Source: European Parliament
The general rules on material reception conditions and healthcare foreseen in Article 19 of the recast Reception Conditions Directive[1] must be applied by all Member States.
The Pact on Migration and Asylum[2] will provide Member States with an opportunity to align national legislation and practices with EU law.
In this regard, the Commission is carefully monitoring the way in which all Member States will transpose the recast Reception Conditions Directive into national law by 12 June 2026, including in particular Article 19 of this directive.
The Commission’s dedicated Task Force for Migration Management[3] coordinates with relevant Greek authorities and actors, as they fulfil their duty to provide, in particular, adequate reception facilities and protection of unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups, among other areas.
The Commission conducts audits and on-the-spot checks to ensure that every euro from the budget is spent in line with the rules and generates added value[4].
If the Commission discovers deficiencies, it can intervene by interrupting or suspending payments to beneficiaries or Member States. If at a later stage the Commission detects any wrongdoing, it can introduce financial corrections and recover the funds already paid.
The Commission opened an infringement procedure in January 2023 by sending a letter of formal notice to Greece[5], for incorrectly transposing certain provisions of the Reception Conditions Directive and is in close contact with the Greek authorities to ensure its correct transposition and application of the recast Reception Conditions Directive. The Commission will continue to monitor transposition in light of the Pact provisions.
- [1] Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection, OJ L, 2024/1346, 22.5.2024, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1346/oj.
- [2] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en.
- [3] Commission press release (IP/20/1728) of 23 September 2020, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1728.
- [4] In the case of the Home Affairs Funds programs, the Member States’ authorities are responsible for selecting the projects to finance in accordance with the relevant EU rules and assume responsibility for the day-to-day management and for ensuring that the actions supported by the funds are implemented correctly and effectively.
- [5] On 26 January 2023 the Commission sent letters of formal notice to Greece alleging failure to transpose in a fully conform manner all provisions of Directive 2013/33/EU (the Reception Conditions Directive).