Meeting with Dr. Eva Tzavala, Legal Advisor of the National Commission for Human Rights – 26 March 2024
On 26 March 2024 we had a Zoom meeting with the Legal Advisor of the (Greek) National Commission for Human Rights Ms. Eva Tzavala. In her capacity as Chair of the Working Group on Asylum and Migration of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions/ENNHRI Ms Tzavala provided us with invaluable insights on the position of third country nationals in Greek society and in the marketplace. Also, due to the previous engagement of the National Commission for Human Rights with inclusion initiatives for many vulnerable social groups, Ms. Tzavala gave a comprehensive overview of the situation on the field. In our discussion we expressed our concerns with the collection of relevant data and Ms. Tzavala pointed out certain institutions that could be of significant assistance in this respect. We presented the preliminary findings of our research and we engaged in conversation about the possible collaboration with the National Commission for Human Rights especially regarding the organization of a joint conference/workshop. Finally, the discussion pivoted around the impact of the policy proposals IEL4Inclusion wishes to formulate and the possibility of committing State authorities to engage with them.
Meeting with Mr. Vassilis Kerasiotis Lawyer Specialising in Migration Law & Human Rights Law – 5 April 2024
On 5 April 2024 we had a Zoom meeting with Mr. Vassilis Kerasiotis, a lawyer with considerable experience in migration law and the protection of fundamental human rights. Mr. Kerasiotis was actively involved in the drafting and the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on migration and mobility signed in February 2022 between the Greek Government and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The MoU ratified by Law 4959/2022 in July 2022 has been a game-changer in fostering the inclusion potential of Bangladeshi nationals in Greek society. Since it is an instrument originating in international law it is of direct relevance for the purposes of the research and exemplifies the potential this field of law provides for the promotion of inclusion in Greek society. Mr. Kerasiotis explained how the implementation of this document has been slowed by Greek bureaucracy and pointed to the changes that should be made to render its implementation more effective. Also, we discussed on the advantages and drawbacks of rendering such MoUs the vehicle for the promotion of social inclusion of different third country nationals instead of an all-encompassing social policy instrument.
Meeting with Dr. Markos Karavias, Director of the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub (MedMA) of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO)- 29 April 2024
On 29 April 2024 we had a Zoom meeting with the Director of MedMA Dr. Markos Karavias. Given his expertise in legal and policy issues pertaining to the legal status of migrants and refugees, as well as in the implementation of relevant domestic and European policies, Dr. Karavias provided us with the necessary insights to approach the relevant empirical data. He outlined the domestic and regional initiatives that aim to capture the conditions under which these vulnerable social groups live in Greece. He also exposed us to the multilevel -national, European and international- initiatives devoted to the legal protection of migrants and refugees. In addition, we discussed the possibility that the aforementioned social groups could benefit from the implementation of certain tools deriving from International Economic Law (IEL). In this framework, Mr. Karavias expressed some doubts concerning the positive relation between International Investment Law and its impact concerning the inclusion of migrants and refugees. Finally, given that the ultimate aim of our research project is the formulation of policy proposals based on IEL tools, Mr. Karavias emphasized the significance of the way that we should shape these proposals, as to maximize their impact, and more specifically, the necessity of a comprehensive correlation between the national, European and international level.
Meeting with Dr. Maria-Louiza Deftou, Research Fellow at the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights- 24 May 2024
On 24 May 2024, we had a Zoom meeting with the Research Fellow at the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights, Dr. Maria-Louiza Deftou. Dr. Deftou has worked with the International Organization for Migration in Greece and hence has extensive experience in the implementation of inclusive policies that target third country nationals in Greece. She provided an overview and an evaluation of respective initiatives. Dr. Deftou turned the attention of the research team to the work that is currently undertaken by international organizations in Greece and in particular the Helios project on access to work, healthcare and education of third-country nationals. She stressed the need for coordination and synergies between the different levels of regulation both at the drafting and the implementation of social policies. As to the gathering of relevant data, Dr. Deftou suggested the Hellenic Statistical Authority and the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) as potential sources. We agreed that we shall keep an open channel of communication for the remaining of the project.
Meeting with the Secretary General for Labour at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security – 3 March 2025
On 3 March 2025, we had a productive meeting with the Secretary General for Labor Mr. Milapidis with his consultants, Ms. Maria Karagiorgou and Mr. Andreas Vasilatos at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. We presented our proposals on the promotion of inclusiveness of vulnerable social groups via the transformation of labour relations. We stressed, inter alia, the instrumental role of regulating the posting of workers in fostering inclusion, the reform of the quota system in admitting third country nationals and the flexibility provided when using international treaties as a means of addressing market shortages. We benefitted from detailed feedback and insights on our proposals, and we carefully heard their suggestions as to maximizing the impact of our research. We jointly agreed to keep an open channel of communication until the end of the programme.
Meeting with Ms. Pinelopi Theodorakakou (Women on Top)- 14 May 2025
On 14 May 2025, we had a zoom meeting with Ms. Pinelopi Theodorakakou, Co – Founder of Women on Top. In the context of the meeting, we engaged in a highly constructive discussion concerning the work of WHEN in promoting the empowerment of women in the workplace, as well as the initiatives it undertakes in this regard. Furthermore, we raised questions about legislative measures in Greece aimed at ensuring more inclusive participation of women in the economy, as well as the availability of statistical data relating to the equal representation of women in the professional sphere.
Meeting with the General Secretariat of International Economic Relations and Openness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Iakovos Iakovidis- 15 May 2025
On 15 May 2025, we had a fertile discussion with Ambassador D. Iakovos Iakovidis. We had the opportunity to raise fundamental questions regarding the position and treatment of third-country nationals in Greece today, as well as the initiatives undertaken by greek legal authorities to facilitate their smooth and effective integration into society. Furthermore, we received valuable feedback on the potential inclusion of relevant provisions within the context of European Union agreements, aiming to strengthen institutional support and promote inclusive policies at both the national and European levels. We presented our policy proposals and we benefited from valuable feedback.
Meeting with the Directorate for Justice, Home Affairs, Migration and the Schengen Area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Athanasios Anastopoulos – 16 June 2025
On 16 June 2025, we had a live meeting with Mr. Athanasios Anastopoulos, Special Advisor to the Directorate for Justice, Home Affairs, Migration and the Schengen Area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In particular, members of the research team raised questions regarding the bilateral agreements concluded by Greece for the provision of labor force (e.g., the Greece–Egypt bilateral agreement concerning fishworkers). It was noted that similar labor needs also exist in the agricultural and construction sectors, and that such bilateral agreements predominantly cover seasonal employment. We received comprehensive feedback and valuable insights regarding our proposals, and we attentively considered his recommendations on how to enhance the effectiveness of our research.
Meeting with the Special Advisor General Secretariat of Private Investments of the Ministry of Development, Mr. Fotis Kanousis – 11 July 2025
On 11 July 2025, a zoom meeting among the members of the research team and Mr. Fotis Kanousis, Special Advisor to the General Secretariat was held. During the meeting, and following the presentation of the official definition concerning small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we were informed about the existence of programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on specific population groups i.e. women. Furthermore, we discussed the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the obligation of businesses to submit sustainability reports.