Laws, Regulations & Policies

“In 2016 we need to return to Schengen’s normal functioning”, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said following the weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners which focused on the refugee crisis. The commissioners decided that the Schengen’s normal functioning must be a priority for 2016.

The tourism development of the Greek islands and the strengthening of cruise tourism were the main topics discussed in a meeting held in Athens on Thursday between Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Ioannis Giannelis.

Despite several changes announced last week to the capital controls which were implemented in July 2015 amid Greek political havoc and eurozone uncertainty, bank officials say the restrictions to our personal deposits will be with us most likely until the end of 2016.

Greek carrier Aegean Airlines apologized on Wednesday, to the Palestine Liberation Organization for an incident on Sunday, which saw two men – an Israeli-Arab and a Palestinian – voluntarily disembark after angry protests from Jewish Israeli passengers, who cited security fears.

Frontex, the EU border agency, initiated on Monday the deployment of 293 officers and 15 vessels to the Greek islands as part of a new operation called “Poseidon Rapid Intervention” after Greece requested additional assistance at its external borders in the Aegean earlier this month.

EU member states will be required to harmonize their copyright laws and adopt digital technologies after the European Commission presented this month its proposal for a European Digital Single Market. The 2016-2020 plan directly impacts the travel industry, which relies in large part on photographs to promote visited destinations.

More than one million refugees have made their way to Europe this year, with the Greek island of Lesvos, opposite Turkey, bearing the brunt of the massive influx, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

EU leaders failed on Thursday, to agree to the Commission’s proposals for a new border and coastguard patrol, instead pledging to work towards ensuring more efficient registration and security checks of refugees.

Greece is expected to come under significant pressure over its response to the refugee crisis during the upcoming EU leaders’ summit on Thursday.

The EU said it is taking legal action against three member states for failing to register the thousands of migrants entering Europe through their borders.