Migration Profile of Greece

Home , Foreign born, Immigration to Greece, Kallikratis Plan

Migration Profile Country perspective

UR no im t e a d n i S a t a t e s o f

EXTENDED VERSION A m e r i c a

N o . 9 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 N o . 4 J u l y 2 07

Greece

In the framework of MMWD – Making Migration Work for Development , the WP7 activities foresee the launch of a Transnational Platform for Policy Dialogue and Cooperation as an effort to support governments to address the consequence of Demographic trends on SEE territories. In particular, this platform will involve policy makers and decision makers at the national and sub-national level to promote the adoption of more effective services and regulations of the migration flows across the SEE area. In order to support and stimulate the dialogue within the Platform ad hoc migration profiles (MPs) will be developed for each partner country and will integrate the information and knowledge already provided by Demographic projections and Policy scenarios. The current MP focuses on the case of Greece and it’s centred around five topics: resident foreign population by gender, age cohorts and citizenship; population 1. Resident foreign population by flows (internal migration, emigration, immigration); gender, age cohorts and citizenship immigrants presence in the national labour market; foreign population by level of educational attainment; A study from the Mediterranean Migration Observatory remittances/transfers of money to country of origin. maintains that the 2001 census recorded 762,191 These topics have been selected among the MMWD persons residing in Greece without Greek citizenship, panel of indicators relevant to describe demographic constituting around 7% of total population. The 2011 and migration trends as well as to map their socio- census is in line with this datum, with 7.8% (862,381 economic implications. individuals, out of just over 11 million). Of the non-Greek citizen residents, 203,120 in 2011 were EU citizens. Background Information on Greece According to IOM (2008) the main countries of origin are Albania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Georgia, with Capital: Athens Albania constituting a large proportion (62%) of immigrants. Of the migrant population covered by the Official language: Greek census, 45% were women. However, there were considerable differences within specific nationalities, with Area: 131,957 Km 2 men accounting for 93% of the Indians, 79% of the Syrians, and 76% of the Egyptians and women making Population (2011): 11,062,508 up 76% of the Filipinos, 75% of the Ukrainians, and 70% of the Moldovans. 2 Population density (2011): 82 inhabitants/ Km The greatest cluster of non-EU immigrant population are the larger urban centres, especially the Municipality of Natural change in population (2012): -0.3% Athens, with 132,000 immigrants comprising 17% of the local population, and then Thessaloniki, with 27,000 Foreign citizens on total population (2011): 7.8% immigrants reaching 7% of the local population. There is also a considerable number of co-ethnics that Employment rate (2013): 38.4 % came from the Greek communities of Albania and the former Soviet Union. To an ad hoc 2008 national survey, Unemployment rate (2013): 27.3% a significant percentage (46.6%) of persons with foreign nationality answered that they planned to stay Religions (no data in the census): Prevailing Orthodox permanently in Greece or more than five years (23.4%). Christian (around 98%); Islam (1%). Greece, together with Italy and Spain, faces also a large influx of illegal immigrants trying to enter the EU. Greek borders are notoriously difficult to control as they include a vast line of seashore (18,400 km) and 9,837 islands (including islets, rocky islets and low-tide elevations), the

Country Perspective Greece majority of which are located close to the Turkish coasts, such that they serve as the “gate of entrance” for the thousands of immigrants and refugees fleeing into Europe yearly. In 2012, the majority of illegal immigrants entering Greece came from Afghanistan, followed by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. According to the 2008 survey results, about one in ten persons have at least one parent who was born abroad. Most of them (742,420) have both parents born abroad, while 123,555 persons have only one parent born abroad.

Foreigners between 15 – 74 years old by country of birth of parents (2008):

Source: Survey on labour market situation of migrants and their descendents, National Statistical Service of Greece, 2009

Estimate of total immigrant population in Greece, on 1 December 2011:

Source: IOM (2013)

page 2 Country Perspective Greece

2. Population flows 2.2. Immigration Official data from the national statistical service (2012) 2.1. Internal migration based on 2011 census record 110,139 immigrants, Evidence suggests that during the period 1955-1971 almost 39% holding Greek citizenship and a similar an intense internal migratory wave from rural- percentage coming from outside Europe. On the total, agricultural to urban areas (mainly in the Athens area) 54.8% is represented by males. According to IOM was observed. Both these migratory movements (2008) immigration to Greece started in 1980s with resulted in the abandonment by the prime age groups immigrants coming mainly from Africa and Asia, but it of the population of the countryside and, in particular, was limited in scope and legal in character. It was only of the most disadvantaged and remote areas of in the 1990s that Greece started receiving large inflows Greece. According to the National Statistical Service of of immigrants from the Central and Eastern Europe Greece the population of rural areas fell between 1961 following the collapse of the communist regimes and and 1991, increased by 3% in the 1990s and stabilised much of that immigration was irregular in nature with as a percentage of total population, to just over 25%. some estimates as high as 400,000 persons present Return migration reduced the demographic impact of illegally. In the last 15 years, the number of immigrants outflows with the exception of a few districts, which has quadrupled, making Greece the country with the never regained their populations (Papadakis, Tsimbos, highest proportional increase in immigration in the EU 1990, p. 83). Notably 37% of returnees in the 1968 to over this time. The highest number of legal migrants 1977 period established themselves in Macedonia and present in Greece was registered in March 2010 with 23% in the Greater Athens region. 69.2% of the over 600,000 valid permits. Since then there has been a returnees established themselves in urban areas and continuous decrease in the number of valid stay amongst them 48% in Athens and Thessaloniki. Thus, permits, which fell to just over 550,000 at the end of a significant percentage of returnees settled in cities 2010 (553,916 on 1 December 2010) and dropped near the villages they had left when migrating abroad. further to 447,658 on 1 December 2011.The decline in These percentages reflect the relative importance of the number of valid stay permits is related to the outflows from the respective regions but also economic crisis that Greece is currently facing. Notably, familiarisation with the urban way of living abroad, the this decrease does not necessarily mean that these continuing underdevelopment of the countryside in migrants and their families have left Greece. Some of Greece and the economic importance of Athens and them may still be in the country but having lost their Thessaloniki (Petropoulos et al., 1992, pp. 42, 56, 62, legal status, unable to satisfy the employment and 64, 138). Some authors mention that due to the recent welfare payment conditions expected by law. debt crisis some urban dwellers are provisionally moving back to the countryside in search of a cheaper 2.3. Emigration and simpler lifestyle. Although the absolute numbers of Greek emigrants have always been small, in relation to the size of the Persons born abroad by country of origin, sex and main reason population Greece is among the countries with a very for migration (2008): high percentage of emigrants (Kotzamanis, 1987, pp. 92, 96, 110). Evidence suggests that during the period 1955-1971 at least one million Greeks, that is 1/9 of the total Greek population, was pushed to emigrate to overseas countries (Australia, United States and Canada) and to Europe (mainly West Germany) in order to find a job. Net migration started to show positive numbers from the 1970s, but until the beginning of the 1990s, the main influx was that of returning Greek migrants. Relevant available data are the recent estimates of Greek emigrant stocks abroad provided by the World Bank which on the basis of compiled data (World Bank Factbook on Migration and Remittances 2011) show that in 2009 the population of the country was estimated at 11,3 million with an emigrant stock of 1.209,813 (10.8% of the total). The main destination countries were Source: Survey on labour market situation of migrants and their descendents, National Statistical Service of Greece, 2009 Germany (470,350), USA (151,239) and Australia (140,114). In 2012 the national statistical service

declares that 154,435 persons emigrated from Greece, 56.9% of whom holding Greek citizenship and 57.3% being male.

page 3 Country Perspective Greece

3. Immigrants presence in the Greek labour 4. Foreign population by level of educational market attainment The majority of respondents to the ad hoc national Non-nationals have lower educational level than Greek survey (2008) migrated in order to find a job, citizens and have lower educational levels than foreign something confirmed by IOM. The relevant percentage born persons across other OECD countries, with 13% of is particularly high for persons born in one of the 12 highly educated compared with 31% across OECD new European Union countries (60.4%) and for men countries. According to the 2001 census, nearly one- (67.3%). Most persons that were born in one of the 15 half of the migrants had secondary education (including old European Union countries (59.8%) migrated mainly technical-skill schools) and one-third had either for personal reasons (family formation or other completed or acquired primary school education. Almost reason). The percentage of the economically active one-tenth had higher education. A qualitative analysis of persons with foreign nationality is much higher than the educational levels of the various nationalities the corresponding percentage for persons with Greek showed that, comparatively speaking, Albanians had nationality (73.5% compared to 51.3%). In 2007 about the lowest level of education and former Soviet citizens 32% of all migrants worked in construction, 20.5% as the highest. Over-qualification of foreign born persons in household help, 12.8% in manufacturing, 11.6% in Greece compared to the type of job they get is however commerce and repair work, 8.2% in hospitality, and particularly marked. The rate differences between 6% in agriculture. The unemployment rate is higher for foreign-born and native-born tertiary educated persons persons of foreign nationality (36.2%) compared with aged 25–54 in Greece is the highest of all EU countries, those of Greek nationality. The Labour Force Survey being at almost 45% (OECD, 2008). data for the period 2009–2011 show a spectacular rise in unemployment for both immigrant men and women Nationals, non nationals and migrants descendants by (mainly TCNs). Male TCNs registered only 12% educational level, and employment status (2008): unemployment in 2010 (up 1 percentage point from 2009) but their unemployment more than doubled to 27% at the end of 2011. Women are starting to suffer too, however, as the crisis is now also affecting the middle-class Greek families who are abandoning cleaning and caring services usually provided by foreign women. TCN women had an unemployment rate of 13% in 2009, which dramatically increased to 29% in 2011. Looking more closely into the unemployment rates by age bracket we note that younger people are the most affected by unemployment, with peak levels above 30% for all groups aged 29 or younger (with the exception of EU nationals in the 25– Source: Survey on labour market situation of migrants and their descendents, National Statistical Service of Greece, 2009 29 age bracket). This is a feature of the Greek labour market as unemployment rates for people under 24 years of age have been over 20% in the period 2005– 2010.

Unemployment rates by nationality group and age bracket, 2011 (%):

page 4 Country Perspective Greece

5. Remittances/transfers of money to country of origin 2006 data show levels of outgoing remittances being worth between 675 (Bank of Greece) and 982 (World Bank) USD. It is estimated that the proportion of income that is remitted by immigrants in Greece is approximately 25% (Lianos and Cavounidis, 2004a, 2004b). The proportion of income remitted differs across nationalities (e.g., 19% for Albanian immigrants and 31% for the rest). On the average, men remit approximately 22% of their income and women 35%. Immigrants who have been staying in Greece for more than five years remit 22% of their income, whereas those with less than five years remit 30% (IOM, 2008).

Amount of outgoing migrant remittances in USD 2007:

Source: World Bank

6. Relevant links • http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu • http://www.statistics.gr/ • http://www.iom.int

page 5 Country Perspective Greece

N o . 9 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 SIMPLE MAP (NUTS 2 level)

Crete

2 come from African countries, 515 from North America Area: 8,336 Km and 109 from Oceania. The remaining foreign residents from non-EU countries (above 29,000) come from other Population (2011): 623,065 European countries not belonging to the Union, with a prevalence of people from Eastern European countries. Population density (2011): 75 inhabitants/ Km 2 As far as foreign population by gender and age cohorts is concerned, it can be seen that 49.1% of foreign Natural change in population: n.a. citizens are male and 50.9% are women. Moreover, according to demographic projections collected in the Foreign citizens on total population (2011): 10.0% framework on MMWD project activities, it emerges that among total foreigners the share of economically active Employment rate: n..a. ones (20-64 years old) represent 73.1% and, in particular, the youngest sub-cohort of those between 25 Unemployment rate (2013): 23.7% and 49 years old amounts to slightly more than 50.0%.

page 6 Country Perspective Greece

Population and Migration in Crete

Change TOTAL TOTAL inter- % census TOTAL 623.065 100 4,8 Greeks 559.730 90 1,0 Total Foreigners 63.335 10 56,7 E.U. Countries 25.308 4 93,2 non E.U. Countries 38.027 6

Rest Europe 29.399 46 38,8

Africa 1.267 2 227,4 South America - 86 0 -24,6 Caribbean North America 515 1 -68,4 Asia 6.097 10 68,9 Oceania 109 0 -69,4 Unknown 554 1 1687,1 Source: (Census 2011)

Foreign population by age cohorts (01.04.2011)

Age cohort Male foreigners Female foreigners Total foreigners 0-4 2.068 2.113 4.181 5-9 1.965 1.897 3.862 10-14 1.740 1.588 3.328 15-19 1.844 1.649 3.493 20-24 2.853 2.763 5.616 25-29 3.485 3.474 6.959 30-34 3.971 3.925 7.896 35-39 3.689 3.509 7.198 40-44 3.080 3.088 6.168 45-49 1.994 2.480 4.474 50-54 1.466 2.101 3.567 55-59 992 1.455 2.447 60-64 878 1.102 1.980 65-69 586 592 1.178 70-74 330 306 636 75-79 98 98 196 80+ 61 95 156 TOT 31.100 32.235 63.335 Source: MMWD

p age 7 Country Perspective Greece

2. Population flows the type of activity deployed by foreign workers. For instance, there is some information about foreign 2.1. Internal and international residents employed in the first sector. migration At the beginning of 2011, agriculture provided a source There are no data available on internal and of living for 1,449 foreigners. Among them, 596 where international migration flows. permanent workers and 346 were temporary ones. However, data on 500 additional foreign agricultural 3. Immigrants presence in the Cretan labour workers do not provide information on their specific type of contract. Still within the first sector, crop and animal market production industry was involving almost 5000 st On 1 April 2011, the total number of foreign citizens foreigners, being thus a core area for immigrants active in the labour market of Crete was equal to employment. 21,370. Almost 62% of them were workers from Within the second sector, foreign workers are in part outside the EU, while around 38% where coming from concentrated in the food industry (300) and in the within EU borders. It can be noted that the number of manufacturing (e.g. wearing apparel, wood and cork- extra-EU workers is significantly lower with respect to related products, metallic and non-metallic products) previous years. In fact, at the end of 2009 they were where more than 700 immigrants work. However, most around 20,130 and at the end of 2010 they were still of them are working in both general and specific more than 18,000. On the contrary, foreign workers construction (around 6000). To conclude this part, it can from the EU have recorded a small increase with respect to both 2009 (6,468) and 2010 (7,870). Male foreigners in the Cretan labour market (2011) In 2011, the unemployment rate of foreign residents in 3000 the region of Crete was close to 20%, slightly higher than the total population unemployment rate (18%). 2500 Although these values are very high, when compared 2000 with national unemployment rate (around 27%) they 1500 Employed show how Cretan regional economy has been affected 1000 Unemployed a bit less by the negative impact of the economic 500 crises. In addition, the unemployment rate among 0 foreign citizens in Crete was higher for those from 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- outside the EU (22%) and lower for EU citizens (12%). 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 At the same time, no significant differences can be Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority identified between male and female unemployment. Moving to analyse the disaggregation of foreign Female foreigners in the Cretan labour market (2011) economically active population by gender and age 3000 cohorts, it emerges that out of 21,370 active 2500 foreigners, 11,739 (54.9%) are men and 9,631 (45.1%) 2000 are women. As far as men are concerned, the largest Employed cohort of workers is the one between 30 and 40 years 1500 Unemployed old: employed foreigners within such cohort are about 1000 4,550 (38.8% of the total). As far as women are 500 concerned, the same cohort is even more represented 0 (52.3% of foreign female workers belong to such 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- group). 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 Furthermore, there is also some availability of data on Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority be noted that all other active foreign citizens are EU and extra-EU active foreign residents in Crete (2009-2011) instead involved in the third sector (i.e. several types of public and private services). 25000

20000 15000 EU 10000 extra-EU 5000

0 r r r r r r te te ste s ste ster es e este e m me me m e e em em s semester s se s d s h st se n st semeste rd 1 1 2nd 3 2 0 4t 09 9 09 3rd 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 20 2 2009 4th semester2010 20 2 20 2011 1st

Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority

p age 8 Country Perspective Greece

4. Foreign population by level of educational attainment There are no recent available data referring to foreign 6. Relevant links population by level of educational attainment for the • http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu region of Crete. Therefore, we will use 2001 Census • http://www.statistics.gr/ data. In 2001, people with a foreign citizenship who • http://www.iom.int reside in Crete have on average a higher level of education when compared to Greek citizens. 54.2% of Greek citizens attained the lowest level of education (which includes illiterates and primary school), against the 40.5% of foreign citizens. Subsequently, the percentage of foreign citizens who reached an educational qualification over primary school is higher than Greek citizens’ percentage. In particular, considering lower/upper secondary school

and technical school, 47.8% of foreigners achieved

this level, which is significantly higher than 33.2% of Greek population in Crete who achieved the same. Taking into account the highest level of educational attainment (post-secondary school education, tertiary education and above), the percentage of Greek

citizens slightly exceeds the foreign citizens’ one

(12.6% vs. 11.8%); the difference, however, is lower than one percentage point.

Educational attainment (2001 Census) 60,0 54,2

50,0 47,8

40,5 40,0 33,2

30,0

20,0 12,6 11,8 10,0

0,0 Low Medium High

Greek citizens Foreign citizens

5. Remittances/transfers of money to country of origin The World Bank provides data on remittances and transfers of money to the country of origin until 2009. In 2009 the total amount of inward remittance flows in Greece was 2,020 million USD (around 1,500 million Euros), of which 1,609 million coming from workers’ remittances and 411 million from compensation of employees. The total amount of the outward remittance flows was 1,843 million USD (around 1,300 million Euros), out of which 1,268 million were coming from workers’ remittances and 575 million from compensation of employees. Compared to the previous year (2008), both the inward and the outward remittance flows decreased (respectively, -667 million USD and -69 million USD). p age 9 Country Perspective Greece

REGIONALIZATION AND REGIONS decentralization and local self-government are enshrined in the Constitution (Article 102). The local

and regional self-government authorities are the The Hellenic Republic is a unitary State organised expression of popular sovereignty and constitute a on a decentralised basis; it comprises two levels of fundamental institution in the public life of the governance, the central – State governance and the Greeks. Regions are responsible for the local self-government. The former is exercised administration of affairs of their district. They shape, centrally (government-ministries) as well as at a plan and implement policies at regional level as part decentralised level (Decentralised Administration- of their responsibilities under the principles of apokentromeni dioikisi ), while the latter is exercised sustainable development and social cohesion of the at regional (Regions - Perifereies ) and municipal country, taking into account of national and level (Municipalities - Dimoi ). The decentralisation European policies. There is no hierarchical control process started in 1986 with the creation of 13 and relationship between the Regions and the Regions and it was strengthened in 1994 with Municipalities. The “Kallikratis Plan” further elected prefectural bodies and the extension of the describes the territorial organisation and the division municipalities’ competences. In 1997 a programme of powers between the different levels of changed the administrative boundaries of first-level governance. Since its entry in force, both self-government authorities ( Dimoi and koinotites ) Municipalities and Regions should have autonomous reducing them by merging to 1,034 without even central resources calculated on certain percentages changing their previous institutional status. The 2010 of income tax, VAT, and property tax. “Kallikratis Plan” (Law 3852/2010, in force on 1st

January 2011) reorganised the territorial division by General division of powers uniting existing municipalities, modified the vertical National level : division of competences in favour of municipalities • General powers in matters coming under and abolished decentralised public administrations. national sovereignty, particularly in the areas of Finally, Greece has recently adopted the Law national defence, foreign affairs, finance and justice; 4071/2012 “Provisions for local development, local • General national policy; government and decentralised administration - • Coordination and direction of the Transposition of Directive 2009/50/EC -, which Government’s activities; focuses mainly on special issues of local authorities. • Coordination and direction of the civil service; Since 1st January 2011 the Hellenic Republic has • Implementation of national policies. comprised seven Decentralised Administrations Regional level : (A pokentromeni Dioikisi ), thirteen Regions Regions exercise their responsibilities/ competences (Perifereies ) and 325 Municipalities ( Dimoi ). The within the framework of the relevant laws and Decentralised Administrations constitute single units administrative regulations, in the fields of: of State (decentralised State) and their heads are Planning/Programming and regional development appointed by the central Government. They exercise including investment; Agriculture/livestock and general decisive responsibility on State matters in fisheries; Natural resources, energy and industry; accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution. The (water management, mineral wealth, energy, Municipalities and Regions constitute the first and industry and manufacturing); Employment, trade and second-level of local self-government. The former tourism; Transport and communications; Public Prefectures ( Nomarhies ) largely still exist, but are works, urbanism, spatial planning, environment; now called Regional Units ( Perifereiakes Enotites ) Health; Education, culture and sport; Civil protection and form administrative and territorial constituent –logistics. parts of the Regions. The principles of

p age 10 Country Perspective Greece In order to address supra-local problems in a uniform way, the metropolitan region of Attiki and the metropolitan unit of Thessaloniki (Region of Central Macedonia), in addition to their regional responsibilities, may exercise metropolitan responsibilities in the areas of Environment and quality of life, Spatial planning and urban regeneration, Transport and communications, and Civil protection and security beyond the municipal administrative boundaries.

p age 11 Country Perspective Greece

POLICY GOVERNANCE The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is responsible, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, for the evaluation of labour market needs, Labour Governance the registration of requests for guest foreign labour In the framework of MMWD Activity 7.1 around 34 force, setting requirements for the granting / renewal subjects and entities (stakeholders) have been of residence permits (e.g. social security mapped related to the labour policy governance requirements) and the implementation of labour (regulation; planning; implementation and services). legislation inter alia through inspections by the Greece is a unitary State organised on a Labour Inspectorate, as well as for the reception decentralised basis; it comprises two levels of conditions of asylum seekers. governance, the central – State governance and the local self-government. Since 2011 the former is exercised centrally (government-ministries) as well as at a decentralised level (7 Decentralised Administrations), while the latter is exercised at regional (13 Regions) and municipal level. The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Welfare is responsible for all different governance phases (planning, implementation, regulation and services) as main managing actor of the government programme. The Ministry is inter alia responsible for: the formation and preparation of the Employment Section of the National Reform Programme; The supervision of the Public Employment Services; respect of conditions/safety at work; individual and collective labour agreements; social integration of foreign workers in Greece; management of EU and other funds related to human resources development. In planning actions, the Ministry coordinates with the Ministry of Finance. The Labour Inspectorate Body investigates and prosecutes violations of labour law, illegal employment and uninsured working in the private sector. Other main organisations supervised by the Ministry are the Organisation for the Employment of Working Manpower and the National Institute of Labour and Human Resources. Within the labour market framework, Regional authorities are responsible for: implementing, designing and evaluating action programmes and initiatives in the framework of national and European policies that aim at promoting employment and social integration; approving or rejecting collective redundancies and extending consultation between employer and employees; the respect of employment legislation; the formation of councils and committees under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labour. Municipal authorities exercise powers and responsibilities for: implementing or participating in comprehensive local plans and action programmes and initiatives with the aim of promoting employment; establishing of Centres for Vocational Guidance and Vocational Training adapted to the local needs; contributing to local employability and equal access to the labour market with advisory activities with the establishment of Municipal and Community Information Offices for Employment, in cooperation with public institutions and local businesses; licensing of certain categories of professions. p age 12 Country Perspective Greece Municipality of Athens held its first meeting in May 2011. Other MICs are in the process of being set up. Welfare Governance

In the framework of MMWD Activity 7.1 around 30 subjects and entities (stakeholders) have been mapped related to the social policy governance (regulation; planning; implementation and services). The Welfare State in Greece is administered through a complex system of public and private institutions. According to the 2006 social budget more than 175 insurance agencies and institutions are functioning, supervised by six different Ministries with a multiplicity of social objectives and an overlapping of services. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs plays the major role being responsible for the organisation and administration of social insurance services and providing benefits and budgets funds (over 80% of the funds devoted to national social sector). There are around 96 insurance agencies supervised by the Ministry. The Ministry of Health and Welfare deals with the primary health centres, the hospitals, the social centres for the children and the elderly as well as the regional distribution of health and welfare services. Approximately one hundred of the above institutions provide medical health care benefits and the remaining offer varying forms of pension schemes, unemployment benefits and other types of insurance. At national level, a network has also been composed by departments of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and of the Ministry of Health in order to provide social care and prevent juvenile criminality. At local level, Regional authorities are responsible for granting financial aspects related to the implementation of welfare programmes and social work issues, supervising the activities of the Unit for the Care of Elderly and the Child Protection Agencies, the implementation of programmes to protect mothers and preschool children and ensuring gender equality through the Regional Committee for Gender Equality. Municipal authorities are responsible for the implementation of welfare policies al local level, including social protection, solidarity and education and for the establishment of Local Councils as consultative and advisory bodies and of local networks of solidarity and voluntary organisations, that have the scope to contribute to the implementation of programmes or the participation in actions for the social, economic and cultural integration of Roma, immigrants, refugees and returning expatriates. The local government reform programme “Kallikratis” introduced the setting up of Migrant Integration Councils (MICs) in the 325 Municipalities of the country. MICs are entrusted with a consultative role on issues pertaining to migrant integration in local communities. They include elected municipal counsellors, representatives of migrant communities in each municipality and representatives of related non-governmental organizations. The MIC of the p age 13 Country Perspective Greece jurisdiction. The administrative changes in the sector of education fall under the general restructuring Education Governance endeavour undertaken by public administration. The Greek education system is governed by national At central level, the Ministry, via the General laws and legislative acts (decrees, ministerial Secretariat of Lifelong Learning (Geniki Grammateia decisions), while the general responsibility for Dia Viou Mathisis, GGDVM), assisted by the lifelong education lies with the Ministry of Education, Lifelong learning administration bodies and exercising its Learning and Religious Affairs. The Greek education executive role, plans the public policy on lifelong system was until recently predominantly centralised, learning, formulates the respective rules, elaborates however, within the framework of the country's the National Programme on Lifelong Learning, adaptation to international standards, actions are supervises the implementation of public policy, the being undertaken in order to shift towards rules and this Programme and coordinates the decentralisation. Curricula and weekly timetables, for lifelong learning administration system. The General all types of primary and secondary education Secretariat of LLL body providing LLL has the schools, are centrally specified and their application responsibility for adult education and training. Its is compulsory for all schools in the country. mission is to design, coordinate and support Municipalities exercise their powers /responsibilities measures related with the completion of the basic according to the relevant legislation, regulations and and lifelong education and training of the adult management regulations adopted by them (local manpower and those in danger of social exclusion. regulatory decisions) in 13 fields including Education The public policy management, the rules and the The Law no. 1566/1985 represents the basis of the National Programme on Lifelong Learning, at reference framework stipulating the aims and regional and local level, are implemented in a objectives of education in Greece and sets the basic decentralized way in the Regions and the principles of the organisation and delivery of primary Municipalities. and secondary education; compulsory education last The LAW 2009/1992 set-up the “National System Of nine years. Vocational Education And Training And Other The Ministry of Education also operates through its Regulations”. It established a National System for subordinate bodies as the School Buildings VET (Ethniko Systima Epangelmatikis Ekpaidefsis Organisation, the School textbook Publishing kai Katartisis, ESSEK) that is developed in co- Organisation, the Organisation for Vocational operation with the Greek and European relevant Education and Training the National Organisation for bodies and social partners. It aimed at securing the Certification of Qualifications, the Organisation flexibility in training specializations offered and for the Further Training of Teachers. The Ministry improving the quality of training provision by supervises the operation of the National System for introducing a national accreditation process for Linking Vocational Education and Training with vocational knowledge and skills. It introduced Employment and is supported by the National changes at post-secondary level: Education Council activities, a consultative body. a. The Organisation for Vocational Education and The administration of all schools in the country Training (Organismos Epangelmatikis Ekpaidefsis (primary and secondary education, compulsory and kai Katartisis, OEEK) was set up to supervise the optional) is supervised at central level by advisory Institutes of Vocational Training (Institouto and scientific Services and Boards operating in the Epangelmatikis Katartisis, IEK) and to provide Central Service of the Ministry. At local level, accreditation of formal training. administrative control is exercised by the Regional b. Institutes of Vocational Training (Institouto Education Directorates and Offices for Primary and Epangelmatikis Katartisis, IEK) were founded Secondary Education in every prefecture, that administer and supervise the activity of educational At national level , Ministry of National Education and establishments and refer directly to the Minister. Religious Affairs (YPEPTH) is mainly responsible for There are also Education Offices, Technical IVET, whereas the Ministry of Labour and Social Vocational Education Offices and Physical Education Protection (YPAKP) has a role to play. The two Offices in each prefecture. Municipal Education Ministries have been cooperating since 2004 in VET Committees operate in towns, composed by issues and Law 3369/2005 on “Lifelong Learning” representatives of the municipality, parents’ illustrates it. In particular, it describes the framework association, school heads and representatives of the of this cooperation and specifies the responsibilities teachers’ trade union organisations, and report on undertaken by each of the Ministries and the bodies matters related to the organisation and operation of they supervise as far as VET is concerned. YPEPTH the schools within the jurisdiction and the allocation provides IVET through: EPAL and EPAS at upper of funds. secondary level; OEEK, which runs IEK, at post The role of Regional School Heads is enhanced in secondary level. YPEPTH has the responsibility to the framework of regional decentralisation of design, develop and implement policies, through the Education Administration enabling them to respond following bodies: a) the Pedagogical Institute more directly to the educational system’s needs (Paidagogiko Institouto, PI), an advisory body on within the boundaries of their geographical educational issues; b) the Department of Technical p age 14 Country Perspective Greece Vocational Schools in the Secondary Education Directorate of YPEPTH, which is responsible for EPAL and EPAS; c) 3. OEEK, which organises public IEK, supervises private ones, forms the regulatory framework for the operation of IEK belonging to other ministries and is responsible for certifying professional qualifications. YPAKP is also involved in IVET through: a) Apprenticeship EPAS run by the Manpower Employment Organisation (Organismos Apascholiseos Ergatikou Dynamikou, OAED). There are 52 Apprenticeship EPAS belonging to OAED and supervised by YPAKP b) IEK run by OAED, at post-secondary level. As far as Secondary Education is concerned at a regional level , there are three tiers of administration. Regional Directorates of Primary and Secondary Education (Perifereiakes Diefthinseis Protovathmias kai Defterovathmias Ekpaidefsis), Directorates of Secondary Education and Bureaus of Secondary Education (Diefthinseis Defterovathmias Ekpaidefsis kai Grafeia Defterovathmias Ekpaidefsis. Continuous VET (CVET) is mainly provided by Ministry of Employment and Social Protection (Ypourgeio Apascholisis kai Koinonikis Prostasias, YPAKP ). The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs ( Ypourgeio Ekpaidefsis kai Thriskevmaton, YPEPTH ) has also a part to play. Apart from the provision of VET, each Ministry designs, develops and implements CVET policies for their structures. At regional level the General Secretariat of Adult Education ( Geniki Grammateia Ekpaidefsis Enilikon, GGEE ) through 200 Adult Education Centres ( Kentro Ekpedefsis Enilikon, KEE ) and 54 Prefectural Committees of Adult Education ( Nomarchiaki Epitropi Ekpedefsis Enilikon, NELE ) provides educational services in adult training.At local level of governance Prefectures and Municipalities can found Vocational Training Centres ( Kentra Epangelmatikis Katartisis, KEK ).

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References

• Kasimis, Charalambos; Kassimi, Chryssa (June 2004). "Greece: A History of Migration". Migration Information Source. • Triandafyllidou, Anna. "Migration and Migration Policy in Greece". Critical Review and Policy Recommendations. Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy. No. 3, April 2009. • IOM, Migration in Greece, a country profile (2008). • IOM, Migration, employment and labour market integration policies in the European Union 2011 (2013). • OECD, INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION OUTLOOK 2013. • Social Impact of Emigration and Rural-Urban Migration in Central and Eastern Europe, Final country report Greece 2012. • Eurostat, Migrants in Europe 2011 edition - A statistical portrait of the first and second generation. • MMWD – Making Migration Work for Development

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Notes and comments

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