The Greek and Norwegian authorities have agreed to spend about NOK 31 million more of the EEA funds for Greece to handle the flood of refugees to the country.
Totally NOK 231 million will be used for this until April 2017. NRC will complete several of the projects, including one on the island of Chios, and assist the Greek asylum management.
– The flow of refugees and migrants has put the asylum management in Greece under tremendous pressure. Therefore, we approached the Greek authorities to reallocate EEA funds for this purpose, says EU / EEA minister Elisabeth Aspaker.
Greece is already receiving about NOK 200 million through the EEA grants to asylum and migration measures. This effort is increased by 31 million.
The money will be partly used for the operation of the asylum centers, registration of refugees, providing water and clothing and assisting the asylum management.
– NRC is already engaged in Greece and has a lot of knowledge about the situation. I have expectations that the projects they will complete will help strengthen the Greek receiving apparatus, which faces major challenges, says Aspaker
