Greece
Greece
Lesvos Honors Greek Coast Guard Officer Devoted to Saving Migrants
The city of Mytilini on Lesvos island paid tribute on Friday to Kyriakos Papadopoulos, a Coast Guard officer who saved thousands of refugees at sea between 2015 and 2016 before dying of heart failure nearly a year ago.
The local...
Business
Greek Islands Get VAT Raise Suspended for 6 Months
Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on Friday that that an earlier decision to raise value-added tax rates (VAT) at eastern Aegean islands will be suspended.
The decision was made during the EU summit meeting in Brussels and it affects...
Greece
Aegean Islands have Reached Boiling Point Warns Regional Governor
The North Aegean regional governor warned that violence could erupt in the overcrowded hot-spots of Lesvos, Chios and Samos.
Speaking on Monday to SKAI radio, Christiana Kalogirou said that the islands are in desperate situation following the surge in migrant...
Economy
Lesvos' Mayor Says He Welcomes Gov's Announced Growth Plan for Northern Aegean Islands
Lesvos mayor Spyros Galinos welcomed the 25-million-euro growth plan announced by the Greek government on Saturday for the islands of the northern Aegean, saying it offers much-needed support for the local economy.
Alternate Economy Minister Alexis Charitsis will visit Lesvos on Monday (March 13)...
Greece
Avramopoulos: Alleviating the Situation on the Greek Islands a 'Humanitarian Imperative'
All Greeks and Europeans have a humanitarian imperative to alleviate the situation on the Greek islands, for the migrants as well as for the islands' inhabitants, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Wednesday...
Greece
Fire Raging on Chios Island, Villages Evacuated
A large fire that broke out early Monday morning is raging on Chios island destroying a forest and putting in danger nearby villages that have been evacuated.
So far, 12 firefighting vehicles, 15 municipality trucks, 32 men of the local...
Greece
Greek Prime Minister Calls for Internal Unity in the Face of Refugee Crisis
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held a meeting with the authorities of Greek areas with a high concentration of refugees to increase cooperation and information sharing among the various sides.
During the meeting, Tsipras noted that the situation that has developed is beyond...
Greece
Greek Govt Receives Pressure to Tear Down Fence on Border with Turkey
The Greek government is facing increasing pressure to take down the fence along its land border with Turkey in the Evros region in order to stop refugees from making the deadly journey to Europe via the Aegean Sea.
Citizen Protection...
Greece
Tourism Bodies in Lesvos Decry EC's Decision to Halt Special Visas for Turkish Tourists
Tourism bodies and municipal authorities in the northern Aegean reacted angrily to a letter by Alternate Foreign Minister George Katrougalos informing them that the European Commission rejected the extension of a visa facilitation pilot program that allowed Turkish nationals...