A Eurogroup meeting on Monday is expected to approve the disbursement of a first sub-installment of 2.0 billion euros to Greece, while the country will return to growth rates in the second half of 2016, Pierre Moscovici said on Wednesday

"We must see issues that beyond the economic barbarism, fall into the realm of ethics at a time that the residents of the islands open their arms to the waves of refugees, the government is obliged to increase the VAT rate in the islands" stressed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at joint statements with European Parliament president Martin Schulz at the Maximos mansion on Wednesday.

Five persons, among them two children, drowned early Wednesday off the coasts of Lesvos

The Central Archaeological Council (CAC) on Tuesday gave its blessing to plans for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Athens Authentic Marathon on the site of the ancient battlefield, and within the archaeological site containing the burial mound (tumulus) of the fallen Athenians.