Christos Stylianides

A European Commission spokesman has revealed that a request by Greek authorities to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) was lodged three full days after the Agia Zoni II tanker sank off Salamina last week.

The European Commission has helped mobilise substantial support for Portugal, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, following a request for assistance to battle forest fires in the country.

The EU is offering emergency equipment, personnel and satellite imagery to help Greece deal with the aftermath of the overnight earthquake.

Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 62 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said on June 18.

Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 57 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said on June 18.

Following the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union officials in Brussels on May 25, at which the parties agreed to resume bilateral dialogue after months of strain, diplomatic traffic between and Ankara and Brussels is again gaining momentum.

After Greek judicial authorities launched an investigation into claims that two employees of the international aid agency Mercy Corps sexually harassed migrants in Greek reception centers and misused funds intended for their welfare, the group has said it is also probing the allegations.

The European Union has suspended funding to a non-government organization (NGO) aiding refugees in Greece pending an investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation and financial corruption, a spokesman for European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides has said.

The mayors of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos - the five eastern Aegean islands worst hit by the refugee crisis - secured a European Union pledge of 50 million euros in emergency assistance during their recent trip to Brussels, they told reporters in Athens on Thursday. 

BRUSSELS - Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social and Veteran Affairs Aleksandar Vulin spoke on Friday with European Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Christos Stylianides about a continuation of European Commission financial assistance to Serbia to help it deal with the aftermath of the migrant crisis.