News Item

FRA Director visits first Reception Centre in Pournara

On 22 January, the FRA Director visited the first reception centre in Pournara, where 118 asylum applicants, including some unaccompanied children, were staying. The visit enabled FRA to engage with operational staff, gain insight into practical challenges, and better tailor its work to on-the-ground realities.

FRA met with various staff, including staff in charge of reception of new arrivals, police, guardians and medical staff, Frontex experts, and UN Refugee Agency and EU Asylum Authority deployees. 

Overall, conditions have improved since FRA’s last visit, though single men are still housed in large tents and residents remain de facto deprived of liberty without receiving a detention decision.

Authorities expect this to change once Pournara becomes a screening facility. 

Release and onward movement have improved but transfers of vulnerable people remains challenging.