Latest News from Greece
EU Unsatisfied with Turkey's Cooperation on Stemming Migrant Influx
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans would visit Turkey on Monday to discuss Ankara's efforts to hold back migrants sailing to Greece's Aegean islands, Reuters reported on Thursday.
In November 2015, the EU pledged cash and other concessions to Turkey in return for Turkish help in curbing irregular immigration into Europe.
EU Jobless Rate Hits Post-2009 Low in November 2015 - Eurostat
The unemployment rate in the European Union (EU28) has decreased to 9.1% in November 2015, from 9.2% in October, and from 10.0% in November 2014.
"This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since July 2009," Eurostat announced on Thursday.
Human traffickers shift routes to avoid raids
Human traffickers are changing their illegal trafficking routes to Europe depending on the density of the controls on the Aegean coasts, where 96 percent of all illegal passages to Europe are being done.
Human traffickers prefer the suitable bays and beaches of Turkey's Aegean coast when sending hundreds of migrants to Greek islands in inflatable boats.
EU 'long way from satisfied' with Turkish migrant cooperation
The EU is far from satisfied with Turkey's cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe after a deal clinched late last year, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said Jan. 7.
Mouzalas admits thousands of immigrants may become trapped in Greece
Deputy Minister of Migration Policy Giannis Mouzalas stated that from those who enter Greece through Turkey 50% are illegal immigrants and 50% are refugees, while two months ago the ratio was 80% refugees and 20% illegal immigrants.
In Hypothetical Referendum 82 % of Bulgarians Would Vote for Staying in EU
In a hypothetical referendum on EU membership, every third EU citizen would vote in favour of one's country to leave the Union.
This is revealed by a survey of Gallup International conducted in 14 EU member-states including both founding countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands and new members such as Bulgaria and Romania.
More Visitors to Bulgaria's Ski Resorts during Christmas Holidays This Season
Bulgarian Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova has said more people visited ski resorts in the country around Christmas and New Year compared to the 2014-2015 winter holidays.
Surprising revelations about Knossos, Europe’s oldest city
Archaeologists recently discovered some new surprising information about the ancient city of Knossos located on the Greek island of Crete.
According to recently fieldwork, during the early Iron Age (1100 to 600 BC), the city was rich in imports and was about three times larger than what was believed from earlier excavations.
Turkey blames Greece for death of 31 migrants on Aegean
Turkey has accused Greece of causing the death of 31 migrants in the Aegean Sea on Jan. 5, claiming that the Greek authorities forced migrant boats that later capsized in the Aegean to return to Turkey.
Syrian children employed to produce fake life jackets in ?zmir factory
Turkish police have seized over 1,200 unsafe life jackets destined for use by migrants trying to reach Greece by sea, in a raid on an underground workshop that used Syrian underage labor on Jan. 6.
The authorities seized 1,263 life jackets that failed to correspond to safety standards in the raid on the workshop in the center of ?zmir, Do?an News Agency said.
Turkish PM accuses UN Security Council for 'sin of dead migrants'
The responsibility for the deaths of innocent Syrians, including 36 migrants who washed up on Turkey's shores on Jan. 5, lies with the international community and particularly the U.N. Security Council, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said.
Packages at Merkel's office 'not dangerous'
German police gave the all-clear after investigating five items delivered to Chancellor Angela Merkel's office in central Berlin yesterday.
Officers had cordoned off the Chancellery as ministers gathered for a morning cabinet meeting inside.
Govt in frustration after harsh criticism over its social security reform proposal
Greek government is in great frustration after the clear denial of the opposition parties to support the draft law on social security reform and the revelations on the pension cuts provided in the new draft law, while it still waits on Greece’s lenders comments.
Greece sends the goblins away
On Epiphany Day it is believed that the Kalikantzaroi, the mischievous goblins, are banished back to hollow earth for another year until next Christmas with the blessing of waters and the houses by the priests.
Many customs and traditions also come to life on Epiphany Day which are celebrated on January 6 every year around Greece.
Rougkatsia
Epiphany Day in Greece
Epiphany Day, also known as Theofania or Fota, is celebrated across Greece each year on January 6 commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, according to the Orthodox Church and the banishing of the mischievous Kalikantzaroi back to the hollow earth, according to popular belief.