1. REACT Reactivating European citizenship: a network of inclusive towns
3° Transnational Meeting
Breznicki Hum – Gornja Rijeka (Croatia)
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

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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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)

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

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

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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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