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Book loans from Greece's public and municipal libraries rose 3.6% in 2025, marking a second consecutive year of growth and underscoring libraries' continued role in expanding access to literature and knowledge, according to data released by Greece's collective rights management organization for written works, OSDEL. Libraries that reported data recorded 876,885 total loans in 2025, up from 846,225 the previous year — an increase of 30,660 loans. Factoring in libraries that did not submit figures, OSDEL estimates total public and municipal library loans nationwide approached 2 million for the year, excluding school and academic libraries. Municipal librariesaccounted for the majority of loans, at 65.85%, compared with 34.15% for public libraries. OSDEL gathered data from 247 libraries nationwide, though response rates varied significantly by region, with Western and Central Macedonia reporting particularly strong participation. Several libraries said they lacked the technical capacity to export or transmit loan data, highlighting gaps in digital infrastructure. Adult fiction dominated borrowing patterns, accounting for 44.5% of all loans, followed by children's fiction (17.4%), illustrated children's books (13.7%) and science titles (7%) — together representing more than three-quarters of total loans. Greek authors remained especially popular among readers, led by Eugenios Trivizas, novelist Lena Manta and German writer Jurgen Banscherus. Readers split fairly evenly between newer and older titles: 24.5% of loans were books published within the last five years, another 24.5% were six to ten years old, and nearly 20% were more than two decades old — reflecting both current releases and libraries' constrained budgets for acquiring the newest titles. The data comes as OSDEL continues tracking Greece's public lending compensation system, which ensures authors, translators, illustrators and publishers are paid when libraries lend their work, in line with European and national law. by Katerina Poulopoulou Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr Book loans from Greece's public and municipal libraries rose 3.6% in 2025, marking a second consecutive year of growth and underscoring libraries' continued role in expanding access to literature and knowledge, according to data released by Greece's collective rights management organization for written works, OSDEL. Libraries that reported data recorded 876,885 total loans in 2025, up from 846,225 the previous year — an increase of 30,660 loans. Factoring in libraries that did not submit figures, OSDEL estimates total public and municipal library loans nationwide approached 2 million for the year, excluding school and academic libraries. Municipal librariesaccounted for the majority of loans, at 65.85%, compared with 34.15% for public libraries. OSDEL gathered data from 247 libraries nationwide, though response rates varied significantly by region, with Western and Central Macedonia reporting particularly strong participation. Several libraries said they lacked the technical capacity to export or transmit loan data, highlighting gaps in digital infrastructure. Adult fiction dominated borrowing patterns, accounting for 44.5% of all loans, followed by children's fiction (17.4%), illustrated children's books (13.7%) and science titles (7%) — together representing more than three-quarters of total loans. Greek authors remained especially popular among readers, led by Eugenios Trivizas, novelist Lena Manta and German writer Jurgen Banscherus. Readers split fairly evenly between newer and older titles: 24.5% of loans were books published within the last five years, another 24.5% were six to ten years old, and nearly 20% were more than two decades old — reflecting both current releases and libraries' constrained budgets for acquiring the newest titles. The data comes as OSDEL continues tracking Greece's public lending compensation system, which ensures authors, translators, illustrators and publishers are paid when libraries lend their work, in line with European and national law. by Katerina Poulopoulou Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

Greece will disburse a one-time €400 payment to roughly 2.2 million pensioners and welfare recipients on Nov. 30, with the funds deposited automatically into bank accounts and no application required, the government confirmed. The payment, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair earlier this month, marks an increase from last year's €300 bonus. Unlike in previous years, the benefit carries no income or asset restrictions — eligibility does not depend on how much a recipient earns or owns, as long as other basic conditions are met. Those eligible include pensioners over 65, survivors' pension recipients over 60, people with disabilities regardless of age, and uninsured elderly individuals receiving benefits through Greece's welfare agency OPEKA. The government has said the payment is a one-off measure and does not represent a permanent increase to pension amounts. Total spending on the measure is estimated at approximately €878.8 million. Payments will be credited through participating banks, with the exact timing on Nov. 30 depending on individual banks' processing schedules. The move is part of a broader package of household support measures the government has rolled out this year amid continued cost-of-living pressures, alongside earlier one-time payments and pension increases funded by Greece's improved fiscal position. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr Greece will disburse a one-time €400 payment to roughly 2.2 million pensioners and welfare recipients on Nov. 30, with the funds deposited automatically into bank accounts and no application required, the government confirmed. The payment, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair earlier this month, marks an increase from last year's €300 bonus. Unlike in previous years, the benefit carries no income or asset restrictions — eligibility does not depend on how much a recipient earns or owns, as long as other basic conditions are met. Those eligible include pensioners over 65, survivors' pension recipients over 60, people with disabilities regardless of age, and uninsured elderly individuals receiving benefits through Greece's welfare agency OPEKA. The government has said the payment is a one-off measure and does not represent a permanent increase to pension amounts. Total spending on the measure is estimated at approximately €878.8 million. Payments will be credited through participating banks, with the exact timing on Nov. 30 depending on individual banks' processing schedules. The move is part of a broader package of household support measures the government has rolled out this year amid continued cost-of-living pressures, alongside earlier one-time payments and pension increases funded by Greece's improved fiscal position. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare married traditional folk singer Maria Mihali thi weekend in a religious ceremony at Bucharest's historic Cașin Church, with Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis serving as best man alongside his wife, Dimitra. Mr. Pierrakakis's presence gave the ceremony an unusual bilingual character, with part of the service conducted in Greek. Mrs. Mihali, who performs traditional music from Romania's northern Maramureș region, arrived at the church escorted by her father, wearing a white gown with a floral-appliqued corset, a fitted mermaid-style skirt, a long train and veil, and carrying a bouquet of yellow and pink peonies. Mr. Nazare, 46, has held Romania's finance portfolio twice, first briefly in 2020-2021 and again since June 2025 under Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. A former European Parliament member and past transport minister, he also led Romania's successful bid to host the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre in 2020. Mrs. Mihali, in addition to her music career, holds degrees in business administration and business development management, according to Romanian media reports. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare married traditional folk singer Maria Mihali thi weekend in a religious ceremony at Bucharest's historic Cașin Church, with Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis serving as best man alongside his wife, Dimitra. Mr. Pierrakakis's presence gave the ceremony an unusual bilingual character, with part of the service conducted in Greek. Mrs. Mihali, who performs traditional music from Romania's northern Maramureș region, arrived at the church escorted by her father, wearing a white gown with a floral-appliqued corset, a fitted mermaid-style skirt, a long train and veil, and carrying a bouquet of yellow and pink peonies. Mr. Nazare, 46, has held Romania's finance portfolio twice, first briefly in 2020-2021 and again since June 2025 under Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. A former European Parliament member and past transport minister, he also led Romania's successful bid to host the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre in 2020. Mrs. Mihali, in addition to her music career, holds degrees in business administration and business development management, according to Romanian media reports. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr