JOINT STATEMENT: Lack of interpretation services lengthens existing delays to access asylum and leaves people without protection 29 May 2024 On 14th May the main provider of interpreters to the Greek asylum service, Metadrasi, announced the suspension of its services in both Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) and the Asylum Service, due to months of delay in payment by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA). As a result of this disruption, people applying for international protection in Greece are forced to wait even longer for their claims to be processed and appeals and subsequent applications have been halted, leaving many people in a legal limbo without access to protection and vital services. Following the withdrawal of interpretation services, people residing in camps are unable to communicate with the authorities in any way. As of today, there has been no formal recognition by the authorities that these services continue to be unavailable, and no clear information has been provided on when interpretation will be reinstated. Instead, the MoMA announced that the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) will temporarily fill in the gaps until the renewal of the agreement with Metadrasi, without providing a concrete timeline for this. Metadrasi has requested the disbursement of funds from the Ministry, which are specifically dedicated to cover interpretation costs of the Reception and Identification Service from the European Commission’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2021-2027). Many asylum interviews have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the disruption, without any indication of when they will be rescheduled. However, applicants have been informed by the authorities to continue performing all necessary actions relating to their claim - including attending scheduled interviews, renewing asylum seeker cards and submitting appeals on time. In practice, this means people are forced to travel long distances from remote camps to asylum offices, despite the high likelihood that appointments will be cancelled. Applicants must bear the travel costs themselves due to lack of transportation arranged by the authorities from camps. For many people we are supporting, this latest disruption compounds months of waiting for their interview, due to unavailability of interpreters in their mother tongue. Several clients tell us they feel compelled to undertake the asylum interview in a language they are not fluent in, despite the high risk that they will not be able to fully communicate their need for international protection to the authorities. Due to lack of interpretation, asylum seekers are also currently unable to lodge appeals after receiving a first rejection, unless they agree to do so in Greek or English. Applicants are receiving a document from the asylum office stating that the deadline for appeals is indefinitely extended. Given the lack of published information by the Ministry on when interpretation will be resumed, there are serious concerns that applicants will not be informed in time when appeal deadlines are reinstated.
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