1) Greece has become the main entry point for irregular migrants and refugees entering the European Union due to its geography and position at the southeastern edge of the EU. 2) The total migrant and refugee population in Greece is around 1.25 million people, or about 11-12% of the total Greek population. 3) The largest groups of migrants in Greece come from Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and Pakistan.

1. MIGRATION IN GREECE
ATHANASIA DEFINGOU

2. MIGRATION IN GREECE
Greece remains the main gate for aliens(both refugees and migrants)entering irregularly the
European Union. For the most ,the intended final destination is another European country
with better employment and living prospects or with better asylum system. The total
population of migrants and refugees in the country reaches 1.250.000, almost 11-12% of
the population, half of them are unauthorized

3. Gateway to Europe
Greece's geography, which
became especially important after
the formation of Europe's
borderless Schengen Area, has
also contributed to the country's
transition to an immigrant-receiving
nation. Positioned at the
southeastern "gate" of the
European Union, and with
extensive coastlines and easily
crossable borders, Greece has
become a common transit country
for those seeking entry into
Europe.

4. In 2010, 90 percent of all apprehensions for unauthorized entry into the
European Union took place in Greece, compared to 75 percent in 2009 and 50
percent in 2008.

5. Country of Origin %
Albania 68.47
Bulgaria 4.47
Georgia 1.91
Rumania 2.88
Russia 1.57
Ukraine 2.60
Pakistan 1.65
Egypt 1.50
India 1.29
Philippines 1.01
Moldavia 1.31
OTHER 11.34
Composition of the Migration

6. We work with
Migrants are persons who leave their countries of origin in the hope of finding
employment or ,generally better living conditions in the countries of their destination.
Refugees are persons who are forced to leave their country of origin ,because of a well-
founded fear of persecution for reasons linked to their political action, or their ethnic
origin ,their race, or religious beliefs, or belonging to a particular social group.

7. What we do
•Run a center in Athens
•Offering Training
•Offering Greek language courses

8. Last year we served 103 people
19 women και 84 men
Age 14 to 56 years
Our beneficiaries

9. Countries of origin Country people
Ethiopia 4
Afghanistan 17
Guinea 3
Eritrea 1
Iraq 1
Iran 16
Kenya 4
Congo 6
Mali 1
Comoros 3
Bangladesh 1
Nigeria 3
Soudan 28
Somalia 7
Senegal 1
Pakistan 6
Ruanda 1

10. Level of education

11. Main problems….
• limited regularization procedures(half of the migrant and most of the
asylum seekers are unauthorized)
• repeated regularization programs and large numbers of unauthorized
immigrants confirm the failure of policies
• lack of designing satisfactory and operational policies for both the
regularization of unauthorized immigrants already in the country and legal
ways of entry for skilled immigrants the country needs to attract.

12. Immigrants in the Economic Recession

13. Conclusion….
More than 1 million immigrants have arrived in Greece over the course of two
decades, contributing significantly to the improvement of the demographic and
economic profile of the country. But since 2008, Greece has plummeted into
economic turmoil in what may well be the worst recession in recent memory.
Taken together, the country's recent economic decline, highly porous borders,
growing xenophobia, and ineffective legal and institutional framework for the
regularization and integration of immigrants have created a fragile environment
for the management of immigration.