Higher tourist arrivals helped drive up Greece's services balance surplus in the first seven months of 2024, according to figures for the balance of payments in January-July 2024 released by the Bank of Greece on Friday. It attributed the  increase to, primarily, the travel balance and, secondarily, the transport and other services balances. Non-residents’ arrivals increased by 11.2% year-on-year and the relevant receipts rose by 5.6%, rising to 10.95 billion euros.

Greece will begin negotiations for the procurement of a fourth Belharra-type frigate, in addition to the three built by France's Naval Group, National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced during the launch of the second such frigate in France on Thursday.

In a special ceremony held at the Greek embassy in Rome, the grandson of former Italian prime minister Alcide De Gasperi presented to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni an ancient vessel that had been given as a gift to his grandfather by the Greek government in 1953.