New tariff rules for purchases of goods up to €150 in value from countries outside the EU are coming into force from 1st July 2026, according to an announcement by the AADE. Replacing the current duty-free regime for products below a certain value threshold, a special import duty of €3.00 will be imposed for each different category of goods purchased from third countries via e-commerce.
Continue readingLagocephalus subsidy to be piloted in Crete
The government has announced a pilot scheme to pay a bounty for the lagocephalus in the Regions of Crete and the South Aegean. Professional fishermen will receive a reward of €5.33 per kg for helping to stem the dangerous spread of the foreign species in Greek waters. The targeted fishing scheme is an attempt to save the marine ecosystem and to provide practical support to the fishing sector.
Continue readingThe lagocephalus – a threat to fishermen, a hazard for bathers
One of a number of Lessepsian invaders – species which have found their way into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal – the lagocephalus sceleratus belongs to the family of blowfish (tetraodontidae) which are characterised by carrying a deadly neurotoxin which can be fatal if their flesh is eaten. Known in Japan as fugu, certain types of blowfish are considered a delicacy there and chefs have to go through several years of rigorous training to learn how to remove the poisonous organs (chiefly the liver) so as to make the fish safe for human consumption. It is not clear whether the lagocephalus sceleratus comes into this category, but what is certain is that the fish should not be consumed under any normal circumstances.
Continue readingAn agreement to promote religious tourism in Chania
Prospects for the development of religious and pilgrimage tourism in Chania were discussed by members of the Management Board of the Hoteliers’ Union of Chania with Titus, Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas, during a meeting which took place on 3rd June 2026, following the latter’s election and recent assumption of his pastoral duties.
Continue readingLand clearance deadline extended by a week
The Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has this week been sending a strong message on the clearance of building plots, the deadline for which has been extended to 22nd June, with no further extensions envisaged. The Minister, Evangelos Tournas, has been sounding the alarm over uncleared plots which are sources of inflammable materials and can contribute to the spread of fires.
Continue readingWomen in khaki – the Greek Army takes in its first female recruits
Thursday 4th June marked a historic day for the Greek Army as its first group of female volunteers presented themselves at the Military Training Centre in Lamia for induction. There are already women in Greek Army, making up about 17% of the total personnel, but they are people who volunteered individually and entered mainly after attending military colleges. The current intake represents the first mass recruitment of volunteers to enter at the infantry level – the Army refers to them as hoplites, an Ancient Greek term for the citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states.
Continue readingConcern over young Europeans’ behaviour behind the wheel
The new lane changes and other measures introduced on parts of the VOAK over the past year will, it is hoped, do much to reduce the fatal accidents which have long blighted the highway’s safety record. In particular, they should reduce the likelihood of head-on collisions which have been the main source of fatalities.
Continue readingThe social life of wild goats – studying kri-kris on Theodorou island
The social behaviour of the Cretan wild goats on Theodorou island off Platanias is to be recorded using cameras and drones by scientists working mostly at foreign universities, in collaboration with the University of Crete and the local Forestry Service. The project comes under the heading of ethology – a branch of science which studies the behaviour of animals in their natural environment. For the researchers, “free from human intervention, the isolated population of Cretan wild goats on Theodorou island constitutes an ideal system for studying the relationships between the heterogeneity of habitats and the characteristics of social networks.”
Continue readingAdvisory irrigation schedules published for 2026
The Region of Crete has begun to publish weekly bulletins advising on the amount of irrigation needed for different crops, depending on the weather conditions etc. The following link takes one to a master page for the irrigation bulletins: https://www.crete.gov.gr/category/anakoinoseis/enimerosi-agroton/nea-agroton/
Continue readingThe Kipos Cinema programme for June to September 2026
As previously announced, the Kipos Municipal Cinema will operate until 20th September 2026, with daily showings and a rich programme which includes films for all ages and all cinematic interests. Specifically:
— Every Monday and Tuesday children’s films will be shown.
— Every Wednesday and Thursday the programme will be devoted to cinephile showings, with selected films from Greece and abroad.