Each Member State of the European Union must fully apply EU law. The body responsible for identifying possible violations of EU law is the European Commission. Where a Member State does not apply EU law and breaches its obligations under the EU Treaties, the European Commission may open a formal infringement procedure under Articles 258 and 260 TFEU (see details on the infringement procedure here).
Directive 2013/33/EU (on standards for the reception of applicants for international protection) aims to establish standards for the reception of applicants for international protection. As mentioned in the January Infringements Package, ensuring full compliance with the Reception Conditions Directive is an important prerequisite for the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System, and the Commission is closely monitoring how all Member States have transposed this legislation into national law. However, Greece, among other Member States, has incorrectly transposed certain provisions of the Directive, which is why the Commission has decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice.
Greece now has two months to respond to the Commission’s arguments. If it does not receive a satisfactory reply, the Commission may send a reasoned opinion to Greece.
More information on this procedure can be found on the European Commission’s website by entering INF(2022)2156 in the ‘infringement number’ field.
The application of EU law is an obligation of the Member States of the European Union. If infringements of EU law are identified, the European Commission may take a series of actions against the Member State concerned to ensure the correct and full application of EU law by opening infringement proceedings under Articles 258 and 260 TFEU.
In this particular case, the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Greece for failing to transpose all the provisions of the Directive on reception requirements for applicants for international protection in a fully compliant manner.
Στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση η Επιτροπή προχώρησε σε αποστολή προειδοποιητικής επιστολής (και) προς την Ελλάδα, επειδή δεν μετέφερε με πλήρως σύμμορφο τρόπο στο εθνικό της δίκαιο το σύνολο των διατάξεων της οδηγίας σχετικά με τις απαιτήσεις για την υποδοχή των αιτούντων διεθνή προστασία.
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