MacroPolis

Athens sees diplomatic progress and obstacles on migration

The high-level visit of the three European Union presidents to the Greek-Turkish border on Tuesday amid tensions in the area pleased Athens.

Greece gets EU show of support, emergency funds for migration

The European Commission approved 700 million euros of emergency funds to help Greece cope with the ongoing border crisis arising from the arrival of thousands of migrants at the Turkish borders.

Athens on diplomatic drive to secure support over migration flare-up

The Greek government is trying to handle the current crisis on its borders with Turkey in two ways: By fortifying its military and police presence and taking up diplomatic initiatives to tackle what it calls an "asymmetric threat."

Greece waits for tangible outcome from EU's symbolic backing over border crisis

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be accompanied by top European Union officials when he visits the Evros border region on Tuesday as Athens hopes to receive more than just symbolic support in addressing the increased influx of asylum seekers from Turkey.

Athens closes border, looks for EU support to ride out migration storm

The Greek government is hoping that it will be able to rely on European support in the coming days after tense weekend on the country’s border with Turkey and on the Aegean islands.

PM faces complex challenge as Turkey threatens free passage for refugees

The government scrambled to prepare on Friday for a potential sharp influx of refugees arriving in Greece over the next few days after Turkey intimated that it would provide free passage to Syrians seeking to reach the European Union.

Island unrest puts PM in tough spot

The government finds itself having to tackle two crises: The angry reaction on Aegean islands to the attempt to build closed reception centres for migrants and the arrival of the coronavirus in Greece.

Authorities struggle with islanders' resistance to closed centres for migrants

The government went on a charm offensive on Tuesday, deploying a wide range of arguments to re-build local communities’ trust and support its plan for the establishment of closed migrant reception centres on the eastern Aegean islands.

The "great replacement" comes to Greece - how a far-right meme appeared in mainstream politics

By: Georgia Nakou

While the popularity of the far right in Greece appeared to wane with the defeat of neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn at the polls, there are worrying signs that some of the extreme ideas once associated with the fringes of politics have been absorbed into the political mainstream.

ND targets NGOs in latest bid to bring migration under control

The government adopted on Tuesday legislation that paves the way for the creation of an official register for non-governmental organisations that deal with refugees.