An agreement between Greece's privatization fund HRADF and China COSCO Shipping Corporation for the sale of the majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) was signed on Friday in Athens. The agreement has been hailed by both Greece and China as creating a win-win situation for all parties.
Tensions flared across organized reception camps and makeshift tent cities in Greece on Wednesday, as thousands of refugees and migrants protested against readmissions to Turkey which started on Monday as part of the EU-Turkey agreement aiming to curb the influx into Europe.
The European Commission Monday said it is adopting an amendment to relocate people in need for international protection from Italy and Greece following Friday's agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey.
The European Union urged its member states to quickly deliver on their refugee relocation and resettlement commitments ahead of a two-day summit here discussing the refugee crisis.
The EU summit on Thursday and Friday aims to reach a new, upgraded agreement with Turkey to tackle the migration crisis, the EU said Wednesday.
The Chinese-managed part of Piraeus port continues to grow at an impressive, rapid pace under COSCO's subsidiary Piraeus Port Terminal (PCT) management in recent years as a new milestone nears, according to the latest data presented to a group of visitors at Greece's largest port on Friday.
A new round of Greece's bailout program review resumed Wednesday with hope the two sides bridge the gap on the next set of fiscal adjustment and reform measures.
Despite six years of recession and tough austerity measures, Greek citizens have not turned their backs on stranded migrants and refugees who have been trapped in the country and cannot continue their journey to western Europe due to border restrictions along the Balkan route.
Greece is making plans to accommodate refugees for longer periods, estimating the refugee crisis will last up to three years and with thousands of people stranded in the country, Greek migration minister Yannis Mouzalas said on Wednesday.
Macedonian media reported on Tuesday that the railway connection between Macedonia and Greece has been suspended due to migrant crisis.
As the number of people stuck in Greece keeps swelling up, arbitrary border restrictions on the Western Balkans migrant route are dramatically affecting refugees, increasing the risk of abuse, according to a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) official here on Monday.
Greece was taking "all the measures as if borders have closed for good by activating a Plan B to deal with the refugee emergency," Greek Deputy Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas said on Sunday.
Protesters marched to the Evros river fence at the border between Greece and Turkey on Sunday demanding that it will be demolished to open a safe, legal passage to Europe for the desperate refugees and migrants who risk their lives to enter the EU.
A year ago on the Jan. 25 national elections in Greece, the Radical Left SYRIZA party achieved a historic victory assuming office for first time in the country's modern history with the promise to end austerity and bailouts.
Senior leaders from several European countries called for "More Europe" as the continent is struggling to cope with multiple crises.
In the final stretch of a turbulent year trapped in acute double crises, the five-year debt issue and the escalating refugee crisis as of early 2015, more hard work seems to be awaiting Greece in 2016.
French President Francois Hollande started a two-day official visit to Greece on Thursday, voicing a clear message of support to efforts to pull the country out of the six-year debt crisis and back on the path to economic growth.
简体中文
