Latest News from Greece
Disabled Greeks protest as more austerity looms
Disabled people and patients with chronic illnesses from around Greece protested in central Athens Friday against austerity measures as the government races to clinch a new deal with bailout lenders.
Protesters in wheelchairs carried black balloons while deaf demonstrators wore white gloves as they used sign language to join chants of anti-government slogans.
IOBE: Economic climate down in November
The economic climate in Greece has deteriorated in November after 3 consecutive months of positive data, according to the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE) index.
German foreign minister to visit Greece on December 4-5
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due in Greece for a two-day visit on Sunday and Monday, where among other engagements, he will inaugurate an exhibition in Thessaloniki.
On Sunday, Steinmeier will be welcomed by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at 5.30 p.m. in Athens and then hold an official meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.
Eurogroup to discuss ESM paper on Greek debt, says Germany
Eurozone finance ministers will next week discuss a paper by the ESM outlining possible short-term debt relief for Greece, a spokeswoman for the German Finance Ministry said on Friday.
"The Eurogroup expects a concept by the ESM on the improvement of debt management in Greece," Friederike von Tiesenhausen said during a regular government news conference.
Schauble: May 2016 EuroGroup measures on Greek debt are in effect
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is currently working on proposals for the implementation of the short-term measures agreed upon for the Greek debt relief, said German Finance Ministry spokesperson Dennis Kolberg. “The EuroGroup agreed on May 24, 2016 for the adoption of short-term measures on the debt after the completion of the first review.
Ankara issues NOTAM over sea area south of Kasos
Turkey on Monday night issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) concerning the sea area south of the Greek island of Kasos, hours after the country's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, claimed that the Imia islets are "Turkish land."
Disabled protesters rally against cutbacks in Athens
Dozens of disabled protesters gathered in downtown Athens on Friday to protest cutbacks in healthcare provisions, benefits and pensions.
The rally was organized ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday and is expected to head to Parliament.
Vucic wants even better cooperation with New Democracy, Greece
BELGRADE - Thanking Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the leader of Greece's New Democracy Party, for visiting Serbia and supporting the Serbian Progressive Party's membership in the European People's Party, PM Aleksandar Vucic said Tuesday he wanted even better relations with the Greek party.
Divided Cyprus's leaders agree to resume reunification talks
The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have agreed to immediately resume reunification talks, the United Nations said Friday, breaking a nearly two-week stalemate that threatened to sink 19 months of solid progress.
What is the end goal of Turkish provocations?
Brussels and Athens are trying to decipher the reasons behind Turkey’s intensification of polemic rhetoric against, following a string of statements by the Turkish political establishment led by President Recep Erdogan.
Romanian and Belgian gas grid operators show interest in DESFA
A few hours after the breakdown in talks between Athens and Azeri state company Socar concerning the acquisition of a 66 percent stake in DESFA by the latter, it became known that Greece's gas grid operator has attracted the interest of its Romanian peer Transgaz, while the interest of Belgian operator Fluxys remains unchanged. This creates expectations for a successful new tender.
Drop in average tourism spending was far greater than in other countries
Had tourists' average per capita expenditure in Greece in July and August been on a par with that at rival destinations, the country's tourism revenues would not have posted a decline, according to a survey presented on Thursday by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).
Labor laws pivotal for bailout pact, minister says
In a series of meetings with European officials in Brussels Thursday, Labor Minister Effie Achtsioglou said the Greek government was determined to secure an "in principle political agreement" at Monday's summit of eurozone finance ministers, where Greece's progress in implementing the conditions of its third bailout is to be assessed.
Ideology's orphans
These days it is as if there are no ideas nor strategies, only the opportunistic use of images and phrases, accusations and fairy tales, whenever this serves the interests of the speaker.
Tsipras, Merkel discuss Turkey as Cavusoglu comments spur Kammenos tirade
As Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras discussed the refugee crisis and EU-Turkish relations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a scheduled phone conversation on Thursday, Ankara ratcheted up the rhetoric, with its Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu claiming that the "Imia islets are Turkish land."