An exclusive article by the financial newspaper Handelsblatt on the public debt of Eurozone countries and the Commission's plans refers in particular to Greece.

As the article notes: "The Commission wants to monitor more closely the reduction of debt in the Eurozone in the future and also to give national governments more flexibility. According to Handelsblatt information from Brussels, each government will in the future have to agree with the Brussels authorities on a specialized, multi-year debt reduction plan. The Commission is thus adapting the Stability and Growth Pact to the new reality after the coronavirus pandemic. Brussels maintains a debt ceiling of 60% of GDP as a long-term target. However, the Commission wants to introduce a new gradual target of 90% for so-called high-risk countries such as Italy and Greece."

And the article continues: “These Eurozone countries are under increased pressure to become stricter until they have reduced their debt to 90%. They will have to find a sustainable way to reduce the debt within the next four years. The Commission will likely present its proposal to reform the Stability and Growth Pact in November. Until now it wanted to present the plan at the end of October, but internal agreements must come first. The Stability and Growth Pact has been suspended since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020. It is scheduled to enter into force again in 2024, but in a form that will contain new reforms."

The influential head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos, on Wednesday welcomed Turkish-American NBA star Enes Kanter and his party to the Archdiocese headquarters in downtown Athens.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was taken to a shelter as the sirens sounded while he was meeting his counterpart, Dmitry Kuleba, at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Greek Foreign Minister and the Greek delegation were safely taken to a shelter in the Ukrainian capital.

Earlier, issues related to the diaspora were on the agenda of Nikos Dendias' visit to Kyiv, from where he condemned revisionist actions.

As he tweeted from the visit, the Greek Foreign Minister also met with the Rector of the State University of Mariupol.

Dendia's visit to Kyiv is the third to Ukraine during the war. His two previous visits were to Odessa, a city of immense importance for Hellenism.

The recommendation to evacuate Kiev

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a recommendation to the Greeks who are in Kyiv to leave as soon as possible, due to the renewed bombardment of the last few days.

"Given that the security situation in Ukraine continues to be fluid and precarious, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that what is stated in its announcements from February 14 and 22, 2022, continues to apply," the relevant announcement states.

"At the same time, Greek citizens in Ukraine are advised to leave the country immediately. It is also recommended that Greek citizens who have not already departed, immediately report their contact information to the Greek Embassy in Kyiv."

Low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY has started ticket sales for flights from Athens to Iceland and the United States of America, initially with two flights per week, every Tuesday and Saturday, starting June 3, 2023.