Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-11-17

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] EU Commission expresses concern over security in hotspots

[02] Work stoppages in metro, tram and electric train

[01] EU Commission expresses concern over security in hotspots

Following Belgium's decision to withdraw their asylum experts who are on the islands citing personal security reasons, the Commission's spokeswoman on migration, Natasha Bertaud, said on Thursday that EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos sent a letter to Greek Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas on November 4 stressing the need to safeguard the experts' security and the condition in the hotspots to be improved immediately.

According to the spokeswoman, there is constant communication between the European institutions and the Greek authorities, including the European Asylum Service, that has taken a series of measures such as additional staff, infrastructures and equipment. As regards the additional special support staff requested to be sent to the Greek islands from the other member states, Bertaud said the that the condition is getting better.

Regarding last night clashes on Chios, she said that the Commission is closely monitoring the situation. "The security in the hotspots is a responsibility of the national authorities, however, we are jointly working for the improvement of the situation."

On his part, the European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas underlined that the Commission's target is that no member state in the first line to be left alone in the management of the crisis.

[02] Work stoppages in metro, tram and electric train

More specifically, the Athens metro and tram will not operate on Friday, from the beginning of the shift until 10 am and the electric train from 12.00 to 16.00. On Monday, November 21, the electric train will not operate from the beginning of the shift until 10 am. On Tuesday, November 22, the metro and the tram will not operate from 12.00 to 16.00. On Thursday, November 24 the electric train will not operate from 21.00 until the end of the shift.

The electric train will also not operate on Saturday, November 26 (21.00 until the end of the shift), Monday, November 28 (beginning of shift until 10.00), Wednesday, November 30 (12.00-16.00) and Friday, December 2 (from 21.00 until end of shift).

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