Immigration

The migration and asylum minister announced on Tuesday a new institutional framework for legal immigration to drastically reduce times, shorten visa issuance procedures and extend the duration of the residence permit in special cases so as to fill in a timely manner the 100,000 job vacancies in Greece.

The process for granting Greek citizenship to foreign nationals continues to be bogged down by a mass of red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that cause unbearable delays.

Even when applicants pass the relevant exams, they must wait way too long to become naturalized. 

Bureaucratic hurdles do not constitute immigration policy nor assimilation policy.

Hungary is digging for golden visas. Despite pressure from the European Union, Prime Minister Viktor Orban re-launched a residency-by-investment program in July. Overall, though, these schemes' shine is fading because they add little to GDP, inflate house prices and irk locals. Geopolitical risks may spur demand as more rich expats look for safe havens.

The European Commission is expected to propose new rules for the deportation of immigrants who enter the EU illegally.

As reported by the news outlet Politico, citing statements from diplomats, a plan for the return of migrants to their countries of origin is expected to be sent to member states’ permanent delegations by February.

President-elect Donald Trump's hardline immigration proposals, including a controversial mass deportation plan, could prove economically damaging, analysts say, with U.S. sectors that rely heavily on foreign workers like agriculture and construction especially hard hit.

Europe could soon welcome a wave of wealthy Americans, as Democratic voters facing the prospect of a new Donald Trump presidency, consider leaving the country, CNN reports in a report.

A notable number of American citizens dissatisfied with Donald Trump's recent election victory are considering relocation to Europe through Golden Visa programs, with Greece emerging as one of the preferred destinations.

The government is planning important changes to the institutional framework for foreigners invited for cover specific labor shortages in Greece, from the way that the real needs for labor in each region is recorded to the issuance of a residence permit for foreign laborers.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday called for new EU rules on handling irregular arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants to come into force in 2025, a year ahead of schedule.

His appeal comes as Spain is grappling with a surge in migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands and as Hungary and the Netherlands are seeking an opt-out from the bloc's rules on asylum.

Thousands of empty and decaying ground-floor shops, mainly in the center of Athens and of Thessaloniki, now have the opportunity to be transformed. According to property market executives, the new Golden Visa provisions have already begun to mobilize investment interest in the acquisition of such properties, which can be converted into apartments.