Newswire Sofia: Bulgaria is the 21st safest country out of 38 countries in Europe, ranking between Poland and Spain. This country gets 1.643 points measured by the Global Peace Index (GPI) in the ranking of the NGO World Population Review. The Global Peace Index measures a country’s level of Negative Peace using three domains of […]
Read MoreHome to beautiful islands, a history that stretches back thousands of years, a varied and rich culinary tradition, stunning hikes, ancient monasteries, and a rambunctious party scene, Greece is one of the most popular destinations in the world. However, most people don’t think of it as a cheap one. Mention Greece and most picture the […]
Read MoreSofia: In a position to BTA, Blue Bulgaria Coalition’s top-of-the-list candidate in Haskovo (Southeastern Bulgaria) Tsveta Kirilova said that there is governance and communication chaos when it comes to the green transition. By now, Bulgaria should have thought about and found a solution for its national energy security and independence, she argued. “If not for […]
Read MoreSaskia O’Donoghue I have never been a party girl. When I was at university, you’d never find me out at student bars; instead, I’d be holed up in my accommodation, watching news analysis shows. I like to think I’ve become rather more fun in the intervening decade but, still, I was a little nervous ahead […]
Read MoreAthens: Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, the youngest daughter of the late King of Greece Constantine II, married her fiance in an Orthodox ceremony in Athens this week. Royals from both countries joined the service at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens where the funeral service for Constantine II, Greece’s last king and second cousin […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria hopes its full membership to the Schengen Zone will be finalized by the end of this year. Yordanka Chobanova, who heads the European Commission’s representation in Bulgaria said that a proposal to abolish land border controls for Bulgaria and Romania will be made on October 10. Financial losses for Bulgaria remaining outside […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens. A valuable ancient vase gifted more than 70 years ago by the Greek government to an Italian prime minister has been voluntarily returned to Greece by the former statesman’s grandson. The Greek culture ministry on Friday praised the “most courteous gesture” by Paolo Catti De Gasperi, whose grandfather Alcide De Gasperi headed Italian […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: The Bulgarian Agricultural Ministry this week joined forces with farmers in a quest to completely stop the flow of cheap Ukrainian eggs to the country. Overwhelming imports are believed to be the key factor preventing the industry from recovering after a devastating bird flu outbreak at the end of 2023. The Bulgarian government […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece outlined measures to boost its lagging birthrate on Thursday, from vouchers and childcare benefits to tax breaks for new parents, although experts questioned the plan’s effectiveness. Greece has one of Europe’s lowest fertility rates, a dire demographic state driven by a decade-long economic crisis, emigration and changed attitudes among the young. The […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Total revenue from tourist overnights in Bulgaria grew by an annual 15.4% to 524.6 million levs in July ($296.2 million/268.2 million euro), the statistical office said. Revenue from domestic tourists stood at 158 million levs, while foreign visitors generated revenue of 366.6 million levs, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a regular […]
Read MoreNewswire Lake Mornos: From beneath the shrinking Lake Mornos in central Greece, the muddied remains of homes are re-emerging nearly 45 years since the village that once stood there disappeared underwater. After a winter of hardly any snow, a summer of punishing heatwaves and months of little rain and drought across much of Greece, the […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: The issue of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) continues to be a challenge and concern in Bulgaria. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), NEET rates in Bulgaria in 2020 were among the highest in the EU at 18% against a European average of […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: As temperatures soar and tourist arrivals swell, Greece is under pressure to reimagine a tourism model that climate change is making increasingly untenable. With its turquoise waters and reliable sunshine, Greece has long been a popular holiday destination, attracting nearly 33 million visitors last year and generating 28.5 billion euros in revenue ($31.7 […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria will hold a new snap vote on October 27, its seventh general election in three and a half years, its head of state said on Monday after parties failed to form a government. The Balkan country has been plagued by political turmoil since massive anti-corruption protests toppled the cabinet of conservative three-time […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari this week has emphasized strengthening bilateral relations with Greece. He was talking to outgoing ambassador to Greece to Pakistan Konstantinos Moatsos who paid a farewell call on him in Islamabad today. Pakistan and Greece enjoy friendly and cordial relations. Pakistan opened its embassy in Athens in 1975. Greece […]
Read MoreSofia: In the next 20 years, nearly half of Bulgaria’s workforce is expected to be over the age of 55, reflecting a significant aging trend in the country. A study by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BCC) reveals that if this trend continues, the proportion of older workers could reach 48 percent, with two-thirds of […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece reduced its expenditure on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan in May 2024, Azernews reports, citing Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In May 2024, Greece’s spending on Azerbaijani gas imports was 52.6 million euros, down from 68.8 million euros in May 2023, marking a 23.5 percent decrease. During the same […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria this week clarified that the country only issues Schengen visas for short-term stays, stressing that it has no problem with its connectivity to the Schengen visa system. According to the Ministry, over 35,000 Schengen visas have been issued by the end of July. Bulgaria’s MFA comments […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece became visa-free for 188 countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the US; encouraging tourism at a time when the rest of Europe takes new measures to reduce the flood of foreign visitors. From August 2024, Greek authorities dropped the Schengen visa requirements, allowing visitors from the 188 countries to […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Angelieva this week discussed plans to facilitate the issuance of tourist and work visas. During a meeting held between representatives of both ministries, the easing of the work of consular services in third countries was also discussed, in Schengen.News […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: In 2023 the asylum process in Greece was marked by significant activity, with a high number of asylum applications and an even higher recognition rate, highlighting the clear need for international protection for asylum seekers. This report looks at the monthly statistics published by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, alongside figures provided […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Armed with selfie sticks and phones, the tourists flood into Santorini from everywhere — on dinghies from giant ocean liners, on coaches that zigzag up the steep hillsides, atop donkeys that clip-clop along the narrow cobbled streets. Some brave the afternoon heat to find a good spot among the white-washed houses and blue-domed […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Island-hopping in Greece this summer just got a little easier. Hoper, the first helicopter airline in Greece offering scheduled flights, is now selling tickets to 11 destinations, including harder-to-reach spots such as Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Patmos, Sifnos and Spetses. All connect to either Athens, Santorini or Mykonos, which serve as the carrier’s […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece is among the world’s leading markets for renewable energy sources. According to the latest edition of EY’s six-month survey, Greece has improved its position among the leading markets for RES, rising from third to second place in EY’s adjusted RES index, which looks at country performance adjusted according to the size of […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece is grappling with a severe shortage of agricultural workers, prompting urgent calls from exporters to relax entry requirements for hiring foreign labourers. The deficit, estimated at 180,000 workers, has left swathes of land uncultivated and crops unharvested, dealing a significant blow to farmers and the economy, reported Schengen.News. The National Interprofessional Organization […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: There has been a spate of tourist deaths in Greece as temperatures hit 43 degrees. Tourists and visitors to Greece have been warned not to “take unnecessary risks” in the wake of the deaths of Europeans during the recent heatwave. Three tourists were found dead in just one week, more went missing and […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: For most people, labor law can be boring. But when someone suggests working an extra day, people start to pay attention. In Greece, new regulations are coming into effect on July 1 that make this possible. After that day certain industrial and manufacturing facilities, as well as businesses providing 24/7 services, can move […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Effective June 5, 2024, foreign nationals who enter Greece under visa-exempt status or on a C visa can now apply for an EU Blue Card. Previously, only D visa holders could apply for an EU Blue Card. Additionally, EU Blue Card applicants may now choose whether to undergo a ‘pre-screening’ process, whereas previously […]
Read MoreStacey Leasca Athens: Greece has long beckoned travelers with its beauty. From the crystalline waters in the surrounding Mediterranean Sea and the rich historical sites that dot the nation’s map to the divine cuisine and stellar hotels, the European country deserves a spot high on travelers’ wish lists. Travelers flock to Greece year-round, but some […]
Read MoreHelen Iatrou Athens: A dreamy vacation in Greece is, without a doubt, more sought-after than ever. The Mediterranean destination has already surpassed prepandemic visitor numbers. In 2023, the country of 11 million received over 32.7 million international arrivals compared to 31.3 million in 2019. Credit ratings agency Fitch expects this figure to reach 34.5 million […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe), Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan led the Pakistan delegation at the 4th Round of Pakistan-Greece Bilateral Political Consultations in Athens, Greece this week. Director General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Roussos Koundouros led the Greek side. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and discussed regional and […]
Read MoreAthens: With a deluge of foreign visitors fuelling seemingly non-stop development on the once pristine Greek islands, local residents and officials are beginning to fight back, moving to curb a wave of construction that has started to cause water shortages and is altering cultural identity. Tourism is crucial in Greece, accounting for one-fifth of the […]
Read MoreAthens: The Ellinikon is making headlines as one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects currently underway in Athens, Greece. Rooted in the principles of a ’15-minute city,’ the €8 billion masterplan is spearheaded by LAMDA Development and offers a comprehensive 360-degree experience to its residents, tenants, guests, and employees. This transformation will revive the obsolete […]
Read MoreJennifer Barclay Athens: Elias, quiet and unassuming, meets us at the tiny harbour and says he could drive us to the house but it would be quicker on foot. He directs us up a narrow alley past a bustling kafeneio, where people are debating the news of the day over coffee. One of a little […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: On the southern coastline of Greece’s capital, a long-awaited plan to transform the city’s former airport into the largest smart city in Europe is finally gaining momentum. After a decade of delays, a vision of the Ellinikon is emerging. The Marina Tower, soon to be Greece’s first skyscraper, is beginning to rise. Iron […]
Read MoreAthens: A charming hidden gem in Greece has come into the limelight after popular Netflix series release, One Day, displayed beautiful locations of the island. Paros has all the charm and atmosphere but without the crowds and the steep prices, particularly in summer, but its thought this could be about to change. That’s thanks to […]
Read MoreAthens: Greece’s Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana have announced their ‘amicable’ separation after 14 years of marriage just weeks after appearing together at a memorial service for the prince’s father, King Constantine. The 54-year-old Prince is the son of Constantine II of Greece – the last king of Greece after it abolished its monarchy in […]
Read MoreAthens: It has required new legislation and navigation of copious red tape but nine months after wildfires devastated Rhodes, Greece has launched the first “free” holidays for thousands of tourists forced to flee the island. In a decision tourism officials call a world first, up to 25,000 affected holidaymakers will, as of this week, be […]
Read MoreSaskia O’Donoghue Turkish travellers will now be able to visit ten Greek islands under a new scheme announced this week. Officials on the popular island of Rhodes have opened a new visa terminal for Turkish visitors as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two countries. The limited-access visa will allow […]
Read MoreFani Mari Athens: There’s an Ancient Greek saying that derives from Latin and roughly translates to “healthy mind in a healthy body”. I think that truly embodies the country’s connection to wellness. Asclepius, the god of medicine, believed in seeing each patient as a person, not as their condition, which is the ultimate holistic medical […]
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