EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR MIGRATION AND HOME AFFAIRS Taskforce Migration Management Athens, 15 October 2020 ST 1 MIGRATION MANAGEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary General for Reception and DG HOME acting Deputy Director General and acting Head of the Task Force . Minister of Migration and Asylum                                         opened the meeting stressing that there were no victims or injured people following the fires in Moria and that the Greek authorities managed to create a new temporary site and give shelter to everyone within a few days. He underlined that winterisation of Mavrovouni is a priority, the relevant call was launched and works worth € 5,5m. were scheduled to start next week. He stressed the need to discuss the winterisation plan and determine the actors for each action. 1. JOINT PILOT LESVOS described the newly set up Task Force for migration management in Greece (with a 2-year duration) and referred to the Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Joint Pilot on Lesvos that the Commission will discuss and sign with the Greek authorities. She stressed the priority to create a new RIC with appropriate conditions and improve the cooperation between all involved actors. stressed that while Greek authorities (GA) stay in the lead, it is important to have a streamlined approach and a joint committee (involving COM, GA, technical department and implementing partners) to take the major decisions. He expects Mavrovouni to be fully winterised in one month for 7 500 persons and to be in place as a temporary site for 6-8 months. He referred to the two ongoing verification exercises in the camp, one implemented by UNHCR and the other one by IOM and RIS and to the plans for winterisation and WASH. He said that common wash areas will be created and therefore, any containers that will be installed should be without kitchens or bathrooms. He mentioned the plan to create a contingency area for new arrivals at one of the two sea fronts of Mavrovouni (with rub-halls or containers).  MoMA to finalise the winterisation plan with the technical department by 19/10, include financial details and share it with COM. Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 Office: LX46 02/151 - Tel. direct line +32 229-89625

On the health situation on Lesvos, EODY referred to the 24/7 facility they have set up and confirmed that there has been no severe illness among the COVID-19 cases and that the situation is good now. They also confirmed that most of the children on Lesvos are vaccinated for MMR and that the rest can be vaccinated in the coming month.  EODY to confirm in the next meeting the state of play on vaccinations. GAS mentioned that asylum operations have moved to the Pagani building and the focus is on interviews. Interviews take place in offices that can be ventilated and are fully equipped with COVID-19 protective measures. The remote interviews pilot seems to work well and they plan to expand it to all islands. Out of the 150 interviews that are planned per day, 30 are performed remotely, without any problems or disruptions so far. He confirmed that they found a building for GAS and following some works they will proceed with the lease. EASO mentioned they have doubled their staff and increased their productivity (+150% opinions compared to last year) and they expect the backlog on most of the islands to be eliminated in the coming months. They agree with doing remote interviews on all islands and underlined the need to explore and expand further the use of technology to increase productivity and access to procedures.  GAS to confirm in the next meeting if the daily interview target (150) has been met and state of play on remote interviews and offices on Lesvos mentioned that there is not yet a decision on the location of the new RIC on Lesvos and that together with the Greek Authorities, she, the EASO executive director and Member States experts will be on the ground next week to check the different locations.  Feedback by MS technical experts on the suitability of the candidate locations. 2. MIGRATION MANAGEMENT ON THE ISLANDS (OTHER THAN LESVOS) AND IN THE MAINLAND 2.1. Health informed that additional funding has been secured under the Emergency Support Instrument to improve the healthcare support in 38 mainland sites through a mobile medical unit, beds, support to the local hospitals and equipment (6 bio-incinerators) and that funding was secured to the Hellenic Red Cross for COVID-19 testing. She also stressed the needs for medical staff on the islands and in mainland sites. EODY confirmed they intend to explore how to replicate the Mytiline practice at other camps.  MoH/EODY to confirm how more doctors could be deployed. 2.2. Reception conditions and reception capacity In the absence of the Ministry of Defence from the meeting, COM informed that the decision on the 800 containers would be further delayed and therefore, the containers would not be delivered before Christmas. COM also informed that a request had been 2

submitted to the army on 9/10 to investigate the issue of low food quality in the Samos RIC. informed that there will be two decongestion efforts next week from Samos and Chios and that the improvement of the situation on Samos is a priority. IOM informed about the expansion of the Katsikas, Andravida, Schisto, Ritsona and Volvi sites as agreed with the GA, and that they are carrying out works in the N.Kavala site. They also stressed the need for winterisation in Malakasa where people are still in tents. congratulated MoMA on the progress made on the transition of ESTIA and UNHCR on the good cooperation. She reiterated the need for exit from the hotels by the end of the year. MoMA confirmed that the transition is progressing fast, that they will be able to take over all places for those not having applied or partially applied. They need feedback on the basic lines of the ESTIA 2021 EMAS application to be able to discuss with the municipalities before the end of the year. They asked UNHCR to take more actions to implement the exits from ESTIA. Minister                  stressed that ESTIA partners will not get reimbursement for non-compliant persons. UNHCR urged for the issuance of the call for 2021. IOM underlined the significant increase in the Helios enrolments (19 000 so far).  MoD to follow up on the 800 containers and inform COM about the result of the investigation on the food issue on Samos.  MoMA to accelerate the operationalisation of the new RIC on Samos.  MoMA to inform about the winterisation plans for Malakasa given that the containers will not be delivered shortly. 2.3. Unaccompanied Minors congratulated the SSUAMs on the efforts to implement the voluntary relocation scheme. She reiterated the need for progress on guardianship. The SSUAMs mentioned there are currently 4 222 UAMs in Greece. UAMs from the islands have been transferred to the mainland. She also confirmed that she will send the UAM strategy and the EMAS application for UAMs accommodation to COM next week. MoL informed that the interim guardianship project, for which it will be responsible, will be in place by the end of the year and it will have an 8-month duration.  Next VC with MS on relocation will be on 20/10.  UAM strategy and EMAS application on UAM shelters from SSUAMs to be submitted to COM in the week of 19/10 2.4. Integration MoMA informed about ongoing activities relating to the integration of migrants and reiterated they want to replace pre-paid cards for asylum seekers by bank accounts. 3

UNHCR stressed that to accelerate exits of refugees and encourage integration administrative restrictions must be lifted. 2.5. Asylum Procedures GAS informed that they close on average 7 300 asylum cases monthly and that 66 220 cases closed up to end of September 2020. He also referred to the Project North and that the biggest challenge for productivity has been COVID-19 and the protection of applicants and staff. He informed about the hiring of additional 54 staff until the end of the year and the public call for additional 95 positions in the legal aid registry. 3.     AOB Approval of the Financial Plan 2020 thanked the GA for the submission of the revised FP 2020 before the Moria fires and asked them to work on the FP 2021.           also informed that funding in 2021 will not be available without the legal basis i.e. before there is an agreement on the MFF and this is officially published.  GA to submit a Financial Plan for 2021  Next meeting in one month (mid-November). 4