European Commission Slaps Greece with Nearly €400 Million Fine Over Agricultural Subsidy Fraud
The European Commission has imposed a fine of nearly €400 million on Greece over a major scandal involving the mismanagement of EU agricultural subsidies
Results published by the interior ministry indicate a clear win for Greece's governing left-wing Syriza party which campaigned for a "No" vote, saying the bailout terms were humiliating. The party, which swept to power on an anti-austerity ticket, argued that a ‘No’ vote would strengthen its hand to win a better deal in talks with international creditors.
The "Yes" camp, however, warned a ‘No’ vote could deny Greece badly needed bailout aid and ultimately eject the debt-laden countryout of the eurozone.
After the latest official results were in, the Greek government said it wants to resume talks with its European partners. Greece's current bailout programme with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank expired on Tuesday.
"The negotiations which will start must be concluded very soon, even within 48 hours," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television, according to Reuters. "We will undertake every effort to seal it soon."
The Greek government's chief negotiator, Euclid Tsakalotos, said talks could resume as early as this evening.
The government in Athens broke off negotiations on the rescue plan just days before Greece was due to repay EUR 1.5 B to the IMF on Tuesday. With state coffers empty, Greece defaulted on its IMF debt, and was forced to impose capital controls and close banks as of Monday to halt an outflow cash as anxious Greeks rushed to withdraw money.
The Serbian National Assembly has approved a loan agreement worth €1.9 billion with several French financial institutions to fund the acquisition of 12 Rafale fighter jets
Croatia is reintroducing mandatory military service after a 17-year break, with the government unveiling a new law that will reinstate basic training for young men starting no later than January 2026
A strong earthquake struck southwestern Turkey during the early hours of Tuesday
Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski accused Bulgaria of attempting to portray the people of North Macedonia as an “artificial nation”
Early this morning, an explosion rocked the Krušik defense plant in Valjevo, Serbia, resulting in five people sustaining minor injuries
The Patriarchate in Belgrade has accused Bulgaria of genocide against the Serbs in "Vardar Serbia", pointing to the systematic extermination of entire Serbian families with the aim of eradicating the Serbian national spirit
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