EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE INTEGRATIONOF
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS
CREATION OF OFFICES OF LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND
PRODUCTION OF PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC INFORMATIONAL MATTER FOR
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS THAT CONCERN THIRD-COUNTRY
The activity was conducted from 6/3/2013 till 30/6/2013. It
was co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of
Third-Country Nationals and the Ministry of Interior under
the framework of Priority 1: materialization of actions for the
practical application of ”Common Basic Rules for the policy
of citizens’ accession in the European Union”. Action 1.1/11:
“Information – Service of third-country nationals residing
lawfully in the country”. Project 1.1.a/11: ”Creation of offices
of legal and administrative support and production of printed
and electronic informative matter for legal and administrative
matters that concern third countries citizens.”
The main goal of the action was the provision of legal support
to lawfully residing third-country nationals that have already
developed strong living standards and familial and social ties
in Greece.
The action was not restricted only to the local level, but it had
expanded its character with the creation of offices of legal
support in 11 major cities of the country, in Athens, Pireaus,
Thessaloniki, Patras, Iraclio, Ioannina, Lamia, Rhodes, Chios,
Drama and Tripoli. PRAKSIS undertook the function of the
three offices of legal and administrative support in Athens,
Thessaloniki and Patras.
The offices supported personalized cases with the provision
of legal counseling and the support of the beneficiaries during
their transactions with the public administration. Furthermore,
they provided support services and group updates that the
lawyers conducted where third-country nationals congregated.
The execution of group sessions in closed and outdoor spaces,
where members of immigrants’ communities met, gave a new
outwardly-directed dynamic to the role of lawyers as members
of the local communities.
In many cases, the office’s lawyers were called upon to provide
legal support to people who had completed many years of
residence in the country, had created families, had worked
legally, and had fully integrated into the community. The
extremely difficult economic situation and the protracted crisis
that our country experiences led these people to experience the
violent disruption of these ties,through the loss of their job and
their inability to renew their legal documents. The information
concerning the possibility of receiving new forms of residence
permits, through the ad hoc valuation of all cases, helped a
considerable number of beneficiaries to find a solution to their
problem. In cases where a violation of fundamental rights was
reported from the part of the administration, all the aspects of
the cases were thoroughly investigated and we proceeded to
intervene for the benefit of the immigrants.
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