Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis announced that Syrian refugees are to be issued with travel documents. The decision came following an interministerial meeting.

The non-paper issued states that Syrian refugees seeking asylum will be able to travel beyond the borders of Greece. The same decision foresees specially-created reception centers that will include facilities for medical examinations.

Sakellaridis pledged that the government would take the necessary steps to resolve the issue of the huge migrant influx prior to the upcoming EU summit.

European Commission legislation allows for refugees to ask for asylum, accompanied by travel documents, at the countries of reception. This allows them to travel to a second country from within the EU on the condition that they stay there for just three months. Alternatively, they can stay at a second country of the EU for six months of the year on the condition that their stay not surpass a three-month period at which time they would need to return to their country of reception where they can stay for as long as they wish, according to the Dublin II.

The initial statement made by the government spokesman was worded in a way that gave the impression that Greece was violating EC legislation. A correct repetition of the statement rectified the wrong impression.

The 2nd (correctly-worded) announcement in translation

Lately, an increased inflow of refugees has been noted due to the continuously worsened situation in Syria and other regions. This is confirmed by the fact that there has been a huge trend for refugees to flow to Italy as well.

From the first documentation it appears that the motivation of the majority of the people isn’t economic difficulty but a direct danger to their lives.

The interministerial meeting that took place under the leadership of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, included the participation of:
– Nikos Voutsis, Alt. Minister of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction
– Giannis Panousis, Alt. Minister of Citizen Protection
– Tasia Christodoulopoulou, Alt. Minister of Immigration Policy

There was also the participation of:
– Athanasios Athanasopoulos, Coastal Guard admiral
– Nikolaos Patrinos, Vice-leader of the B’ Coastal Guard and Aristeidis Kalogeropoulos, special advisor to the EI Migration, Internal Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos

Decisions reached during the meeting
1) The transport of newly-arrived refugees from islands to reception centers on mainland Greece and their segregation into two groups – refugees or immigrants.
2) Syrian refugees entitled to asylum would receive all the relevant documentation immediately.
3) The creation of special indoor reception centers and the inclusion of all the facilities for medical exams and following practises for health and safety.
4) The government would take the necessary action to deal with the problems ahead of the EU leaders summit and the meetings of relevant ministers in the framework of European solidarity to resolve the issue of the migrant influx and to ensure the proportionate distribution of refugees amonth EU countries.