Nancy Faeser

Two German ministers are set to visit Greece in the coming days, the country's ambassador in Athens said on Saturday.

Speaking at a German-Hellenic Business Association event in Athens, German Ambassador Andreas Kindl announced the visits of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Transport Minister Volker Wissing. 

Berlin is pressing Athens over the return of migrants who initially sought asylum in Greece before traveling to Germany, under the Dublin Regulation framework.

This comes as a response to an increasing number of migrants seeking better opportunities in Germany due to its extensive social benefits.

With Germany’s decision to implement spot checks at its land borders now in effect for 24 hours, Athens is closely monitoring developments.

Germany will from Monday expand border controls to the frontiers with all nine of its neighbours to stop irregular migrants in a move that has sparked protests from other EU members.

Berlin announced the sweeping measure following a string of deadly extremist attacks that have stoked public fears and boosted support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Germany’s sudden shift to a “hardline” approach on migration, after years of lenient rules, attractive social benefits, and a culture of tolerance, has sounded alarms in several European countries, including Greece. Concerns are growing about a potential unilateral shift in migration policy that could lead to the unraveling of the Schengen Agreement.

Germany will bar the use of critical components made by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in core parts of the country's 5G networks in two steps starting in 2026, the nation's top security official have said.

Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, has long mulled what to do about components made by Chinese suppliers in its new-generation cellphone networks.

Τurkey defender Merih Demiral is to be banned for two games by UEFA following a gesture he made during his side's last-16 win against Austria on Tuesday and will miss Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands, German media reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to travel to Berlin to attend the 2024 European Championship quarterfinal game between Turkey and the Netherlands, an official said Thursday, after a controversial gesture by a national team player ignited a diplomatic row between Turkey and the host nation, Germany.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has canceled his scheduled visit to Azerbaijan to instead attend the Euro 2024 quarterfinal match in Berlin between Türkiye and the Netherlands on July 6.

The president was initially slated to attend the Organization of Turkic States summit in the Shusha city on the same day. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is expected to attend the event.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has criticized the UEFA for launching a probe against national team player Merih Demiral over his alleged nationalist gesture during the Türkiye-Austria Euro 2024 elimination match on late July 2.