International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

09/08/201610/08/2016 ENstaff EU, European Council, Federica Mogherini, Indigenous Peoples

“The EU is stepping up its efforts to protect Human Rights Defenders working on behalf of the most vulnerable and marginalized, including indigenous peoples”, said High Representative F. Mogherini.

EU flags Berlaymont_EC AV Service_embassynews

econ/biz european union

European Council agrees to zero fines and new deadlines for Portugal and Spain

08/08/201610/08/2016 ENstaff deficit, European Council, Portugal, Spain

It also stepped up the excessive deficit procedure for both countries, setting new correction deadlines and giving notice of measures to be taken.

european union

EASO launches ‘EU Relocation Programme’ mobile app

04/08/2016 ENstaff application, EASO, EU Relocation Programme, European Asylum Support Office, migrants, mobile app, refugee crisis, refugees

European Asylum Support Office launched its first mobile app for smartphones and tablets, allowing asylum seekers to quickly find information in English and various non-EU languages (English, Arabic, Sorani, Kumjani and Tigrinya) about the EU Relocation Programme, their rights and obligations when applying, contact points and more.

society

Asylum: End of large scale pre-registration on mainland Greece

02/08/2016 ENstaff asylum, Asylum Service, EASO, EU, European Commission, European Union, refugee crisis, UNHCR

The Asylum Service announces that the operation to pre-register applications for international protection on mainland Greece, through the dedicated registration centres that were temporarily set up, has now come to an end.

foreign affairs

Foreign Minister Kotzias meets with the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Daniel Mito

01/08/2016 ENstaff Balkans, Bulgaria, cooperation, economy, EU, European Union, Greece, Kotzias, Mitov

Greece’s and Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the excellent climate of cooperation between the two countries and decided on the activation of a number of joint collaborations between the two countries within the European Union – beyond the already existing cooperation within the EU – as well as in the Balkan space.

foreign affairs

Deputy FM Amanatidis meets with a delegation from the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association

01/08/2016 ENstaff Amanatidis, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Ministry, foreign policy, Hellenes Abroad, WHIA, World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association

Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis met at the Foreign Ministry with a delegation from the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), headed by President Thomas Katsiantonis, State Representative of New Hampshire, USA.

Katainen visit_Poland_ EC AV Service_embassynews

econ/biz european union

Unemployment: Eurozone average down to 10.1%; Greece’s remains the highest: 23.3%

30/07/201630/07/2016 ENstaff crisis, economy, EU, European Union, Eurozone, unemployment

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.1% in June 2016, stable compared to May 2016 and down from 11.0% in June 2015. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since July 2011.

society

Hundreds suffer at Hungary-Serbia border

30/07/2016 ENstaff asylum, borders, Hungary, refugee camp, refugees, Serbia, UNHCR

“Any European Union country where we can be safe will do,” says 54-year-old Sayed Afsar Sadat, whose left hand was damaged in an airstrike when he was a child. “I was a bank manager in Afghanistan, I had a house and a car. Now I’m nothing,” he says. He and his family have been at the border for 15 days and, if the list does not fail them, they have another 18 days to wait.

On 26 January 2016, a young boy is carrying a large bundle of warm blankets on his shoulders. He is in the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point where, along with his family members, he can access support services and have an opportunity to rest before continuing his journey.

In 2015, more than one million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean, arriving on Europeís shores, of which an estimated 253,700 ñ or one in four ñ were children. Latest trends show that children now make up 36 percent of the migration flow coming through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Woman and children now make up 57 percent of the refugee and migrants with the majority from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Children arriving into a harsh winter in southeastern Europe are physically exhausted, scared, distressed and often in need of medical assistance, UNICEF warned.The recent sub-zero temperatures and sometimes snowy conditions is exacerbating the childrenís poor physical condition as many children on the move do not have adequate clothing, or access to age-appropriate nutrition. This has been worsened by the lack of shelter and inadequate heating in some reception centres as well as buses and trains. UNICEF said the issue was pressing as the proportion of children amongst refugees and migrants ñ now more than one in three ñ has continued to increase. According to national sources, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the ratio was 37 per cent in December, compared to 23 per cent in September, while in Serbia, 36 per cent were children in December compared to 27 per cent in September. In December most children transiting through UNICEF child-friendly spaces in Serbia were young children, including babies and infants and those between 5 to 9 years old.

european union

Immigration, terrorism are EU’s major challenges – Eurobarometer

30/07/201630/07/2016 ENstaff EU, Eurobarometer, European Commission, European Union, immigration, people, public opinion, terrorism

Europeans see immigration and terrorism as the major challenges facing the EU at the moment, and they support the political priorities of the European Commission. These are two key results of the latest Standard Eurobarometer survey published last week.

econ/biz

EU: the fight for fair taxation

30/07/2016 ENstaff economy, EU, Eurobarometer, European Parliament, European Union, taxation

Since the start of the economic and financial crisis, MEPs have been pushing for greater transparency and an end to unfair tax practices.

interviews people

Ambassador of Norway:”The challenge for the Greek economy is its competitive edge and its business climate” [interview]

07/06/2016 ENstaff

The Ambassador of Norway in Athens, His Excellency Jørn Eugene Gjelstad, spoke to EmbassyNews.net and commented on the current developments in Greek and European politics, the economy and the refugee crisis.