General Secretariat for Reception of Asylum Seekers

The General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers was established by the first article of the Presidential Decree 18/2020 (ΦΕΚ 34/Α/19-2-2020) and reports directly to the Minister of Migration and Asylum. The General Secretariat has the following main responsibilities:

It drafts and submits to the Minister of Migration & Asylum the Action Plans of the General Secretariat.
It supervises the implementation of strategic goals that relate to the operation of the Reception and Identification Service, such as procedures of reception, identification and accommodation for third-country nationals who are applicants of international protection in Greece.
It initiates and develops meaningful collaborations to further develop the planning, monitoring and implementation of reception procedures for asylum seekers.

The mission of the General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers is to establish humane and respectful reception conditions that abide with international laws for third-country nationals in Greece. Its role also is to seek and provide the necessary material means that enable the implementation of its mission.

The General Secretariat for the Reception of Asylum Seekers acts in collaboration with the Ministry, the Government and the leadership team of R.I.S., and undertakes initiatives to reform and improve the national reception system for asylum seekers. It also initiates collaborations with competent services and stakeholders and seeks funding for innovative projects in key areas of interest.

Since November 2024 Generaly Secretary is Dimitrios Glymis

Mr. Dimitrios Glymis, General Secretary for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, is a Lieutenant General (Retd.) and Honorary Director of the Operations Branch of the Hellenic Army General Staff (1st Branch). He is an Honorary Member of the U.S. Chemical Warfare Corps and holds a master’s degree (MSc) in Crisis and Disaster Management Strategies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

He has extensive military and operational experience in Greece and abroad, including in conflict zones. He has served in high-responsibility positions at multinational headquarters such as SHAPE and NATO. A significant chapter in his career is his successful management of the Refugee and Migration Crisis in Greece, where, as the person responsible for Central Macedonia, he supervised the operation of five reception centers for 8,500 refugees and migrants.

He is a doctoral candidate at NKUA, specializing in crisis management. He has specialized in training in the United States and NATO. His actions have been honored with multiple awards from the Hellenic Republic, NATO, and Afghanistan, highlighting his exceptional contribution during the critical moments the country has faced.