Leros

Greek authorities said Thursday that about 74,000 asylum-seekers are now living in the country, and efforts are under way to expand housing for them and improve conditions at island camps for migrants who arrive by sea, according to VOA News. 

Greek authorities said Thursday that about 74,000 asylum-seekers are now living in the country, and efforts are underway to expand housing for them and improve conditions at island camps for migrants who arrive by sea.

A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel on Monday intercepted a smuggling boat carrying 22 undocumented migrants off the Aegean island of Farmakonisi.

The migrants, whose ethnic origin was unknown, were transferred to the nearby island of Leros where they were to be hosted at a reception center to undergo registration.

The migrants were said to be in good health. 
 

Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou on Monday ordered an investigation into media reports alleging that European Union funds given to Greece for the migration crisis were mismanaged.

Dimitriou asked the head of the financial prosecutors' union, Marianna Psaroudaki, to launch an initial investigation to determine whether there is any basis to the allegations.

Workers of the National Health Service (ESY) are warning of a shortage of ambulances and staff on the Greek islands at the height of the tourist season.

In an announcement, the national union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) said the number of staff on the islands is not enough to cover the needs of a 24-hour ambulance service.

A Greek regional authority said it is suspending all cooperation with one of the country's banks after the lender announced the closure of its branches on three islands.

Earlier this week, Alpha Bank announced it would cease operations at its branches on the islands of Tilos, Leipsoi and Kassos on September 14. The closures would leave the remote islands without a bank.

Greek fishermen on the Dodecanese chain of islands in the southeastern Aegean say they are being harassed by Turkish Coast Guard vessels escorting Turkish fishing boats into Greek territorial waters.

For hotel industry enterprises to create more jobs and implement investments that will improve the quality of service, they need a more favorable tax policy, Alpha Bank argues in its weekly financial bulletin.

Concerns have surged anew about conditions at overcrowded reception centers for migrants and refugees on the Aegean islands as hundreds of new arrivals are reaching Greek shores from Turkey every week. 

With the good weather, arrivals have picked up: 508 people reached the islands of the eastern Aegean last week and 638 the week before that.

The Greek government knew very well for a number of days prior to Thursday's Eurogroup that the last bailout installment might not be approved for disbursement at the meeting, as proved to be the case, having heard the negative noises from the creditors and eurozone capitals regarding the way the decisions were made about the island value-added tax discount.