Dimitris Kourkoulas

A series of panel discussions and cultural content related to the tumultuous history and complicated sociopolitical makeup of the Balkan region will be presented at The Hub in central Athens on June 2 and 3.

By Nikos Chrysoloras

As Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras focuses on the economic arguments for a new bailout deal for Greece, the country?s strategic importance to the European Union may do as much to persuade Germany to grant him concessions.

Tons of peaches which are sitting in refrigerators following a flurry of canceled orders by Russian importers will be distributed to charities, churches and other organizations dealing with the welfare of vulnerable social groups, the Agricultural Development Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The repercussions of a Russian food embargo on Greek producers, and some 20 to 30 million euros in anticipated compensation from the European Commission, were the focus of talks on Tuesday under Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas.

Regional authorities in seven Greek prefectures on Tuesday began assessing the impact of a Russian food embargo, chiefly on the export of Greek peaches, ahead of Thursday’s scheduled meeting of European agricultural experts in Brussels, where a broader analysis of the problem is to be carried out.

Government officials were seeking ways on Monday to minimize the impact of a Russian food embargo by attempting to secure reassurances from Brussels that Greek producers will be compensated for their losses while also preparing to branch out into other export markets.

Speculation over who will become Greece’s next European commissioner continued during the weekend, with Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos emerging as the frontrunner to succeed Maria Damanaki.

BRUSSELS - Serbian minister without portfolio responsible for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic conferred with Greece's deputy foreign minister in charge of European affairs Dimitris Kourkoulas on the margins of the donors' conference in Brussels.

Bulgaria handed over the Presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) to Greece, who will assume the role from July 1 until the end of the year.