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Greece

Open Immigration Data (GR0067)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Greece Action Plan 2019-2022

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of Immigration Policy

Support Institution(s): NA

Policy Areas

Access to Information, Citizenship & Immigration, E-Government, Open Data, Public Service Delivery

IRM Review

IRM Report: Greece Design Report 2019-2021

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

Commitment 3: Open access to data of the Ministry of Immigration Policy

Current situation
The information is now covered by Law 4305/2014 on the «Open access and re-use of documents,
information and public sector data, amendment of Law 3448/2006 (Α΄ 57), adaptation of national
legislation to the provisions of Directive 2013/37/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,
further strengthening of the transparency, regulation of issues regarding the recruitment competition
of the National School of Public Administration and Local Government and other provisions» (Official
Gazette Α’ 237/31.10.2014), with the differentiations provided for under the Directive regarding
libraries, museums and archives, and a specific provisions regarding the protection of cultural
heritage.

Description of Commitment
A wealth of data falling within the scope of Law 4305/2014 is available to the Ministry of Immigration
Policy and its supervised entities and will be made available for re-use in order to contribute to the
development and participation of citizens.

OGP Principles
Access to public information

Implementation entities, stakeholders

Implementation: Ministry of Immigration Policy
Cooperation with supervised entities.

Contact details: Ministry of Immigration Policy, Directorate for Administrative Organisation and
Supervision of Legal Entities

Objective
1) Integration of new datasets
2) Open data release decisions

Key milestones - Timetable
Milestone Completion
1) Integration of new datasets
2) Open data release decisions

IRM Midterm Status Summary

3. Open access to data of the Ministry of Immigration Policy

Main Objective

The published NAP mentions (p.18) the main objective for this commitment as follows:

"Description of Commitment: A wealth of data falling within the scope of Law 4305/2014 is available to the Ministry of Immigration Policy and its supervised entities and will be made available for re-use in order to contribute to the development and participation of citizens."

"Objectives: 1) Integration of new datasets

2) Open data release decisions."

Milestones

The published NAP mentions (p.18) the milestones for this commitment as follows:

"1) Integration of new datasets

2) Open data release decisions."

Editorial Note: For the complete text of this commitment, please see Greece's action plan at https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Greece_Action-Plan_2019-2021_EN.pdf, p.18-19.

IRM Design Report Assessment

Verifiable:

Yes

Relevant:

Yes

Access to Information

Potential impact:

Minor

Commitment analysis

Following the change in government after the 2019 general election (two months after the action plan was adopted), the Ministry of Immigration Policy (MIP) was dissolved and subsequently re-established as the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum (MIA).

Greece continues to feel the impacts of the migration and humanitarian crisis of 2015 which overwhelmed the capacity of public institutions to process and look after migrants and refugees while Greece was still adapting to the effects of the ongoing economic crisis. While Greece received over a million refugees and migrants in 2015 and 2016, the numbers have stabilised, and UNHCR estimates some 43,000 refugees and migrants are in Greece. The UNHCR identified that key priorities continue to be accommodation and support for refugees and migrants, particularly at-risk groups like women and children. Also, it identified the needs for a comprehensive strategy on integration of refugees and migrants and enabling them access to mainstream public services. [25]

This commitment aims to publish data the ministry holds, including memoranda of understanding with other entities such as international organisations, legislation, and communications and press releases.

The commitment is verifiable but lacks specific or clear information about what criteria or datasets will be published other than the three types of data identified (memoranda of understanding, national legislation, press releases). It is unclear whether it will address any of the above issues outlined by UNHCR or other actor working in the sector or if it will open or improve decision-making. The commitment has sufficient relevance to the Access to Information OGP value because, if implemented fully, it will lead the government (milestones 1, 2) [26] to disclose documents such as memoranda of understanding between Greece and third countries concerning refugee and immigrants' reception and identification issues. Disclosure of this information is already required by Greek law on open public data by default, [27] to the extent that personal data are not exposed and national security is not compromised.

Though no datasets from MIP or MIA are available on open data portals, [28] [29] MIA currently publishes monthly statistical data on legal migration and asylum seekers in accommodation. [30] The official websites of MIP [31] and MIA [32] have not been found to contain published reports on open data policy and practice.

The measures do not constitute any step forward beyond what is already mandatory to achieve according to legislation, even though it will lead to some limited-value information being made newly available to the public. It is unclear how implementing this commitment will help meet the objective of satisfying citizens' needs for development and participation or how it will address current challenges in Greece.

According to the above, and in the absence of feedback from the lead ministry, the potential impact of the commitment as a whole is coded as minor. [33]

There are suggestions from non-governmental actors about what information could be published to improve implementation of this commitment to meet the objective 'to contribute to the development and participation of citizens. Non-governmental stakeholder interviews [34] mentioned that statistical data provided from all services under the Ministry (Appeals Authority, Asylum Service, General Secretariat of Migration and Asylum) would be of particularly high value. Other civil society representatives [35] stated that all migration data are of high value to stakeholders and mentioned priorities for data related to social exclusion and ensuring equal treatment of all citizens. Yet another civil society stakeholder [36] stressed the need for transparency in all information relevant to the handling of refugee and migrant flows. At the same time, further desktop research [37] revealed a number of topical issues for this ministry's domain of responsibility, for which publishing open data would have a value and could help to improve policies and processes such as audit information on EU funding, information on the management of temporary refugee settlements, and refugee and immigrant living conditions.

[26] The commitment meets some basic requirements for this value as (a) it pertains to government-held information; (b) it provides open access to information (milestone 2); and (c) it is not restricted to data but pertains to all information (e.g. memoranda of understanding). Still, it is not clear whether and how the commitment meets some further basic requirements for the Access to Information value, namely (d) promote transparency of government decision making and carrying out of basic functions; and (e) strive to meet the 5-Star model for Open Data design.
[27] Law 4305/2014, Official Government Gazette No.A237/31.10.2014, online available at http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wEc63YDhn5AeXdtvSoClrL8oeKAuTKOuiV5MXD0LzQTLWPU9yLzB8V68knBzLCmTXKaO6fpVZ6Lx3UnKl3nP8NxdnJ5r9cmWyJWelDvWS_18kAEhATUkJb0x1LIdQ163nV9K--td6SIubMfH2r_a2DXjO6MJnF-5f9_LW7pRMszX0fGIINVmMIh .
[28] Data sets searched through webpage http://data.gov.gr/organization .
[29] Data sets searched through webpage http://geodata.gov.gr/organization .
[30] See webpages http://www.immigration.gov.gr/web/guest/miniaia-statistika-stoixeia and http://www.immigration.gov.gr/web/guest/statistika-stegasis .
[31] https://www.migration.gov.gr , as mentioned in the official catalogue of the General Secretariat of Legal and Parliamentary Issues, at https://gslegal.gov.gr/?page_id=138 .
[32] http://www.immigration.gov.gr/ , as mentioned in the official Greek Government website, at https://government.gov.gr/category/%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%83/ipourgio-metanastefsis/ .
[33] As these codings are defined in the "IRM Procedures Manual" (OGP), available at https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/irm-procedures-manual , p.64-66.
[34] N.Vlaikidis, from UNHCR Office in Athens.
[35] E.Thanou, a CSO actor representing Doctors of the World, and T.Vratimos representing GIVMED.
[36] A.Veizis, representing Doctors without Borders.
[37] Concerning Commitment 3 - Open access to data of the Ministry of Immigration Policy , news headlines concerning the lead Ministry have been desk-searched for the 12-month period prior to action plan release, namely the period from May 2018 up to April 2019. Headline search has been run on a number of Greek investigative journalism news outlets (Protagon.gr, The Press Project, Documento, TVXS) and on the Google News service, using the following queries, respectively: https://cutt.ly/UaCdOCH ; https://cutt.ly/9aCdS0F ; https://cutt.ly/oaCdHqc ; https://cutt.ly/taCdZzL ; and https://cutt.ly/UaCf35u . The headlines harvested have been thematically encoded and clustered for topical issues concerning the lead Ministry's domain of responsibility, and the following list of identified topical issues has been produced (numbers in parentheses refer to partial with respect to total harvested results): asylum requests (processes, decisions, appeals) (5/29); auditing of EU funds management and public expenditure for refugee and immigrant reception and support (6/29); management of refugee settlements (7/29); personnel recruitment (calls, terms, deadlines, decisions) (4/29); refugee and immigrant living conditions (6/29); and refugees sexual trafficking (incidents, investigation outcomes) (1/29). These issues are not listed in any specific order, but they all correspond to topics which (a) fall under the lead Ministry's domain of responsibility; (b) meet the public's interest; and (c) are often the subject of ad hoc, opaque or problematic treatment, as testified by the news harvested. In this respect, releasing open data on these topics would be useful for the public, and could bring forward a positive impact in improving the relevant processes and policies of the lead Ministry.

Commitments

  1. Open Education Data

    GR0065, 2019, Access to Information

  2. Open Rural Development Data

    GR0066, 2019, Access to Information

  3. Open Immigration Data

    GR0067, 2019, Access to Information

  4. Open National Defense Data

    GR0068, 2019, Access to Information

  5. Open Ministry of Interior Data

    GR0069, 2019, Access to Information

  6. Open Administrative Reconstruction Data

    GR0070, 2019, Access to Information

  7. Open Economic Data

    GR0071, 2019, Access to Information

  8. Open Local Government Data

    GR0072, 2019, Access to Information

  9. Open Justice Data

    GR0073, 2019, Access to Information

  10. Open Environmental Data

    GR0074, 2019, Access to Information

  11. Open Culture and Sports Data

    GR0075, 2019, Access to Information

  12. Sports whistleblower platform

    GR0076, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  13. Open data from Ministry of Culture & Sports

    GR0077, 2019, Access to Information

  14. Publish anonymized open agricultural data

    GR0078, 2019, Access to Information

  15. Promoting open agricultural data to interested stakeholders

    GR0079, 2019, E-Government

  16. Citizen participation for update of Digital Transformation Bible

    GR0080, 2019, E-Government

  17. Monitoring platform for action plan

    GR0081, 2019, E-Government

  18. Amend EETT regulation

    GR0082, 2019, Access to Information

  19. Framework Law on Open & Participative Governance

    GR0031, 2016, Capacity Building

  20. Participation in the Assessment of the Public Sector

    GR0032, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Publicity of Organisational Charts & Entities of the Public Sector

    GR0033, 2016, E-Government

  22. Accountability and Settlement of Disputes Between the Citizens and the Public Sector

    GR0034, 2016, Legislation & Regulation

  23. Guide and Standardization for the Provision of Services & for Procedures Per Service/Entity

    GR0035, 2016, Capacity Building

  24. Improvement of the Open Deliberation Procedure

    GR0036, 2016, Capacity Building

  25. National Register of Line Managers of the Public Administration (Register)

    GR0037, 2016, Capacity Building

  26. Implementation of the Assessment of Employees and Services and Control Methods

    GR0038, 2016, Capacity Building

  27. Implementation of a System for the Selection of Managers

    GR0039, 2016, Capacity Building

  28. Digital Repository for Pubic Administration Studies

    GR0040, 2016, Capacity Building

  29. Provision of Open Cultural Data

    GR0041, 2016, Access to Information

  30. Geospatial Maritime Data

    GR0042, 2016, Access to Information

  31. Ship/Company and Seafarer Registers

    GR0043, 2016, Access to Information

  32. Marine and Maritime Activity

    GR0044, 2016, Access to Information

  33. Starred commitment Public Property Open Data

    GR0045, 2016, Access to Information

  34. KPI’s for the Implementation of Public and EU Financed Projects

    GR0046, 2016, E-Government

  35. Data and Statistics for Greek National Exams

    GR0047, 2016, E-Government

  36. Protocol Digitization

    GR0048, 2016, E-Government

  37. Informative Actions on Open Data for Young People in Secondary and Higher Education

    GR0049, 2016, Access to Information

  38. Open Education

    GR0050, 2016, Access to Information

  39. Provision of Open Data for Justice

    GR0051, 2016, Access to Information

  40. Enhanced Statistical Data of Justice Open to the Public

    GR0052, 2016, E-Government

  41. Open Provision of Geo-Data

    GR0053, 2016, Access to Information

  42. Open-Participatory Budget

    GR0054, 2016, Access to Information

  43. Regional Council Platform (Open Regional Council)

    GR0055, 2016, E-Government

  44. Open - Participatory Budget

    GR0056, 2016, E-Government

  45. Capture and Evaluation Platform for Regional Technical Projects

    GR0057, 2016, E-Government

  46. City Dashboard

    GR0058, 2016, Access to Information

  47. Online Consultation Platform

    GR0059, 2016, E-Government

  48. Open Data Index for Cities and Local Administrations

    GR0060, 2016, Access to Information

  49. Linked, Open and Participatory Budgets

    GR0061, 2016, E-Government

  50. School of Data for Public Servants

    GR0062, 2016, Access to Information

  51. The Collaborative Wikification of Public Services Procedures

    GR0063, 2016, Capacity Building

  52. Strengthening Openness and Accessibility of the Parliament

    GR0064, 2016, Access to Information

  53. Institutional and Technological Upgrading of Transparency Program

    GR0012, 2014, Access to Information

  54. Public Participation in Decision Making

    GR0013, 2014, Capacity Building

  55. Integration of PSI Directive on the Re-Use of Public Sector Information

    GR0014, 2014, Access to Information

  56. Regulatory Amendments for the Management and Provision of Open Data

    GR0015, 2014, Access to Information

  57. Implementation of Platform for Central Distribution of Public Open Data

    GR0016, 2014, Access to Information

  58. Provision of Open Geospatial Data

    GR0017, 2014, Access to Information

  59. Provision of Open Cultural Data

    GR0018, 2014, Access to Information

  60. Provision of Open Data for Offshore Companies

    GR0019, 2014, Access to Information

  61. Open Provision of Public Sector Critical Data Sets

    GR0020, 2014, Access to Information

  62. Open Invitations for Filling Posts in the Public Sector

    GR0021, 2014, E-Government

  63. Public Administration Organizational Chart Publication

    GR0022, 2014, Capacity Building

  64. Coordination and Monitoring of Open Government Policy

    GR0023, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  65. Reorganization of Inspectorate Bodies and Strategic Alliance Development Against Corruption

    GR0024, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  66. Tracking Changes on Bills (From Submission to Voting by Plenum)

    GR0025, 2014, E-Government

  67. Usability and Functionality Improvements of the ‘Parliamentary Transparency’ Section of the Hellenic Parliament Website

    GR0026, 2014, E-Government

  68. Improvement of the Hellenic Parliament Website and Implementation of New Standards-Technologies

    GR0027, 2014, Access to Information

  69. Provision of Historical Parliamentary Documents to the Public

    GR0028, 2014, E-Government

  70. Enhancement of Social Media Policy in the Hellenic Parliament

    GR0029, 2014, E-Government

  71. On Line Provision of Exhibitions

    GR0030, 2014, Capacity Building

  72. Increase Number of Legislative Acts Going Through Online Deliberation

    GR0001, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  73. Capitalize on Citizen Comments and Suggestions

    GR0002, 2012, Public Participation

  74. Operate Central e-Procurement Information System

    GR0003, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  75. Operate Central ERP Information System

    GR0004, 2012, E-Government

  76. Operate Central HRMS Information System

    GR0005, 2012, E-Government

  77. Open Data Regarding Prices, as Collected by Prices Observatory

    GR0006, 2012, Access to Information

  78. Resolve Legal Issues Regarding State Geo-Data

    GR0007, 2012, Land Rights & Spatial Planning

  79. Offer Additional Taxation Data

    GR0008, 2012, Fiscal Openness

  80. Augment Functionality of the Transparency Program

    GR0009, 2012, E-Government

  81. Publicise Public Sector Procurement Information

    GR0010, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  82. Enable Open, Transparent and Safeguarded Document Circulation

    GR0011, 2012, E-Government

Open Government Partnership