Multi-speed Europe

Consumers in Greece still pay significantly more for bread and meat compared to the other countries of the eurozone, as, despite the reduction of inflation, food price hikes continue.

The recent turbulence caused by the collapse of Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank will probably not mark a new fiscal crisis, Deputy Head of Financial Sector and Market Analysis at the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Paolo Fioretti, told the Delphi Economic Forum on Thursday.

Greece's four systemic banks showed high profitability of 3.7 billion euros last year, against losses of €4.7 billion in 2021, while also recording one of the highest net interest margins among European banks.

Within the framework of the visit to Austria, Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Demerdzhiev held a meeting with his colleague Gerhard Karner, Federal Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Austria. The emphasis in the talks was placed on the recent positive resolution of the issue of Bulgaria's Schengen membership.

Output in the construction sector of the EU, and in particular the Eurozone, rose steadily for the second month in a row since the start of 2023, while construction in Bulgaria fell, erasing a weak increase in January, Eurostat data showed.

Kosovo citizens will be able travel freely to the EU's passport-free Schengen zone by the start of 2024 after European Parliament members approved the removal of the visa regime on Tuesday.

Kosovo passport holders will be able to travel to the EU without visas for 90 days in any 180-day period.

One of the main political events in recent months, which will continue in the future, is the referendum that the "Vazrazhdane" party organized regarding Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone. The results of the parliamentary elections could be an indicator of the opinion of Bulgarian citizens on this issue.

After Austria decided to extend checks on its internal Schengen border yet again, the Italian home affairs minister has assured his Slovenian counterpart Italy is not planning to impose controls on its border with Slovenia despite having declared a state of emergency due to a surge in migrants.

The last border checks in Croatia have been abolished after the country's accession to Schengen.

Internal border control at Croatian airports for flights from member countries of the free movement area was lifted.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) on Monday announced the completion of the eighth transfer of income earned by central banks on holdings of SMPs and ANFAs to Greece, worth approximately 603 million euros, as part of a debt-relief package.