Ireland

The number of countries with a top-notch sovereign credit rating fell to the lowest level in 13 years last year, the international rating agency Fitch said on Feb. 9.

"The number of Fitch-rated sovereigns with 'AAA' ratings is at its lowest level since 2003 and is expected to remain unchanged over the next two years," Fitch said in a statement.     

Although recent statistics show Croatia had the biggest annual drop in the unemployment rate in the EU last year, figures also show the number of people in work in Croatia has also declined.

A report published on Tuesday by the EU statistical agency Eurostat said Croatia's unemployment rate fell from 15 per cent in December 2015 to 11.4 per cent in December 2016.

Klaus Regling, the managing director of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) said Greece was a “special case” during a speech before the European Parliament, Wednesday. The ESM chief stressed Greece was in the middle of its 3rd fiscal adjustment program, contrasting its progress with the other countries that collaborated with the ESM which had successfully completed their programs.

Applications to the Tax Authority for Residents Abroad to transfer tax residence to another country have beaten all previous records, as thousands of Greeks seek refuge from the heavy taxes and the excessive social security obligations imposed by the government.

European Commissioner  Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs Pierre Moscovici told reporters in Dublin, Ireland Tuesday that the Commission was hoping to reach a final deal on the second review on the Greek bailout program as soon as possible. Mr. Moscovici stressed, however, that completing the agreement would not “obviously occur on Thursday.”

The British Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her government’s plan for the Brexit negotiations.

According to her, “Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.”

According to the Passport Index annual report Greece is in the 6th position in the world ranking, as the Greek passport holders can travel to 153 countries without the need of a visa.

The Passport Index is an indicator of the strength of the passports of all countries based on the number of countries they can travel to without visa.

Anastasia Poulou, 28, received one of the nine awards issued by the German Korber Foundation for her doctoral dissertation on the theme of “Who is responsible for the shrinking of social services in Europe”.

In an interview to German newspaper Die Zeit German Minister of Economics Wolfgang Schäuble, slammed Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for accusing Germany that they target the Greek pensioners.

Ireland's Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has voiced her country's support for Greek efforts to handle the lingering migration crisis, while criticizing plans to reactivate the so-called Dublin regulations, which state that asylum seekers must seek protection in the European Union member-state they first arrive in.