Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 GREECE Overall risk level High Reconsider travel Can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks Travel is possible, but there is a potential for disruptions Overview Emergency Numbers Medical 112; 166 Upcoming Events 03 September 2021 - 04 September 2021 Moderate risk: Protest to be held in Thessaloniki on 3 September Local media indicated that protesters will rally outside the Directorate of Primary Education building in Thessaloniki from 12:30 local time (09:30 GMT) on 3 September, in protest over legislation affecting education, among other issues. 13 September 2021 - 14 September 2021 Moderate risk: COVID-19 measures to be tightened for unvaccinated individuals on 13 September Starting 13 September, only those with proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 will be permitted to enter indoor cafes, restaurants, clubs and sports venues. For entry to cinemas, theaters, museums and gyms, customers without COVID-19 certificates must present a negative PCR test that was taken within 48 hours. Unvaccinated university students must take COVID-19 tests twice a week. Rapid tests will cost 10EUR. 13 September 2021 - 14 September 2021 Moderate risk: Domestic travel restrictions to be tightened for unvaccinated individuals from 13 September - Update Authorities announced that effective 13 September, all unvaccinated individuals travelling by plane, boat, bus, or train must present a rapid antigen test no older than 48 hours before departure; tests will cost EUR10 (USD11,75). Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Greece 2 Travel Advisories Medium risk: Wildfires Anticipate major disruptions to travel and services in the Island of Evia, the Greek Southern Peloponnese region, the Central Greece Region, Athens and Crete in the near term, because of ongoing fires. On 3 August, the most severe fire recorded in Greece broke out on Evia, the second largest island in the country, where more than 2,600 people have since been evacuated by boat. The wildfires have since spread, with over 500 wildfires reported in the Southern Peloponnese peninsula – in Ilia, Messenia, Ancient Olympia and Mani – to the Central Greece region – in Fokida and Fthiotida – in Crete, and in northern Athens. Previously extinguished fires reignited in Evia and spread to villages and the town of Istaia. On Evia, more than 50,000 hectares (123,000 acres) of forests have been burned, while the destruction in the Southern Peloponnese is described as immeasurable. While authorities have deployed the military to boost its firefighting efforts, the scale of the wildfires have overwhelmed emergency forces, prompting the dispatch of emergency teams from France, Romania, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia and others to the region. Prior to the wildfires, Greece had been experiencing a historically hot summer, with prolonged periods of 45C-plus temperatures. Heatwaves are predicted to continue over the next few weeks, which are expected to reignite extinguished wildfires. The blaze in Greece coincides with other wildfires in Turkey, North Macedonia and Italy. Disruptions to services and travel are likely to persist in the near-term, as emergency operations are ongoing. If a wildfire is threatening your surrounding areas, stay indoors, at a relatively safe distance from the blaze, and limit exposure to smoke by closing all windows and doors. The fresh air intake on air-conditioners should be shut. If your place of residence is threatened, select a direct route that leads you away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of the fire and its smoke trail, and wear protective clothing - sturdy shoes, cotton or wool pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face. Anticipate disruptions to telecommunications as well; fire-damaged infrastructure and heavy data usage can both cause mobile network outages in evacuation zones. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Greece 3 Summary Greece is a High Risk destination: reconsider travel. High Risk locations can be dangerous and may present unexpected security risks. Travel is possible, but there is a potential for severe or widespread disruptions. Covid-19 High Risk Health officials confirmed on 26 February 2020 that the first case of COVID-19 was detected in a patient in Thessaloniki who had recently returned from northern Italy. Following a countrywide lockdown, authorities began lifting restrictions in stages in May 2020 and allowed international travel to resume. Most COVID-19 lockdown measures were lifted on 14 May 2021; the country reopened to vaccinated travellers from most countries in a bit to resume tourism. Political Instability Moderate Risk Greece is a stable parliamentary democracy with a long history of peaceful transfers of power. It is a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO. Government austerity measures and far-reaching structural reforms aimed at avoiding a sovereign debt default have contributed to large-scale social unrest and political instability in recent years. A rise in populist right-wing ideology and anti- immigrant sentiments add to the challenges. Conflict Low Risk The country is not party to any conflict with state or non-state actors. It has tense ties with Turkey and North Macedonia, but they are highly unlikely to turn violent. Terrorism Moderate Risk As a Western nation with growing anti-Muslim sentiments, the country is at risk of a terror attack by Islamist extrements, but security forces are largely capable of containing and preventing attacks. Anarchist and leftist groups occasionally carry out attacks, but they are usually small and target security officials. Unrest Medium Risk Protests and strikes over austerity measures are common nationwide, particularly at the Polytechnic University area, the Exarchia and Syntagma squares in Athens and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. Clashes with security forces are common and can result in serious injury and disruptions. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Greece 4 Crime Moderate Risk Violent crime is rare across the country, but petty crime is common in large cities, particularly Athens and Thessaloniki. Police services are, however, reliable. Natural and Environmental Moderate Risk The country is vulnerable to earthquakes, while wildfires often trigger disruptions during the summer season (June to August). The country's infrastructure and emergency response services meet European standards, but may fall below it in rural and remote areas of Peloponnesus, Epirus and Macedonia. Tsunamis and floods during storms and heavy rainfall are possible, but they are uncommon. Health and Medical Moderate Risk Public medical facilities meet international standards in Athens and Thessaloniki, but may fall below European standards elsewhere, requiring travellers to seek private facilities, which can be expensive. Access to some high-quality prescription drugs may also be limited or expensive, but infectious diseases present little to no risk to travellers. Local Travel Low Risk Road conditions are generally good, yet Greece has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities in the EU due to aggressive driving styles and speeding. Public transport, including trains, ferries and buses, is well-maintained and widely available and air travel is safe and efficient. Riskline / Country Report / 29 August 2021 / Greece 5 Political Overview : Moderate Risk In parliamentary polls held on 25 January 2015, the populist left-wing SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) won 149 out of 300 seats. The party's victory came amid a wave of popular discontent with painful austerity measures imposed on the Greek government under the terms of an international financial bailout. Syriza created a coalition government with the right-wing anti-austerity ANEL (Independent Greeks) party, with Alexis Tsipras at the helm as prime minister. Only months after the election in June 2015, the country plummeted into further economic uncertainty as the new ruling party faced-off with European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) leaders demanding Athens introduce additional austerity measures in order to receive a third comprehensive financial bailout. At the height of the economic uncertainty, the government introduced a series of capital controls, prompting banks to close for three weeks. Ultimately, the government capitulated, agreeing to implement additional austerity measures in exchange for a massive bailout, amid major social discontent for the perceived betrayal of the result of a referendum over the acceptance of the austerity measures held on 5 July, which were rejected by over 61 percent of the voters. On 20 August, Tsipras resigned after seven months in office, vowing to hold snap elections on 20 September. However, the election was surprisingly won by SYRIZA, which came only six seats short of an absolute majority, forcing Tsipras to create a new coalition with ANEL. Despite what was seen by many at home as a betrayal, Tsipras managed to steer the country through the difficult waters of the austerity programme until in August 2018 Greece exited the huge EUR86-billion bailout programme. Tsipras also managed to end a decade-long conflict with Greece's northern neighbor by signing the Prespa agreements with his counterpart Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, which officially changed the name of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the Republic of North Macedonia, removing Athens' veto to Skopje's entry path to the EU and NATO, despite some opposition at home. However, following a defeat in European Parliament and local elections held in May 2019, Tsipras called for an early election for 7 July 2019. The polls were won by centre-right Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the Nea Dimokratia (ND) party which secured 158 seats – enough to create an absolute majority. Even as SYRIZA lost 59 seats, another big defeat in the elections was the far-right Golden Dawn, which only managed to win 2.93 percent of the vote after being seen for years as a potential threat to Greece's political establishment. Mitsotakis will lead the first post-bailout government and his main tasks will be to solidify a recovering economy while continuing to reduce public debt.