Greece and the EU

Latest business news about Greece and the European Union.

EU provides vital aid to fight wildfires in Mediterranean region — 29 July 2023, 00:20 CET

As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU has stepped in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities.

EU ends Greece's 'enhanced surveillance' on 20 August — 22 August 2022, 09:15 CET

The EU ended the 'enhanced surveillance' of Greece on 20 August, the European Commission announced, judging the country to have delivered on reforms and the policy commitments it made.

EU sends help to Greece as wildfires rage — 09 August 2021, 19:35 CET

The European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism continued to channel support to Greece and other Mediterranean countries Monday as they battle to bring unprecedented forest fires under control.

EU in solidarity with Greece over refugee crisis — 04 March 2020, 18:17 CET

The EU made a strong show of support for Greece Tuesday as its leaders were welcomed by Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to review the refugee crisis and tensions at the Greek-Turkish border.

EU support programme helps Greece towards financial stability — 28 August 2019, 23:23 CET

Greece has shown steady recovery since it successfully concluded its European Stability Mechanism support programme to restore financial stability and promote growth and job creation, the EU said Tuesday.

Athens is Europe's most innovative city in 2018 — 07 November 2018, 23:17 CET

The city of Athens has won this year's European Capital of Innovation Awards, funded by the EU's research and innovation programme Horizon 2020, the EU Commission announced on Tuesday.

Greece begins new chapter as EU bailout ends — 23 August 2018, 23:04 CET

Greece regained its place 'at the heart of Europe' Monday as the EU brought to an end its three-year bailout programme with praise for the efforts of the Greek people and the country's commitment to reform.

Greece post-programme framework to support normalisation — 11 July 2018, 23:57 CET

The European Commission adopted a decision on 11 July to activate the enhanced surveillance framework for Greece to support the implementation of agreed reforms following the successful conclusion of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) stability support programme.

Limited success for EU's bailout plans for Greece — 16 November 2017, 14:11 CET

The EU's bailout programmes for Greece following the financial crisis provided short-term financial stability and made some progress on reform possible, according to a European Court of Auditors report.

Special report No 17/2017: The Commission's intervention in the Greek financial crisis — 16 November 2017, 15:46 CET

The European Court of Auditors examined the European Commission's management of the three Economic Adjustment Programmes for Greece, bearing in mind the institutional set-up of the different financial assistance instruments used. In relation to the ongoing programme, the audit focused only on the design aspects. Funding for the first programme (GLF), in 2010, was 110 billion euros; for the second (EFSF; 2012) it was 172.6 billion euros and for the third (ESM; 2015) it was 86 billion euros. As of mid-2017, Greece still requires external financial support and the ECA found that the objectives of the programmes were met only to a limited extent. Overall, the programmes' design did make the progress of reform in Greece possible, but weaknesses were found. The ECA makes a number of recommendations to the Commission for future support programmes.

Police height limit may discriminate against women: EU Court — 18 October 2017, 23:10 CET

A Greek law laying down a minimum height requirement irrespective of sex, as a criterion for admission to a police school, may discriminate against women, the EU's top court ruled on Wednesday.

Greece no longer in breach of EU budget deficit rules — 26 September 2017, 23:26 CET

The European Union closed its excessive deficit procedure for Greece Monday, confirming that the country's deficit is now below 3 per cent of GDP, the EU's reference value for government deficits.

Brussels supports end to Greek deficit procedure — 13 July 2017, 21:58 CET

The EU Commission recommended Wednesday that the Council close the Excessive Deficit Procedure for Greece, hailing it as a positive signal of financial stability and economic recovery in the country.

ECB Greek debt exchange scheme lawful: EU Court — 26 January 2017, 18:28 CET

The ECB is not bound to make good losses allegedly sustained in 2012 by commercial banks holding Greek debt instruments in connection with restructuring of Greek debt, the EU's top court ruled Tuesday.

New EU emergency support to refugees in Greece — 13 September 2016, 14:25 CET

The European Union has stepped up funding for refugees migrants and asylum seekers in Greece, with EUR 115 million in new funding for humanitarian organisations operating in the country.

EU defends Greek deficit statistics — 30 August 2016, 18:44 CET

The European Union has defended the credibility of Greece's statistics body ELSTAT, as its former head Andreas Georgiou remains under threat of prison over reporting Greece's huge deficit in 2009.

Speed up refugee relocation, says EU — 16 June 2016, 12:43 CET

The resettlement and relocation efforts of EU Member States needs to be speeded up to avoid migrants returning to irregular routes, the European Commission said in a report Wednesday.

Eurozone finance ministers agree to unlock Greek aid — 25 May 2016, 17:25 CET

The EU's Eurogroup ministers welcomed a staff-level agreement between Greece and the institutions Tuesday, paving the way for finalisation of the first review of Greece's macroeconomic adjustment programme.

EU prolongs Schengen controls for six months — 12 May 2016, 22:38 CET

Foreign affairs ministers agreed Thursday to prolong by six months controls at certain internal Schengen borders of the EU in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

EUR 83m to improve conditions for refugees in Greece — 20 April 2016, 01:13 CET

The European Commission has announced EUR 83 million to improve living conditions for refugees in Greece, with funding made available immediately to the UNHCR, the International Federation of the Red Cross and six international NGOs.

Roadmap Back to Schengen: Commission assessment of Action Plan prepared by Greece — 13 April 2016, 22:39 CET

The European Commission adopted on 12 April its assessment of the Action Plan presented by the Greek authorities which details how Greece plans to address the deficiencies in its external border management. Greece’s Action Plan is its roadmap for implementing the recommendations made by the Council on how to address deficiencies identified in the management of Greece’s portion of the EU external border. The Commission's assessment finds that significant progress has been made by Greece but that further improvements to the Action Plan and its implementation are needed in order to comprehensively address the deficiencies identified. Today’s assessment constitutes another stage in the process set out by the Commission on the Roadmap 'Back to Schengen' which seeks to end temporary internal border controls and re-establish the normal functioning of the Schengen area before the end of the year.

Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece — 27 January 2016, 17:00 CET

The College of Commissioners took note on 27 January taken note and discussed a draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece, in view of the findings and their significance.

European Stability Mechanism Programme for Greece — 20 August 2015, 20:45 CET

The European Commission signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Greece for a new stability support programme on 19 August. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Europe's firewall established in 2012 in response to the global financial crisis, will be able to disburse up to EUR 86 billion in loans over the next three years, provided that Greek authorities implement reforms to address fundamental economic and social challenges, as specified in the MoU.

Task Force for Greece — 18 December 2012, 00:19 CET

The Task Force for Greece, launched by President Barroso in July 2011 to provide technical assistance, has publishes its third progress report. The Task Force, which has personnel in both Athens and Brussels, identifies and coordinates the technical assistance that Greece needs to help it deliver on its commitments in the context of its economic adjustment programme, and to accelerate the absorption of EU funds. Assistance focuses on measures to enhance competitiveness, growth and employment.

The Greek economy in facts and figures — 09 October 2012, 15:56 CET

Herewith basic economic figures for Greece, the epicentre of the eurozone debt crisis and the first European Union member state to be bailed out by the EU and the International Monetary Fund, in May 2010.