The Region of Crete addresses migrant integration through specific local actions that align with the Greek National Integration Strategy and participate in the "Cities Network for Integration". The region currently faces challenges with a recent surge in arrivals and a lack of organized reception facilities.
Regional and Local Initiatives
Crete's integration efforts involve several local and international collaborations:
Cities Network for Integration (CNI): Heraklion and Chania are members of this network, which promotes local-level coordination and the exchange of know-how to strengthen social cohesion.
Regional Social Observatory: This body, operating under the Region of Crete, works on social planning and programming to boost effective inclusion policies for vulnerable groups, including migrants.
Local Action Projects: Projects have been launched to create a "survival map" of Heraklion, providing a network of state actors and organizations with information on available services, presented in migrants' languages, to facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare. The municipality of Heraklion has also previously hosted integration activities like a street art festival.
Research on Integration: Studies have been conducted in the four regional units of Crete (Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lasithi) to examine specific integration issues, such as food habits and adaptation to the local environment.
National Framework and Challenges
The local efforts in Crete operate within the broader Greek National Integration Strategy, which is a two-way process focusing on rights and obligations, and includes four main pillars:
Pre-integration of asylum seekers: Ensuring safety, protection, and a safe living environment.
Social integration of beneficiaries of international protection: Focusing on health, education access, and enhancing employability.
Prevention of violence, exploitation, and abuse: Ensuring protection from all forms of harm.
Monitoring the integration process: Evaluating policies and identifying areas for improvement.
Despite these strategies, recent developments have presented challenges:
Lack of Facilities: There are no organized reception facilities on the island, with new arrivals often placed in makeshift, unsuitable accommodation.
Policy Shifts: In July 2025, the Ministry of Migration introduced a temporary suspension of access to asylum for arrivals in Crete from North Africa, a measure that has been strongly criticized by human rights institutions as a violation of international and European law.
Administrative Barriers: Greece generally still faces significant administrative barriers that can hinder the integration process and access to residence permits.
Organizations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR support national and local efforts through specific programs, such as the HELIOS program, which offered rent subsidies and job counseling to promote independent living for recognized refugees.
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