Latest News from Greece
EU-Turkey deal 'may break migrant trafficking chain in 10 days'
The migrant trafficking chain into the EU between Turkey and Greece could be broken within "10 days at most" if a final deal can be reached between Ankara and Brussels, a ranking government official told the Hürriyet Daily News on March 11.
Greek singer Sfakianakis says refugees are raping Greece in TV interview
Popular Greek singer Notis Sfakianakis said the refugee crisis is a ‘conspiracy’ during a television interview Cyprus’s state broadcaster RIK. Sfakianakis continued by claiming that the whole crisis was ‘rigged’ because they were entering Greece and raping the our country. ‘I was also an immigrant to Germany.
Turkey begins receiving 3-bln-euro fund for Syrian refugees from EU
A senior Turkish Foreign Ministry official has confirmed that Ankara has begun "partially receiving" a fund of 3 billion euros which the EU approved in early February for Turkey to improve living conditions for refugees in exchange for Ankara ensuring fewer of them migrate to Europe.
Greece more isolated than ever, turns to US for aid on refugee crisis
The Greek government is scrambling to find aid in its efforts to deal with the humanitarian refugee crisis.
Morphou issue not on table, says UN's Cyprus envoy
Territorial land settlement issues, among them the status of the town of Morphou, were currently not on the negotiating table at the United Nations-brokered peace talks for Cyprus, a U.N. envoy has said.
U.N. special envoy for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said March 10 after a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? that the issue of Morphou was not yet on the table.
EU-Turkey deal on refugee readmission to take effect after deal signed and sealed, says Germany
Head of the German governmental-press and information agency Steffen Seibert clarified that the agreement for the readmission of refugees and illegal immigrants from Greece back into to Turkey will take effect once the deal is signed between the EU and Turkey and not from immediately.
Bulgaria to Send Humanitarian Aid to Migrants Stuck at Greece's Idomeni
Bulgaria will send humanitarian assistance to the migrants and refugees stuck at Greece's border with Macedonia in adverse weather conditions, the government in Sofia announced on Friday.
The assistance will comprise tents, beds, blankets and heating materials as specified by the Greek authorities in a letter sent to Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry, the cabinet said in a statement.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Denies Russian Media Report of Push to Restart South Stream
Bulgaria is holding no talks for the restart of the abandoned South Stream gas pipeline project, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov has said, dismissing a Russian media report that the Bulgarian authorities were pushing hard for new negotiations.
SYRIZA ‘double reality': Tsipras first signs press agreement with Turkey, then his party condemns Turkey on press freedom!
Ruling SYRIZA party is seemingly in a state of ‘cognitive dissonance’, as it released a statement condemning the lack of freedom of press in Turkey, just a few days after its leader and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras had signed an agreement with the Turkish state press agency Anadolu!
Bulgarian Pop Folk Singer Makes It Into NYTimes' Music Shortlist
A song by Bulgarian pop folk singer Azis has entered a list of 25 songs that, according to the New York Times, are showing trends and directions in music.
Featured under No. 25 in the list of "25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music is Going", the song Habibi is in the company of artists from all around the world.
NATO to boost surveillance on Turkey-Syria border
NATO is set to boost border surveillance to protect its member Turkey from possible threats coming from neighboring war-torn Syria.
PM Tsipras: We construct 10,000 positions, no NGO could have done that
“The Greek state despite the economic difficulties has managed to increase the hosting and accommodation possibilities for refugees, we are constructing approximately 10,000 positions this week and this is something that no non-governmental organisation can do” said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcoming European Commissioner responsible for the Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Chr
Bulgaria's Exports to EU Up in 2015
Trade of Bulgaria with the EU grew between January and December 2015, preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) shows.
Exports to the EU have increased by 7.9% on an annual basis, while imports grew by 5.5% and added up to BGN 33.2 B (EUR 17.01 B), according to statistics.
Exports to the EU increased by 5.8% in December year-on-year, adding BGN 2.174 B.
Bulgarian Army to Help Border Police Only in Emergency Cases - DefMin
Border protection will remain assigned mostly to border police and riot police even after deployment of troops has been completed, Bulgaria's Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.
He has told the Bulgarian National Television that the army, now authorized to provide assistance in border patrols, will stand ready to help in emergency situations.
Kathimerini: Bulgaria, Albania Take Action Fearing Refugee Influx
Bulgaria and Albania are beefing up security along their border with Greece in fear that "thousands of refugees may show up at their doorstep," Greek daily Kathimerini writes.
The development follows the "official" closure of the so-called Western Balkans route for migrants crossing into Europe from Turkey and heading further west to Germany.