All News on Politics in Greece
Bulgaria, Turkey PMs Discuss High-Speed Train Link, Gas Interconnector
Plans for a high-speed train linking Sofia and Istanbul and an interconnection for supplying gas from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria via Turkey have been on the agenda of a meeting between the heads of government of Turkey and Bulgaria in Sofia on Tuesday.
PM Tsipras talks about Greek bailout crisis
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras talked to Paul Mason, the economics editor at Channel 4 News, and said his government could have been “braver” during its bailout negotiations with the European Union.
“I think we lost time, and at the end we were out of force and out of money,” he says. “If we knew that we would have made more brave decisions at the beginning”.
"Sharp decline" in number of migrants reaching Greece
The number of migrants who arrived in Greece in November was significantly lower month-on-month, Frontex has announced.
This was the first such drop in a year, the EU border control agency said on Tuesday, noting that 108,000 migrants arrived in Greece in November - the number stood at 150,000 in October.
Bild: Lenders give Tsipras until January to implement the reforms
Greece’s lenders give Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a final deadline until mid-January to implement the agreed reforms, German newspaper Bild noting that the Greek Prime Minister has been doing all kind of tricks since he formed government.
According to the article, Alexis Tsipras completes his first year as prime minister just like the way he started: doing tricks.
Europe’s ultimatum to Greece on refugee issue
The draft on the results of the Council summit which will be held on Thursday and Friday will include strict recommendations to Greece, as Kathimerini newspaper reports.
The draft document mentions that the program is insufficient and should be accelerated and in order to preserve the Schengen area, it is necessary to re-establish control of external borders.
Watch Live: Greek Parliament controversial debate on bill ahead of voting session
The draft bill on 13 prior actions that need to be voted on before Greece can unlock a 1-bln-euro tranche that is part of its bailout agreement with creditors (EC, ECB, ESM, IMF) is being discussed in Greek parliament on Tuesday ahead of a voting session in the evening.
Frontex Detected 1.55 Million Illegal Border Crossings in January-November 2015
Between January and November this year, Frontex detected 1.55 million illegal border crossings at the external borders of the EU.
In November alone, 276 000 illegal border crossings were detected, which represented a decrease of 7000 compared to the same month last year.
J. C. Juncker addresses the EP Plenary: read transcript of his speech
By European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
I have always said, Mr President, that the European Parliament is the Parliament of the euro, and I say it again today (December 15).
Greek lawmakers vote for sale of “red loans” to predators on Tuesday
Greek Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee approved the draft bill on the 13 prior actions that Greece’s lenders (EC, ECB, ESM, IMF) had asked for. Following the majority approval of the bill in principle, it passed through Greek Parliament for a plenary debate on Tuesday. The voting of the bill is to take place on Tuesday night after the 10-hour debate is completed.
Bulgaria, Greece Discuss Migration Crisis, Economic Links
The migration crisis in Europe, control of the EU's external borders and bilateral and regional economic links have been in the focus of a meeting between Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Sofia on Monday.
Afghan refugee carries drowned daughter in Turkey's west
A migrant mother from has carried her dead daughter, wrapped in a blanket, for five kilometers after the Greece-bound inflatable boat carrying both of them capsized off western Turkey.
Ten-year-old Nergis Maghsoudi drowned early Dec. 14 after a boat heading to the Greek island of Lesbos, with 50 Afghan migrants aboard, capsized in international waters.
Bulgaria, Greece Demand Clear EU Rules on Migration
Sofia and Athens believe EU member states should agree on clear common rules about how to handle the migrant crisis, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said on Monday.
Greece President Visiting Bulgaria on Monday, Tuesday
Greek President Propkopis Pavopoulos is on a two-day visit to Bulgaria to meet state officials and businesses.
On Monday he is to have a closed-doors meeting with Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev and will later talk with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, the Bulgarian Presidency's press office has said.
Lest we forget! 72 years since the Kalavryta massacre
Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos visited Kalavryta on Sunday, an area where WWII atrocities took place. During his speech, Pavlopoulos referred to the issue of German war reparations and a forced occupation loan demanded by the Nazi administration, noting that Greece’s demands were still “legally active and pursuable through the courts” and had not been written off.
A night out with SYRIZA spokeswoman, carried away by Rallia’s voice (pics)
The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government agenda may be weighed down by harsh negotiations with Greece’s creditors (EC, ECB, ESM and IMF), however that’s not to say that the government ministers aren’t taking time out from their busy schedule to socialize.