REACT Reactivating European citizenship: a network of inclusive towns 3° Transnational Meeting Breznicki Hum – Gornja Rijeka (Croatia) 24 - 25 October 2017 Equity and access to public services: how does immigration affect it locally? GREECE Presentation of the Municipality of Katerini Europe for Citizens - Programme Guide 2014-2020

BARRIERS (1) Different language, leading to problems concerning access to : Public services Education Health services Civil participation

BARRIERS (2) Culture and Religion Middle-East culture is in many ways different from the European and the Greek culture Many of the immigrants are Muslims (Albanians, Syrians etc) and there are not many facilities for them to use (mosques etc)

How do we deal with them? Special educational programs Informational campaigns Creation of bilingual and multilingual sites Free legal and administrational services Intercultural seminars to Greek officers One – stop shops Participation in International and European networks Intercultural mediators

Good practices in Greece (2) Greek council on Refugees (GCR) Non-government organization, activated since 1989 in matters of asylum and human rights Staffed by social workers, interpreters, political scientists, social anthropologists and specialist administrators, Provides free legal and social advice and support through Refugee Reception Centers and Legal and Social Aid Departments Activated in Athens, Salonica, Evros)

Good practices in Greece (1) Council for the integration of immigrants Consultative body to the Local Authorities, dealing with issues of integration of immigrants and refugees (Greek Law 3852/2010, art.78) Purpose: Recording, investigating and reporting issues concerning foreign residents of the area Submission of proposals for dealing with those issues Improvement of their living conditions Activated in Athens, Salonica, Heraclion, Lamia, Oropo, etc)

Good practices in Katerini (1) Facilities for the Syrian refugees in Chrani Katerini

Good practices in Katerini (2) Facilities for the Syrian refugees in Petra Olympos

Good practices in Katerini (3) Facilities for the Syrian refugees in Petra Olympos

Good practices in Katerini (4) Facilities for the Syrian refugees in Petra Olympos

Good practices in Katerini (5) The local teams in the service of the refugees The municipal doctor (right) and the municipal safety technician (left) in the service of the refugees Operational co-ordination Centre

Good practices in Katerini (6) Dissemination events – giving an interview to a Swedish channel

INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES Syrian refugees living in an apartment given to them, having the Greek Flag on their balcony and watching the same parade Syrian refugees, among Greeks, watching the parade for a local festivity for the 105th anniversary of the liberation of Katerini