Latest News from Greece
Tour operators request VAT clause
A VAT clause is requested of Greek hoteliers by foreign tour operators in order to have securities against a possible VAT increase in tourism.
Specifically, foreign operations request that for tour bundles already booked for Greece, should there be a VAT increase, it would be burdened on the Greek hoteliers, and not themselves.
Piraeus Bank shows net income increase in last quarter
Recurring earnings before taxes of 266 million were seen by Piraeus Bank in the first quarter of 2015, rising by 6% compared to the same period last year, and up by 7% compared to the last quarter.
Greek gov't says hopes for deal with lenders by Sunday
Greece's government aims to reach an agreement with its lenders on a cash-for-reforms deal by Sunday, its spokesman said on Thursday, brushing off comments from eurozone officials suggesting a deal was far from imminent.
Reuters reports ECB willing to open financing to Greece if deal is oncoming
The ECB seems willing to loosen its strict controls on Greece if the possibility of a deal is seen in the horizon, according to Reuters which quotes an ECB source.
Less than one-in-three chance of Greece leaving eurozone this year
There is a one-in-three chance of Greece leaving the eurozone this year because it may be unable to secure fresh loans and could default on debt payments, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.
ECB officials say no to easier funds for Greece now
By John O'Donnell & Georgina Prodhan
European Central Bank policymakers played down the prospects of any immediate loosening of funding for cash-strapped Greece, saying that when it came to accepting the country's bonds as security for central bank credit, the answer remained no.
G7 finance chiefs discuss growth risks, urge deal on Greece
By Gernot Heller & Paul Carrel
Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven economic powers met on Thursday to discuss how to revive a faltering global recovery, with the United States leaning on Europe to reach a deal to avert a Greek bankruptcy.
EU says Greek deal 'not there yet'
The European Union poured cold water Thursday on Greece's claims that a deal on its bailout was near, insisting that more progress was needed in talks between Athens and its creditors.
"We're not there yet. There are open issues which need to be resolved," European Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt told reporters in Brussels when asked about the talks.
Greece aims to have bailout deal by Sunday
Greece says it aims to clinch by Sunday a deal with creditors to get more rescue loans.
Government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told reporters at a briefing on Thursday that "we are going into these negotiations with the aim to have a deal by Sunday."
Greek coast guard picks up 216 migrants in eastern Aegean
Greek authorities say the coast guard has picked up 216 people in the Aegean Sea who entered the country illegally by sailing from the Turkish coast to nearby islands overnight, raising the total this week to more than 1,500.
IMF's Lagarde says still much work to do in Greek debt talks
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a German television interview on May 28 that there was still a lot of work to do before Greece and its international lenders could clinch a cash-for-reforms deal.
To Potami pledges to back loan
Greece's fourth-largest party, pro-EU To Potami, on Thursday pledged to back a new deal between the country and its creditors that could face a rocky ride through parliament.
"Whichever agreement comes to parliament, all To Potami lawmakers will vote for it, without haggling, because the country needs oxygen," party leader Stavros Theodorakis told Skai TV.
Make way for Chinese tourists to Greece!
China’s ambassador to Greece Zou Xialoi said on Wednesday that there are strong prospects between Greece and China in the tourism sector during his speech at the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum on Wednesday. He underlined that there is prospect for a further increase in flows between both countries.
ECB working on the assumption that Greece won't leave euro, says Constancio
The European Central Bank is working on the assumption that Greece won't leave the euro, the bank's Vice President Vitor Constancio said on Thursday.
Greek bank losses show predicament amid record outflows
By Marco Bertacche & Christos Ziotis
Greek banks, forced into a central bank liquidity lifeline, are poised to report sustained losses as they grapple with record deposit outflows and an economy that plunged into double-dip recession.