Radical changes even in the menu in the context of the accommodation of asylum seekers in the country were announced by the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, speaking to SKAI on Thursday morning.

On the occasion of the solidification of the measures announced by the Prime Minister yesterday in Parliament, to send a message to smugglers that those who illegally enter the country from North Africa will not move freely but will be detained without being examined for asylum, Mr. Pleyris also described the changes he is initiating about hospitality in the structures located around the country.

“I have given an order to review all the allowances given to foreigners, I informed the European Commissioner that Greece is making a drastic reduction in allowances,” Plevris told SKAI, adding that “I asked to review the menu given to the structures and it is hotel. In the structures they have 3 choices on the menu 4 times a day. The Ministry of Immigration is not a hotel, I applied for asylum, I eat, sleep, I get 75 euros allowance and if I get asylum I will get an allowance from the Helios program. I asked for this to stop, if any of them want to go and work.”

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But let’s go ahead and see what exactly the menu is available to asylum seekers. According to the data protothema.gr has, their alimony is defined by a framework agreement that was concluded in 2021 under the Ministry of Notis Mitarakis and expires next autumn.

Below is a typical example of a menu in an asylum seeker shelter that applies to the general population, not special groups such as vulnerable people, infants, or others whose diet is determined by strict religious beliefs or health problems, such as diabetics.

Under the menu, asylum seekers receive three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), plus three Arabic pies (plain), plus three litres of water.

As protothema.gr is aware, based on the framework agreement, the daily cost for this menu amounts to 6.88 € not including VAT, while there is a provision for a small discount on feeding in the structures of the islands, with the cost amounting to 6.85 € not including VAT.

What applies to allowances

Another aspect that Plevris announced changes concerns the allowances for asylum seekers.

So far there are two types of benefits and these are linked to the place of residence of asylum seekers. Taking as an example a single adult, if he/she has a place of residence in the country (e.g. a relative, friend, acquaintance) and after declaring this address, he/she receives 150 euros per month. However, if he is forced to live within any structure then the allowance is reduced by 50% to 75 euros per month.

The amount of the financial assistance varies according to the number of members of the beneficiary unit.

A detailed table of allowances if accommodation and food is not provided:

a. EUR 150.00 for a beneficiary unit of one person,
b. EUR 320,00 for a beneficiary unit of two to three persons,
c. EUR 420,00 for a beneficiary unit of four to five persons,
d. EUR 490.00 for a beneficiary unit of six or more persons.

The amount of partial financial assistance, i.e. whether accommodation and food is provided, varies as follows:

a. EUR 75.00 for a beneficiary unit of one person,
b. EUR 160.00 for a beneficiary unit of two to three persons,
c. EUR 210,00 for a beneficiary unit of four to five persons,
d. EUR 245,00 for a beneficiary unit of six or more persons.