[ALBSA-Info] GREECE – Extension for expiring green cards?

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Extension for expiring green cards?

Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou yesterday tabled a series of amendments to 
draft legislation on immigration that will allow the extension of immigrants' 
temporary residence permits, while adopting stricter punishment for the 
exploitation of foreign prostitutes.

At the opening of yesterday's debate, Papandreou distributed 37 amendments 
which, she said, conformed with points raised by MPs during preliminary 
discussion of the bill.

All temporary residence permits, known as green cards, that were due to 
expire on December 31 will be automatically extended for another six months, 
or renewed, according to the draft law.

Furthermore, green card holders for whom renewal applications are pending 
when the new law comes into effect will be automatically renewed until June 
30, 2002.

The ministry will establish a ceiling on work permits issued annually to 
immigrants according to their nationality, the part of Greece where they are 
to be employed, and the nature of their work.

And immigrants admitted on grounds of rejoining their family members will be 
allowed to stay for two years, instead of one.

Breaches of the law regarding immigrants working as prostitutes will lead to 
procurers being punished with two years' imprisonment and a minimum 
one-million-drachma fine. When underage prostitutes are involved, the 
punishment will be three years' imprisonment and a minimum fine of two 
million drachmas. 

Regional authorities will be given powers to close down bars or nightclubs 
involved in such cases for a minimum of 12 months.

Members of immigrants' groups held a protest outside a central hotel where 
PMCostas Simitis was speaking last night, demanding the immediate 
legalization of immigrants.