Demography

By Roula Salourou

Only a growth shock could save the Greek social security system: Even after the interventions of the last five years in terms of retirement age limits, pension levels, expenditure cuts and distortion corrections, which resulted in savings of some 14 billion euros per annum, the system is again ailing.

Government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis on Sunday called for action concerning dangerous refugee and migrant crossings in the Mediterranean following the tragic shipwreck claiming hundreds of lives in the waters south of Italy.

In a written announcement, he stated

"The Iron Curtain is back... It stretches along part of the Bulgarian and Greek frontiers with Turkey," an article published by Newsweek argues.

BERLIN - European activities aimed at halting the influx of asylum seekers from Southeast European and Western Balkan countries need to be stepped up, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday.

New rules in Lebanon, which has the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world, have left many thousands of them at risk of abuse from landlords and detention at any time, aid workers and a rights group has said. 

According to the latest figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), which were published on Friday, the Bulgarian population decreased by 0.6 % in 2014.

The population measured 7 202 198 people at the end of 2014, which represented a decrease with 43 479 people compared to 2013.

Mistreatment, accommodation centers that are unfit for human beings and month-long detentions are just some aspect of Bulgarian authorities' attitude to refugees, a German NGO argues.

In a 50-page report [DE], it outlines numerous stories of immigrants from the Middle East who were not properly treated upon their arrival in Bulgaria as asylum seekers.

Romania already meets a part of the Visa Waiver Program requirements, U.S. Consul General in Bucharest Henry Leighton said on Wednesday, adding that a working group on consular subjects made up of Romanian and U.S. officials is handling the rest of the requirements.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES FLOW

BELGRADE - The Serbian police denied on Wednesday the claims of abuse and mistreatment of asylum seekers and migrants in Serbia alleged in a report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The statement sent to the Associated Press claims that the Serbian authorities have not received any complaints from the migrants over the alleged mistreatment, the US news agency reports.

HRW accuses Serbian police of mistreating migrants

BELGRADE -- The police in Serbia "mistreat and insult migrants and asylum seekers," Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

They were also denied protection and thrown out of the country, the NGO added and urged authorities in Belgrade to "conduct an investigation and brings those responsible to justice."