MacroPolis

PM aims to maintain pace of economic reforms as public worries about migration

The tax bill submitted to Parliament this week, the pension bill due in the coming days and the draft legislation for the overhaul of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) topped the agenda of Thursday’s cabinet meeting, where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged his ministers to keep up the pace set since New Democracy came to power in July.

ND tries to quash refugee backlash, protect strong poll ratings

The Greek government has been trying to assuage concerns about the transfer of migrants from the Aegean islands following more strong reactions by some local residents in mainland areas New Democracy wants to use to relieve the pressure on the larger refugee centres.

ND looks to asylum bill, strong rhetoric to ease pressure from migration flows

MPs have begun debating the government’s proposal for an overhaul of Greece’s asylum laws, which New Democracy sees as an important step towards facilitating the return of arrivals who are not eligible for protection and thereby easing the pressure on Greek islands and authorities in general.

ND unveils migration bill seeking to tighten up asylum process, speed up returns

The government is seeking to overhaul Greece’s asylum procedure with the aim of tightening up the process and producing quicker decisions as well as faster returns of migrants who are not eligible for protection.

ND unveils steps to address migration issue amid political pressure

Mindful of the potential political damage it could suffer if it is not deemed to be managing the migration situation adequately, the government has announced a range of measures aimed at showing that it is addressing the uptick in arrivals and deteriorating conditions at hotspots.

Is Greece facing a new migration crisis?

By: Georgia Nakou

On August 30, a flotilla of 13 inflatable boats carrying 547 migrants arrived on a beach on the north coast of the island of Lesvos. Photos showing rows of beached dinghies and lifejackets triggered memories of the height of the migrant crisis in 2015/2016, and sparked media headlines warning of new dangers.

Government courts backlash over squat raids, while opposition is absorbed in internal debate

As the new cabinet in Athens grapples with complex legislative initiatives on tax and investment, a series of highly visible actions on the policing front are being seen as confirmation of the new government’s willingness to implement the hard-line law and order agenda which was a mainstay of its election campaign.

Report exposes fractured and incomplete response to refugees

A report by Pro Asyl and Refugee Support Aegean has heavily criticised Greece’s asylum seeker reception framework and highlighted significant failures and lack of cohesion in the country’s refugee response.

Unfavourable views of EU strongest in Greece, survey indicates

A survey by the Pew Research Center has outlined the opinions of Greeks and European citizens on the role of the European Union (EU) and its perceptions by citizens in several countries.

New increase in flow of refugees to Greece causes unease

By: Omaira Gill

Greece is facing a potentially explosive situation as the largely unaddressed refugee crisis has begun to take on new and troubling aspects in 2018.