Greece

While many people in Greece consider wind power, an abundant and inexhaustible source of energy, a no-brainer as Europe aims for its <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////climate.ec.europa.eu//eu-action//climate-strategies-targets//2050-long-term-strategy_en#:~:text=The%20EU%20aims%20to%20be,to%20the%20European%20Climate%20Law%20.\"><strong>net-zero goals<\/strong><\/a>, some up-and-coming wind farms are facing opposition from local residents and environmentalists alike.<\/p>\n<p>The top concerns are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wind farms can harm biodiversity and the preservation of endangered, threatened and special concern species.<\/li>\n<li>When constructed in renowned areas of natural beauty, wind turbines can interrupt the landscape. This can have consequences for the tourism industry and subsequently the local economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Professor <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////bc.lab.uoi.gr//en//who-we-are//vassiliki-kati///">Vassiliki Kati<\/strong><\/a> coordinates a research lab at the University of Ioannina. Her study on <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.researchgate.net//publication//351356922_Sustainable_scenario_for_windfarm_spatial_planning_in_Greece_for_minimal_impact_of_wind_energy_projects_on_biodiversity/">planning for wind parks<\/strong><\/a> has highlighted the country&#039;s apparent disregard for natural landscapes or protected areas and the negative impact wind farms can have on local habitats.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//28//78//86//808x454_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg/" alt=\"Balkan chamois researcher, Haritakis Papaioannou and biodiversity expert, Vassiliki Kati, speak with Euronews reporter Hans von der Brelie\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/384x216_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/640x360_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/750x422_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/828x466_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1080x608_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1200x675_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1920x1080_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Balkan chamois researcher, Haritakis Papaioannou and biodiversity expert, Vassiliki Kati, speak with Euronews reporter Hans von der Brelie<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn Austria, only 12 per cent of wind power stations are planted in mountainous zones, in Greece it&#039;s 92 per cent. That shows the lack of spatial planning in our country,\" explained Kati.<\/p>\n<p>Renewable energies need huge storage capacities and Greece is creating them. Up to 1,000 people are working on a <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.terna-energy.com//acivities//pumped-storage-projects//amfilochia-pumped-storage///">pumped storage hydropower project<\/strong><\/a> in Amfilochia. Surplus wind power is transformed into hydropower on demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8263202,8193388\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//02//06//progress-or-hot-air-is-europe-on-track-to-meet-its-wind-energy-targets/">Progress or hot air: Is Europe on track to meet its wind energy targets?<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//02//24//ukraines-green-fightback-wind-farms-solar-schools-and-counting-the-cost-of-destroying-natu/">Ukraine/u2019s green fightback: Wind farms, solar schools and counting the cost of \u2018destroying nature\u2019<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The European project &#039;PCI-3.24&#039; is co-financed by the &#039;<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////cinea.ec.europa.eu//programmes//connecting-europe-facility_en/">Connecting Europe Facility<\/strong><\/a>&#039;, the EU tool designed to modernise infrastructure. \u201cThe total installed capacity of our project is 680 MW for production and 730 MW for pumping, while the total storage capacity is approximately 5 Gigawatt-hours,\" said <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.linkedin.com//in//vangelis-vassis-62044b80//?originalSubdomain=gr\%22>Vangelis Vassis<\/strong><\/a> from the project development team.<\/p>\n<p>\"The total budget is \u20ac650 million, back in 2021, we got an EU grant worth \u20ac250 million. Terna Energy is trying to develop dozens of new hydro-pumped storage projects and let\u2019s say three or four are mature enough right now to start construction. What would be really helpful is getting some European funding for this project,\" he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//28//78//86//808x454_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg/" alt=\"Terna&apos;s PCI 3.24 storage facility project in Amfilochia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/384x216_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/640x360_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/750x422_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/828x466_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1080x608_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1200x675_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/1920x1080_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Terna&apos;s PCI 3.24 storage facility project in Amfilochia.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Renewables are a challenge for the grid. Good power connections are a precondition for transporting electricity to consumers when needed. The European Commission estimates that up to \u20ac600 billion should be invested into <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur-lex.europa.eu//legal-content//EN//TXT//?uri=COM%3A2023%3A757%3AFIN&amp;qid=1701167355682\%22>upgrading European grids<\/strong><\/a> by the end of this decade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOffshore wind is a very new element in our national energy and climate plan and this is why all these renewables of course are not needed for consumption within Greece,\" said Ioannis Margaris, the deputy chairman of the Greek grid operator <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"http:////Greek grid operator IPTO”: https:////www.admie.gr//en//company//about-us/">IPTO./u00a0/n

/u201cThe strategy is for Greece to become an exporter of green energy to central Europe. Through the Balkans or Italy, to be able to export a surplus amount of renewables that we are going to have installed in Greece.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"This is why we recently proposed a new project between Greece and Germany that could go through the Adriatic Sea.\"<\/p>\n<p>Margaris concluded by referring to the bigger picture: \u201cThere are also interconnections in the south, we have interconnections being planned with Egypt, with Saudi-Arabia. Due to Russia&#039;s invasion of Ukraine, Europe has a lot of vital interest in these kinds of interconnections.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709715810,"updatedAt":1713181473,"publishedAt":1712934659,"firstPublishedAt":1712905304,"lastPublishedAt":1713181473,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_147a6a84-b5fb-5852-9502-cdc3792053c4-8287888.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews ","altText":"Terna's PCI 3.24 storage facility project in Amfilochia.","callToActionText":null,"width":1200,"caption":"Terna's PCI 3.24 storage facility project in Amfilochia.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_130eb967-cfd8-5ff2-b061-ffeb26a33faf-8287886.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":675},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews ","altText":"Balkan chamois researcher, Haritakis Papaioannou and biodiversity expert, Vassiliki Kati, speak with Euronews reporter Hans von der Vrelie ","callToActionText":null,"width":1200,"caption":"Balkan chamois researcher, Haritakis Papaioannou and biodiversity expert, Vassiliki Kati, speak with Euronews reporter Hans von der Vrelie ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/78\/86\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0ed7f8aa-4a38-5aec-855b-d3a25d4fced7-8287886.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":675}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[{"urlSafeValue":"brelie","twitter":"@euronewsreport","title":"Hans von der Brelie"}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"wind-turbine","titleRaw":"Wind 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WITNESS","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/euronews-witness"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_travel','gs_travel_locations_europe','gs_travel_locations','gs_travel_misc','gs_science','gs_busfin','gs_busfin_indus','gs_science_geography','gt_positive','eu_brussels_politics_de'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/04\/12\/why-are-plans-to-build-more-onshore-wind-farms-in-greece-so-controversial","lastModified":1713181473},{"id":2519372,"cid":8366916,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240411_TNSU_55270829","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TRAVEL GREECE WILDFIRES FREE HOLIDAYS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"A world first: Greek government compensates tourists affected by wildfires","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Rhodes gives \u2018free\u2019 trips to tourists forced to flee wildfires ","titleListing2":"A world first: Greek government compensates tourists affected by wildfires","leadin":"The Greek government has announced the move following wildfires last July which saw 25,000 tourists forced to evacuate the popular island.","summary":"The Greek government has announced the move following wildfires last July which saw 25,000 tourists forced to evacuate the popular island.","keySentence":"","url":"a-world-first-greek-government-compensates-tourists-affected-by-wildfires","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2024\/04\/11\/a-world-first-greek-government-compensates-tourists-affected-by-wildfires","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Following last summer\u2019s devastating wildfires on the island of Rhodes, Greece has announced it\u2019s giving thousands of affected holidaymakers free trips. \n\nIn July 2023, thousands of tourists were forced to flee Rhodes as the fires tore through the popular destination. \n\nUnder the programme, those who were staying in hotels evacuated due to the fires will be able to take advantage of vouchers of up to \u20ac500 to cover accommodation for a week-long stay.\u00a0 \n\nUp to 25,000 affected holidaymakers are now eligible for the compensation, which will also help to rebuild tourism in Rhodes. \n\n\nThe e-vouchers will be valid in the island's shoulder seasons - from now until 31 May and then again from 1 October to 15 November. \n\nThe scheme is a world first, following months of red tape and discussions to get the go ahead. \n\nSpeaking to The Guardian newspaper, the Greek tourism ministry\u2019s general secretary, Myron Flouris, explained, \u201cIt\u2019s been a very complicated process not least, I think, because we\u2019re the first country in the world to do this.\u201d \n\nHow can those affected benefit from Greece\u2019s \u2018free\u2019 holiday scheme? \n\nTourism officials in Rhodes say take-up has already been strong, with over 5,000 future holidaymakers already enrolling. \n\nThey expect applications to be even higher for the autumn dates, when more people are aware of the scheme. \n\nCompensation awarded will reflect the amount evacuated travellers originally paid to tour operators and will range from \u20ac300 to \u20ac500 - but will only be available at hotels rather than Airbnbs and other private accommodation. \n\nThe initiative was put in place in August last year, when Greece\u2019s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis , announced it on British TV show Good Morning Britain. \n\nThat promise was made just days after those stranded were forced to cut short their trips; the majority made to flee were British tourists. \n\nIs Rhodes still at risk of wildfires? \n\nMitsotakis was behind the mass evacuation as a preventive measure in July last year - and he returned to the island this week. \n\nSpeaking at the appropriately-named \u2018EU Tourism: Resilience in the Era of the Climate Crisis\u2019 press conference, he explained that wildfires are likely to continue due to climate change. \n\n\u201cAll of the Mediterranean is a hotspot for climate change. That, statistically, means we will have more fires and probably more floods.\u201d \n\nAdding that what mattered most was safety, he continued, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy\u2026 to evacuate 25,000 visitors but we did it safely and we are very proud of the fact that we managed to confront this crisis essentially without mourning [the loss] of human life.\u201d \n\nMany UK holidaymakers visit Rhodes with the help of tour operators, like Jet2, TUI and Thomas Cook, but they must now liaise directly with the Greek government to obtain their vouchers. \n\nThomas Cook has advised its customers to contact the Greek tourist board, Rhodes authorities and participating hoteliers, while TUI says its clients should contact the Greek government via its online platform in order to claim their \u2018free\u2019 trips. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Following last summer\u2019s devastating wildfires on the island of Rhodes, Greece has announced it\u2019s giving thousands of affected holidaymakers free trips.<\/p>\n<p>In July 2023, thousands of tourists were forced to flee Rhodes as the fires tore through the popular destination.<\/p>\n<p>Under the programme, those who were staying in hotels evacuated due to the fires will be able to take advantage of vouchers of up to \u20ac500 to cover accommodation for a week-long stay.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Up to 25,000 affected holidaymakers are now eligible for the compensation, which will also help to rebuild tourism in Rhodes. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//36//69//16//808x539_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg/" alt=\"Beachgoers watch a helicopter filling water from the sea during a wildfire, near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes last July\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/384x256_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/640x427_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/750x500_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/828x552_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1080x720_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1200x800_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1920x1280_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Beachgoers watch a helicopter filling water from the sea during a wildfire, near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes last July<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Petros Giannakouris<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The e-vouchers will be valid in the island&#039;s shoulder seasons - from now until 31 May and then again from 1 October to 15 November.<\/p>\n<p>The scheme is a world first, following months of red tape and discussions to get the go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, the Greek tourism ministry\u2019s general secretary, Myron Flouris, explained, \u201cIt\u2019s been a very complicated process not least, I think, because we\u2019re the first country in the world to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>How can those affected benefit from Greece\u2019s \u2018free\u2019 holiday scheme?<\/h2><p>Tourism officials in <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//08//03//rhodes-is-back-greek-pm-offers-free-stay-in-2024-to-evacuated-tourists/">Rhodes say take-up has already been strong, with over 5,000 future holidaymakers already enrolling.<\/p>\n<p>They expect applications to be even higher for the autumn dates, when more people are aware of the scheme.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//36//69//16//808x539_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg/" alt=\"Military personnel pass a wildfire in Vati village, on the island of Rhodes, in July 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/384x256_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/640x427_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/750x500_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/828x552_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1080x720_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1200x800_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1920x1280_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Military personnel pass a wildfire in Vati village, on the island of Rhodes, in July 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Petros Giannakouris<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Compensation awarded will reflect the amount evacuated travellers originally paid to tour operators and will range from \u20ac300 to \u20ac500 - but will only be available at hotels rather than Airbnbs and other private accommodation.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative was put in place in August last year, when Greece\u2019s prime minister, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//06//25//voting-begins-in-general-election-second-round-in-greece/">Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/strong><\/a>, announced it on British TV show Good Morning Britain.<\/p>\n<p>That promise was made just days after those stranded were forced to cut short their trips; the majority made to flee were British tourists.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7774866,7773002\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//07//24//watch-aerial-shots-of-devastation-from-wildfires-on-greek-island-of-rhodes/">Watch: Aerial shots of devastation from wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//07//24//fire-still-blazing-on-the-greek-island-of-rhodes-as-dozens-more-erupt-across-the-country/">Corfu and Evia launch evacuations after thousands flee devastating wildfires on Rhodes<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Is Rhodes still at risk of wildfires?<\/h2><p>Mitsotakis was behind the mass evacuation as a preventive measure in July last year - and he returned to the island this week.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the appropriately-named \u2018EU Tourism: Resilience in the Era of the Climate Crisis\u2019 press conference, he explained that wildfires are likely to continue due to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of the Mediterranean is a hotspot for climate change. That, statistically, means we will have more fires and probably more floods.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.68675\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//36//69//16//808x553_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg/" alt=\"Tourists sit inside a stadium following their evacuation during a forest fire, on the island of Rhodes, Greece in July 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/384x264_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/640x440_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/750x515_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/828x569_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1080x742_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1200x824_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/1920x1319_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Tourists sit inside a stadium following their evacuation during a forest fire, on the island of Rhodes, Greece in July 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Lefteris Diamanidis\/InTime News via AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Adding that what mattered most was safety, he continued, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy\u2026 to evacuate 25,000 visitors but we did it safely and we are very proud of the fact that we managed to confront this crisis essentially without mourning [the loss] of human life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many UK holidaymakers visit <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//07//25//2000-people-including-tourists-evacuated-as-a-wildfire-rages-on-the-greek-island-of-rhodes/">Rhodes with the help of tour operators, like Jet2, TUI and Thomas Cook, but they must now liaise directly with the Greek government to obtain their vouchers.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Cook has advised its customers to contact the Greek tourist board, Rhodes authorities and participating hoteliers, while TUI says its clients should contact the Greek government via its online platform in order to claim their \u2018free\u2019 trips.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712829974,"updatedAt":1713272461,"publishedAt":1712840407,"firstPublishedAt":1712840410,"lastPublishedAt":1713272461,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Dimitris Kiriakakis via Unsplash","altText":"A view of the town on Lindos on the island of Rhodes","callToActionText":null,"width":1067,"caption":"A view of the town on Lindos on the island of Rhodes","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ef1d5c56-9d07-5a45-bf52-35525b57ac7d-8366916.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":800},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petros Giannakouris","altText":"Military personnel pass a wildfire in Vati village, on the island of Rhodes, in July 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":1200,"caption":"Military personnel pass a wildfire in Vati village, on the island of Rhodes, in July 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6cfc1801-9eda-5100-8158-65bc6daded32-8366916.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":800},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petros Giannakouris","altText":"Beachgoers watch a helicopter filling water from the sea during a wildfire, near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes last July","callToActionText":null,"width":1200,"caption":"Beachgoers watch a helicopter filling water from the sea during a wildfire, near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes last July","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6f1a379d-279a-5aec-8055-4a74b8c005eb-8366916.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":800},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Lefteris Damianidis\/AP","altText":"Tourists sit inside a stadium following their evacuation during a forest fire, on the island of Rhodes, Greece in July 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":4000,"caption":"Tourists sit inside a stadium following their evacuation during a forest fire, on the island of Rhodes, Greece in July 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/69\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b88eff9d-7859-584b-80d7-c7ca3b58c602-8366916.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2747}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"odonoghue","twitter":null,"title":"Saskia O'Donoghue"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"rhodes","titleRaw":"Rhodes","id":28036,"title":"Rhodes","slug":"rhodes"},{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"wildfires","titleRaw":"Wildfires","id":25370,"title":"Wildfires","slug":"wildfires"},{"urlSafeValue":"kyriakos-mitsotakis","titleRaw":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","id":12446,"title":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","slug":"kyriakos-mitsotakis"},{"urlSafeValue":"climate-change","titleRaw":"climate change","id":15386,"title":"climate change","slug":"climate-change"},{"urlSafeValue":"evacuation","titleRaw":"evacuation","id":13516,"title":"evacuation","slug":"evacuation"}],"widgets":[{"count":3,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2397596},{"id":2338100},{"id":2328890}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"travel"}],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news\/travel-news"},"vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel","id":7,"title":"Travel","slug":"travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel-news","id":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":21,"urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_travel','gs_travel_holidays','gs_science','gt_mixed','neg_mobkoi_castrol','gs_travel_locations','gs_travel_locations_europe','gb_death_injury_edu','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','client_easports_sporting_gaming','gs_realestate','gs_realestate_hotel','gs_travel_type','gv_death_injury','neg_audi_list1','neg_facebook','neg_tiktok_q1_2024_eng','neg_intel_en'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/travel\/2024\/04\/11\/a-world-first-greek-government-compensates-tourists-affected-by-wildfires","lastModified":1713272461},{"id":2519242,"cid":8366320,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240411_E3SU_55268907","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GREECE PRICE HIKES","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Greek voters name skyrocketing prices as their top priority ahead of EU elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Greek voters worry about skyrocketing prices ahead of EU elections","titleListing2":"Skyrocketing prices of goods are the top priority for Greek voters ahead of EU Parliament elections #costofliving #europeaneelections #politics","leadin":"Polls offer picture of voters' most important issues as parties position themselves for the summer's contest.","summary":"Polls offer picture of voters' most important issues as parties position themselves for the summer's contest.","keySentence":"","url":"greek-voters-name-skyrocketing-prices-as-their-top-priority-ahead-of-eu-elections","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/04\/11\/greek-voters-name-skyrocketing-prices-as-their-top-priority-ahead-of-eu-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The skyrocketing prices of goods are the top priority for Greek voters, according to all polls ahead of this year's all-important European Parliament elections. \n\nGreece's average growth rate is more than 2%, one of the highest in the Eurozone, and the government is praised for its fiscal policies by all European institutions. However, the measures taken against inflation in the food category don't seem to have an impact for consumers. \n\nThe Hellenic Statistical Authority has just reported that inflation in the food category stood at 5.3% in March, up from 3.1% in February.\u00a0 \n\nFigures like this mean that while measures previously taken by the Greek government have been described as positive, their efficacy and impact is being questioned. \n\nCitizens are increasingly voicing their disappointment \u2013 and it is estimated that this will also be expressed at the ballot box.\u00a0 \n\nPeople in local markets say they are disappointed. One man estimates that there has been a 30% increase in everyday goods prices, while a local farmer told Euronews that the high prices will affect the Greek government's election performance because they haven't done enough. \n\n\"We're going to punish them in this election,\" he said. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The skyrocketing prices of goods are the top priority for Greek voters, according to all polls ahead of this year&#039;s all-important European Parliament elections.<\/p>\n<p>Greece&#039;s average growth rate is more than 2%, one of the highest in the Eurozone, and the government is praised for its fiscal policies by all European institutions. However, the measures taken against inflation in the food category don&#039;t seem to have an impact for consumers.<\/p>\n<p>The Hellenic Statistical Authority has just reported that inflation in the food category stood at 5.3% in March, up from 3.1% in February.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Figures like this mean that while measures previously taken by the Greek government have been described as positive, their efficacy and impact is being questioned.<\/p>\n<p>Citizens are increasingly voicing their disappointment \u2013 and it is estimated that this will also be expressed at the ballot box.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">We have not seen anything until now. This time, we&apos;re going to punish them!<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__author_descriptionText\">\n Local farmer speaking to Euronews\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>People in local markets say they are disappointed. One man estimates that there has been a 30% increase in everyday goods prices, while a local farmer told Euronews that the high prices will affect the Greek government&#039;s election performance because they haven&#039;t done enough.<\/p>\n<p>\"We&#039;re going to punish them in this election,\" he said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712822543,"updatedAt":1713265747,"publishedAt":1712833378,"firstPublishedAt":1712833383,"lastPublishedAt":1713265287,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":"Local market in Athens, Greece","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Local market in Athens, Greece","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/63\/20\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a2ca3084-79a7-5220-a622-079734f6064a-8366320.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"dimitropoulos","twitter":null,"title":"George Dimitropoulos"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"cost-of-living","titleRaw":"cost of living","id":27352,"title":"cost of living","slug":"cost-of-living"},{"urlSafeValue":"european-elections-2024","titleRaw":"European elections 2024","id":29340,"title":"European elections 2024","slug":"european-elections-2024"},{"urlSafeValue":"greek-politics","titleRaw":"Greek politics","id":10531,"title":"Greek politics","slug":"greek-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"quotation"}],"related":[{"id":2521678}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8wncza","youtubeId":"6Yr77cEJHLg"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":133000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":17113304,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/04\/11\/en\/240411_E3SU_55268907_55274892_133000_175956_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":133000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":25411288,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/04\/11\/en\/240411_E3SU_55268907_55274892_133000_175956_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics','gs_politics_misc','gt_negative','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_elections'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/04\/11\/greek-voters-name-skyrocketing-prices-as-their-top-priority-ahead-of-eu-elections","lastModified":1713265287},{"id":2518642,"cid":8364520,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240410_NWBX_55261383","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GREECE MIGRATION BOAT","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Boat lost near Greek island leaves 3 dead, arrivals double compared to last year","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Migrant arrivals in Greece double from last year","titleListing2":"Boat lost near Greek island leaves 3 dead, arrivals double compared to last year","leadin":"Despite years of efforts to 'push back' boats crossing the Mediterranean from Africa, capsizings and drownings have continued.","summary":"Despite years of efforts to 'push back' boats crossing the Mediterranean from Africa, capsizings and drownings have continued.","keySentence":"","url":"seventeen-rescued-and-at-least-3-missing-after-boat-carrying-migrants-is-lost-near-greek-i","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/04\/10\/seventeen-rescued-and-at-least-3-missing-after-boat-carrying-migrants-is-lost-near-greek-i","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Rescuers on the eastern Greek island of Chios on Wednesday have recovered at least three bodies after a boat carrying migrants from nearby Turkey hit rocks, officials said. \n\nFourteen people, including eight children, were rescued by the coast guard off rugged coasts on the northeast of the island, some 20 kilometres from Turkey. Three men were later found on shore. \n\nCoastguard officials said three patrol vessels were looking for other possible survivors, while at least three bodies have been recovered. All three are reportedly minors. The boat has not been located. \n\nGreek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea are a common entry point into the European Union for migrants using Turkey-based smuggling networks in waters patrolled by the EU border protection agency Frontex. \n\nThe number of migrants heading towards Europe is increasing \u2013 and it is particularly the countries along the Mediterranean coast that are bearing a large part of the burden. \n\nMore than double the amount of migrants have arrived in Greece compared to the same timeframe last year. \n\n\"A place like ours cannot handle so many people. No matter how much Europe pays, it doesn't work,\" said Gavdos resident Manolis Bikkaki. \n\nLocal officials on his island claim nine million migrants are trying to make their way to Greece. Residents were told the number could rise to 20 million if conditions worsen. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Rescuers on the eastern Greek island of Chios on Wednesday have recovered at least three bodies after a boat carrying migrants from nearby Turkey hit rocks, officials said.<\/p>\n<p>Fourteen people, including eight children, were rescued by the coast guard off rugged coasts on the northeast of the island, some 20 kilometres from Turkey. Three men were later found on shore.<\/p>\n<p>Coastguard officials said three patrol vessels were looking for other possible survivors, while at least three bodies have been recovered. All three are reportedly minors. The boat has not been located.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8355224\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//04//06//lampedusa-overwhelmed-after-receiving-over-1000-migrants-in-a-day/">Lampedusa overwhelmed after receiving over 1000 migrants in a day<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Greek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea are a common entry point into the European Union for migrants using Turkey-based smuggling networks in waters patrolled by the EU border protection agency Frontex.<\/p>\n<p>The number of migrants heading towards Europe is increasing \u2013 and it is particularly the countries along the Mediterranean coast that are bearing a large part of the burden.<\/p>\n<p>More than double the amount of migrants have arrived in Greece compared to the same timeframe last year.<\/p>\n<p>\"A place like ours cannot handle so many people. No matter how much Europe pays, it doesn&#039;t work,\" said Gavdos resident Manolis Bikkaki.<\/p>\n<p>Local officials on his island claim nine million migrants are trying to make their way to Greece. Residents were told the number could rise to 20 million if conditions worsen.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712747132,"updatedAt":1712775945,"publishedAt":1712747561,"firstPublishedAt":1712747600,"lastPublishedAt":1712775945,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Santi Palacios","altText":"Frontex border agency officers patrol the Greek Mediterranean.","callToActionText":null,"width":5760,"caption":"Frontex border agency officers patrol the Greek Mediterranean.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/45\/20\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_61c4839e-bf64-5d5f-9431-3d967b74bce4-8364520.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":3242}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"migration","titleRaw":"migration","id":13450,"title":"migration","slug":"migration"},{"urlSafeValue":"mediterranean-sea","titleRaw":"Mediterranean Sea","id":13414,"title":"Mediterranean Sea","slug":"mediterranean-sea"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2512542},{"id":2519260}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8wm5w6","youtubeId":"EasOdEE6mbI"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":67200,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":8628012,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/BX\/24\/04\/10\/en\/240410_NWBX_55261383_55261525_67200_182005_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":67200,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":13099308,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/BX\/24\/04\/10\/en\/240410_NWBX_55261383_55261525_67200_182005_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_sensitive_high_med','gb_sensitive_high_med_low','gb_sensitive_news-ent','gb_safe_from_high','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_science','gs_science_geography','neg_bucherer','neg_mobkoi_castrol','eu_brussels_politics_eng','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet-brussels","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/04\/10\/seventeen-rescued-and-at-least-3-missing-after-boat-carrying-migrants-is-lost-near-greek-i","lastModified":1712775945},{"id":2518506,"cid":8364092,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240410_E3WB_55259896","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"VIEW GREEK MINISTER OCEANS","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"In Greece, renewable energy achievements are no hot air","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"In Greece, renewable energy achievements are no hot air","titleListing2":"Opinion | Wind will only get us partway to our objective. Ocean-based wind, solar, tidal, and carbon storage will all have to be on the table if we hope to meet our goal, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis writes.","leadin":"Wind will only get us partway to our objective. Time is running out: ocean-based wind, solar, tidal, and carbon storage will all have to be on the table if we hope to meet our goal, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis writes.","summary":"Wind will only get us partway to our objective. Time is running out: ocean-based wind, solar, tidal, and carbon storage will all have to be on the table if we hope to meet our goal, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis writes.","keySentence":"","url":"in-greece-renewable-energy-achievements-are-no-hot-air","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2024\/04\/10\/in-greece-renewable-energy-achievements-are-no-hot-air","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The blue economy\u2019s potential to drive global sustainable development will be front and centre this week when the Greek government hosts the ninth Our Ocean Conference here in Athens, against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. \n\nSince 2014, leading figures from government, business, civil society, and academia have been gathering at the annual event to take on some of the ocean\u2019s biggest challenges, like climate change, overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss. \n\nIn that time, the international community has mobilized 2,160 commitments worth over $130 billion (\u20ac119.7bn) and protected hundreds of thousands of square miles of ocean. \n\nBut building a sustainable blue economy is as much about creating good paying jobs for people on land as it is about conservation at sea. The latest economic data shows that on the whole, sustainable ocean-based investments yield benefits at least five times greater than the costs. \n\nLast year\u2019s meeting in Panama alone saw 341 new commitments for action worth an estimated $19.9bn (\u20ac18.3bn). This year we are calling on participants to bring even more ambitious announcements. \n\nGreece, for our part, will use the opportunity among other priorities and very important environmental commitments to also showcase the rapid progress we are making in offshore wind development, which holds enormous promise to accelerate our efforts to mitigate climate change, build energy security and create thousands of good paying jobs here and around the world. \n\nBreaking renewables records again and again \n\nPerhaps our most symbolic decarbonisation milestone came in October 2022 when renewable energy sources \u2014 wind, solar, and hydro \u2014 were able to meet 100% of the country\u2019s electricity demands for five consecutive hours.\u00a0 \n\nWe are looking forward to breaking the record again and again, as we maximize RES-produced energy in our diversified energy mix \u2013 comprising both \u201cbridge fuels\u201d and renewables. \n\nIt may sound insignificant, but at the time renewables only made up about half of our energy mix.\u00a0For short periods, onshore wind alone showed over 70% penetration into the electrical grid, illustrating the extent of Greece\u2019s wind resources. \n\nThe following year, the government announced a plan to dramatically improve this performance by partnering with the Greek energy company HERENA to install at least two gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030\u2013enough to power about 1.5 million households. \n\nThe first two licenses for Pilot Offshore Wind Farms have been awarded. We are now preparing to auction a second phase of pilot licenses and conduct a new round of measurements to prepare additional sites for potential investors. \n\nNot only will the plan help us cut emissions and meet our international obligations, it will also support some of our leading industries like shipbuilding and cable manufacturers. \n\nFully acknowledging and confident in the country\u2019s capabilities and potential, the government seeks to collect information from the pilot licensing of offshore wind farms, to test and further build the supply chain needed to support the project\u2019s next phases. \n\nIf not now, then when? \n\nWe all still have a long way to go for the world to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050\u00a0\u2014 our best chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, which today is by far the biggest threat to our ocean. \n\nBut, according to the IEA, global renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% to 510 gigawatts in 2023, the fastest expansion in the past two decades.\u00a0The Global Wind Energy Council forecasts that another 380 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity will be added in the next decade. \n\nOf course, accelerating the deployment of wind will only get us partway to our objective. Time is running out: ocean-based wind, solar, tidal, transport, conservation, and carbon storage will all have to be on the table if we hope to meet our goal. \n\nWhat better place to participate in this important global effort than the Our Ocean Conference surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean? If not here then where? If not now, then when? \n\nTheodoros Skylakakis is the Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece. \n\nAt Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The blue economy\u2019s potential to drive global sustainable development will be front and centre this week when the Greek government hosts the ninth Our Ocean Conference here in Athens, against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2014, leading figures from government, business, civil society, and academia have been gathering at the annual event to take on some of the ocean\u2019s biggest challenges, like climate change, overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss.<\/p>\n<p>In that time, the international community has mobilized 2,160 commitments worth over $130 billion (\u20ac119.7bn) and protected hundreds of thousands of square miles of ocean.<\/p>\n<p>But building a sustainable blue economy is as much about creating good paying jobs for people on land as it is about conservation at sea. The latest economic data shows that on the whole, sustainable ocean-based investments yield benefits at least five times greater than the costs.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8346600,8148534\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//04//02//commission-clears-1bn-greek-aid-for-renewables/">Commission clears \u20ac1bn Greek aid for renewables<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//01//03//greece-hailed-again-as-global-economic-country-of-the-year/">Greece hailed again as global economic 'country of the year'<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Last year\u2019s meeting in Panama alone saw 341 new commitments for action worth an estimated $19.9bn (\u20ac18.3bn). This year we are calling on participants to bring even more ambitious announcements.<\/p>\n<p>Greece, for our part, will use the opportunity among other priorities and very important environmental commitments to also showcase the rapid progress we are making in offshore wind development, which holds enormous promise to accelerate our efforts to mitigate climate change, build energy security and create thousands of good paying jobs here and around the world.<\/p>\n<h2>Breaking renewables records again and again<\/h2><p>Perhaps our most symbolic decarbonisation milestone came in October 2022 when renewable energy sources \u2014 wind, solar, and hydro \u2014 were able to meet 100% of the country\u2019s electricity demands for five consecutive hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We are looking forward to breaking the record again and again, as we maximize RES-produced energy in our diversified energy mix \u2013 comprising both \u201cbridge fuels\u201d and renewables.<\/p>\n<p>It may sound insignificant, but at the time renewables only made up about half of our energy mix.\u00a0For short periods, onshore wind alone showed over 70% penetration into the electrical grid, illustrating the extent of Greece\u2019s wind resources.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">We all still have a long way to go for the world to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050 \u2014 our best chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, which today is by far the biggest threat to our ocean.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//06//21//20//42//808x539_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg/" alt=\"A man walks next to solar panels at a photovoltaic park at the Aegean island of Chalki, November 2021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/384x256_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/640x427_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/750x500_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/828x552_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/1080x720_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/1200x800_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/06\/21\/20\/42\/1920x1281_cmsv2_a6a4056c-d0c0-57a4-9ceb-0493ab74e840-6212042.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A man walks next to solar panels at a photovoltaic park at the Aegean island of Chalki, November 2021<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Thanassis Stavrakis<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The following year, the government announced a plan to dramatically improve this performance by partnering with the Greek energy company HERENA to install at least two gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030\u2013enough to power about 1.5 million households.<\/p>\n<p>The first two licenses for Pilot Offshore Wind Farms have been awarded. We are now preparing to auction a second phase of pilot licenses and conduct a new round of measurements to prepare additional sites for potential investors.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8222328,8223878\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//02//07//european-godfathers-of-wind-jointly-win-the-nobel-prize-of-engineering/">European \u2018Godfathers of wind\u2019 jointly win the \u2018Nobel prize\u2019 of engineering<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//02//08//wind-energy-how-are-eu-countries-contributing-to-the-2030-targets/">Wind energy: How are EU countries contributing to the 2030 targets?<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Not only will the plan help us cut emissions and meet our international obligations, it will also support some of our leading industries like shipbuilding and cable manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p>Fully acknowledging and confident in the country\u2019s capabilities and potential, the government seeks to collect information from the pilot licensing of offshore wind farms, to test and further build the supply chain needed to support the project\u2019s next phases.<\/p>\n<h2>If not now, then when?<\/h2><p>We all still have a long way to go for the world to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050\u00a0\u2014 our best chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, which today is by far the biggest threat to our ocean.<\/p>\n<p>But, according to the IEA, global renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% to 510 gigawatts in 2023, the fastest expansion in the past two decades.\u00a0The Global Wind Energy Council forecasts that another 380 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity will be added in the next decade.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, accelerating the deployment of wind will only get us partway to our objective. Time is running out: ocean-based wind, solar, tidal, transport, conservation, and carbon storage will all have to be on the table if we hope to meet our goal.<\/p>\n<p>What better place to participate in this important global effort than the Our Ocean Conference surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean? If not here then where? If not now, then when?<\/p>\n<p><em>Theodoros Skylakakis is the Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at <a href=https://www.euronews.com/news/europe/\"mailto:view@euronews.com\">view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation.<\/em><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712738668,"updatedAt":1712745457,"publishedAt":1712741664,"firstPublishedAt":1712741666,"lastPublishedAt":1712745457,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Euronews","altText":"A road leads past a wind turbine stands on the Aegean island of Tilos, August 2018","callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"caption":"A road leads past a wind turbine stands on the Aegean island of Tilos, August 2018","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/40\/92\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4ee6aa22-8483-50c3-9f77-440c1d81d037-8364092.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":900},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petros Giannakouris","altText":"The red lights of wind turbines at the tiny island of Agios Georgios, near cape Sounio in the Saronic gulf, May 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"The red lights of wind turbines at the tiny island of Agios Georgios, near cape Sounio in the Saronic gulf, May 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/36\/40\/92\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9602b26e-bbf6-5c20-b2d9-c4cbfd2ba73f-8364092.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"green-energy","titleRaw":"green energy","id":28996,"title":"green energy","slug":"green-energy"},{"urlSafeValue":"ocean","titleRaw":"Ocean","id":7357,"title":"Ocean","slug":"ocean"},{"urlSafeValue":"climate-emergency","titleRaw":"Climate emergency","id":21982,"title":"Climate 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Greece Wildfires","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Wildfires torch Greek island of Crete weeks before official fire season starts","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Firefighters battled blaze on the southern Greek island of Crete","titleListing2":"Wildfires torch Greek island of Crete weeks before official fire season starts","leadin":"Following one of the warmest winters on record, Greece tackled its first blaze of the year, nearly a month before the onset of the traditional May fire season.","summary":"Following one of the warmest winters on record, Greece tackled its first blaze of the year, nearly a month before the onset of the traditional May fire season.","keySentence":"","url":"wildfires-torch-greek-island-of-crete-weeks-before-official-fire-season-starts","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/04\/08\/wildfires-torch-greek-island-of-crete-weeks-before-official-fire-season-starts","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Firefighters on the southern Greek island of Crete rushed to extinguish a blaze over the weekend while at least 70 other fires erupted across the country.\u00a0 \n\nThe Crete wildfire forced dozens to leave their homes in the eastern city of Mavros Kolymbos in Lasithi before it spread into the mountains. \n\nIt was brought under control on Sunday.\u00a0A suspected arsonist was arrested later that afternoon and will be brought before criminal prosecution on Monday, the fire department said.\u00a0 \n\nThe wildfires on Crete started one month before the official fire season was scheduled to kick off in the Mediterranean country, which over the recent years has been embattled by heatwaves, strong winds and dry conditions.\u00a0 \n\nEuropean Union officials blamed climate crises for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, with the Commission noting that 192,851 hectares were torched during the\u00a0 2023 \u00a0season.\u00a0 \n\nIn July destructive blazes set the popular Greek tourist islands of Rhodes and Corfu alight. But in August\u00a0the country endured\u00a0the largest single blaze ever recorded in EU history, with the fire near\u00a0Alexandroupolison on the border of Turkey leading to the deaths of 26 people and 94,000 hectares of burnt natural land.\u00a0 \n\nFollowing the massive fires and the floods in September, the EU provided Greece with \u20ac2.25 billion in financial support. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Firefighters on the southern Greek island of Crete rushed to extinguish a blaze over the weekend while at least 70 other fires erupted across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Crete wildfire forced dozens to leave their homes in the eastern city of Mavros Kolymbos in Lasithi before it spread into the mountains.<\/p>\n<p>It was brought under control on Sunday.\u00a0A suspected arsonist was arrested later that afternoon and will be brought before criminal prosecution on Monday, the fire department said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The wildfires on Crete started one month before the official fire season was scheduled to kick off in the Mediterranean country, which over the recent years has been embattled by heatwaves, strong winds and dry conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>European Union officials blamed climate crises for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, with the Commission noting that 192,851 hectares were torched during the\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu//jrc-news-and-updates//wildfires-mediterranean-effis-data-reveal-extent-summer-2023-09-08_en/">2023/u00a0season./u00a0/n

In July destructive blazes set the popular Greek tourist islands of Rhodes and Corfu alight. But in August\u00a0the country endured\u00a0the largest single blaze ever recorded in EU history, with the fire near\u00a0Alexandroupolison on the border of Turkey leading to the deaths of 26 <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//08//22//18-bodies-found-in-greek-forest-as-wildfires-ravage-north-of-the-country/">people and 94,000 hectares of burnt natural land.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Following the massive fires and the floods in September, the EU provided Greece with \u20ac2.25 billion in financial support.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712537419,"updatedAt":1712574184,"publishedAt":1712573845,"firstPublishedAt":1712573848,"lastPublishedAt":1712573848,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP","altText":"Citizens attempting to put out the weekend wildfire on the Greek island of Crete. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Citizens attempting to put out the weekend wildfire on the Greek island of Crete. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/80\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c28f129f-3399-5a59-8285-512500066c28-8358054.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"EBU","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":960,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/80\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da70bf45-4156-5912-8741-a4d691f156a2-8358058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":540}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"fires-in-greece","titleRaw":"Fires in Greece","id":7983,"title":"Fires in Greece","slug":"fires-in-greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"forest-fires","titleRaw":"Forest fires","id":7994,"title":"Forest fires","slug":"forest-fires"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2515746},{"id":2450200},{"id":2522540}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8wi5cc","youtubeId":"ndw2aj-PJTw"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":4909908,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/04\/08\/en\/240408_NWSU_55237914_55237939_35000_115112_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7331668,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/04\/08\/en\/240408_NWSU_55237914_55237939_35000_115112_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_science','gv_death_injury','gb_death_injury_edu','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','gs_science_geography','gt_negative','gs_busfin'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/04\/08\/wildfires-torch-greek-island-of-crete-weeks-before-official-fire-season-starts","lastModified":1712573848},{"id":2516022,"cid":8356540,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240407_NWSU_55234489","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY CONFERENCE","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12}],"status":2,"title":"European defence spending needs to speed up, says Von der Leyen","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"European defence spending needs to speed up, says Von der Leyen","titleListing2":"European defence spending needs to speed up, says Von der Leyen.","leadin":"Europe is being targeted both from within and from outside, Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday.","summary":"Europe is being targeted both from within and from outside, Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday.","keySentence":"","url":"european-defence-spending-needs-to-speed-up-says-von-der-leyen","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/04\/07\/european-defence-spending-needs-to-speed-up-says-von-der-leyen","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Speaking at the conference of Greece's ruling conservative party New Democracy, the EU Commission president, who is running for re-election this June, said that in the current environment there is no return to innocence and made the case for a common European defence. \n\n\"We need to speed up European defence spending collectively. But just as war is not a thing of the past in Europe, defence cooperation must be the mark of the future in Europe\". \n\nThe leadership of EPP being at the New Democracy conference in Athens was anything but circumstantial. Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is being praised as one of the most successful EPP leaders and as an example of how populists can be defeated. \n\nEU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said that Europe needs \"Kyriakos and Ursula and not Putin's friends\", whereas Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides thanked Greece, as without its support his country would not have been an EU member. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Speaking at the conference of Greece&#039;s ruling conservative party New Democracy, the EU Commission president, who is running for re-election this June, said that in the current environment there is no return to innocence and made the case for a common European defence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1776890182953738262\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"We need to speed up European defence spending collectively. But just as war is not a thing of the past in Europe, defence cooperation must be the mark of the future in Europe\".<\/p>\n<p>The leadership of EPP being at the New Democracy conference in Athens was anything but circumstantial. Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is being praised as one of the most successful EPP leaders and as an example of how populists can be defeated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1776950498584580596\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>EU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said that Europe needs \"Kyriakos and Ursula and not Putin&#039;s friends\", whereas Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides thanked Greece, as without its support his country would not have been an EU member.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712480890,"updatedAt":1712562466,"publishedAt":1712501005,"firstPublishedAt":1712501014,"lastPublishedAt":1712562466,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"\u0393\u0399\u0391\u039d\u039d\u0397\u03a3 \u039a\u039f\u039b\u0395\u03a3\u0399\u0394\u0397\u03a3\/ 2024 \u0391\u0398\u0397\u039d\u0391\u0399\u039a\u039f-\u039c\u0391\u039a\u0395\u0394\u039f\u039d\u0399\u039a\u039f \u03a0\u03a1\u0391\u039a\u03a4\u039f\u03a1\u0395\u0399\u039f \u0395\u0399\u0394\u0397\u03a3\u0395\u03a9\u039d","altText":"Ursula von der Leyen with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at conference in Athens","callToActionText":null,"width":5760,"caption":"Ursula von der Leyen with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at conference in Athens","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/65\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e8bacffa-387c-5f7f-a35d-50e1f5f0c9f8-8356548.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":3840}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"nd-congress","titleRaw":"ND CONGRESS","id":26918,"title":"ND CONGRESS","slug":"nd-congress"},{"urlSafeValue":"kyriakos-mitsotakis","titleRaw":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","id":12446,"title":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","slug":"kyriakos-mitsotakis"},{"urlSafeValue":"ursula-von-der-leyen","titleRaw":"Ursula von der Leyen","id":18906,"title":"Ursula von der Leyen","slug":"ursula-von-der-leyen"},{"urlSafeValue":"nikos-christodoulides","titleRaw":"Nikos Christodoulides","id":14260,"title":"Nikos Christodoulides","slug":"nikos-christodoulides"},{"urlSafeValue":"european-elections-2024","titleRaw":"European elections 2024","id":29340,"title":"European 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_greek','gs_health','gt_negative','gs_sport','gs_politics_elections'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/04\/07\/european-defence-spending-needs-to-speed-up-says-von-der-leyen","lastModified":1712562466},{"id":2507542,"cid":8330454,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240403_RBSU_55139974","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"RB-09-Three years of RRF - MASTER","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"What\u2019s the impact of Europe\u2019s RRF fund on the Greek economy?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"What\u2019s the impact of Europe\u2019s RRF fund on the Greek economy?","leadin":"Is the European Recovery and Resilience Facility on track to deliver on its promises three years after its launch? Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret travels to Greece for Real Economy to find out.","summary":"Is the European Recovery and Resilience Facility on track to deliver on its promises three years after its launch? Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret travels to Greece for Real Economy to find out.","keySentence":"","url":"whats-the-impact-of-europes-rrf-fund-on-the-greek-economy","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/04\/03\/whats-the-impact-of-europes-rrf-fund-on-the-greek-economy","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Managing the climate crisis is one of the major aspects of the European recovery plan for Greece. \n\nA prolonged spell of\u00a0 drought and heat waves \u00a0in 2023 fuelled one of the worst forest fire seasons the country has ever experienced; the Alexandroupolis and Evros wildfire, which broke out on 19 August razed more than 81,000 hectares alone,\u00a0170,000 hectares of land were destroyed across Greece in total. \n\nThe Megara Forest, some 60 kilometres northwest of Athens was also hard hit. \n\n\"In the last five years, large fires have occurred in the Megara Forest, destroying woodlands, forests, houses, businesses and livestock,\"\u00a0Jasmine Georgiou, a forester with a masters in Waste Management, told Euronews. \n\nThe Greek AntiNero programme was created to tackle 'mega-fires' by cleaning and maintaining forests, planting slow-burning trees and creating different fire prevention zones. \n\nGeorgiou explained that clearing highly flammable scrub and forest debris is necessary to prevent fires from spreading out of control, especially during the summer season. \n\nHowever public initiatives like these require significant investment to cover the costs of contractors, staff and essential equipment. \n\n\"The project's budget is beyond \u20ac400 million, this is the largest ever intervention undertaken to tackle this issue in our country, thanks to the resources secured by the Recovery and Resilience Fund,\" said Giouli Vourna, a project manager for the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund . \n\nMeasures financed by the RRF are established according to the priorities of each country. Greece has access to \u20ac35.9 billion, distributed in grants and loans which will also cover the modernisation of public infrastructure, including healthcare centres. \n\nThe road to better health care \n\nThe Metaxa Cancer Hospital in Athens is the largest oncology hospital in the Balkans.\u00a0Director Sarandos Efstathopoulos gave Euronews a tour of the complex which hadn't been renovated since its construction in the 1960s. \n\n\"We have renovated all patient rooms, all facilities and toilets, we have added the consoles for the supply of oxygen and a very important call accessory for the nursing staff.\u00a0Also, a complete reconstruction of the sixth floor and the Emergency Department will follow,\"\u00a0Efstathopoulos explained. \n\n\"This project cost about \u20ac1 million. Definitely, RRF helped a lot by quickly completing these works that are taking place in the more than 80 hospitals as part of the\u00a0programme, so that the Greek people can access quality medical services,\" said\u00a0Evangelos Manolis, another project manager for the Hellenic Republic Development Asset Fund. \n\nAccording to the Greek recovery plan, 38 per cent of funds will be devoted to climate objectives, 22 per cent to digitalisation and 18 per cent to social projects. \n\nHowever, Phoebe Koundouri, a professor at Athens University of Economics and Business and chair of the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub ,\u00a0told Euronews that the creation of a favourable fiscal space, more time, and significant reforms are needed if the Greek RRF is to achieve its objectives. \n\n\"We've managed to get almost 50 per cent of prepayments and have one-third of the money absorbed into investment. It's an unprecedented absorption rate for Greece. But of course, we definitely need more time for this fiscal space to actually transpose itself into implementable projects. So you need the public sector to really become productive,\" she warned. \n\nBright outlook for the years ahead \n\nAfter a difficult decade,\u00a0 Nikos Papathanasis , Greece's Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance expects the Greek economy to grow 2.9 per cent in 2024 - slightly higher than the European Commission's prediction of 2.3 per cent for 2024 and 2025.\u00a0 \n\nAccording to\u00a0Papathanasis, who is also in charge of the RRF funds for Greece, the average growth rate in Europe for 2024 will be 0.8 per cent.\u00a0 \n\n\"We expect the RRF to contribute, along with the other European funds, to more than 60 per cent of the growth that we're expecting for 2024...\u00a0the reforms make our economy more interesting for investments and of course, the investments assist in creating new jobs. And we've reduced unemployment in the last four years from 17.5 per cent to less than 10 per cent.\" \n\nMoving forward,\u00a0Papathanasis insisted that the upgrading of healthcare facilities will remain a top priority and that checks are in place to ensure the money is well spent.\u00a0 \n\n\"There's national and European auditing, we undergo continuous examination. So, that is the way we ensure that the money goes in the right way.\" \n\nFinally, Papathanasis added,\u00a0\"RRF is performance-based, it's not a matter of how much money you spend, but on achieving the reforms and hitting those milestones. So it is difficult, but it's more effective. And I think reforms along with investments are more useful for society than projects alone\". \n\nFor Greece, strategic investments and wise management are opportunities to continue on a positive trajectory and transform a decade of hardship into prosperity. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Managing the climate crisis is one of the major aspects of the <strong><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////commission.europa.eu//business-economy-euro//economic-recovery//recovery-and-resilience-facility_en/">European recovery plan<\/a><\/strong> for Greece.<\/p>\n<p>A prolonged spell of\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//09//18//greek-pm-says-country-is-fighting-a-war-on-climate-change-after-summer-of-fires-and-floodi/">drought and heat waves<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in 2023 fuelled one of the worst forest fire seasons the country has ever experienced; the Alexandroupolis and Evros wildfire, which broke out on 19 August razed more than 81,000 hectares alone,\u00a0170,000 hectares of land were destroyed across Greece in total.<\/p>\n<p>The Megara Forest, some 60 kilometres northwest of Athens was also hard hit.<\/p>\n<p>\"In the last five years, large fires have occurred in the Megara Forest, destroying woodlands, forests, houses, businesses and livestock,\"\u00a0Jasmine Georgiou, a forester with a masters in Waste Management, told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////greece20-gov-gr.translate.goog//se-exelixi-to-programma-prostasias-dason-antinero//?_x_tr_sl=el&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=sc\%22>Greek AntiNero programme<\/strong><\/a> was created to tackle &#039;mega-fires&#039; by cleaning and maintaining forests, planting slow-burning trees and creating different fire prevention zones.<\/p>\n<p>Georgiou explained that clearing highly flammable scrub and forest debris is necessary to prevent fires from spreading out of control, especially during the summer season.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//33//04//56//808x454_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg/" alt=\"Creating fire breaks helps to contain the spread of the wildfires\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/384x216_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/640x360_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/750x422_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/828x466_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1080x608_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1200x675_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1920x1080_cmsv2_df3aed6c-1a9f-5e2b-99ae-e8c05a21ef71-8330456.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Creating fire breaks helps to contain the spread of the wildfires<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However public initiatives like these require significant investment to cover the costs of contractors, staff and essential equipment.<\/p>\n<p>\"The project&#039;s budget is beyond \u20ac400 million, this is the largest ever intervention undertaken to tackle this issue in our country, thanks to the resources secured by the Recovery and Resilience Fund,\" said Giouli Vourna, a project manager for the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////hradf.com//en//home///">Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Measures financed by the RRF are established according to the priorities of each country. Greece has access to \u20ac35.9 billion, distributed in grants and loans which will also cover the modernisation of public infrastructure, including healthcare centres.<\/p>\n<div data-oembed-url=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/real-economy-rrf-1h9j6q7g7m8v54g?live\" class=\"widget widget--type-infogram widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"ad9eb2df-797f-4b84-9827-d6f49c60cb5f\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Real Economy - RRF\"><\/div><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script> \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3>The road to better health care<\/h3><p>The <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.metaxa-hospital.gr//departments//iatriki-dieuthinsi//xeirourgikos-tomeas//monada-mastou///">Metaxa Cancer Hospital<\/strong><\/a> in Athens is the largest oncology hospital in the Balkans.\u00a0Director Sarandos Efstathopoulos gave Euronews a tour of the complex which hadn&#039;t been renovated since its construction in the 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>\"We have renovated all patient rooms, all facilities and toilets, we have added the consoles for the supply of oxygen and a very important call accessory for the nursing staff.\u00a0Also, a complete reconstruction of the sixth floor and the Emergency Department will follow,\"\u00a0Efstathopoulos explained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//33//04//56//808x454_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg/" alt=\"Director Sarandos Efstathopoulos showcasing the new facilites at Metaxa Cancer Hospital\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/384x216_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/640x360_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/750x422_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/828x466_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1080x608_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1200x675_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/1920x1080_cmsv2_d4d411ad-d00a-5b51-8994-afb6910921dd-8330456.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Director Sarandos Efstathopoulos showcasing the new facilites at Metaxa Cancer Hospital<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"This project cost about \u20ac1 million. Definitely, RRF helped a lot by quickly completing these works that are taking place in the more than 80 hospitals as part of the\u00a0programme, so that the Greek people can access quality medical services,\" said\u00a0Evangelos Manolis, another project manager for the Hellenic Republic Development Asset Fund.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Greek recovery plan, 38 per cent of funds will be devoted to climate objectives, 22 per cent to digitalisation and 18 per cent to social projects.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8162302,8346600\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//04//02//commission-clears-1bn-greek-aid-for-renewables/">Commission clears \u20ac1bn Greek aid for renewables<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//01//11//take-a-look-inside-the-newly-reopened-ancient-greek-palace-where-alexander-the-great-was-c/">Take a look inside the newly reopened Ancient Greek palace where Alexander the Great was crowned <\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, Phoebe Koundouri, a professor at <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.aueb.gr//en/">Athens University of Economics and Business<\/strong><\/a> and chair of the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////unsdsn.globalclimatehub.org///">UN SDSN Global Climate Hub<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0told Euronews that the creation of a favourable fiscal space, more time, and significant reforms are needed if the Greek RRF is to achieve its objectives.<\/p>\n<p>\"We&#039;ve managed to get almost 50 per cent of prepayments and have one-third of the money absorbed into investment. It&#039;s an unprecedented absorption rate for Greece. But of course, we definitely need more time for this fiscal space to actually transpose itself into implementable projects. So you need the public sector to really become productive,\" she warned.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//33//04//54//808x454_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg/" alt=\"Aerial view of Athens\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/384x216_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/640x360_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/750x422_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/828x466_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1080x608_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1200x675_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1920x1080_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Aerial view of Athens<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3>Bright outlook for the years ahead<\/h3><p>After a difficult decade,\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////minfin.gov.gr//en//organisation//political-leadership//alternate-minister-of-finance///">Nikos Papathanasis<\/strong><\/a>, Greece&#039;s Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance expects the Greek economy to grow 2.9 per cent in 2024 - slightly higher than the European Commission&#039;s prediction of 2.3 per cent for 2024 and 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to\u00a0Papathanasis, who is also in charge of the RRF funds for Greece, the average growth rate in Europe for 2024 will be 0.8 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"We expect the RRF to contribute, along with the other European funds, to more than 60 per cent of the growth that we&#039;re expecting for 2024...\u00a0the reforms make our economy more interesting for investments and of course, the investments assist in creating new jobs. And we&#039;ve reduced unemployment in the last four years from 17.5 per cent to less than 10 per cent.\"<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward,\u00a0Papathanasis insisted that the upgrading of healthcare facilities will remain a top priority and that checks are in place to ensure the money is well spent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//33//04//54//808x454_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg/" alt=\"Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret and Nikos Papathanasis, Greece&apos;s Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/384x216_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/640x360_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/750x422_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/828x466_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1080x608_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1200x675_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/1920x1080_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret and Nikos Papathanasis, Greece&apos;s Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"There&#039;s national and European auditing, we undergo continuous examination. So, that is the way we ensure that the money goes in the right way.\"<\/p>\n<p>Finally, Papathanasis added,\u00a0\"RRF is performance-based, it&#039;s not a matter of how much money you spend, but on achieving the reforms and hitting those milestones. So it is difficult, but it&#039;s more effective. And I think reforms along with investments are more useful for society than projects alone\".<\/p>\n<p>For Greece, strategic investments and wise management are opportunities to continue on a positive trajectory and transform a decade of hardship into prosperity.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1711446970,"updatedAt":1712155555,"publishedAt":1712154658,"firstPublishedAt":1712144240,"lastPublishedAt":1712154716,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4739cc56-c35f-5e0f-be5d-fa7c54eafd0b-8330456.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews ","altText":"Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret and Nikos Papathanasis, Greece's Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Euronews reporter Fanny Gauret and Nikos Papathanasis, Greece's Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Finance","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4f6ce2a1-b567-545b-bb54-65c61b0bb3b9-8330454.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews ","altText":"Aeriel shot of Athens","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Aeriel shot of Athens","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/33\/04\/54\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1e535542-3c22-53b6-a125-9c692de44c20-8330454.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[{"urlSafeValue":"gauret","twitter":null,"title":"Fanny Gauret"}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"european-economy","titleRaw":"European economy","id":10689,"title":"European 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: Fanny Gauret Crash Course Author : Paul Hackett Video editor: Nicolas Coquet Production: Louise Lehec Cameraman : Mathieu Rocher \/ Georgiou Babis Motion Design: NEWIC\u202f\u202fhttps:\/\/www.agence-newic.com\/","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"realeconomy","urlSafeValue":"realeconomy","title":"Real Economy","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business-series\/realeconomy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":11,"title":"Business","slug":"business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"business-series","id":"business-series","title":"Business Series","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":76,"urlSafeValue":"business-series","title":"Business 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GREEK ISLANDS TURKISH VISA CHANGES","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Greek islands set to welcome Turkish visitors for the first time under new visa scheme ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Greece is offering visas to Turkish tourists - here\u2019s why ","titleListing2":"Greek islands set to welcome Turkish visitors for the first time under new visa scheme ","leadin":"Could the opening up of travel to Greek islands for Turkish citizens be the first step towards solving the \u2018Cyprus problem\u2019?","summary":"Could the opening up of travel to Greek islands for Turkish citizens be the first step towards solving the \u2018Cyprus problem\u2019?","keySentence":"","url":"greek-islands-set-to-welcome-turkish-visitors-for-the-first-time-under-new-visa-scheme","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2024\/04\/02\/greek-islands-set-to-welcome-turkish-visitors-for-the-first-time-under-new-visa-scheme","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Turkish travellers will now be able to visit ten Greek islands under a new scheme announced this week. \n\n\nOfficials 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. \n\nThe limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit the Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the EU\u2019s passport-free travel zone, also known as the Schengen area. \n\nNATO members Greece and Turkey launched several initiatives last year to try to sidestep decades-old disputes - mostly over sea boundaries, mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and the ownership of Cyprus. The renewed focus on trade is positive for tourism too. \n\nWhich Greek islands are included in the express visa scheme and how much does it cost? \n\nIn December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to sign a series of bilateral cooperation agreements in Athens. \n\nMitsotakis is set to visit Turkey next month. Ahead of that meeting, he took to social media, writing: \u201cthe express visa can be issued not only in summer, but all year round. The measure is designed to boost tourism in areas and at times of the year when there is not a lot of traffic, so it will help the local economies.\u201d \n\nThe islands in the visa programme all lie near the Turkish coastline. They include Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi and Kastellorizo, with smaller islands due to join the scheme in June. \n\nGranted at participating Greek ports, the new visa will cost \u20ac60 per traveller and will include a passport check and fingerprint recording. \n\nGreek officials have made it clear that visitors to the islands will not be permitted to travel onto other EU member states without the correct paperwork. \n\nTurkey has long sought more relaxed travel rules for its citizens visiting the EU in exchange for its cooperation with member states, including efforts to curb illegal immigration. \n\nTourism is a vital industry for the Greek economy. It welcomed 32.7 million visitors last year alone, which raised \u20ac20.5 billion, according to central bank data. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Turkish travellers will now be able to visit ten Greek islands under a new scheme announced this week. <\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit the Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the EU\u2019s passport-free travel zone, also known as the Schengen area.<\/p>\n<p>NATO members Greece and Turkey launched several initiatives last year to try to sidestep decades-old disputes - mostly over sea boundaries, mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and the ownership of Cyprus. The renewed focus on trade is positive for tourism too.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7201194,7703218\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//06//23//overtourism-at-the-acropolis-how-is-greece-handling-booming-visitors-numbers/">Overtourism at the Acropolis: How is Greece handling booming visitor numbers? <\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2022//11//19//not-only-islands-greece-asks-tourists-to-explore-beyond-the-islands-to-prevent-overtourism/">'Not only islands': Greece asks tourists to explore beyond the islands to prevent overtourism<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Which Greek islands are included in the express visa scheme and how much does it cost?<\/h2><p>In December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//07//turkeys-president-erdogan-meets-with-greeces-pm-mitsotakis-in-athens-visit/">visited Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to sign a series of bilateral cooperation agreements in Athens.<\/p>\n<p>Mitsotakis is set to visit Turkey next month. Ahead of that meeting, he took to social media, writing: \u201cthe express visa can be issued not only in summer, but all year round. The measure is designed to boost tourism in areas and at times of the year when there is not a lot of traffic, so it will help the local economies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The islands in the visa programme all lie near the Turkish coastline. They include Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi and Kastellorizo, with smaller islands due to join the scheme in June.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1.25\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//34//62//10//808x1010_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg/" alt=\"The island of Symi, near Rhodes, will also be part of the scheme\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/384x480_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/640x800_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/750x938_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/828x1035_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/1080x1350_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/1200x1500_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/1920x2400_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The island of Symi, near Rhodes, will also be part of the scheme<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Ben Morris via Unsplash<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Granted at participating Greek ports, the new visa will cost \u20ac60 per traveller and will include a passport check and fingerprint recording.<\/p>\n<p>Greek officials have made it clear that visitors to the islands will not be permitted to travel onto other EU member states without the correct paperwork.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has long sought more relaxed travel rules for its citizens visiting the EU in exchange for its cooperation with member states, including efforts to curb illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Tourism is a vital industry for the Greek economy. It welcomed 32.7 million visitors last year alone, which raised \u20ac20.5 billion, according to central bank data.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712062653,"updatedAt":1712070083,"publishedAt":1712070058,"firstPublishedAt":1712067912,"lastPublishedAt":1712070083,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Antonio Magr\u00ec via Unsplash","altText":"Rhodes, pictured here, will be the home of the visa office for Turkish tourists","callToActionText":null,"width":1200,"caption":"Rhodes, pictured here, will be the home of the visa office for Turkish tourists","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3da98199-731d-5a4d-94f9-5613551bb3af-8346210.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":800},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ben Morris via Unsplash","altText":"The island of Symi, near Rhodes, will also be part of the scheme ","callToActionText":null,"width":960,"caption":"The island of Symi, near Rhodes, will also be part of the scheme ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/34\/62\/10\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_15753ea7-188d-5c08-982c-a740a2d54ab3-8346210.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1200}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"odonoghue","twitter":null,"title":"Saskia O'Donoghue"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"turkey","titleRaw":"Turkiye (Turkey)","id":284,"title":"Turkiye (Turkey)","slug":"turkey"},{"urlSafeValue":"greek-turkish-relations","titleRaw":"Greek-Turkish relations","id":14132,"title":"Greek-Turkish relations","slug":"greek-turkish-relations"},{"urlSafeValue":"travel-visa","titleRaw":"Travel visa","id":15254,"title":"Travel visa","slug":"travel-visa"},{"urlSafeValue":"visa","titleRaw":"visa","id":18848,"title":"visa","slug":"visa"},{"urlSafeValue":"cyprus","titleRaw":"Cyprus","id":66,"title":"Cyprus","slug":"cyprus"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2429850},{"id":2430656},{"id":1995572}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"travel"}],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news\/travel-news"},"vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel","id":7,"title":"Travel","slug":"travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"travel-news","id":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":21,"urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc','gs_travel','gs_travel_holidays','gs_science_geography','gs_science','neg_bucherer','gt_positive','neg_mobkoi_castrol','gs_tech_compute','eu_brussels_politics_eng'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/travel\/2024\/04\/02\/greek-islands-set-to-welcome-turkish-visitors-for-the-first-time-under-new-visa-scheme","lastModified":1712070083},{"id":2499082,"cid":8304582,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240318_GCSU_55043533","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"'What we have achieved in Europe is unique in history,' says Greek PM","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"'What we have achieved in Europe is unique in history,' says Greek PM","titleListing2":"'What we have achieved in Europe is unique in history,' says Greek PM","leadin":"Euronews asks Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, what's at stake in the upcoming European elections.","summary":"Euronews asks Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, what's at stake in the upcoming European elections.","keySentence":"","url":"what-we-have-achieved-in-europe-is-unique-in-history-says-greek-pm","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/03\/18\/what-we-have-achieved-in-europe-is-unique-in-history-says-greek-pm","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The EU elections will take place in June, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and the ensuing energy crisis sent member states scrambling for supply diversification. \n\nConsequently, major changes are expected to be made to the policies governing defence, health, the climate and energy over the next five years. \n\nIn this episode of the Global Conversation ,\u00a0Euronews' Nikoleta Drougka sits down with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, to find out what the EU elections will mean for Europe. \n\nTo watch the interview\u00a0click on the video in the media player above or read in full below. \n\nNikoleta Drougka, Euronews: Prime Minister, thank you for having us. The European elections are less than three months away. What are the biggest challenges for Europe, in your opinion, and what are the stakes for this election? \n\nKyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece : I think these are particularly important elections for Europe as a whole, given the broader economic and geopolitical context. They're taking place in a very turbulent period with a war raging on our eastern flank, with a substantial humanitarian crisis unravelling in Gaza , as Europe is exiting from a very, very difficult five years. \n\nI think it is also an opportunity for us to take stock of what we have achieved during the last European electoral cycle and to highlight the significant successes of the European Union.\u00a0 \n\nThrough the cooperation of all the institutions, we've been able to defend ourselves successfully against COVID-19. We set up the NextGeneration EU , which for countries such as Greece, has a particular importance in terms of helping us boost our growth and also facilitate the green and digital transition. \n\nNikoleta Drougka, Euronews: How concerned are you with louder and louder voices that are against Europe, anti-European voices? \n\nKyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece: I think there will always be voices that challenge the successes of Europe and indeed some of the, I would say, complaints may be justified. But at the end of the day, if one looks at the overall picture, I remain firmly committed that the future of the European Union is bright and that Europe has been able to deliver for its citizens. \n\nAnd that is why we need to make the case regarding what we have achieved, but also what we need to achieve going forward. Because as you look at the next electoral cycle and the big issues that we have ahead of us, the ones that I would personally highlight are three. First of all, the need to turn strategic autonomy from a slogan into a real and effective policy. \n\nLook at defence, for example. We not only need to spend more on defence, but we need to coordinate our defence spending. The second challenge has to do with overall European competitiveness. How we can ensure that Europe remains competitive vis-a-vis China, the US and the Global South? This will mean better jobs and better-paying jobs for European citizens. \n\nThe third challenge is to be more specific and more sectoral. It has to do with agriculture and our farmers at a time when food security is very high on our agenda. We need to understand that some of the steps that we took over the past five years regarding the green transition have put much more pressure than maybe we even anticipated on our farmers and that we need to make sure that the green transition is executed at a speed that does not significantly impact the income of our farmers. \n\nNikoleta Drougka, Euronews : Would you say that maybe sometimes the biggest enemy of the EU is the EU itself? \n\nKyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece : Look, there are 27 of us, and I'm talking about the European Council, which gathers numerous times a year in a room and we all need to agree by unanimity. This is a process that inevitably has to take time, and which also involves compromises and occasionally necessitates taking a step back to achieve the common European good. \n\nThat is the nature of the European Union. At the same time as we are contemplating European enlargement, we also need to look at ways of making our decision-making more effective. That is also going to be a complicated exercise because any change will again require unanimity and the agreement of all Member States. One needs to recognise that what we have achieved in Europe is unique in the history of the world. \n\nWe have voluntarily given powers to a supranational entity and we need to make this proper balance, between decision-making at the European and national level, work every day. But again, this is, in quotes, the \"price\" that we have to pay for us to also reap the benefits of participating in the European Union. \n\nNikoleta Drougka, Euronews: \u00a0You mentioned something about Europe's defence autonomy, as a challenge ahead. Would you also say that it should be the top priority, perhaps, of the next Commission and Parliament? \n\nKyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece : Defence is existential as we realised after the war in Ukraine and maybe some countries believed that the peace dividend that occurred after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the fall of the Soviet Union would last forever. \n\nBut that has proven to be a fallacy. We were never in that position because we always spent a significant amount on defence because of particular regional geopolitical challenges. But now we understand that we all need to step up to the plate and spend more, but also spend smarter, be more coordinated, streamline our defence procurement, and have maybe more European champions that can offer advanced defence solutions at a more competitive level than is currently the case. \n\nNikoleta Drougka,\u00a0Euronews: \u00a0Prime Minister, previously we have seen some EU Member States - Greece is not among them - struggle to convince their citizens to go and participate in the European elections. Why would you say, is it important for people to go out and vote? \n\nKyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece: \u00a0Because what happens in Brussels and because who represents us at the European Parliament matters.\u00a0The decisions that are taken in Brussels and Strasbourg are very important for our everyday lives, and we need to send qualified people to the European Parliament. \n\nAt the end of the day, the European elections are about the European Parliament - to ensure that the Parliament will be comprised of representative European citizens and will bridge this gap between decision-making in Brussels and what the European people really want. \n\nThe European Parliament is the most democratic of all our institutions and that is why participating in the European elections is important. We are a staunch pro-European party, so you wouldn't expect me to say anything else. And of course, we are doing our best to mobilise people and to ensure that what traditionally is a low turnout election is going to maybe defy the trend and have increased participation. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////elections.europa.eu//en///">EU elections<\/strong><\/a> will take place in June, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Russia&#039;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and the ensuing energy crisis sent member states scrambling for supply diversification.<\/p>\n<p>Consequently, major changes are expected to be made to the policies governing defence, health, the climate and energy over the next five years.<\/p>\n<p>In this episode of the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//programs//globalconversation/">Global Conversation<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Euronews&#039; Nikoleta Drougka sits down with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, to find out what the EU elections will mean for Europe.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>To watch the interview\u00a0click on the video in the media player above or read in full below.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8310190,8308788\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//03//15//imf-emerging-european-economies-need-high-interest-rates-for-longer/">IMF: Emerging European economies need high interest rates for longer<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//03//15//go-fcking-home-the-european-cities-where-locals-are-fighting-back-against-overtourism/">/u2018Go f*cking home\u2019: The European cities where locals are fighting back against overtourism<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Nikoleta Drougka, Euronews:<\/strong> Prime Minister, thank you for having us. The European elections are less than three months away. What are the biggest challenges for Europe, in your opinion, and what are the stakes for this election?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece<\/strong>: I think these are particularly important elections for Europe as a whole, given the broader economic and geopolitical context. They&#039;re taking place in a very turbulent period with a <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//tag//war-in-ukraine/">war raging on our eastern flank, with a substantial humanitarian crisis unravelling in <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//tag//israel-hamas-war/">Gaza, as Europe is exiting from a very, very difficult five years.<\/p>\n<p>I think it is also an opportunity for us to take stock of what we have achieved during the last European electoral cycle and to highlight the significant successes of the European Union.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Through the cooperation of all the institutions, we&#039;ve been able to defend ourselves successfully against COVID-19. We set up the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////next-generation-eu.europa.eu//index_en/">NextGeneration EU<\/strong><\/a>, which for countries such as Greece, has a particular importance in terms of helping us boost our growth and also facilitate the green and digital transition.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">We&apos;ve remained, against all odds, or the predictions of some of our enemies, united when it comes to Ukraine. And now we need to set our sights on the next cycle and make sure that we are fit for purpose to address the new upcoming challenges.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__authorText\">\n Kyriakos Mitsotakis\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"widget__author_descriptionText\">\n Prime Minister of Greece\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Nikoleta Drougka, Euronews:<\/strong> How concerned are you with louder and louder voices that are against Europe, anti-European voices?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece:<\/strong> I think there will always be voices that challenge the successes of Europe and indeed some of the, I would say, complaints may be justified. But at the end of the day, if one looks at the overall picture, I remain firmly committed that the future of the European Union is bright and that Europe has been able to deliver for its citizens.<\/p>\n<p>And that is why we need to make the case regarding what we have achieved, but also what we need to achieve going forward. Because as you look at the next electoral cycle and the big issues that we have ahead of us, the ones that I would personally highlight are three. First of all, the need to turn strategic autonomy from a slogan into a real and effective policy.<\/p>\n<p>Look at defence, for example. We not only need to spend more on defence, but we need to coordinate our defence spending. The second challenge has to do with overall European competitiveness. How we can ensure that Europe remains competitive vis-a-vis China, the US and the Global South? This will mean better jobs and better-paying jobs for European citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The third challenge is to be more specific and more sectoral. It has to do with agriculture and our farmers at a time when food security is very high on our agenda. We need to understand that some of the steps that we took over the past five years regarding the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//tag//energy-transition/">green transition<\/strong><\/a> have put much more pressure than maybe we even anticipated on our farmers and that we need to make sure that the green transition is executed at a speed that does not significantly impact the income of our farmers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nikoleta Drougka, Euronews<\/strong>: Would you say that maybe sometimes the biggest enemy of the EU is the EU itself?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece<\/strong>: Look, there are 27 of us, and I&#039;m talking about the European Council, which gathers numerous times a year in a room and we all need to agree by unanimity. This is a process that inevitably has to take time, and which also involves compromises and occasionally necessitates taking a step back to achieve the common European good.<\/p>\n<p>That is the nature of the European Union. At the same time as we are contemplating European enlargement, we also need to look at ways of making our decision-making more effective. That is also going to be a complicated exercise because any change will again require unanimity and the agreement of all Member States. One needs to recognise that what we have achieved in Europe is unique in the history of the world.<\/p>\n<p>We have voluntarily given powers to a supranational entity and we need to make this proper balance, between decision-making at the European and national level, work every day. But again, this is, in quotes, the \"price\" that we have to pay for us to also reap the benefits of participating in the European Union.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8269516,8177904\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//01//24//what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-european-green-deal/">What does the future hold for the European Green Deal?<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//03//08//investing-in-women-and-girls-is-gender-parity-the-key-to-economic-prosperity/">Investing in women and girls: Is gender parity the key to economic prosperity? <\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Nikoleta Drougka, Euronews:<\/strong>\u00a0You mentioned something about Europe&#039;s defence autonomy, as a challenge ahead. Would you also say that it should be the top priority, perhaps, of the next Commission and Parliament?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece<\/strong>: Defence is existential as we realised after the war in Ukraine and maybe some countries believed that the peace dividend that occurred after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the fall of the Soviet Union would last forever.<\/p>\n<p>But that has proven to be a fallacy. We were never in that position because we always spent a significant amount on defence because of particular regional geopolitical challenges. But now we understand that we all need to step up to the plate and spend more, but also spend smarter, be more coordinated, streamline our defence procurement, and have maybe more European champions that can offer advanced defence solutions at a more competitive level than is currently the case.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nikoleta Drougka,\u00a0Euronews:<\/strong>\u00a0Prime Minister, previously we have seen some EU Member States - Greece is not among them - struggle to convince their citizens to go and participate in the European elections. Why would you say, is it important for people to go out and vote?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyriakos Mitsotakis,\u00a0Prime Minister of Greece:<\/strong>\u00a0Because what happens in Brussels and because who represents us at the European Parliament matters.\u00a0The decisions that are taken in Brussels and Strasbourg are very important for our everyday lives, and we need to send qualified people to the European Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, the European elections are about the European Parliament - to ensure that the Parliament will be comprised of representative European citizens and will bridge this gap between decision-making in Brussels and what the European people really want.<\/p>\n<p>The European Parliament is the most democratic of all our institutions and that is why participating in the European elections is important. We are a staunch pro-European party, so you wouldn&#039;t expect me to say anything else. And of course, we are doing our best to mobilise people and to ensure that what traditionally is a low turnout election is going to maybe defy the trend and have increased participation.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1710343545,"updatedAt":1710862980,"publishedAt":1710784824,"firstPublishedAt":1710780971,"lastPublishedAt":1710862980,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/30\/45\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_95cc58ec-a502-5b39-9624-94673f58f7d1-8304584.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[{"urlSafeValue":"drougka","twitter":"@NicoleDrouga","title":"Nicoleta Drougka"}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"kyriakos-mitsotakis","titleRaw":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","id":12446,"title":"Kyriakos Mitsotakis","slug":"kyriakos-mitsotakis"},{"urlSafeValue":"greek-politics","titleRaw":"Greek politics","id":10531,"title":"Greek politics","slug":"greek-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"greece","titleRaw":"Greece","id":128,"title":"Greece","slug":"greece"},{"urlSafeValue":"european-elections-2024","titleRaw":"European elections 2024","id":29340,"title":"European elections 2024","slug":"european-elections-2024"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"quotation"},{"count":2,"slug":"related"}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8utkke","youtubeId":"-TqWlhluGf8"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":480000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":61958865,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/GC\/SU\/24\/03\/18\/en\/240318_GCSU_55043533_55044119_480000_173750_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":480000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":96704721,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/GC\/SU\/24\/03\/18\/en\/240318_GCSU_55043533_55044119_480000_173750_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"globalconversation","urlSafeValue":"globalconversation","title":"the global conversation","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/globalconversation"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_busfin'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"GC-07-Kyriakos Mitsotakis 08MN - MASTER","path":"\/2024\/03\/18\/what-we-have-achieved-in-europe-is-unique-in-history-says-greek-pm","lastModified":1710862980},{"id":2496326,"cid":8296080,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240309_C2SU_55011482","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Citizen Queer: Thessaloniki celebrates LGBTQI+ documentary cinema","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Citizen Queer: Thessaloniki celebrates LGBTQI+ documentary cinema","titleListing2":"Citizen Queer: Thessaloniki celebrates LGBTQI+ documentary cinema","leadin":"Greece's Citizen Queer film festival aims to pay tribute to the origins of LGBTQI+ representation in cinema, along with its pioneers. For so long hidden in the shadows, now the art form is finally getting to shine in the spotlight, writes Elise Morton.","summary":"Greece's Citizen Queer film festival aims to pay tribute to the origins of LGBTQI+ representation in cinema, along with its pioneers. For so long hidden in the shadows, now the art form is finally getting to shine in the spotlight, writes Elise Morton.","keySentence":"","url":"citizen-queer-thessaloniki-celebrates-lgbtqi-documentary-cinema","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2024\/03\/10\/citizen-queer-thessaloniki-celebrates-lgbtqi-documentary-cinema","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"\u201cIt\u2019s a big deal, it brings tears to my eyes.\u201d \n\nThese are the words of Maria Katsikadakou, better known as Maria Cyber, speaking about this year\u2019s edition of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TIDF). \n\nRenowned as one of the first lesbian activists on the Greek LGBTQI+ scene, she has served as an adviser for the 2024 festival\u2019s extensive (and timely) celebration of LGBTQI+ documentary cinema, entitled Citizen Queer.\u00a0 \n\nTo say she\u2019s excited about it would be an understatement.\u00a0 \u201cI feel over-the-top happy, enthusiastic, and excited to be part of it,\u201d says Katsikadakou of her consultant role in the \u201cgrand tribute\u201d to queer documentary, which is showcasing more than 25 films, along with a rich programme of discussion-based events.\u00a0 \n\nShe tells Euronews Culture of her time as founder and head of Outview Queer Film Festival \u2013 Greece\u2019s biggest queer film festival \u2013 struggling with limited funds and sponsors; to have a \u201chuge institution\u201d like the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival support the LGBTQI+ community, she explains, is \u201cprecious and priceless\u201d. \n\nPromoting pioneers \n\nRunning from 7-17 March 2024, the festival sees Thessaloniki, Greece\u2019s second city, draw filmmakers and documentary enthusiasts from around the globe.\u00a0 \n\nUnder the guidance of Katsikadakou \u2013 together with Rico Johnson-Sinclair, founder of the UK-based CineQ festival and inclusion practitioner for festivals including the Berlinale and Cannes ; and Dutch writer, curator and visual artist Simon(e) van Saarloos \u2013 the festival has curated a selection of ground-breaking titles to screen.\u00a0 \n\n\u201cThe films of the Citizen Queer tribute unravel the origins of LGBTQI+ representation in art and cinema, pay homage to the pioneers of the movement and brave fights in difficult times,\u201d explains TIDF Director Orestis Andreadakis, \u201c[they] explore the always-evolving themes of LGBTQI+ identity, introduce us to legendary figures of the community, challenge the status quo gaze on LGBTQI+ that unfortunately is yet to disappear.\u201d \n\nThe screening list includes the 1979 cult classic Race d'Ep (The Homosexual Century), which traces the roots of gay liberation to the mid-19th century, and the pioneering Gendernauts (1996) by Monika Treut, one of the first films to delve into the theme of gender transition.\u00a0 \n\n\nGreek films also have a strong showing, with highlights such as Betty (1979) by Dimitris Stavrakas, which narrates a day in the life of the transgender queer activist Betty Vakalidou, and AKOE\/AMFI: The Story of a Revolution (2023), tracing the legacy of the first Greek LGBT movement and its magazine. \n\nFor queer and country \n\nForming part of a wider tribute to the filmmaker, TIDF is showing Panayotis Evangelidis\u2019s Tilos Weddings (2022), which centres on the first gay and lesbian weddings held in Greece in 2008, later ruled invalid in the courts.\u00a0 \n\n\nEvangelidis\u2019s film, and Citizen Queer more broadly, has never been more topical \u2013 Greece legalised same-sex civil marriage last month, the first Christian Orthodox country to do so, and in spite of significant opposition from the influential Greek Orthodox Church. \n\n\"I am always happy when one of my films is screened at a festival, let alone when it is one that contains a social demand that has now been answered to a great extent,\u201d Evangelidis tells Euronews Culture.\u00a0 \n\n\n\u201cThe legalisation of the same-sex marriage is a landmark in the history of the country,\u201d says Andreadakis, who believes the decision signals the start of a new chapter for queer cinema. \u201cIt is safe to say that new prospects are in store for queer cinema in Greece, as far as the audience reach and the overall interaction with society as a whole,\u201d he reflects. \n\n\nThe reason for the timeliness of Citizen Queer is twofold; in addition to the recent legalisation of same-sex marriage (together with adoption by same-sex couples), 2024 marks the arrival of EuroPride in Thessaloniki. From 21-29 June 2024, the pan-European international LGBTQI+ event will enthral the city, of course with a vibrant parade, but also with concerts, walking tours, fairs, movie screenings, and theatre performances, together with space for discussion of salient issues at a three-day human rights conference.\u00a0 \n\nIt will be a \u201ccelebration of tolerance, acceptance, love, and diversity, which will leave its mark in Greece,\u201d Andreadakis describes. For Katsikadakou, Citizen Queer is partly about \u201cpreparing the ground for this huge fiesta\u201d. \n\nWhat makes these events particularly impactful, Andreadakis and Katsikadakou believe, are their inclusivity, broad appeal, and ability to weave queer culture into the everyday life and very fabric of Thessaloniki. \u201cCitizen Queer is educational for the ones that don\u2019t know [about queer culture], [and provides] nostalgic moments for the ones that know,\u201d Katsikadakou says, \u201cThis big event that is accepted by everyone \u2013 known simply as \u2018the festival\u2019, such is its pre-eminence \u2013 is coming now to actively support the big LGBTQ winning goal: EuroPride 2024 in Thessaloniki.\u201d\u00a0 \n\n\u201cBoth the Citizen Queer tribute and EuroPride 2024 go way beyond the scope of target-oriented events,\u201d Andreadakis agrees, \u201cThey are part of our\u00a0 everyday lives, of our world that keeps on moving forward even with small steps.\u201d \n\nFor the festival director, far more than just interesting film screenings and colourful parades are at stake: \u201cIn reality, all these actions are interconnected links to a chain of change,\u201d he says. \n\nThe 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival continues until 17 March 2024. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a big deal, it brings tears to my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These are the words of Maria Katsikadakou, better known as Maria Cyber, speaking about this year\u2019s edition of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TIDF).<\/p>\n<p>Renowned as one of the first lesbian activists on the Greek LGBTQI+ scene, she has served as an adviser for the 2024 festival\u2019s extensive (and timely) celebration of LGBTQI+ documentary cinema, entitled Citizen Queer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To say she\u2019s excited about it would be an understatement.\u00a0\u201cI feel over-the-top happy, enthusiastic, and excited to be part of it,\u201d says Katsikadakou of her consultant role in the \u201cgrand tribute\u201d to queer documentary, which is showcasing more than 25 films, along with a rich programme of discussion-based events.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She tells Euronews Culture of her time as founder and head of Outview Queer Film Festival \u2013 Greece\u2019s biggest queer film festival \u2013 struggling with limited funds and sponsors; to have a \u201chuge institution\u201d like the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//11//10//monica-bellucci-honoured-for-30-years-in-film-at-thessaloniki-film-festival/">Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival support the LGBTQI+ community, she explains, is \u201cprecious and priceless\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-xlarge widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.8759604829857299\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//60//80//808x709_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg/" alt=\"Maria Katsikadakou, who&apos;s better known as Maria Cyber, was one of Greece&apos;s first LGBTIQ rights activists.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/384x336_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/640x561_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/750x657_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/828x725_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1080x946_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1200x1051_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1920x1682_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 45vw, 550px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Maria Katsikadakou, who&apos;s better known as Maria Cyber, was one of Greece&apos;s first LGBTIQ rights activists.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Thessaloniki International Film Festival<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Promoting pioneers<\/h2><p>Running from 7-17 March 2024, the festival sees Thessaloniki, Greece\u2019s second city, draw filmmakers and documentary enthusiasts from around the globe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Under the guidance of Katsikadakou \u2013 together with Rico Johnson-Sinclair, founder of the UK-based CineQ festival and inclusion practitioner for festivals including the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//02//28//melancholia-love-and-sasquatches-euronews-cultures-top-10-movies-from-berlinale-2024/">Berlinale and <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//12//14//barbie-director-greta-gerwig-named-president-of-2024-cannes-film-festival/">Cannes; and Dutch writer, curator and visual artist Simon(e) van Saarloos \u2013 the festival has curated a selection of ground-breaking titles to screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe films of the Citizen Queer tribute unravel the origins of LGBTQI+ representation in art and cinema, pay homage to the pioneers of the movement and brave fights in difficult times,\u201d explains TIDF Director Orestis Andreadakis, \u201c[they] explore the always-evolving themes of LGBTQI+ identity, introduce us to legendary figures of the community, challenge the status quo gaze on LGBTQI+ that unfortunately is yet to disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6664785553047404\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//60//80//808x539_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg/" alt=\"Texas Tomboy stars in Monika Treut&apos;s exploration of the worlds and thoughts of several transgender individuals.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/384x256_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/640x427_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/750x500_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/828x552_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1080x720_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1200x800_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/1920x1280_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Texas Tomboy stars in Monika Treut&apos;s exploration of the worlds and thoughts of several transgender individuals.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">\u00a9\u00a0Roland Scheikowski<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The screening list includes the 1979 cult classic Race d&#039;Ep (The Homosexual Century), which traces the roots of gay liberation to the mid-19th century, and the pioneering Gendernauts (1996) by Monika Treut, one of the first films to delve into the theme of gender transition.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>Greek films also have a strong showing, with highlights such as Betty (1979) by Dimitris Stavrakas, which narrates a day in the life of the transgender queer activist Betty Vakalidou, and AKOE\/AMFI: The Story of a Revolution (2023), tracing the legacy of the first Greek LGBT movement and its magazine.<\/p>\n<h2>For queer and country<\/h2><p>Forming part of a wider tribute to the filmmaker, TIDF is showing Panayotis Evangelidis\u2019s Tilos Weddings (2022), which centres on the first gay and lesbian weddings held in Greece in 2008, later ruled invalid in the courts.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>Evangelidis\u2019s film, and Citizen Queer more broadly, has never been more topical \u2013 Greece <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//02//15//greek-parliament-approves-legalisation-of-same-sex-civil-marriage/">legalised same-sex civil marriage<\/strong><\/a> last month, the first Christian Orthodox country to do so, and in spite of significant opposition from the influential Greek Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n<p>\"I am always happy when one of my films is screened at a festival, let alone when it is one that contains a social demand that has now been answered to a great extent,\u201d Evangelidis tells Euronews Culture.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe legalisation of the same-sex marriage is a landmark in the history of the country,\u201d says Andreadakis, who believes the decision signals the start of a new chapter for queer cinema. \u201cIt is safe to say that new prospects are in store for queer cinema in Greece, as far as the audience reach and the overall interaction with society as a whole,\u201d he reflects. <\/p>\n<p>The reason for the timeliness of Citizen Queer is twofold; in addition to the recent legalisation of same-sex marriage (together with adoption by same-sex couples), 2024 marks the arrival of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2022//09//30//belgrade-europride-2022-a-storm-over-the-rainbow-flag/">EuroPride in Thessaloniki. From 21-29 June 2024, the pan-European international LGBTQI+ event will enthral the city, of course with a vibrant parade, but also with concerts, walking tours, fairs, movie screenings, and theatre performances, together with space for discussion of salient issues at a three-day human rights conference.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It will be a \u201ccelebration of tolerance, acceptance, love, and diversity, which will leave its mark in Greece,\u201d Andreadakis describes. For Katsikadakou, Citizen Queer is partly about \u201cpreparing the ground for this huge fiesta\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>What makes these events particularly impactful, Andreadakis and Katsikadakou believe, are their inclusivity, broad appeal, and ability to weave queer culture into the everyday life and very fabric of Thessaloniki. \u201cCitizen Queer is educational for the ones that don\u2019t know [about queer culture], [and provides] nostalgic moments for the ones that know,\u201d Katsikadakou says, \u201cThis big event that is accepted by everyone \u2013 known simply as \u2018the festival\u2019, such is its pre-eminence \u2013 is coming now to actively support the big LGBTQ winning goal: EuroPride 2024 in Thessaloniki.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth the Citizen Queer tribute and EuroPride 2024 go way beyond the scope of target-oriented events,\u201d Andreadakis agrees, \u201cThey are part of our\u00a0everyday lives, of our world that keeps on moving forward even with small steps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For the festival director, far more than just interesting film screenings and colourful parades are at stake: \u201cIn reality, all these actions are interconnected links to a chain of change,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival continues until 17 March 2024.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709998508,"updatedAt":1710054375,"publishedAt":1710054348,"firstPublishedAt":1710011172,"lastPublishedAt":1710054375,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Giorgos Papadimitriou","altText":"Poster from Thessaloniki International Film Festival ","callToActionText":null,"width":1000,"caption":"Poster from Thessaloniki International Film Festival ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_474f819e-c29b-5260-a84b-4ffbc0a7b34e-8296080.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1000},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"\u00a9\u00a0Roland Scheikowski","altText":"Texas Tomboy stars in Monika Treut's exploration of the worlds and thoughts of several transgender individuals.","callToActionText":null,"width":1772,"caption":"Texas Tomboy stars in Monika Treut's exploration of the worlds and thoughts of several transgender individuals.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8aaed986-ec1d-5025-b0d6-f68b78006bf7-8296080.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1181},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"xxxx","altText":"Maria Katsikadakou ","callToActionText":null,"width":911,"caption":"Maria Katsikadakou ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/60\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_94d1bb59-8e94-585c-a262-e16f19c10892-8296080.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":798}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"lgbtq","titleRaw":" LGBTQ+ ","id":28750,"title":" LGBTQ+ ","slug":"lgbtq"},{"urlSafeValue":"film-festival","titleRaw":"Film festival","id":10841,"title":"Film festival","slug":"film-festival"},{"urlSafeValue":"documentaries-festival","titleRaw":"Documentaries festival","id":10845,"title":"Documentaries festival","slug":"documentaries-festival"},{"urlSafeValue":"gay-marriage","titleRaw":"Gay marriage","id":12842,"title":"Gay 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news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":{"id":2162,"urlSafeValue":"thessaloniki","title":"Thessaloniki"},"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','progressivemedia','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_society_lgbt','gs_entertain','gs_society','gs_entertain_movies','gs_genres','client_easports_sporting_gaming','neg_bucherer','gt_positive','neg_mobkoi_castrol','neg_saudiaramco','gs_family_marriage','gt_positive_curiosity','gs_shopping_misc','gs_society_misc','gs_event_music_festival'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"CULTURE - CITIZEN QUEER AT THESSALONIKI FEST","path":"\/culture\/2024\/03\/10\/citizen-queer-thessaloniki-celebrates-lgbtqi-documentary-cinema","lastModified":1710054375},{"id":2496044,"cid":8295362,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240309_NWSU_55008387","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Greece approves ending state monopoly on university education, despite student protests","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Greece approves ending state monopoly on university education","titleListing2":"Greece approves ending state monopoly on university education, despite student protests","leadin":"Greek lawmakers approved sweeping university education reforms that would break the state monopoly on university education, despite student protests.","summary":"Greek lawmakers approved sweeping university education reforms that would break the state monopoly on university education, despite student protests.","keySentence":"","url":"greece-approves-ending-state-monopoly-on-university-education-despite-student-protests","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/03\/09\/greece-approves-ending-state-monopoly-on-university-education-despite-student-protests","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Greek lawmakers approved sweeping reforms early on Saturday that will end the state monopoly on university education, breaking what powerful left-wing student groups have long regarded as a major taboo. \n\nHours before the vote, which began Friday evening and ended after midnight, protesters attacked police outside parliament with petrol bombs and firecrackers as some 18,000 people demonstrated in central Athens against the proposed legislation. \n\nPolice charged a few dozen violent demonstrators and fired tear gas. A police statement said nine members of the public and seven officers were injured, while three suspected rioters were arrested. \n\nFriday's rally followed weeks of demonstrations that included scores of university building occupations by students. Nevertheless, opinion polls indicate that most Greeks agree with the creation of privately-run universities. \n\nLawmakers present in the 300-seat parliament voted 159-129 in favour of the bill. Announcement of the result was delayed until after midnight by three lawmakers from a small left-wing party, who remained seated and studied a printout of the draft law for over two hours after everyone else had cast their ballots and left. The party had earlier said it would vote against the bill. \n\nGreece\u2019s centre-right government has argued that the reform would help attract skilled workers back to the country. \n\n\u201cWe must say a resounding \u2018yes\u2019 to this measure \u2026 as a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students,\u201d Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament ahead of the vote. \n\nAt Friday's rally \u2013 which was mostly peaceful \u2013 the students were joined by a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and marchers from an event marking International Women's Day. \n\n\u201cThis government wants to privatise everything ... but at the same time, the cost of living is going up and up and our wages remain pitiful,\u201d Anna Adamidi, a philosophy student, told Associated Press. \u201cThe private sector comes in and dismantles public (education), making use of resources that they will pay nothing for.\u201d \n\nOpposition parties were broadly against the bill, arguing that it violates the constitution and could create a two-tier system for students. \n\nEducation reforms in Greece are often politically charged, with university activism historically linked to pro-democracy movements but also later used as a refuge for violent protest groups. \n\nAlthough some private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a non-profit status, despite charging tuition fees. \n\nMore than 650,000 students are currently enrolled at state-run universities in Greece and an additional 40,000 are studying abroad, according to Education Ministry officials who briefed lawmakers before this week\u2019s debate. \n\nThe Mitsotakis government, early in its second term and with a huge lead in opinion polls, has carried out several major reforms in recent weeks, including legalising same-sex marriage and introducing a postal vote for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Greek lawmakers approved sweeping reforms early on Saturday that will end the state monopoly on university education, breaking what powerful left-wing student groups have long regarded as a major taboo.<\/p>\n<p>Hours before the vote, which began Friday evening and ended after midnight, protesters attacked police outside parliament with petrol bombs and firecrackers as some 18,000 people demonstrated in central Athens against the proposed legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Police charged a few dozen violent demonstrators and fired tear gas. A police statement said nine members of the public and seven officers were injured, while three suspected rioters were arrested.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1766132221029544095\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Friday&#039;s rally followed weeks of demonstrations that included scores of university building occupations by students. Nevertheless, opinion polls indicate that most Greeks agree with the creation of privately-run universities.<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers present in the 300-seat parliament voted 159-129 in favour of the bill. Announcement of the result was delayed until after midnight by three lawmakers from a small left-wing party, who remained seated and studied a printout of the draft law for over two hours after everyone else had cast their ballots and left. The party had earlier said it would vote against the bill.<\/p>\n<p>Greece\u2019s centre-right government has argued that the reform would help attract skilled workers back to the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe must say a resounding \u2018yes\u2019 to this measure \u2026 as a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students,\u201d Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament ahead of the vote.<\/p>\n<p>At Friday&#039;s rally \u2013 which was mostly peaceful \u2013 the students were joined by a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and marchers from an event marking International Women&#039;s Day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis government wants to privatise everything ... but at the same time, the cost of living is going up and up and our wages remain pitiful,\u201d Anna Adamidi, a philosophy student, told Associated Press. \u201cThe private sector comes in and dismantles public (education), making use of resources that they will pay nothing for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Opposition parties were broadly against the bill, arguing that it violates the constitution and could create a two-tier system for students.<\/p>\n<p>Education reforms in Greece are often politically charged, with university activism historically linked to pro-democracy movements but also later used as a refuge for violent protest groups.<\/p>\n<p>Although some private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a non-profit status, despite charging tuition fees.<\/p>\n<p>More than 650,000 students are currently enrolled at state-run universities in Greece and an additional 40,000 are studying abroad, according to Education Ministry officials who briefed lawmakers before this week\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n<p>The Mitsotakis government, early in its second term and with a huge lead in opinion polls, has carried out several major reforms in recent weeks, including legalising <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//03//08//greek-novelist-and-lawyer-are-the-first-same-sex-couple-to-wed-at-athens-city-hall/">same-sex marriage<\/strong><\/a> and introducing a postal vote for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709933032,"updatedAt":1709968734,"publishedAt":1709962909,"firstPublishedAt":1709962916,"lastPublishedAt":1709964720,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Associated Press","altText":"Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as a fire from a molotov cocktail is seen in the background during a students demonstration in Athens, Greece, 8 March 2024","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as a fire from a molotov cocktail is seen in the background during a students demonstration in Athens, Greece, 8 March 2024","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/46\/26\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_129733e2-ce27-5b8a-962b-fefc02433120-8294626.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"scolarisation","titleRaw":"education","id":29634,"title":"education","slug":"scolarisation"},{"urlSafeValue":"higher-education","titleRaw":"Higher education","id":23696,"title":"Higher education","slug":"higher-education"},{"urlSafeValue":"protestas","titleRaw":"Protests","id":27110,"title":"Protests","slug":"protestas"},{"urlSafeValue":"left-wing-party","titleRaw":"Left wing party","id":9575,"title":"Left wing party","slug":"left-wing-party"},{"urlSafeValue":"political-reforms","titleRaw":"Political reforms","id":17031,"title":"Political 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STUDENTS PROTESTS","path":"\/2024\/03\/09\/greece-approves-ending-state-monopoly-on-university-education-despite-student-protests","lastModified":1709964720},{"id":2495590,"cid":8293960,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240308_NWSU_55002922","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Greek novelist and lawyer are the first same-sex couple to wed at Athens city hall","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Greek novelist and lawyer are first same-sex couple to wed in Athens","titleListing2":"Greek novelist and lawyer are the first same-sex couple to wed at Athens city hall","leadin":"Opposition from Orthodox Church traditionalists failed to head off the major legal change, which brings Greece in line with much of Europe.","summary":"Opposition from Orthodox Church traditionalists failed to head off the major legal change, which brings Greece in line with much of Europe.","keySentence":"","url":"greek-novelist-and-lawyer-are-the-first-same-sex-couple-to-wed-at-athens-city-hall","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/03\/08\/greek-novelist-and-lawyer-are-the-first-same-sex-couple-to-wed-at-athens-city-hall","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A Greek novelist and his partner, a lawyer, became the first same-sex couple to get married in Athens\u2019 city hall since the country legalised same-sex marriages three weeks ago in a major change for the Orthodox Christian nation. \n\nThe civil wedding between Petros Hadjopoulos, who writes under the pen name Auguste Corteau, and lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis was celebrated by Athens\u2019 mayor on Thursday. Two dozen guests attended the event in the Greek capital\u2019s city hall. \n\nHadjopoulos described the event as \u201ca dream that we didn\u2019t dare entertain when we were in our teens\u201d. He said there was a certain \u201csymbolism\u201d in their gesture. \n\n\u201cI understand that [marriage] doesn\u2019t work for everyone, but for people who grew up in Greece in the 1980s and 90s, when guys like us lived a very lonely existence, even symbols have a great value,\u201d he said. \n\nAthens\u2019 mayor Haris Doukas described the ceremony as a \u201chistoric moment,\u201d adding that \u201cevery citizen of Athens [...] should be able to live and love in the way they choose\u201d. \n\nSame-sex marriage was legalised by the Greek parliament with a vote on February 15 despite strong opposition from the socially conservative Orthodox Church. On Tuesday, Church officials on the island of Corfu imposed a religious ban on two local lawmakers who voted for the reform. \n\nThe recently passed law also gives full parental rights to married same-sex partners with children, though it doesn\u2019t allow same-sex couples to use surrogacy in Greece. \n\nSame-sex marriage is still far from being legalised in much of the European Union. Several member countries \u2013 including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia \u00a0\u2013 currently have constitutional provisions against it. \n\nSame-sex marriage is currently legal in the following European countries: Spain, Andorra, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, the UK, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Malta, Estonia and Greece. \n\nSeveral others allow legal recognition for some form of civil union or partnership. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>A Greek novelist and his partner, a lawyer, became the first same-sex couple to get married in Athens\u2019 city hall since the country legalised same-sex marriages three weeks ago in a major change for the Orthodox Christian nation.<\/p>\n<p>The civil wedding between Petros Hadjopoulos, who writes under the pen name Auguste Corteau, and lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis was celebrated by Athens\u2019 mayor on Thursday. Two dozen guests attended the event in the Greek capital\u2019s city hall.<\/p>\n<p>Hadjopoulos described the event as \u201ca dream that we didn\u2019t dare entertain when we were in our teens\u201d. He said there was a certain \u201csymbolism\u201d in their gesture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand that [marriage] doesn\u2019t work for everyone, but for people who grew up in Greece in the 1980s and 90s, when guys like us lived a very lonely existence, even symbols have a great value,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Athens\u2019 mayor Haris Doukas described the ceremony as a \u201chistoric moment,\u201d adding that \u201cevery citizen of Athens [...] should be able to live and love in the way they choose\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//39//60//808x454_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg/" alt=\"Lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis, left, hugs his husband, Greek author Petros Hadjopoulos, who uses the pen name Auguste Corteau, as guests watch, after their wedding in Athens.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/384x216_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/640x360_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/750x422_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/828x466_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/1080x608_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/1200x675_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/39\/60\/1920x1080_cmsv2_182f0aed-6734-5697-96df-f3f0f9cf5667-8293960.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis, left, hugs his husband, Greek author Petros Hadjopoulos, who uses the pen name Auguste Corteau, as guests watch, after their wedding in Athens.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Michael Varaklas<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Same-sex marriage was legalised by the Greek parliament with a vote on February 15 despite strong opposition from the socially conservative Orthodox Church. On Tuesday, Church officials on the island of Corfu imposed a religious ban on two local lawmakers who voted for the reform.<\/p>\n<p>The recently passed law also gives full parental rights to married same-sex partners with children, though it doesn\u2019t allow same-sex couples to use surrogacy in Greece.<\/p>\n<p>Same-sex marriage is still far from being legalised in much of the European Union. Several member countries \u2013 including <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.europarl.europa.eu//RegData//etudes//BRIE//2023//747896//EPRS_BRI(2023)747896_EN.pdf/">Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 currently have constitutional provisions against it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1671114421593317377\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the following European countries: Spain, Andorra, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, the UK, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Malta, Estonia and Greece.<\/p>\n<p>Several others allow legal recognition for some form of civil union or partnership.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709897529,"updatedAt":1709900373,"publishedAt":1709900362,"firstPublishedAt":1709900373,"lastPublishedAt":1709900373,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Michael Varaklas","altText":"Greek author Petros Hadjopoulos, who uses the pen name Auguste Corteau, hugs his husband, lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis, before their wedding at Athens City Hall on Thursday.","callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"caption":"Greek author Petros Hadjopoulos, who uses the pen name Auguste Corteau, hugs his husband, lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis, before their wedding at Athens City Hall on 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WEB GREEK GAY WEDDING","path":"\/2024\/03\/08\/greek-novelist-and-lawyer-are-the-first-same-sex-couple-to-wed-at-athens-city-hall","lastModified":1709900373},{"id":2490608,"cid":8278588,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240304_NWSU_54942908","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"AI deepfake porn videos of underage young people are surging in Greece","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"AI deepfake porn videos surging in Greece","titleListing2":"Deepfake porn videos surging in Greece","leadin":"Hundreds of recent victims have been underage students, according to cyber experts.","summary":"Hundreds of recent victims have been underage students, according to cyber experts.","keySentence":"","url":"deepfake-porn-videos-surging-in-greece","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2024\/03\/04\/deepfake-porn-videos-surging-in-greece","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Attackers are using free online artificial intelligence (AI) tools to turn photos and videos posted on social media into fake porn videos .\u00a0 \n\nThough a global phenomenon, cases are currently surging in Greece.\u00a0 \n\nEuronews correspondent Symela Touchtidou spoke to cybersecurity experts in Athens about their findings from investigations into how AI is being used to make fake sex videos. \n\n\"AI has made it easy for the villains,\" Manolis Sfakianakis, founder of the Cybersecurity Institute, told Euronews. \n\n\"They find the AI tools that are very easy to use; they do not need sophisticated training. They take your photos, they take your face and place it into an erotic video. They distribute the video on various platforms. \n\n\"Their goal is to take revenge, ransom or just have fun\". \n\nPrivacy breach cases have tripled in Greece over the last decade with the Greek government preparing a new law to combat the rise of deepfakes and offline them as quickly as possible. \n\nWatch the full report in the player above to find out more. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Attackers are using free online artificial intelligence (AI) tools to turn photos and videos posted on social media into <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2023//04//22//a-lifelong-sentence-the-women-trapped-in-a-deepfake-porn-hell/">fake porn videos<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Though a global phenomenon, cases are currently surging in Greece.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Euronews correspondent Symela Touchtidou spoke to cybersecurity experts in Athens about their findings from investigations into <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2023//10//20//generative-ai-fueling-spread-of-deepfake-pornography-across-the-internet/">how AI is being used<\/strong><\/a> to make fake sex videos.<\/p>\n<p>\"AI has made it easy for the villains,\" Manolis Sfakianakis, founder of the Cybersecurity Institute, told Euronews.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8094226\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2023//12//11//violating-and-dehumanising-how-ai-deepfakes-are-being-used-to-target-women/">'Violating and dehumanising': How AI deepfakes are being used to target women<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\"They find the AI tools that are very easy to use; they do not need sophisticated training. They take your photos, they take your face and place it into an erotic video. They distribute the video on various platforms.<\/p>\n<p>\"Their goal is to take revenge, ransom or just have fun\".<\/p>\n<p>Privacy breach cases have tripled in Greece over the last decade with the Greek government preparing a new law to combat the rise of deepfakes and offline them as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the full report in the player above to find out more.<\/strong><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709295019,"updatedAt":1709680724,"publishedAt":1709551679,"firstPublishedAt":1709551684,"lastPublishedAt":1709680724,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Associated Press","altText":"A tenth grader attending a class how to investigate a computer network that has been hacked in Beit Shemesh, Israel.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A tenth grader attending a class how to investigate a computer network that has been hacked in Beit Shemesh, 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News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_adult','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gv_crime','gt_mixed','gs_realestate','gs_popculture','gs_popculture_celebhome'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"AI PORN CASES PKG","path":"\/next\/2024\/03\/04\/deepfake-porn-videos-surging-in-greece","lastModified":1709680724},{"id":2490086,"cid":8276878,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240229_NWSU_54936693","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Greeks protest and strike in remembrance of deadliest train crash killed 57","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Greeks protest and strike in remembrance of deadliest train crash","titleListing2":"Greeks protest and strike in remembrance of deadliest train crash killed 57","leadin":"The first anniversary of Greece\u2019s train disaster in Tempe on the 28th February was marked by violent protests and widespread strikes across trains, ferries and public transport.","summary":"The first anniversary of Greece\u2019s train disaster in Tempe on the 28th February was marked by violent protests and widespread strikes across trains, ferries and public transport.","keySentence":"","url":"greeks-protest-and-strike-in-remembrance-of-deadliest-train-crash-killed-57","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/02\/29\/greeks-protest-and-strike-in-remembrance-of-deadliest-train-crash-killed-57","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"On the 28th of February last year Greece was left mourning when when a passenger train carrying 350 people collided with a freight train operating on the same track. \n\nThe two trains were operating at high speed before they crashed into each other, with the front carriages bursting into flames upon impact. Only one young man was rescued from the worst impacted carriages, who remains in hospital.\u00a0 \n\nThe train crash, the deadliest in the nation's history, prompted three days of mourning and nationwide protests. \n\nA year later, the streets of Athens are full of demonstrators arguing that the ongoing inquiry has barely provided justice for the victims' families or filled the gaps in an unsafe transport system.\u00a0 \n\nProtesters gathered outside the Greek Parliament in Athens and chanted \u2018murderers, murderers\u2019, as they wrote the names of the victims on the ground in red paint. Similar protests in Thessaloniki, the country\u2019s second-largest city, led to riot police using tear gas as protesters threw stones and molotov cocktails. \n\nDaphne Tolis, a freelance producer who lives in Athens, was with the 20,000 people who marched through the city centre, with some heading towards the central offices of Hellenic Train.\u00a0 \n\n\u201cAnger is one of the main feelings felt across the Greeks as we all know, more or less, the pathogenies of the Greek state, it\u2019s something commonly discussed among us. But anger builds up when justice is not served and the country\u2019s lawmakers are not called to account and continue to enjoy immunity from prosecution simply because they are members of the Greek Parliament,\" she told Euronews. \n\nAccording to Greek law, MPs are immune from external prosecution, and potential misconduct can only be investigated by the Parliament. Critics hold the government partially responsible for the tragedy, criticising its lack of investment in the railway system, which they note was missing essential safety features required by European Union law. \n\nFor some, the crash is intrinsically linked to the privatisation of Greece\u2019s state rail company, parts of which were sold off to the Italian firm Ferrovie dello Stato during the country's debt crisis. Several argue that the consequences of this sale meant that the safety of passengers was demoted in priority and features of the rail network that ensured safety were subsequently underfunded.\u00a0 \n\nAlongside protests, the umbrella union of civil servants ADEDY, representing half a million state employees, called on the public sector to strike on Wednesday. Other trade unions also organised strike action, leading to clashes between protesters and police officers in the Greek capital. \n\nPosting on X, social media users expressed frustration with what they see as a lack of justice for the 57 victims, most of whom were university students. \n\nThe Greek government has implied that the trial following a year-long inquiry will start in June. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, in a statement marking the anniversary, \u2018It may, however, offer some relief when all the causes of the evil are brought to light. When all doubts are dispelled. When even the most absurd rumours are disproved. And, above all, when the guilty are punished. And that will happen\".\u00a0 \n\nCurrently, 34 railway workers, including the stationmaster on duty when the two trains collided, have been detained. \n\nMany of the relatives of the victims have voiced their distrust in the official investigation and have commissioned their own investigators who argue that, among other things, the freight train involved in the crash was carrying illegal cargo. \n\nThe Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) which operates Greece\u2019s railway network claims the network's safety has been enhanced with the installation of 300 infrared cameras in tunnels since the crash and it's making progress on implementing safety systems, though they acknowledge more improvements are still needed. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>On the 28th of February last year Greece was left mourning when when a passenger train carrying 350 people collided with a freight train operating on the same track.<\/p>\n<p>The two trains were operating at high speed before they crashed into each other, with the front carriages bursting into flames upon impact. Only one young man was rescued from the worst impacted carriages, who remains in hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The train crash, the deadliest in the nation&#039;s history, prompted three days of mourning and nationwide protests.<\/p>\n<p>A year later, the streets of Athens are full of demonstrators arguing that the ongoing inquiry has barely provided justice for the victims&#039; families or filled the gaps in an unsafe transport system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Protesters gathered outside the Greek Parliament in Athens and chanted \u2018murderers, murderers\u2019, as they wrote the names of the victims on the ground in red paint. Similar protests in Thessaloniki, the country\u2019s second-largest city, led to riot police using tear gas as protesters threw stones and molotov cocktails.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1763190451652166131\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Daphne Tolis, a freelance producer who lives in Athens, was with the 20,000 people who marched through the city centre, with some heading towards the central offices of Hellenic Train.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnger is one of the main feelings felt across the Greeks as we all know, more or less, the pathogenies of the Greek state, it\u2019s something commonly discussed among us. But anger builds up when justice is not served and the country\u2019s lawmakers are not called to account and continue to enjoy immunity from prosecution simply because they are members of the Greek Parliament,\" she told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>According to Greek law, MPs are immune from external prosecution, and potential misconduct can only be investigated by the Parliament. Critics hold the government partially responsible for the tragedy, criticising its lack of investment in the railway system, which they note was missing essential safety features required by European Union law.<\/p>\n<p>For some, the crash is intrinsically linked to the privatisation of Greece\u2019s state rail company, parts of which were sold off to the Italian firm Ferrovie dello Stato during the country&#039;s debt crisis. Several argue that the consequences of this sale meant that the safety of passengers was demoted in priority and features of the rail network that ensured safety were subsequently underfunded.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7500710\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//03//31//greek-railroad-inspector-charged-in-connection-to-accident-that-killed-57-people/"> Greek railroad inspector charged in connection to accident that killed 57 people <\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Alongside protests, the umbrella union of civil servants ADEDY, representing half a million state employees, called on the public sector to strike on Wednesday. Other trade unions also organised strike action, leading to clashes between protesters and police officers in the Greek capital.<\/p>\n<p>Posting on X, social media users expressed frustration with what they see as a lack of justice for the 57 victims, most of whom were university students.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5622519841269841\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//27//68//78//808x454_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg/" alt=\"An aerial view of the wagons and other parts recovered from a train wreck, near Larissa city, central Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/1080x607_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">An aerial view of the wagons and other parts recovered from a train wreck, near Larissa city, central Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Greek government has implied that the trial following a year-long inquiry will start in June. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, in a statement marking the anniversary, \u2018It may, however, offer some relief when all the causes of the evil are brought to light. When all doubts are dispelled. When even the most absurd rumours are disproved. And, above all, when the guilty are punished. And that will happen\".\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Currently, 34 railway workers, including the stationmaster on duty when the two trains collided, have been detained.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the relatives of the victims have voiced their distrust in the official investigation and have commissioned their own investigators who argue that, among other things, the freight train involved in the crash was carrying illegal cargo.<\/p>\n<p>The Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) which operates Greece\u2019s railway network claims the network&#039;s safety has been enhanced with the installation of 300 infrared cameras in tunnels since the crash and it&#039;s making progress on implementing safety systems, though they acknowledge more improvements are still needed.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709229129,"updatedAt":1709294275,"publishedAt":1709234573,"firstPublishedAt":1709234576,"lastPublishedAt":1709294275,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Michael Varaklas","altText":"A young woman paints the name of victims from a rail disaster one year ago, in front of parliament, in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":4088,"caption":"A young woman paints the name of victims from a rail disaster one year ago, in front of parliament, in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fb7aa6b7-336e-5ad5-847f-90a32afc1600-8276878.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2298},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"An aerial view of the wagons and other parts recovered from a train wreck, near Larissa city, central Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":4032,"caption":"An aerial view of the wagons and other parts recovered from a train wreck, near Larissa city, central Greece, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3d31dfe4-d2fa-51ea-bdbd-f5ea9716b719-8276878.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2267},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Petros Giannakouris\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"A flower lies on the sidewalk as riot police stand near the names of the victims of last year's train collision, painted by university students after a new rally in Athens","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A flower lies on the sidewalk as riot police stand near the names of the victims of last year's train collision, painted by university students after a new rally in Athens","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/27\/68\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_13b11315-b05d-5800-9207-5f9aaf7ea93d-8276878.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"paternoster","twitter":null,"title":"Tamsin Paternoster"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"rail-transport","titleRaw":"Rail transport","id":11021,"title":"Rail transport","slug":"rail-transport"},{"urlSafeValue":"train","titleRaw":"train","id":13112,"title":"train","slug":"train"},{"urlSafeValue":"train-crashes","titleRaw":"Train crash","id":7968,"title":"Train crash","slug":"train-crashes"},{"urlSafeValue":"safety","titleRaw":"Safety","id":27790,"title":"Safety","slug":"safety"},{"urlSafeValue":"protestas","titleRaw":"Protests","id":27110,"title":"Protests","slug":"protestas"},{"urlSafeValue":"athens","titleRaw":"Athens","id":1712,"title":"Athens","slug":"athens"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2214926},{"id":2216562}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":128,"urlSafeValue":"greece","title":"Greece","url":"\/news\/europe\/greece"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'neg_mobkoi_castrol','neg_facebook_q4','gt_negative','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_politics','gv_death_injury','neg_bucherer','gs_law','neg_tiktok_q1_2024_eng','gb_death_injury_high_med','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','gb_death_injury_news-ent','gs_politics_issues_policy','gb_crime_high_med','gb_crime_high_med_low','gb_crime_news-ent','gs_politics_misc','gs_busfin','neg_intel_en','neg_saudiaramco','gv_crime','gb_crime_edu','gb_sensitive_high_med','gb_sensitive_high_med_low','gb_sensitive_news-ent','gt_negative_sadness','gt_negative_anger','gs_tech_compute','gs_tech_compute_net','gs_tech_compute_net_social','gb_sensitive_high','gb_sensitive_serious','gt_negative_fear'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"WEB Greece rail accidents","path":"\/2024\/02\/29\/greeks-protest-and-strike-in-remembrance-of-deadliest-train-crash-killed-57","lastModified":1709294275}]" data-api-url="/api/country/greece">

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