All News on Social Issues in Greece
Turkey's refugee plan offers breakthrough
Months-long negotiations between Turkey and the European Union over how to deal with the growing refugee crisis apparently entered a new phase on March 7 at a summit in Brussels, where the Turkish government surprised EU leaders with a new and ambitious package of proposals.
Balkans Migrant Route Practically Closed, Serbia Says
Serbia announced on Tuesday that the so-called Balkans route used by migrants to reach western Europe will be de-facto closed following Slovenia's decision to deny entry into the EU's free-travel Schengen zone to migrants without valid visas and passports, Tanjug reported.
UN refugee chief 'deeply concerned' by EU-Turkey deal
The head of the U.N. refugee agency on March 8 said he was "deeply concerned" by a proposed deal between the EU and Ankara to curb the migrant crisis that would involve people being sent back to Turkey.
Germany, Austria to Discuss Differences over Caps on Migrant Arrivals
Austria and Germany plan to discuss differences in their approach to the number of migrants each of the two EU member states allows to enter its territory, the AP reported on Tuesday.
A meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Austrian Vice-Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner will take place in Berlin on Wednesday.
Greek Migration Minister Mouzalas feels betrayed by Austria
Greek Alternate Minister of Immigration Policy Ioannis Mouzalas told Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung that he felt deep sorrow and great anger for the EU as a whole on the refugee crisis. The minister said the refugee problem was not caused by Greece and therefore not a Greek issue, but a European one. ‘We cannot accept this politically.
Hungary's PM Orban Vetoes EU-Turkey Migrant Resettlement Plan
Hungary is clearly opposed to the reference in the text of the EU-Turkey agreement on migration, according to which migrants should be transported from Turkey directly to Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.
Greek state lost 2,000 refugees/migrants in one night (Pics of official lists for March 7, 8)
The level of non-coordination in the Greek authorities on the issue of registering refugees and illegal economic migrants in the country is sometimes funny, if it weren’t tragic! According to a body set up by the Greek government to keep track of the number of refugees in Greece nearly 2,000 have gone missing in one single night!
UNHCR Concerned over EU-Turkey Plan to Ease Migrant Crisis
The United Nations refugee agency has said it is concerned with some aspects of the EU-Turkey plan for resolving the migrant crisis.
Greek PM Tsipras in ?zmir for talks with Davuto?lu
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived in the Aegean province of ?zmir for talks with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davuto?lu on March 8, a day after the two leaders attended the key EU-Turkey summit in Brussels.
Bulgaria's Border Police Reports No Heightened Migrant Pressure
There is no heightened migrant pressure on Bulgarian borders, with the number of refugees passing through the country's borders comparable to the figures from last year.
This was announced by Antonio Angelov, director of border police, in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) on Tuesday.
Bulgaria's PM Hails EU-Turkey Agreement as Best Compromise
"Nothing better" can be done as of the moment than the agreement between the EU and Turkey on the migrant crisis reached early on Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.
Brussels and Ankara said they had agreed in principle on the prerequisites to curbing the migrant influx into Europe from Turkey.
PM Tsipras visits Izmir for High-Level Cooperation Council
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will visit Izmir on Tuesday to participate in the 4th meeting of the bilateral High-Level Cooperation Council, just a few hours after the end of EU summit on refugee that took place in Brussels.
Refugee bargain to be continued until March 17
The Greek side appeared satisfied with the outcomes of the EU summit on refugee held on Monday in Brussels, although no final decision was taken.
EU leaders announced that the final decision on refugee will be taken at next meeting to take place on March 17-18, where many points of Turkey’s proposal will be clarified.
EU, Turkey Agree in Principle to Curb Migrant Flow into Europe
Brussels and Ankara on Tuesday agreed in principle to curb the migrant flow from Turkey into Europe, in return for additional aid to Turkey.
No final decision has been taken yet, and a new EU meeting will come up with a final position on March 17-18.
More than 13,000 desperate refugees and immigrants waiting in Idomeni
The situation at Greece-FYROM border in Idomeni is dramatic with thousands of refugees and immigrants waiting, while the rainfalls and drop of temperature make things worse.