Greece: EU gives $88 million for housing stranded migrants

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Union pledged Monday to spend 80 million euros ($88 million) to house migrants in Greece even as it seeks tougher procedures for asylum-seekers traveling to the continent.

Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for Budget and Human resources, signed an agreement for a rent subsidy program for up to 20,000 people next year.

Thousands of stranded refugees are currently being housed in old venues from the 2004 Olympics, at camps on Greek islands, or are sleeping in tents pitched in city squares and parks in Athens.

A migrant stands behind a banner at a former Olympic indoor stadium in Faliro, southern Athens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Hundreds of people have been temporary...

A migrant stands behind a banner at a former Olympic indoor stadium in Faliro, southern Athens, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Hundreds of people have been temporary housed in the stadium after being removed last week from Greece's northern border with Macedonia, which only allows Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis through on their trek to wealthier European countries - rejecting others as economic migrants who do not merit refugee protection. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

"The 80 million euros is for the year 2016 ... after that it would be assessed. It could be expanded," Georgieva told The Associated Press. "Families could stay at an accommodation for two months, so the number involved over the year would be quite a lot higher than 20,000."

Nearly 800,000 migrants and refugees have crossed through Greece this year, hoping to travel to northern Europe. But Macedonia and other Balkan countries last month toughened their border rules, restricting crossings to those from war-torn nations like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and stranding others.

Under the Greek housing scheme, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, migrants will receive hotel vouchers or checks to live in vacant apartments.

The program will significantly increase Greece's capacity to shelter migrants, which currently stands at about 10,000, according to an EU official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he or she was not authorized to talk to the media.

EU authorities have promised to overhaul the bloc's border protection agency, speed up and coordinate deportations and process more asylum claims in arrival countries like Greece and Italy.

Greece's left-wing government closed migrant detention centers around the country earlier this year but conceded Monday that some detention is needed to make deportation procedures work.

"Detention and return is a form of violence that saddens me," said Yiannis Mouzalas, a Greek migration minister. "But a government is obliged to abide by what is legally necessary ... if a bottleneck stays open, that bottle will smash."

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A boy carries a basket of laundry as another child follows him inside Eleonas refugee camp near central Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Financially stricken Gr...

A boy carries a basket of laundry as another child follows him inside Eleonas refugee camp near central Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Financially stricken Greece is the main entry point for asylum-seekers trying to enter the 28-nation European Union. More than 700,000 people have arrived so far this year but few want to remain in the country, with almost all heading to more prosperous European nations. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant holds plastic bags inside Eleonas refugee camp near central Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Financially stricken Greece is the main entry point for a...

A migrant holds plastic bags inside Eleonas refugee camp near central Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Financially stricken Greece is the main entry point for asylum-seekers trying to enter the 28-nation European Union. More than 700,000 people have arrived so far this year but few want to remain in the country, with almost all heading to more prosperous European nations. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant stands behind a banner as people queue up for food at a former Olympic indoor stadium in Faliro, southern Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Hundreds of...

A migrant stands behind a banner as people queue up for food at a former Olympic indoor stadium in Faliro, southern Athens Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Hundreds of people have been temporary housed in the stadium after being removed last week from Greece's northern border with Macedonia, which only allows Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis through on their trek to wealthier European countries - rejecting others as economic migrants who do not merit refugee protection. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

European Union Commissioner designate for Budget and Human Resources and Vice-President, Kristalina Georgieva, center, accompanied by Greek and EU officials ...

European Union Commissioner designate for Budget and Human Resources and Vice-President, Kristalina Georgieva, center, accompanied by Greek and EU officials arrives for statements to the media after her visit at Eleonas refugee camp in Athens, on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. Financially stricken Greece is the main entry point for asylum-seekers trying to enter the 28-nation European Union. More than 700,000 people have arrived so far this year but few want to remain in the country, with almost all heading to more prosperous European nations. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

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