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Dear Sir/Madam

With Greek Government's decision no. 3103/2003 those Greek passports -regardless of their actual expiration date - that are not issued from the Greek Police Administration are not valid as from 31/12/2006. For the Greek citizens that live and work in Europe the options are either to arrange for their passports' renewal through the local Consulates or Embassies or to visit Greece. (www.parliament.gr/ergasies/nomosxedia/ValidNomosxedio/E-PASSPORT-pap.pdf)

That is the reason for which I strongly believe that my right to work and my professional position are jeopardized.

The problems:

Option One (renew through the Greek Authorities Abroad)

**It has been noted that in many cases the appointments for a passport application in the Greek authorities abroad have a waiting list of 6 to 7 months !!

In other words that should mean that if we call today January 2007 for an appointment to submit the necessary papers, we will be accepted to do so on August and on top of that we must add another 30-40 days waiting time to get an approval or disapproval from the Greek Police Headquarters in Athens!

Literaly speaking you can wait in The Netherlands for your passport for 7 months and then not get an approval due to e.g. 1.photos are not correct or 2.you're still under military obligations in Greece so you have not the right to get a passport (The military obligations in Greece are in direct connection with the rights of yours as a Greek citizen regardless of if you live in another EU or non-EU Country).

It goes without saying that If your application is rejected , then the marathon restarts.

So that option for many of us do not apply due to various reasons ; personaly due to my job's requirements.

Option Two

**The Greek State has advised about the change well in advance, but for many of us the other option -of a quick trip of AT LEAST one week in Greece (that is how long it will take to get the passport at the best of the cases) - doesn't apply as well i.e. due to economical or professional difficulties.

The case:

Can be however required from our jobs that we must travel among the EU due to our employment's nature.

So the questions are :

a. Is our right and position in work, effected from such a decision in case we - with such an "expired" document- cannot travel by plane or other mean e.g. from the Netherlands (Residency) to Sweden or Bularia for job purposes and backwards ?

b. Can we travel among the Senghen States or other European Countries with a passport that although has an expiration date e.g. 31/12/2009 , has expired for the Greek government since 31/12/2006?

c. Is the decision of the Greek State in compliance with EU directives?

d.What is finally the role of an identification document in the EU States? From personal experience, no id or passport is required when travelling by car. However a passport is needed when travelling by plane. Is this only to prove that I am the lawful holder of the ticket? I think yes.

Thank you and best regards

O. Aggelis

http://www.synigoros.gr/reports/Eidiki_Ekthesi_gia_Diavatiria_12_12.pdf

http://www.synigoros.gr/docs/Diavatiria_DELTIO_TYPOY_22_2.pdf

http://www.synigoros.gr/docs/Diavatiria_22_2.pdf