1.Immigration
This was the year that Greece threw up its hands
and appealed for help after realizing it had no
idea how to deal with the burgeoning number
of immigrants reaching its shores. Almost
150,000 immigrants were detained trying to enter
Greece illegally in 2008 but it became clear
this year that thousands were making it to Greek
cities, Athens and Patra in particular, where they
tried to eke out a living and bide their time before
heading for another European country.
The failure to update immigration procedures
meant that destitute immigrants gathered in specific
neighborhoods, where they were neglected
by authorities and targeted by extremists. The
New Democracy government asked the EU to
help as authorities began clearing immigrants
out of squats in central Athens, such as the abandoned
court building on Socratous Street, and
a makeshift camp next to the port of Patra. It was
never made clear where the immigrants were
being moved to. PASOK has pledged to treat migrants
more humanely but notoriously shabby
island reception centers remain in operation. The
Cabinet, however, did approve on December 22
groundbreaking proposals to award citizenship
to children born in Greece to immigrant parents,
which would grant them full voting rights and
lift them out of a bureaucratic limbo.
2.Terrorism
Some Crimes, including murder and burglaries,
have risen sharply over the last year, as a disorganized
and dysfunctional police force has
struggled to keep up. Citizens’ Protection Minister
Michalis Chrysochoidis announced this
week that the technology available
to officers would be upgraded
so that they can keep
track of crime statistics and judge
the force’s performance. Policemen
walking a neighborhood
beat will also make a return to the
streets of Athens, Thessaloniki in
a bid to re-establish a link between
residents and the police.
A new FBI-style department will also be created
to tackle organized crime, which the government
believes has grown to have terrifying
power in Greece. Chrysochoidis is adamant that
there are clear links between common criminals
and domestic terrorists, so he hopes that by pursuing
one, police may be led to the other. In 2009,
authorities failed to get to grips with a resurgent
Revolutionary Struggle, nor nip in the bud the
newcomer Sect of Revolutionaries. Officers
will be under pressure to produce results in 2010
This was the year that Greece threw up its hands
and appealed for help after realizing it had no
idea how to deal with the burgeoning number
of immigrants reaching its shores. Almost
150,000 immigrants were detained trying to enter
Greece illegally in 2008 but it became clear
this year that thousands were making it to Greek
cities, Athens and Patra in particular, where they
tried to eke out a living and bide their time before
heading for another European country.
The failure to update immigration procedures
meant that destitute immigrants gathered in specific
neighborhoods, where they were neglected
by authorities and targeted by extremists. The
New Democracy government asked the EU to
help as authorities began clearing immigrants
out of squats in central Athens, such as the abandoned
court building on Socratous Street, and
a makeshift camp next to the port of Patra. It was
never made clear where the immigrants were
being moved to. PASOK has pledged to treat migrants
more humanely but notoriously shabby
island reception centers remain in operation. The
Cabinet, however, did approve on December 22
groundbreaking proposals to award citizenship
to children born in Greece to immigrant parents,
which would grant them full voting rights and
lift them out of a bureaucratic limbo.
2.Terrorism
Some Crimes, including murder and burglaries,
have risen sharply over the last year, as a disorganized
and dysfunctional police force has
struggled to keep up. Citizens’ Protection Minister
Michalis Chrysochoidis announced this
week that the technology available
to officers would be upgraded
so that they can keep
track of crime statistics and judge
the force’s performance. Policemen
walking a neighborhood
beat will also make a return to the
streets of Athens, Thessaloniki in
a bid to re-establish a link between
residents and the police.
A new FBI-style department will also be created
to tackle organized crime, which the government
believes has grown to have terrifying
power in Greece. Chrysochoidis is adamant that
there are clear links between common criminals
and domestic terrorists, so he hopes that by pursuing
one, police may be led to the other. In 2009,
authorities failed to get to grips with a resurgent
Revolutionary Struggle, nor nip in the bud the
newcomer Sect of Revolutionaries. Officers
will be under pressure to produce results in 2010
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