Malta

The European Union executive urged EU governments on April 24 to consider changing its relationship with Turkey after a referendum that put Ankara's stalled membership talks deeper into cold storage, with Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn calling for a change of format in ties with Turkey.

The European Presidency of Malta has tabled a proposal that would compel EU member-states to pay a 60,000-euro fine for each refugee asylum-applicant from other overburdened EU member-states they refused to accept. The proposal also provides that countries receiving refugees would be compensated with the same amount, according to a document in the hands of German news agency DPA.

PHOTO TANJUG / TANJA VALIC

Jadranka Joksimovic says she hopes Serbia would open "two or three" new chapters in EU membership negotiations this year "despite the difficulties."

Officials representing Greece's lenders are due back in Athens on Monday with the aim of completing the program review and paving the way for an agreement on debt relief.

The head of the EuroGroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem disclosed the content of the April 7 Malta EuroGroup agreement between Greece and its creditors. In a letter he sent to the EuroGroup members Mr. Dijsselbloem presented the results of the Malta meeting. With regards to Greece the official meeting covers the following:

4. Greece – State of play

The US market will be bringing more tourists and more revenues to Greece this year, according to the president of the Hellenic American Chamber of Tourism (HACT), George Trivizas.

The EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has called on US President Donald Trump to stop applauding Brexit and become more supportive of the block. He threatened to hit back if Trump does not change his tune.

The draft of the staff level agreement between Greece and its creditors provides that the IMF will have complete oversight of the Greek GDP surpluses, as protothema.gr is in the position to know.

In an EC report on the implementation of the quota for resettlement of migrants Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovakia have been criticized over accepting few of those wanting asylum.

The report states that Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia have not yet welcomed any Syrian refugees according to the agreement with Turkey, quoted by BNR.

Despite the "breakthrough" at last Friday's Eurogroup in Malta, the deal struck between the government and its European Union partners remains unclear on several issues, not least the time frame of its implementation.

According to a government official on Monday, a time frame is not expected to be formulated until after Easter.