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An intergovernmental organization established in 1951, IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

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  • More than 450 field locations
  • More than 7,800 staff working on more than 2,700 projects
  • More than US$ 1.3 billion expenditures in 2011

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 Greece  

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State*

Capital: Athens
Population (2011): 11.4 million
Area: 131,940 sq km
Major Languages: Greek
Currency: Euro (EUR)
GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 27,805
HDI Rank (2011): 29 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 1,629 million
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): 2.7 migrants /1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 10.1%
Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 44.6%
Population under 15 (2011): 14.7%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.1%

 

Overview

Greece has been traditionally one of the most important emigration countries following the Second World War. Immigration to Greece started in 1980s with immigrants coming mainly from Africa and Asia, but it was limited in scope. As from the beginning of the 1990s, Greece started receiving large inflows of immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe following the collapse of the communist regimes.

To cope with this situation, the Greek state implemented three regularization exercises. The main legislative instrument on migration is Law 3386/2005, "Entry, residence and social integration of third country nationals into the Greek territory", providing for the unification of the residence and work permits, as well as introducing the "reflection period" for victims of trafficking. It has been revised under Law 3536/2007, "Determining matters in migration policy and other issues falling into the competence of the Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization".

The actual migration reality in the country, however, is one of large influxes of irregular migrants from Asia and Africa, who view Greece as a gateway to the European Union and end up being stranded in the country. According to the FRONTEX Report for the third quarter of 2010, the "unprecedented peak in illegal border-crossings at the Greek land border with Turkey is the result of a shift from the sea to the land border" and constitutes 85 per cent of all the detections of illegal border crossing at the EU level. Law 3907/2011 is an attempt to establish a realistic migration management system, through the operation of an independent Asylum Service, the establishment of First Reception Centers and the adaptation of Greek legislation to Community Directive 2008/115/EC on the return of irregular migrants.

Regulating Migration

Donors

Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns and related information campaign. IOM’s initiatives in Greece include the creation of the necessary mechanism and procedures for the safe, well-ordered and dignified assisted return of third country nationals who no longer fulfill the requirements for entry and/or stay in the Greek territory and who wish to go back to their countries, as well as for the facilitation of their reintegration through the provision of a small reintegration allowance.

Another initiative is the implementation of a related information campaign, pertaining to the implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns, using various means of communication and capitalizing on the networking with governmental and non governmental entities as well as on the contacts already established with the target group itself.

IOM also carries out counter trafficking activities, through the provision of support to NGOs, as well as the implementation of voluntary returns of victims of trafficking.

Main Projects

  • Voluntary Return of Third Country Nationals and Reception into Their Countries of Origin
  • Information Campaign on Voluntary Returns
  • Supporters of Anti-Trafficking Initiatives (SATI)
Facilitating Migration

IOM carries out interventions to address the lack of efficient integration of specific target groups into the Greek society, such as religious minorities (Muslims), Roma, migrants and repatriated Greeks as well as to promote the skills of public and private service providers. To this aim, a holistic intervention is promoted, addressed to the specific needs of the target groups, through language and cultural support, improvement of services offered to them, the creation of a volunteer network of support and exchange of best practices.

IOM has also launched activities to address the needs of Greek emigrants who decided to return to Greece and seek advice on matters related to taxation, education, social security, pensions, etc.

Main Projects

  • Greece - International School of Culture and Social Interaction
  • Information Office for Repatriating Greeks


Last updated:
Main text: 30 March 2011
Facts and figures: May 2012