With the speeches of the parties’ rapporteurs The debate on the bill of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum on the reform of the framework and the procedures for returning citizens of third countries began in the House.

The eight key points of the bill The majority rapporteur presented in his speech, George Kotronias.

Her updating of the definitionswhere the concept of “return country” is expanded and the objective criteria for the risk of escaping, with an emphasis on the absence of housing and refusing to identify and the failure to change residence. The existence of more alternative return countries essentially facilitates the competent authorities in faster completing the return procedures of a third country citizen and in cases where it is prevented by the inability of the country of origin or reluctance of cooperating with the Greek authorities.

Her voluntary departure processArticle 8. There, there is a reduction in the deadline of 25 to 14 days and the extension of 120 to 60 days. There is also a provision for an electronic surveillance to prevent escape during this time.

Her input. The framework is tightened, a compulsory reason for banning entry due to the risk of public order and security is added and established. And extends the duration of this ban from five to ten years.

Her Adjustment in Article 16 for booking. The reasons for imposing detention are expanded, including those of public order and security. The maximum total detention time is expanded from eighteen to twenty -four months and is established six months, instead of a quarterly, ex officio review of detention conditions.

The penalties. It concerns the criminal offense of illegal entry – exit from the country. A tightening of penalties for illegal entry or illegal exit with imprisonment is foreseen. Offenses of illegal residence and violation of liabilities are established during the period of voluntary retirement, and punished with prison sentences. The suspension or conversion of penalties is excluded, except in the case of immediate voluntary departure of the convicted person.

Abolished residence permits For exceptional reasons, which means that there will be no possibility of residence and residence permits to be given to citizens of third countries who remained illegally in our country for seven years.

First introduced the offense of illegal stayIn the country after the completion of the administrative departure or return process and is also established for the first time offense of breach of obligations imposed on the third country citizen during the period of voluntary retirement.

M. Voridis: “The distinction is legal. What racism? “

With the bill no one would be able to stay in the country, he said ND MP and former Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Makis Voridiswhich noted that the bill criminalizes illegal immigration in the country and that the possibility of legalization is abolished after an illegal stay for seven years. He called on the left -wing opposition to answer the question of whether we want, or not, to return to their country the illegally being here and emphasized that the distinction is not racial. “The distinction is legal. Is it legally or illegally here? What racism? “He said.

As for increased sentence from 18 to 24 months he said that it is not provided by the European Directive but proposed by the Commission. We say what proposes and adopted by the European Committee. If it is not accepted, the provisions will be changed by Makis Voridis, finally, he said that the provisions concern those who have been judged by the issue of asylum. Once it is illegal, either criminal or get a ticket in hand. But it will not have a strategy of legitimacy, because no one will be able to stay illegally in the country, Mr. Voridis explained.