Latest News from Greece
Greece steps up efforts to move migrants to sheltered camps
Greece has increased efforts to move thousands of migrants near the border with Macedonia to sheltered camps, as the spread of infection became a concern with one person in a sprawling tent city diagnosed with Hepatitis A.
Merkel calls Turkey's Davuto?lu to discuss upcoming EU summit
As her party braced for a backlash at key state polls on March 13 over her liberal refugee policy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged views with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on an upcoming special summit between Ankara and the EU aimed at sealing a deal to stem illegal migrant flows from Turkey to Europe.
Greek police disband 3 drug trafficking rings in central Greece
Greek narcotics forces have managed to disband 3 notorious drug rings operating in the cities of Larissa and Volos, central Greece. The Greek narcotics unit in conjunction with the Crime Prevention and Repression group arrested two couples in Larissa last week who had stashed 418 grams of heroine in their car.
Carnival in Greece continues, despite bad weather (video+pics)
The sudden stint of bad weather did not dampen the spirits of the carnival goers throughout Greece, as the festivities and celebrations of the Greek version of Halloween’ called ‘Apokries’ continued unabated. Apokries is actually rooted in ancient Dionysian practices amalgamated with the marking of the start of Lent in the Greek orthodox Christian Church.
Bulgaria pushes to be part of EU-Turkey migrant deal
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov pressed on March 12 to have his country's borders protected as part of a proposed EU-Turkey deal aimed to stop the flow of migrants to Europe.
'No concessions' to Turkey on rights, visas in migrant deal: France
French President Francois Hollande said March 12 that the EU must not grant Turkey any concessions on human rights or visas in exchange for guarantees to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.
Over 150,000 Migrants Cross into Greece, Italy in 2016 - IOM
Arrivals of migrants and refugees to Italy and Greece across the Mediterranean routes have exceeded 150,000 between January 1 and March 10, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said.
Arrivals to the Greek islands continue with a daily average of some 2,000, the IOM said in its latest update on migrant inflow to Europe on Friday.
Second case of Hepatitis A at Idomeni refugee camp, Reuters reports
According to a Reuters report, a second case of Hepatitis A has been detected in the refugee camp at Idomeni, northern Greece. However, the Greek Centre for Prevention of Diseases (KEELPNO) has denied this.
Turkish official to decide who stays and who leaves Greece!
The admission by Greek Alternate Minister for the Protection of Citizens Nikos Toskas, Saturday that a Turkish official will be responsible for deciding the readmission of refugees and immigrants entering Greece into Turkey has caused a political uproar.
Police arrest two men for possession of drugs in Igoumenitsa
Greek Narcotics unit of Igoumenitsa have arrested two young men, 25 and 27, at Sagiada Thesprotias in the North east of Greece for possession of 15 kilos of hashish, Saturday. The two men have been charged for drug trafficking. The police had staked out near a road close to the area of Sagiada and pulled over the suspect vehicle.
A 900mln difference between Quartet and Greek government
A 900mln gap divides the Quartet (EU institutions+IMF) and the Greek Labour Ministry, after Saturday’s meeting in Athens.
9-year old Syrian boy with Hepatitis A, Fears of wider outbreak at Idomeni refugee camp! (pics)
The Centre for Control and Prevention of Diseases (KEELPNO) released a press report Friday informing Greek authorities that a 9-year old Syrian refugee boy had been diagnosed with hepatitis A.
Greek government oblivious of how many refugees/migrants in country
Amid the inhumane scenes in the Idomeni refugee camp in northern Greece circulating around the world and pressure increasingly mounting on Greece with one country after another closing their borders, the Greek government is displaying an inability to keep count of registered refugees and illegal immigrants currently in Greece.
Bulgaria Should Count on EU Support for Border Protection - PM Borisov
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said the country should be able to count on support from the EU in border protecton just as any other "frontine state".
Greek Tourism to grow by 6%, despite refugee crisis
German media network Deutche Welle (DT) predicts a 6 per cent growth in Greek tourism for 2016, despite the dire economic conditions the country is facing and the refugee crisis. DT points out that this rise will not include the islands in the north Aegean which have been affected most by the the arrival of large numbers of refugees and illegal immigrants.