Member states of the European Union

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to travel to Cairo on Jan. 8 to attend a trilateral summit with Egypt and Greek Cyprus, with the primary agenda expected to revolve around recent developments in Syria.

Bulgaria continues to rank at the bottom of the European Union in terms of material well-being and GDP per capita for 2023, according to the latest data from Eurostat. The country's "actual individual consumption" (AIC) is 30% below the EU average, which is equivalent to 70% of the European average.

Tourism spending in Greece increased by 14% in the period from October 2023 to September 2024 compared to previous 12-month period, according to Visa.

Austria has officially announced that it is lifting its veto on Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area by land. The decision was confirmed by the Austrian Interior Ministry, marking a significant step forward for the two countries' integration into the Schengen zone.

Foreigners gave Greece a higher score than the European average at the peak of the tourism season, mainly thanks to its culture and gastronomy, the experience at sea, as well as its human resources.

Bulgaria and Romania's full entry into Schengen is still uncertain, with Austria not yet ready to lift its veto, despite hopes expressed by both the Romanian and Bulgarian governments.

This picture taken on Oct. 12, 2015 shows the C-Lion1 submarine telecommunications cable being laid to the bottom of the Baltic Sea by cable laying ship "Ile de Brehat" off the shore of Helsinki, Finland.

The Austrian media report that an upcoming meeting between the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria in Budapest could bring new developments for the Schengen membership of Bulgaria and Romania, BNR reports. Set for November 22 and hosted by Hungary's EU presidency, the meeting was confirmed by Austria's Ministry of the Interior.

A new ranking by William Russell, a company specializing in insurance for expats (people living outside their home country), places Bulgaria first in Europe as the most sought-after destination for those looking to start a new life abroad.