbia-Hungary border On 15 July, UNHCR in Geneva issued a statement about its concern of the new Hungarian restrictive law, increased reports of violence, and the deterioration of Italy 2,143 the situation at Serbia-Hungary border. The number of refugees and migrants at the Serbia-Hungary border has reached over 1,400, including people waiting to enter the transit zones, as well as those at the Refugee Aid Point at Subotica, 42% of which were children, 35 % men and 23% women. The majority are Afghans (65%) and Syrians (21%), followed by Iranians (8%) and Iraqi (5%). Humanitarian agencies and authorities continued providing increased assistance to address the consequent humanitarian, protection and security concerns. The scorching heat, followed by the rain and windy weather over the weekend added to the difficult conditions. Hygiene conditions outside both “transit zones” are difficult, but to complement the Government efforts in improving the hygiene conditions, UNHCR contracted a cleaning company to carry out regular cleaning and maintenance of the mobile toilets at both border sites starting from 20 July. Update on Relocation From Italy, 78 asylum-seekers were relocated to Spain (10), the Netherlands (52) and Portugal (16) bringing to 871 the total of persons relocated from Italy to date out of the targeted 39,600. From Greece, there were 30 asylum-seekers relocated Arrivals and People Present* per Country 17 July 2016 Total Weekly Arrivals to Italy 01 11 July - 17 July 306 Daily Average Arrivals to Italy 11 July - 17 July 07 06 Greek Islands Arrivals: 90 Present*: 8,629 Greece Mainland Arrivals: 23 Present*: 41,893 05 04 03 02 fYRoM** Arrivals: 0 Present*: 262 03 Serbia Arrivals: 300 Present*: 2,800 04 Croatia Arrivals: 0 Present*: 48 05 Hungary Arrivals: 48 Present*: - 06 Slovenia Arrivals: 0 Present*: 315 07 Austria Arrivals: 96 Present*: - 02 01 * Number of people present in Greece and estimated number of people currently present in countries along the previous route not applying for asylum ** The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (please note that the fYRoM abbreviation is used for design purposes) 2 Regional Bureau Europe Weekly Report July 20, 2016 3:36 PM data.unhcr.org to Finland (25) and Portugal (5), during the reporting period. Thus far, a total of 2,218 asylum-seekers, against the targeted 66,400, have been relocated from Greece to other EU countries since the beginning of the relocation programme in November 2015. EU Member States made available 6,961 pledges so far, while the relocation requests submitted by the Greek Asylum Service have been 6,312. Update on Returns During the reporting period, there have been no returns from Greece to Turkey, the total returns to date from Greece since 18 March 2016 are 468. EU Developments On 13 July, the European Commission (EC) released three proposals to reform the Common European Asylum System (CEAS): a proposal for a Regulation to replace the current Asylum Procedures Directive, a proposal for a Regulation to replace the current Qualifi- cation Directive, and a proposal for targeted modifications to the Reception Conditions Directive. The EC’s stated objectives for this batch of reforms are to harmonize asylum legislation throughout the EU, and to discourage secondary movement of asylum-seekers. While UNHCR supports the aim of further harmonizing the CEAS, the new system must not lower standards of protection and asylum. In addition, UNHCR believes that people should not be punished for moving onward, but rather supported through strengthening local integration efforts, family unity, high quality procedures, and access to rights. Finally, UNHCR considers that the use of inadmissibility procedures and safe country concepts, which the proposals make compulsory, should only be used under very specific circumstanc- Key Documents from the Portal 3 es and with the relevant safeguards. UNHCR will issue comments on the three proposals in due course. On 13 July, the EC also released a proposal for a regulation on an EU Resettlement Framework. It aims to provide a permanent framework, with a harmonized procedure, for resettlement to EU Member States. The proposal notably sets out the criteria to be taken into account when determining the regions or third countries from which resettlement will take place (which include the effective cooperation in the area of asylum and migration, including regarding the development of local asylum systems and cooperation on readmission and return) and the eligibility criteria for third-country nationals to be considered for resettlement. The EC would also provide Member States with EUR 10,000 from the EU budget for each person they resettle. UNHCR will issue comments on the proposal in due course. Finally, on 13 July, the EC also released its fifth report on relocation and resettlement. The report concludes that, despite positive steps towards a better implemen- tation of the two schemes, more efforts are needed. The EC notably calls on Greece to increase its capacity to process asylum applications and to urgently establish addition relocation sites. It also urges Italy to also step up its processing capacity and improve relocation procedures, including for unaccompanied children, especially as it notes that relocation from the country has recently slowed down and that a seasonal peak is expected for the summer. Finally, Member States are encouraged by the EC to pledge more relocation places, for relocation from both Greece and Italy, and to abide by their commitments in terms of resettlement, including as part of the EU-Turkey Statement. Regional Bureau Europe Weekly Report July 20, 2016 3:36 PM data.unhcr.org Timeline Overview Highlights 20 March 3 April 4 April 6 April • Start of the EU-Turkey Statement . • Greece implemented a new law highlighting the creation of the Reception and Identification Service, restructuring of the Asylum Service, the creation of an Appeals’ Authority, and the creation of new Regional Asylum Offices. • First returns take place under the EUTurkey Statement: 202 people returned to Turkey from Greece. • The European Commission (EC) published Communication on reforms to Common European Asylum System (CEAS) • Council agreed its negotiating position on the EC’s proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard. 27 April 21 April 18-19 April 7 April • Turkey amended labour legislation to grant those holding subsidiary protection work permits. • Justice and Home Affairs Council - EU Home Affairs Ministers discussed the implementation of existing measures and on work on the European border and coast guard proposal. • Foreign Affairs Council discussion on the external aspects of migration, including assessment of progress in implementing measures as part of the EU-Turkey Statement. • Turkish government amended the Temporary Protection Regulation regarding access to temporary protection for Syrian nationals who irregularly travel to Europe and who are returned to Turkey from Greek islands. ` 4 May 23 May 20 May • The Foreign Affairs Council discussed: 1)common EU efforts to bolster cooperation with the countries of origin and transit. 2) EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq. 3) conclusions on adoptions of a Med.operation Sophia. • Justice and Home Affairs Counci - EU Interior Ministers discussed implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement and other key aspects of the situation. • Bulgaria to readmit irregular arrivals to Turkey from 1 June. • Council backs the EC’s proposal to prolong internal border checks. 18 May • The EC adopted its third progress report on the EU’s emergency relocation and resettlement schemes. • The Turkish President approved the legislative framework regarding the EU-Turkey Statement with regards to the readmission of people from Greece. 1 June 7 June 8 June • Last batch of provisions of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement entered into force. • The EC launched migration package with Communications on an Action Plan on the Integration of Third Country Nationals and on Establishing a new Partnership Framework with Third Countries under the European • Agenda on Migration, and a Proposal for a Directive on the Conditions of Entry and Residence of Third Country Nationals for the Purposes of Highly Skilled Employment. • The Greek Asylum Service started pre-registration for applications for international protection, supported by UNHCR and EASO 20 June • UNHCR offices across the region celebrated World Refugee Day with a variety of events and awareness-raising activities during the week. 6 July • The compromise agreement, reached after inter-institutional discussions, on the European Commission’s proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard was adopted by the European Parliament in plenary session. 4 12 May 6 May • The EC released proposals to reform the Common European Asylum System, with proposals to reform the Dublin Regulation, the EURODAC system and to turn the European Asylum Support Office into an European Union Agency for Asylum. • The EC releases Third Progress Report by Turkey in fulfilling the requirements of its visa liberalization roadmap • The EC released proposal to grant visa liberalization to Turkish citizens • The EC proposed to prolong proportionate controls at certain internal Schengen borders, namely in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway for a maximum period of six months. 17 June 10 June • The EC released its Fourth Report on Relocation and Resettlement. • The EC also released its Second Report on the Progress Made in the Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement. • The EC adopted a recommendation on the specific urgent measures to be taken by Greece in the view of the resumption of transfers to the country under the Dublin III Regulation. • Justice and Home Affairs Council Ministers reaffiremed Greece-Turkey returns should be stepped-up provided EASO and Frontex’s support. 8-9 July The biennial NATO Summit meeting took place in Warsaw, Poland on 08-09 July where EU and NATO signed a joint declaration on cooporative efforts in selected areas, including migration. 13 July European Commition released: 1)Three proposals on CEAS reform 2) Proposal on EU Resettlement Framework and 3) Fifth report on relocation and resettlement.