Greece Chairs High-Level UN Debate on Maritime Security

  • Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired a UN Security Council debate on maritime security in New York.
  • The event was part of Greece’s presidency of the Council for May.
  • Key issues discussed: piracy, smuggling, terrorism, attacks on maritime infrastructure, and climate change impacts.
  • Emphasis on strengthening international cooperation, surveillance, risk management, and public-private partnerships.
  • Countries reaffirmed the importance of enforcing international maritime law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Greek DM: Rearmament Must Align with EU Values

  • Defense Minister Nikos Dendias attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
  • Focus of the meeting: Ukraine, EU’s SAFE regulation, and the “Rearm Europe” initiative.
  • Dendias stressed that only countries upholding democracy, human rights, and EU values should participate.
  • He warned against involving actors that could undermine EU integrity or credibility.

Inmates Protest Conditions with Fire at Corfu Prison

  • Inmates at Corfu prison set fire to mattresses and plastic in protest against strict cell checks.
  • Police, a prosecutor, and a negotiator were deployed; investigation ongoing.
  • Prisoners report systemic abuse: physical violence, lack of water, poor food and healthcare, and harsh punishments.
  • Protests follow new penal code restrictions on leave and early release.
  • The unrest coincides with a damning Ombudsman report citing overcrowding, staff shortages, and rights violations in Greek prisons.

Record High Card Transactions in Greece for 2024

  • Card payments rose 14% in volume and 9% in value, totaling 2.5 billion transactions worth €112 billion.
  • Debit cards made up 93% of transactions; credit card use remained significantly lower.
  • Average annual card use: 122 transactions per person, with €5,468 average yearly spending.
  • Average transaction value dropped from €46 to €44—more frequent small purchases.
  • Card fraud decreased by 14% overall, but online and ATM fraud saw increases (4% and 22% respectively).

Greece Champions EU Move to Limit Children’s Social Media Access

  • Greece is leading efforts for new EU-wide rules on children’s use of social media.
  • Proposal includes mandatory parental consent for minors to open accounts on TikTok, Instagram, etc.
  • Push for a unified EU-wide “digital age of adulthood.”
  • Supported by France and Spain; to be discussed by EU digital ministers in June.
  • Initiative aims to address the negative psychological effects of excessive screen time on children.
  • Denmark, the next EU Council president, is expected to prioritize online child safety.