Latest News from Greece
Numerous incidents involving irregular migrants in Aegean
At least 582 undocumented migrants have been rescued or intercepted by Greek authorities over the last 24 hours in 21 separate incidents in various sea regions in the eastern Aegean, from Samothrace to Rhodes.
The third country nationals were attempting to sneak onto Greek territories from neighboring Turkey.
Cyprus dispute has best opportunity with Ak?nc? and Anastasiades: UN envoy
The United Nations senior official on Cyprus has expressed he was more ?optimistic and hopeful? for ongoing talks between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders compared to previous negotiations between the two parties.
FM: No indications Greece might recognize Kosovo
Serbian Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday there had been no indications so far that Greece might recognize Kosovo.
"For now there are no indications or announcements of a change of their position," Dacic said, according to the Beta agency, and added his country wanted to have "as good as possible" relations with Greece.
Bild: Plan B is ‘bridge loan’ if no agreement at Fri. Eurogroup
Bild reports that the cash-strapped Greek government is in line to receive 6.04 billion euros in the form of a “bridge loan” if euro zone finance ministers fail to agree on a third bailout for during a Friday meeting in Brussels.
Bulgarian Tour Operators Demand Urgent Measures on Declining Number of Foreigners
The Bulgarian tour operators are sustaining heavy losses due to the decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country.
In the first six months of the year, the number of foreigners visiting Bulgaria amounted to 280 000 tourists, daily Dnevnik informs.
Sources: Tsipras to ask for confidence vote on Aug. 20
The Tsipras government appeared surprised at the number of MPs from its ruling SYRIZA party that didn’t support the memorandum agreement during a Friday morning vote , with the figure now falling under the “psychological barrier” of 120 deputies.
Greek lawmakers back 3rd bailout after all-night debate
Greek lawmakers approved their country's draft third bailout in a parliamentary vote Aug. 14 that relied on opposition party support and saw the government coalition suffer significant dissent.
"Recognition of Kosovo condition for Greece" - daily
Although Ivica Dacic recently announced that Greek PM Alexis Tsipras will visit Serbia in the fall, two Belgrade-based newspapers say this will not happen.
Thus the daily Blic writes that the package of conditions that Greece must fulfill to receive financial assistance from the West includes recognizing Kosovo.
Turkish crackdown on 'ghost ships' sparked migrant drive to Greece: IOM
Turkish efforts to stop traffickers from sending large "ghost ships" crammed with migrants towards Italy has sparked the surge in arrivals in Greece, the International Organization for Migration said on August 13.
Greek Parliament Approves Third Bailout Programme
The Greek Parliament approved on Friday the draft terms of a third bailout programme amounting to nearly EUR 85 B.
In order to be granted the bailout by its international creditors, Greece will have to implement a set of reforms, which include tax rises, pension and other spending cuts.
Market gitters amid negative political climate in Athens
The Athens Stock Exchange opened on Friday with drop of 0.30 to 0.40 percent and was hovering at the 681-point level amid gitters after another marathon session in Greece’s Parliament to ratify terms of the third memorandum with international creditors.
Political “theatrics” in parliament and the ongoing holiday season kept interest and turnover low.
Hungary plans to extend anti-migrant campaign to Serbia
The Hungarian government has announced it will "extend its anti-migration campaign to countries like Greece, Macedonia and Serbia," AP has reported.
These are "transit points used by the more than 120,000 migrants who have entered Hungary this year," the government in Budapest said on Thursday.
Migrants wait to catch morning train to Serbia (PHOTOS)
About 1,000 migrants from the Middle East were early on Friday waiting in Gevgelija to continue their journey to Serbia, and then to the EU.
Several hundred of them, mostly refugees from Syria, were spending the night next to the railway tracks at the rail station in this town near the Macedonia-Greece border.
Terms for 3rd memorandum passed by Greek parliament
Greece’s Parliament passed a draft law approving terms for a third bailout memorandum on Friday morning by a margin of 222 in favor to 64 against, after an all-night debate in the legislature confirmed an acrimonious division within the ruling SYRIZA party over the 11th-hour agreement.
Eleven MPs abstained, declaring themselves “present”.
Greek Parliament to Vote on Bailout Deal Ahead of Eurogroup Meeting
Following an overnight debate, the Greek Parliament is set to vote on the third bailout programme ahead of the scheduled meeting of eurozone finance ministers later on Friday.
Tax rises, pension and other spending cuts are among the reforms, which Greece has to implement in order to be granted a new bailout of about EUR 85 B.