Strong the framework for entry into the country, an increase in penalty for those who enter the country illegally, criminalizing the illegal residence in the country after the completion of the administrative procedure as well as the abolition of a residence permit for those who have been living in the country for 7 years, provides, inter alia, by the Ministry’s bill.
For entry into the country, the bill provides for a strictly strict framework in accordance with the guidelines of the new European Regulation on Migration to be implemented in 2026.
In particular, it is foreseen as Compulsory Reason for Prohibition the risk of the presence of the third country’s citizen for the Public Order and Security, National Security and Public Health and at the same time expanding the duration of time prohibition of entry from 5 years to 10 years and is introduced Ability to extend it up to 5 years.
For illegally entering the country, it is foreseen Increase penalty from 3 months to at least 2 years and in case of aggravating cases from 6 months in at least 3 years. At the same time, the fine is increased, which can reach up to 10,000 euros.
In addition, according to the same information, with the new bill expected to be consulted in June, the illegal stay in the country is criminalized after the completion of the administrative procedure and provides for imprisonment of at least three years, a fine of 10,000 euros, inadequate converting or suspension of a penalty. Voluntary departure from Greece. Suspension starts with departure from the country.
After all, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum had announced for weeks that the framework is being tightened and that “whose illegal immigrant is rejected by asylum and remains in the country, it will be confronted with a much more adverse institutional environment than it was today.” The goal has emphasized the minister is to discourage illegal stay in the country. “The increase in the utility and the strengthening of administrative detention are essential tools for strengthening the return mechanism,” Mr Voridis had noted.
The bill also provides for the abolition of a residence permit for those who have entered without the necessary documents and reside seven years illegally in the country.
For voluntary departure, the projected deadlines will be reduced from 25 to 14 days, as well as a reduction in the extension of voluntary departure for exceptional reasons from 120 to 60 days. In addition, electronic surveillance will be imposed as a restrictive measure during the deadline for voluntary departure.
Finally, according to the directions of the new European Pact on Asylum and Migration, some definitions are updated. For example, the concept of the country of return is expanded in the event of a dismissal of asylum application with the addition to the list: (a) the country of ordinary residence, (b) the safe third country, as defined in Article 91 of Law 4939/2022 (A ‘111), by which the application for international protection was rejected as unacceptable and c).
In addition, the risk of escaping risk definitions are added to a stricter direction. That is, they are added as objective criteria that are a risk of escaping (a) the non -residential or known residence; (b) the unprecedented information of the competent authorities abandoned or changed a place of residence or known residence,; and (c) refusing to be identified by biometrics or other means.
The bill is expected to come to Parliament for a vote in late June after the procedures are completed.