ATHENS — Providing healthcare and education, accelerating procedures for the reunification of families and helping parents become integrated in society, mainly by securing them employment, were the main issues included in a resolution prepared and handed to Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi in a video conference on Friday by pupils and volunteers at the 'Smile of the Child' charity, and members of the "Children's Rights Group".

On his part, Mitarachi replied, according to an announcement, that "your proposals finds us in total agreement and are in the right direction and substantially assist the children to find their own way". He explained that asylum procedures have be speeded up and that "those who arrive in the country will receive a final decision within a six-month period". Additionally, he said that integration was among the ministry's goals and was implemented by the holistic programme "HELIOS".

"I recognise of course that conditions in the labour market are difficult due to the pandemic but in 2021 we will invest even more in the training of asylum seekers to help them in the labour market," Mitarachi said.

On the issue of education, he said that all children have access to primary and secondary education in Greece.

He also said that the pandemic makes everything difficult in the functioning of the society, in education and labour, adding that "this has a bigger impact on the refugees and migrants that live in Greece".