{"id":20616,"date":"2024-11-05T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?p=20616"},"modified":"2024-11-04T17:31:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T15:31:53","slug":"major-deficiencies-in-the-provision-of-interpretation-services-in-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/major-deficiencies-in-the-provision-of-interpretation-services-in-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Major deficiencies in the provision of interpretation services in Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Major deficiencies in the provision of interpretation services in Greece<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Even asylum interviews are no longer being conducted<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Severe deficiencies in interpretation services over recent months have affected both refugee camps in Greece and the Greek Asylum Service. These gaps now hinder the state\u2019s ability to provide essential services.<\/span><\/p>

The problem within the Asylum Service, its Regional Asylum Offices and Asylum Units, has become extremely severe. Asylum registrations and interviews are now postponed or rescheduled due to the absence of interpreters. In some cases, depending on the office involved, asylum seekers are not even informed promptly about these delays. In other instances, appointments are left unscheduled, leaving individuals uncertain of when their registration or interview will take place.<\/span><\/p>

Gaps in interpretation have led to \u201ccreative\u201d and unorthodox solutions in certain cases. Asylum applicants are often requested to state their consent to the proceedings being carried out in Greek by signing solemn declarations confirming that they understand the language. Alternatively, third parties, not certified interpreters, may be used to assist as interpreters, with applicants again signing declarations accepting this arrangement. These declarations appear to be designed to shield the Asylum Service from responsibility, even though the law requires that interpretation services be provided by the state in a language understood by applicants throughout the entire reception and identification and asylum process.<\/span><\/p>

\u03a4hree cases represented by Refugee Support Aegean (written responses from the authorities on file) serve as examples of the broader issue:<\/span><\/p>