Latest News from Greece

Baby Syrian girl drowns off Turkish coast

A four-month-old baby girl drowned off the southwestern coast of Turkey when a vessel carrying refugees sank early on March 19.

According to the Turkish Coast Guard, 21 refugees were rescued, but the infant was found dead.        

The refugee boat reportedly was en route to the Greek island of Chios when it sank off the coast of the Çe?me district.        

Three baby Syrian refugee girls drown between Turkey, Greece

A 4-month-old baby girl drowned off the southwestern coast of Turkey when a vessel carrying refugees sank early on March 19, while two other girls, aged between 1 and 2 years-old, were found drowned by Greek Coast Guards off the tiny island of Ro.

Greece’s lenders to depart without a deal

Despite hopes that Greece and its creditors could have reached a deal before the departure of the Quartet, the lenders are leaving Athens without an agreement in their baggages. No timetable for the return of the technical teams of the lenders to Athens to resume talks has been set.

Idomeni refugees react to EU-Turkey agreement

A day after the EU and Turkey sealed a deal on the refugee/migrant crisis in Brussels, the refugees and illegal immigrants trapped on the northern borders of Greece at the Idomeni camp had a sense of disappointment and uncertainty as to what lies ahead. Many hoped that a deal would include the opening up of the borders towards northern Europe.

Express visas for Russians to boost Greek tourism

The decisions by Greece to expedite travel visas for Russian nationals is a positive step in the outbound Russian tourism industry, according to Russian media reports.

Turkish authorities detain 1,700 migrants trying to cross Aegean

Turkish authorities detained 1,700 migrants trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on March 18, in a major operation involving coastguard ships and helicopters, as European leaders clinched an agreement with Ankara aimed at halting illegal migration. 

Turkey will not have more refugees after EU deal, says Turkish PM

A recent deal between Turkey and the European Union for curbing the influx of migrants that has plunged Europe into its biggest refugee crisis since the end of World War II does not mean Turkey will get back the refugees from Europe, Turkey's prime minister has said.

The consequences of the Turkey-EU refugee deal

The framework deal agreed to between the Turkish government and the European Union on March 18 in Brussels might have dramatic consequences, not only for European politics but also Middle Eastern politics.

Tension in Idomeni after the announcement of EU-Turkey deal on refugee

The immigrants and refugees who are stuck in Idomeni waiting to enter FYROM and continue their journey to Europe reacted strongly after the announcement of the agreement reached between EU and Turkey, since the borders remain closed.

Hundreds of immigrants and refugees at Greece-FYROM buffer zone gathered to protest, while shouting slogans in favor of Germany.

EU-Turkey Migrant Deal: Europe Facing 'Herculean Task', Juncker Says

The EU will disburse EUR 3 B to Turkey until 2018 for Syrian refugees and will allocate as much additionally after that period, the EU and Turkey's leaders have announced.

Additionally, Ankara will work to implement its remaining 45 (out of a total of 72) prerequisites to be granted visa-free travel to Europe by the end of the Dutch Presidency of the Council of EU at the end of June.

Tsipras: The plans of unilateral actions are put aside

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the deal achieved between EU and Turkey on refugee, while insisting on his stance that the refugee is a European issue and not a Greek one..

“The refugee is an international crisis affecting the EU and from the first moment it should have been addressed as a common European problem” he said.

EU and Turkey Seal Deal to Return Migrants

After two days of heated negotiations in Brussels, leaders from the EU and Turkey agreed on Friday on the controversial refugee deal aimed at stemming the refugee and migrant flow to Europe.

Under the terms of the agreement, Greece will start sending back migrants to Turkey from Sunday onwards.

Cameron: EU deal with Turkey to significantly reduce migrant flow

David Cameron welcomed the EU deal with Turkey saying that it could “significantly” reduce numbers of migrants crossing the eastern Mediterranean to enter Greece by boat.

Mr. Cameron said the arrangement was “a plan to break the link between getting on a boat and getting settlement in Europe…. a plan to bust the business model of the smugglers”, as Reuters reports.

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