Today, we’ve signed an open letter along with 35 other organisations to the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, highlighting the persistent lack of interpretation services for asylum seekers in Greece. These services have been severely interrupted since May 2024.
We’re calling on the government to take immediate action to resolve this situation which is denying thousands of people access to their basic rights.
In May 2024, the previous provider of interpretation services, Metadrasi, suspended its operations due to months of delay in payment by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA).
The Ministry has yet to issue an announcement regarding the reinstatement of interpretation services, which are funded by the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2021-2027, either in connection with Metadrasi or another provider.
The undersigned organisations have been made aware of multiple instances where as a result of the situation, asylum seekers are struggling to progress with their asylum claims or communicate effectively with the authorities. This leads to serious consequences on all aspects of their lives.
We’re calling on the authorities to:
- Reinstate interpretation services immediately
- Reinstate all asylum processes, especially subsequent applications and first instance appeals
- Issue interim documents allowing applicants to work and access reception conditions
- Reduce backlog and delays in issuing and renewing documents
- Ensure people impacted by future disruptions are informed of their rights and have access to temporary documentation
- Coordinate w/ Ministry of Health to provide immediate interpretation support in healthcare settings
You can read the full letter, in English or Greek, below.
