The project to restore and reconstruct the historic Plaka Bridge in Epirus, which was washed away by a flash flood in 2015, has won one of 24 European Heritage Awards/ Europa Nostra Awards handed out in 2021 for “exemplary achievements” in the heritage field.
The awards were announced by the European Commission on Tuesday.
The Plaka bridge was one of the conservation achievements awarded in 2021, while Europa Nostra awards were also given to two research projects in which Greece collaborated: Fibranet (FIBres in ANcient European Textiles – on preserving ancient fabrics), a joint project with Denmark, and “Control Shift – European Industrial Heritage Reuse in Review” with the Netherlands.
According to a culture ministry announcement, the awards to the 24 entries from 18 countries were announced in a live online event on Tuesday, with the winners selected among entries from 30 countries by independent committees made up of cultural heritage experts from all over Europe.
“The specific award – which is added to a series of other similar distinctions that the culture ministry has received from Europa Nostra – once again confirms the high level of scientific expertise of the ministries of culture, transport and development, the Epirus Region, the National and Technical University of Athens and the Technical Chamber,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said, noting that the bridge’s collapse was an example of the impact of climate change on cultural heritage.
Greece has now officially ended its third bailout agreement with the European Union. The country has received more than 260 billion euros since 2010 from the EU and the IMF, the biggest bailout in global financial history.
It's been eight years of austerity and unpopular reforms that have seen protest after protest and a government that has changed hands twice.
Thousands of educated Greeks have also left the country amid record high unemployment levels.
So as the bailout comes to an end, how has Greece weathered the storm and what is next for the country?
Well, Professor Emilios Avgouleas who is a chair in International Banking Law and Finance at the University of Edinburgh says that although the economy has improved somewhat – the measures imposed by external forces, have kept the economy in a fragile position. “The EU should think about a meaningful investment budget – there is lots of room for investment which will jump-start the economy”.
The ruins of ancient Greece have come to symbolize for the world sky high debt with bailouts, 450 reforms, 4 governments in eight years and austerity that is unimaginable in the modern world. But cautiously – and despite repayments due to the Eurozone well past the year 2060 – Greeks and Europe are ready to chart a new course, after what feels like a neverending saga.
Black Friday might have seen frenetic shopping in the wealthier European capitals, but not so in Athens where the American tradition is in its second year.
Greece remains in economic recovery mode. The last two quarters showed growth for the first time since 2006 but only at a paltry point six percent and unemployment still hovers around twenty percent.
“I can tell that the consumers are a little bit reluctant. They do not shop like the old times,” one older shopper said.
The discounts have enticed more shoppers than normal but it’s hardly a shopping bonanza, although for Greek retailers anything that entices customers is welcome.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Property in Greece
A guide to the basic legal framework and the main points potential investors should know about the acquisition and ownership of real estate in Greece.
1. INTRODUCTION
Greece has become a favorable investment destination in the last few years, mainly because of its natural beauty, mild climate and geographical position, but also because of a significant drop in prices following the financial crisis that emerged after 2010. Investors from all over the world are now looking at Greece as the new “hot” investment destination and rushing to benefit from the abundance of quality real estate available at affordable pricing. Many buy as end users and others with the aim of letting.
Greece is a European Union member-state governed by the rule of law. It is also a member of the eurozone, enjoying all the benefits that derive from sharing the common currency without risks of devaluation or inflation volatility. The laws pertaining to the acquisition and ownership of real estate are provided by the Hellenic Constitution and the Civil Code. Most properties in Greece are freehold.
2. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
A. Rights in real estate
Real estate owners in Greece may have different rights.
Full ownership (absolute or joint)
Bare ownership (absolute or joint)
Usufruct (absolute or joint)
It is essential that the buyer establishes which (among the aforementioned) is the right of the seller to be transferred in every transaction, in order to ensure that the value of the real estate is reflected in the rights that come along with the sale.
B. Acquisition of real estate in Greece
There are various ways of acquiring real estate in Greece. For investors, these mainly concern the two following:
– Acquisition by contract: The buyer and seller appear before a notary public and sign a deed which is subsequently registered at the local cadaster or land registry.
– Acquisition of property through public auction: As of 2017, the Greek State has conducted electronic auctions. Greeks and foreigners (whether natural persons or legal entities) can subscribe online. The procedure is open to the public and the properties offered are easily accessible via a weekly journal.
3. THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING REAL ESTATE IN GREECE:
1. After selection of the property, the buyer appoints a lawyer to perform all the necessary legal searches. The title search takes place at the Land Registry and ensures that the asset in question indeed belongs to the seller and that it is clear of any encumbrances (such as mortgages, liens, foreclosures etc). The lawyer also checks the suitability of the asset and if this is located in an area where prohibitions or restrictions apply.
2. Issuance of a tax number. It is a requirement of the Greek State that every transacting party (natural person or legal entity) has its unique tax number before acquiring real estate.
3. Technical survey of the property. This is not a compulsory stage, but it is highly recommended as planning and or structural issues may occur that could render the sale invalid or the investment poor.
4. Payment of stamp duty (transfer tax). Currently at 3% of the value of the transaction.
5. Completion of the acquisition contract before a notary public. The buyer gets the title deed, which is the first step to ownership of the property.
6. The registration of the title deed takes place at the local Land Registry and is the absolute proof of ownership.
7. Registration of the property online with the tax authorities.
4. TAXATION
A. Ownership of real estate in Greece is subject to an annual tax (ENFIA) which is calculated based on the value of each property and in conjunction with the total value of the assets one may have in their portfolio. Currently the annual tax is payable in 5 installments and it is applicable in all types of real estate assets – including cases of rights on properties (as mentioned in 1. above). This kind of tax applies to both natural persons and legal entities regardless of whether they are resident and/or have their registered seat in Greece.
B. Property-based income (short or long-term rentals, Airbnb, long-term leases etc) are subject to taxation. Natural persons who benefit from rental income are taxed at various rates (thresholds are in place depending on the amount of revenue produced). Legal entities owning real estate assets are taxed differently as the rental income is regarded as revenue and is subject to 29% corporate tax.
5. IMPORTANT PARAMETERS FOR CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION
As in every country, certain restrictions apply to investors who buy real estate in Greece:
A. Acquisitions in forest areas: Subject to the Hellenic Constitution, land uses in areas regarded as forest cannot be changed.
B. Acquisitions of real estate in regions close to the border: There are specific prerequisites for acquisitions in areas close to the borders. In these areas, foreign investors can acquire real estate upon receipt of special permission by joint ministerial approval. A publicly available list identifies such areas. Strict restrictions apply and investors should conduct thorough research into such plots prior to purchase.
C. Acquisitions outside urban zoning: Special attention must be paid to plots which happen to be outside urban or residential areas as they often have limitations with regard to the development capacity they offer and in most cases plots cannot be divided in smaller segments.
D. Acquisitions on the coastline: Development of real estate that is situated close to the coast may be prohibited or allowed under very specific terms set by the State.
E. Acquisitions in areas where antiquities are located: Development may be prohibited or allowed under very specific terms in areas where historic monuments may be located. In most cases, special permission is required by the Ministry of Culture’s competent directorate.
F. Acquisitions in areas of outstanding natural beauty (Natura) or under a special environmental protection regime. Both acquisition and development of real estate in such areas may be blocked by the Ministry of Environment due to restrictions that may apply.
On Hydra, the Greek isle long famous for an artistic community that once included Leonard Cohen, immigrants are not having a good pandemic.
Roger Green, a British writer who has lived on the island since the early 90s, says some are afraid to leave their homes.
“The vaccination process has passed us by,” he said. “I know people like me who are in their 80s and are afraid to go out at all. We’re not complainers, we love Greece but for most foreigners here, at least, the system isn’t working.”
Hydra is far from alone. In a country that has linked its inoculation drive to ownership of a social security (AMKA) number, countless overseas residents have reported being in the same predicament. Although desperate to have the jab, many say that, without the number, they’ve been unable even to get to the stage where they can book a vaccine appointment.
An attempt by the Greek government to resolve the oversight – passing legislation this month that allows foreigners to obtain temporary AMKA registration – has failed to address the problem. The law applies to permanent residents and those who have elected to see out the pandemic in Greece.
“Almost no AMKA numbers granted in the 2021 calendar year actually work on the vaccine website,” said Rebecca Lieb, who moved to Greece from New York under the golden visa scheme offering residence in return for real estate investments to non-EU nationals.
From her home on the Pelion peninsula, Lieb has become a leading voice in the vociferous campaign to “rectify this wrong”.
In the four months since Athens’ centre-right administration launched its online vaccine site, she has petitioned officials and contacted the EU ombudsman – but all have made it clear that individual member states “have the discretion” to roll out vaccines as they see fit.
“Because of my activism and big mouth, my husband and I got a call offering us temporary AMKA numbers and vaccines,” said the digital media analyst. “As we were in the eligible age group we accepted, with the proviso that this privilege would not silence me.”
Foreigners living on Aegean islands that have been the focus of mass vaccination programmes, and those registered with Greece’s social security system, have reported vastly different experiences.
On islands such as Antiparos, municipal authorities have encouraged “uninsured foreigners” to turn up at the local health clinic with passports or identity cards to get the shot.
But Greek retirees who have spent their working lives abroad – and others who left the country more recently but have returned to be closer to relatives during the public health crisis – say they too have slipped through the net.
“For more than 20 years I’ve worked in the UK and so am not on the social security system here,” said Tally Hatzakis, a consultant who has been able to work online for the British company she is employed with. “The NHS is pestering me to go get my shot but that not only involves a flight but paying for quarantine, twice. I’m in a bind.”
Increasingly EU nationals are flying home to get the jab. With the country’s pro-business government keen to lure thousands of foreign pensioners and non-EU students, Lieb notes the number of those affected is not statistically insignificant. “There are 70,000 residents here under the golden visa scheme alone, let alone retirees,” she said.
“To obtain residency permits we’ve had to get private health insurance but that has been the condition, never AMKA.”
Hydra’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, acknowledges there were problems but insists the system is now working.
“It’s a question of safety. Everyone should be immunised and I say that as someone who has experienced Covid,” he said on Tuesday. “We are trying to accelerate the process and make daily announcements. Foreigners who live here, and there are a lot, are ‘fellow citizens’. The AMKA system is finally up and running.”
But the prospect of Greece reopening for tourism in May still frightens Roger Green, the British writer – and many others who, if lucky, will have received only the first shot of the vaccine by then.
As of this week the Greek government has dropped quarantine rules for citizens flying in from the EU and five other countries, including the UK.
“The idea of tourists arriving en masse when we haven’t been vaccinated ourselves is frankly terrifying,” said Green. “There’s a whole network of people like me across Greece. Whatever the faults of myself and others who are not on the system, we’re in a pandemic and this needs to be properly addressed.”
In Spain, where regional governments have so far administered more than 12m vaccine shots to the country’s 47 million people, some foreign residents also fear they are being left behind.
Non-Spanish staff at half a dozen British, bilingual or international schools in the Madrid region say they have yet to be called in for their jabs even though their Spanish colleagues have already been vaccinated.
“People are becoming increasingly concerned – especially those of us that work with the under-sixes, who aren’t required to wear masks,” said one British teacher.
She said school staff from the UK, Ireland and elsewhere appeared to have been forgotten about despite being legally resident – and despite their employers sending the required information to the regional government.
Neither the regional health department nor the regional education department could account for the apparent oversight.
“Obviously we don’t make any distinctions because of nationality,” said a spokesperson for the Madrid education department, adding that it had recently sent out a reminder asking schools in the region to make sure they had provided the names, identity card numbers, dates of birth and contact details of all staff so they could be vaccinated.
A spokesperson for the British embassy in Madrid said: “The Spanish government has been clear that vaccinations will be offered to all British people living in Spain on public health grounds, regardless of nationality or where they live.”
The Guardian understands that at least one UK teacher has contacted the embassy over the issue, and that the embassy has sought to clarify vaccine access with the Madrid authorities.
A spokesperson for Ireland’s department of foreign affairs said it did not comment on contacts with individuals, but added: “While the rollout of the vaccination through the public health system in Spain is a matter for the Spanish authorities, the embassy stands ready to assist any Irish citizen who requires advice on registering for, or ensuring their access to, healthcare entitlements in Spain.”
This article was amended on 20 April 2021 to remove references to “expatriates” and “expats” in the headline and text to maintain consistency across Guardian reporting.
… as you're joining us today from Sweden, we have a small favour to ask. Through these challenging times, millions rely on the Guardian for independent journalism that stands for truth and integrity. Readers from 180 countries chose to support us financially more than 1.5 million times in 2020.
With your help, we will continue to provide high-impact reporting that can counter misinformation and offer an authoritative, trustworthy source of news for everyone. With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we set our own agenda and provide journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence. When it’s never mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour.
Unlike many others, we have maintained our choice: to keep Guardian journalism open for all readers, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality, where everyone deserves to read accurate news and thoughtful analysis. Greater numbers of people are staying well-informed on world events, and being inspired to take meaningful action.
We aim to offer readers a comprehensive, international perspective on critical events shaping our world – from the Black Lives Matter movement, to the new American administration, Brexit, and the world's slow emergence from a global pandemic. We are committed to upholding our reputation for urgent, powerful reporting on the climate emergency, and made the decision to reject advertising from fossil fuel companies, divest from the oil and gas industries, and set a course to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future.
. Support the Guardian from as little as €1 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you.
Depending on the purpose of your travel to Greece, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion. Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study or work and reside there permanently, you will have to apply for a different Greece Schengen Visa, accordingly.
You can apply for the Greek Schengen Visa since 2000 when Greece as a Member of the European Union, also became a member state of the Schengen Area.
he article will give you a clear idea about the Green Card Lottery for Greece. The DIVERSITY Visa is for citizens who come from countries that do not usually send many immigrants to the United States to increase the diversity of the immigrants that enter this country. Start your application with iVisa.com and learn more about the Green Card Lottery. It is fast, simple and secure.
If you are a citizen of Greece, you can move to the United States through an immigrant opportunity known as a green card. Diversity Visa program provides a chance to win the green card for citizens of Greece. To know more details about the Green Card Lottery for Greece , please go through the sections below.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS A GREEN CARD FOR GREECE CITIZENS?
The Green Card is an immigrant visa to the United States. It allows you to legally live, work, and study in the United States and to enter and leave the country freely. Green card holders also receive health, education, and other rights, and they can sponsor relatives for Green Card. A permanent resident is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, it grants a person a permanent resident card, commonly called a “green card”.
WHY DO NATIVES OF CERTAIN COUNTRIES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE GREEN CARD LOTTERY?
The green card lottery is intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the United states. The law states that no green cards shall be provided for natives of “high-admission” countries. The law defines this to mean countries from which a total of 55, 000 persons in the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories immigrated to the united states during the previous five years. Each year, US. Citizenship and immigration services add the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five years to identify the countries whose natives will be ineligible for the annual green card lottery. Because there is a separate determination made before each annual green card lottery entry period, the list of countries whose natives are not eligible may change from one year to the next.
WHEN IS THE LAST DATE TO ENTER THE DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY PROGRAM?
This year’s (2021) Green Card Lottery Program is called DV2023 (the year successful applicants may enter the United States of America) and is scheduled to be closed for applications on November 10, 2021. Once you submit your application, you will be able to check its status in early May of the year following the submission of your application.
WHAT IS THE REQUIRED TIME AND FEES TO COMPLETE THE GREEN CARD LOTTERY APPLICATION THROUGH IVISA.COM?
Qualified entries are randomly selected by computer and have an equal chance to win. Each year millions of applications are disqualified for failure to follow the submission requirements. It is to keep in mind that DV is free but can make you a little confused if you have doubts. Here, iVisa.com services you with the application process alone and we make a charge for it to make less error so that there is a big chance to get approved sooner. If we provide you with verified and accurate services. These are your options:
Standard Processing: it’s the basic option that allows you to apply without rush and by paying the smallest fee.
Rush Processing: this option is a bit faster, but it also has a more expensive price.
Super Rush Processing: your application form goes faster. The price is the most expensive.
HOW IS THE DV LOTTERY REGISTRATION PROCESSED ON IVISA.COM?
By using iVisa.com, you’ll only have to do the following:
First, you’ll have to apply by using our application form. Here, you’ll have to give the basic details and select the time for the process.
Second, you’ll have to review your details and pay for the service.
Third, you’ll have to attach the documents required and send the form.
After that, you’ll have to wait for the confirmation email according to the processing time you selected. In this email, you’ll get the instructions about the other part of the process. Also, be aware that you need to attend the interview as informed.
WHAT ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CITIZENS OF GREECE TO REGISTER FOR GREEN CARD?
we facilitate this procedure by offering an online form to apply for this lottery and thus obtain the interview date at the embassy and the possibility of a green card to enter the United States.
Valid passport: it must have at least 6 months of validity from the date you plan to enter the U.S.
Digital photo: you’ll need to take a passport-sized photo, but you can use Passport Photos if you’re not sure of how to do this step.
Dates of previous trips to the US: only if applicable. If you haven’t been to the U.S. before, then don’t worry about this step.
Valid email address: to receive the notification email, as well as the preparation guide and instructions to attend your interview.
Valid payment methods: it can be a credit/debit card or your PayPal to pay for the fees.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION IF I HAVE ANY UNRESOLVED ISSUES?
Interestingly, we provide 24/7 services to our customers. You are free to access us at any time and assure you soon responses. If you have any queries, contact our customer support team. If you need more information on the Green Card Lottery for Greece, visit iVisa.com’s webpage.
WHY SHOULD I TRUST IVISA.COM?
There can be many reasons why you shall trust, as the friendly application process delivers you the easiest way to fill out. We maintain a safe and standard supply of services where your data are always secure. Many of our customers have extended positive reviews upon our service quality and comfort;
Media wishing to obtain accreditation for their representatives should send in writing the names of the journalists and technicians who will be covering the events of the Thessaloniki International Fair.
Applicants will receive accreditation from the Department of Advertising, Press & Social Media by displaying their journalistic or professional identity.
