Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the enthronement of Abbot Symeon at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai on Thursday, declaring the preservation of its Greek Orthodox character a “national duty.” His presence signalled the end of a diplomatic rift with Egypt over a court ruling transferring monastery lands to the state, with both sides now “very close” to a final agreement that secures the site’s religious autonomy and operational future.
Tag: residency permits
The Greek Golden Visa program saw a 26.5% decline in applications in June 2025, with 441 new requests compared to 600 the previous year, according to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. This marks a shift from the surge triggered by government changes to investment thresholds since 2022. Chinese and Turkish investors continue to lead, holding 7,795 and 2,161 permits, respectively, while Attica remains the top destination. The Real Estate Committee of SAEE insists the program, which has injected over €8.5 billion into Greek real estate, does not fuel the housing crisis, with 94% of properties available for long-term rental.
The allure of Greece’s sun-soaked landscapes and rich cultural heritage is drawing record numbers of American buyers to its vacation home market as interest from U.S. buyers surges dramatically following the recent U.S. elections.
