Greece

Greek PM tells Turkish people ‘we are not enemies’

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Turkey's leadership of undermining peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region at time of war but assured Turkish people that Greece is not…

Read More Here

Greece extends energy bill subsidies ahead of ‘winter battle’

ATHENS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Greece will pay out a further 1.1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) in power bill subsidies in October to shield households and businesses from the impact…

Read More Here

Greek jobless rate drops to 12.4% in second quarter

ATHENS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Greece's jobless rate fell to 12.4 in the second quarter from 13.8% in the first quarter of the year, data by the country's statistics service…

Read More Here

Greek PM says pensions to rise for first time in more than a decade

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday the minimum wage would rise again next year and pensions would be increased for the first time since the…

Read More Here

Greece tells state entities to save energy or risk losing funding

ATHENS, (Reuters) - Greek state entities will risk losing government funding if they fail to implement a government energy-saving plan, ministers said this week, as the country, like its European…

Read More Here

Greece plans to repay euro zone bailout loans early for first time

ATHENS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Greece will repay ahead of schedule 2.7 billion euros of loans owed to euro zone countries under the first bailout it received during its decade-long…

Read More Here

Greece complains to NATO and United Nations over Turkey’s remarks

Greece has sent letters to NATO and the United Nations, complaining over what it called "inflammatory" statements by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and asking them to condemn Ankara's behaviour, diplomatic…

Read More Here

Erdoğan repeats threat against Greece: We can come suddenly one night

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday repeated his stark warning to neighbouring Greece regarding alleged airspace violations over the Aegean Sea. It is time for Athens to "pull themselves…

Read More Here

Greece to tap tourism revenues to keep subsidising power bills

ATHENS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Greece plans to tap higher than expected revenues from tourism this year, the country's biggest cash-earner, to keep subsiding power bills, the government spokesman said…

Read More Here

Erdogan accuses Greece of ‘occupying’ demilitarised islands

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Greece of occupying islands in the Aegean Sea that have a demilitarised status, and said Turkey was prepared to "do what is…

Read More Here

Greek parliament sets up inquiry commission to probe phone tapping scandal

Greek lawmakers on Monday voted in favour of setting up an inquiry commission to probe the phone tapping of an opposition leader that led Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to sack the…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Athens hit by storm

People seek a way to cross a flooded street during a storm in Athens, Greece, 24 August 2022. Various parts of Greece this week experienced stormy weather and hailstorms are…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Flamingos in Greece

Flamingos stand in the wetland of Nea Kios near Nafplio, Greece. Via EPA-EFE/BOUGIOTIS EVAGELOS

Read More Here

Cyprus and Greece oppose ban on Russian tourist visas

Cyprus and Greece are rallying behind Germany in opposing a block on visas for Russian tourists wanting to visit the EU, rejecting a call for such a ban by Ukraine.…

Read More Here

UPDATE – Greece’s exit from enhanced EU scrutiny ends 12 years of pain – PM

ATHENS, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Greece's exit on Saturday from the European Union's so-called enhanced surveillance framework for its economy ends 12 years of pain and allows the country greater freedom in…

Read More Here

EU parliament to help probe ‘inexcusable’ spying on Greek member

BRUSSELS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The European Parliament will cooperate with Greek authorities to investigate "intolerable and inexcusable" state spying on a Greek EU lawmaker, the spokesman for the head…

Read More Here

Greece to exit EU’s ‘enhanced surveillance’ framework after 12 years

ATHENS, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Greece will exit the European Union's so-called enhanced surveillance framework on August 20, its finance minister said on Wednesday, a move that will allow the country greater…

Read More Here

Dozens missing after Greece rescues 29 migrants from capsized boat

ATHENS, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Dozens of migrants are reported missing from a sunken boat after Greece's coastguard rescued 29 in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday. The rescued migrants said…

Read More Here

Greek PM tells nation was unaware of phone tapping of opposition party leader

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated on Monday that he was unaware that Socialist Party (PASOK) leader Nikos Androulakis' phone had been tapped in 2021, seeking to distance himself in…

Read More Here

Greek PM apologises to opposition party leader over surveillance – paper

ATHENS (Reuters) -Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised to the leader of the country's opposition Socialist party for not knowing that he had been wiretapped by Greece's intelligence service in…

Read More Here

Greece says tourism rebound will help ease cost of energy crisis

Greece is having a better-than-expected summer tourism season and this year's revenues will help alleviate the impact of soaring energy prices on society, government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said this week.…

Read More Here

Greek intelligence service admits spying on journalist

The head of Greek intelligence told a parliamentary committee his agency had spied on a journalist, two sources present said, in a disclosure that coincides with growing pressure on the…

Read More Here

Greek unemployment eases to 12.5% in May

ATHENS, July 28 (Reuters) - Greece's jobless dropped to 12.5% in May from an upwardly revised 12.6% in the previous month, data from statistics service ELSTAT showed on Thursday. Seasonally adjusted data…

Read More Here

More evacuations as crews tackle blazes in Spain and Greece

Madrid/Athens (dpa) - A fire that broke out on the Spanish island of Tenerife this week was still raging on Sunday and has now destroyed more than 2,150 hectares, the…

Read More Here

Wildfire burns coastal homes in Greek island Lesbos, beach resort evacuated

ATHENS (Reuters) -A wildfire that started in mountainous forests on the Greek island of Lesbos near Turkey on Saturday burned properties at the beach resort of Vatera as more aircraft…

Read More Here

Southern Europe continues roasting as forest fires blaze

Much of Southern Europe remained in the grasp of sweltering heat on Friday, as forest fires continued to blaze in a number of spots. For large parts of Greece, for…

Read More Here

Greece opposes EU plan to cut gas use, plans power cuts in emergency

ATHENS, July 21 (Reuters) - Greece opposes an EU plan for countries to cut their gas use by 15% by March, a government spokesman said on Thursday, after the country unveiled a…

Read More Here

Wildfire rages near Athens; homes damaged, hospital evacuated

ATHENS, July 20 (Reuters) - Hundreds of firefighters on Wednesday battled a wildfirethat raged for a second day in mountains near Athens, burning homes and cars and forcing the evacuation of at…

Read More Here

UPDATE – Crew killed in cargo plane crash in Greece, airline Meridian says

KYIV (Reuters) - All the crew were killed when an Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed in northern Greece late on Saturday, an official at Ukraine's Meridian cargo airline said on…

Read More Here

‘Feta’ is Greek, EU top court says in snub to Denmark

Greece scored a win in its fight to protect their right to the term 'Feta' as Europe's top court reprimanded Denmark for not blocking local companies from using the name…

Read More Here

Greek PM rules out snap election

ATHENS, July 7 (Reuters) - Greece's prime minister ruled out an early election on Thursday, quashing speculation at home that a snap poll could be held this fall before his popularity takes…

Read More Here

Greece reports first toddler death of severe acute hepatitis

ATHENS, (Reuters) - Greece reported its first baby death from severe acute hepatitis on Wednesday, the country's national health agency EODY said. The 13-month-old baby had been hospitalised with a…

Read More Here

Certain jellyfish in relative decline in Greek waters

The number of dangerous purple jellyfish are now in relative decline as there have not been any recent reports of dense congregations, researchers at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research…

Read More Here

Iranian-flagged tanker in Greece tugged to Piraeus port

ATHENS, July 2 (Reuters) - An Iranian-flagged tanker seized by Greece in April, part of whose cargo was confiscated by the United States, was being towed to the port of Piraeus on…

Read More Here

EU tells Greece to stop “violent” migrant deportations

The European Union's top migration official told Greece to stop "violent" deportations of migrants or risk losing funds. After becoming one of the main destination points during the migration crisis…

Read More Here

Greece to submit request for purchase of 20 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets soon

ATHENS, June 30 (Reuters) - Greece is expected to send an official request in the coming days to the United States for the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin made F-35 fighter jets,…

Read More Here

Greece to subsidise new fridges, air conditioners to cut energy bill

ATHENS, June 20 (Reuters) - Greece will offer households subsidies to help them replace their old fridges and air conditioners and cut down on soaring power bills, the government said on Monday.…

Read More Here

Greek coastguard rescues 108 migrants off Mykonos, four missing

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's coastguard continued to search for four missing migrants off the island of Mykonos on Sunday after rescuing another 108 migrants on a sailboat that sent a…

Read More Here

Greek unemployment eases to 12.5% in April

ATHENS, June 15 (Reuters) - Greece's jobless rate fell to 12.5% in April from an upwardly revised 12.6% in the previous month, data from statistics service ELSTAT showed on Wednesday. Seasonally adjusted…

Read More Here

Greek PM says EU must integrate Western Balkans by 2033 -Politico

ATHENS, (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the European Union should offer the integration of all six nations of the Western Balkans into the EU by 2033 in…

Read More Here

Greece, Saudi Arabia eye fibre optic data cable to link Europe with Asia

Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday on the main terms to set up a joint venture to lay a fibre optic data cable that will link Europe with Asia,…

Read More Here

Greece plans to reduce state energy consumption by 30% by 2030

ATHENS, June 9 (Reuters) - Greece on Thursday urged state entities to reduce use of air conditioning, install window shields and shut computers after working hours, to help cut electricity consumption and…

Read More Here

Wildfire rages near Athens, threatens homes

ATHENS (Reuters) - A wildfire raged on the outskirts of Athens on Saturday, threatening homes and power lines, a fire brigade official said. Fanned by strong winds, the fire quickly…

Read More Here

EU to send more than 200 firefighters to Greece for the summer season

More than 200 firefighters and equipment from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Romania and Norway will be stationed in Greece to provide immediate support in the event of major wildfires during…

Read More Here

Germany’s Scholz calls on Turkey to refrain from provoking Greece

ANKARA, June 1 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on Turkey to exercise restraint towards Greece as tensions between the two countries have flared, a German government spokesperson…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Germany to send IRIS-T air defence system to Ukraine -Scholz

BERLIN, June 1 (Reuters) - Germany will supply Ukraine with the IRIS-T medium-range surface-to-air defence system, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, following pleas from Kyiv as well as German opposition parties to step…

Read More Here

Greece lifts COVID curbs for travellers ahead of key summer season

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece lifted COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday for foreign and domestic flights, its civil aviation authority said, ahead of the summer tourism season that officials hope will see…

Read More Here

Greece, Turkey trade barbs over Aegean airspace incursions

ATHENS/ANKARA, (Reuters) - Greece accused its neighbour Turkey of undermining NATO unity by violating its airspace with fighter jets, prompting an angry Turkish response that blamed Athens for "provocative" violations…

Read More Here

Greece to raise minimum wage from May 1 to boost low incomes

Greece will raise the minimum wage from May 1 for a second time this year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced as rising inflation takes a toll on household incomes. "The…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Russian tanker impounded by Greece will be released

ATHENS, April 21 (Reuters) - A Russian tanker impounded by Greek authorities off the island of Evia this week will be released, the coast guard said on Thursday. Greek authorities had said…

Read More Here

Greece lifts COVID restrictions for summer tourism season

ATHENS, April 13 (Reuters) - Greece said on Wednesday that pandemic restrictions such as mask-wearing indoors and COVID certificates will be lifted throughout the summer tourism period and authorities will…

Read More Here

Greece seeks war crimes probe in besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol

ATHENS, April 7 (Reuters) - Greece will ask the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes in the Russian-besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, home to a large Greek community, its foreign minister…

Read More Here

Greek workers strike over soaring prices, low wages

ATHENS, April 6 (Reuters) - Greek workers began a day-long nationwide strike on Wednesday over what they call a "deepening crisis" of rising prices and squeezed incomes, disrupting transport, ferries,…

Read More Here

Greek supermarkets limit flour, sunflower oil purchases as customers hoard

Supermarket chains in Greece said they are restricting how much flour and sunflower oil customers can buy, saying the step was precautionary after seeing demand rise on worries supplies will…

Read More Here

Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal PMs to hold meeting on Friday

The prime ministers of Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece will meet in Rome on Friday ahead of a regular summit of European Union leaders, the Italian government said. A Greek…

Read More Here

UPDATED: HSBC sells Greek bank branch business

LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - HSBC HSBA.L announced on Monday it has agreed to sell its branch operations in Greece to local bank Pancreta Bank, as the lender further sharpens its focus on its…

Read More Here

Turkey, Greece agree to improve ties amid Ukraine conflict

ISTANBUL, March 13 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis agreed in talks in Istanbul on Sunday to keep communication channels open and improve ties despite disagreements,…

Read More Here