The German Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it was giving consular assistance to two German journalists who had been detained in Greece.

The 33-year-old woman and her 31-year-old male colleague said they were reporting on migrants returning home from Germany for public broadcaster ARD when they were arrested near the Greek-Turkish border.

According to the German Embassy in Athens, the pair was held for working without a permit. They are slated to be interrogated by the prosecutor's office later on Saturday.

Read more: Greece: Refugees living in limbo

While comparable incidents concerning journalists in the European Union are generally swiftly resolved, Greek law categorizes illicit recording in a military zone as a "serious criminal act."

According to the journalists' lawyer, Dimitrios Kadoglou, the German pair could even be brought before the judge on Saturday in an accelerated procedure, provided they agree. The reporters would also have the right to an appointment at a later date so they can prepare their defense.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland An old factory on the outskirts of Thebes At the premises of the old Sakiroglou textile factory, in an industrial area just outside Thebes, a new reception center for refugees and migrants with a capacity of 700 people was launched last spring. Thebes hosts mainly refugee families and unaccompanied minors who have come from the islands, primarily Lesbos. They live here in container facilities or small apartments.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland The school year has started On the day we visited the camp in Thebes, refugees and migrants were being registered for language and integration courses. Αpart from the UN refugee agency and the IOM, Greek NGOs such as ARSIS as well as international ones like Solidarity Now are active here. Doctors of the World provides primary health care. This refugee camp is also supported by the local government and the army.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Eleonas, a refugee village in Athens After Thebes, our second stop was Eleonas in Attica, close to the center of Athens. This is the first open refugee hosting center, which began operating in 2015, when the refugee crisis reached its peak. Despite its problems, it was considered from the very beginning to be an exemplary center for Greece, unlike the first reception and accommodation centers on the Aegean islands.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Emphasis on education Many of the refugees and migrants hosted in Eleona want to leave for Central and Northern Europe — mostly Germany. They are offered intensive English and German courses, as well as Greek courses for those who are considering staying in Greece or those who just want to feel a bit more integrated into Greek society.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Disturbing the calm waters of Kavala The massive arrival of migrants last year at the port of Kavala rocked the quiet northern city. Many people rushed to see the newcomers. Most welcomed or simply accepted all those who fled from their homelands. This photo was taken by journalist Giorgos Karanikas.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Volunteers and municipal workers at Kavala's refugee camp According to the volunteers and residents of the city, the majority of people have no problem with the refugees and migrants hosted in the former military camp, not far from the city center. Most people who work here want to help. Despina Tsolakidou and Evi Drakonti are two of them.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Ioannina: An old οrphanage turns into a refugee center The former children's institution of Aghia Eleni, created shortly after the Second World War by Queen Frideriki, has been transformed into new accommodation for refugees and migrants. Mostly families are hosted here, waiting for their reunification applications to be processed. Until then, they are preparing for the cold winter.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland The teacher from Aleppo Every single person at the refugee camps has his or her own story, anxieties and journey through the war zones of Syria, the mountains of Turkey, or the turbulent waters of the Aegean. Amsa was a high school teacher from Aleppo. A bomb killed her daughter. She is stranded in Greece waiting for her family reunification application to be accepted. Meanwhile, she teaches Arabic to volunteers.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland Konitsa, the small city that never forgets Even Konitsa, at the Greek-Albanian border, offers accommodation to refugees mainly from Syria. Most of them told DW that they feel safe and welcome here. Konitsa Mayor Andreas Papaspyrou told us that the city itself has a refugee past. In the early 1920's, Greek Orthodox refugees from Asia Minor and Cappadocia found a new home here.

What life is like for refugees on the Greek mainland 'We want to go to Germany' Konitsa's accommodation center hosts approximately 80 people who belong to so-called vulnerable groups. Most of them stay here temporarily, while others already have the green light to leave Greece. The Derwish family from Qamishli, Syria left their homeland in order to secure a peaceful future for their kids. They only have one destination in mind: Germany. Author: Dimitra Kyranoudi



Greece and Turkey's troubled border

The area where the two journalists were detained finds itself on a popular route for Europe-bound migrants fleeing conflict and persecution in Africa and the Middle East.

The Evros River, which runs along the border between Greece and Turkey, has been a common migrant crossing for many years, although that number has since decreased since the EU's migrant pact with Turkey came into force in March 2016.

Read more: EU relocations: the good, the bad, and the ugly

The region has been particularly tense in recent weeks after Turkish authorities last week detained two Greek servicemen after they accidentally strayed across the border during a patrol.

Ankara has accused the soldiers of espionage and trying to "invade a military zone." Athens maintains that they are being held hostage. Both sides have since increased the number of troops deployed in the area.

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dm/jlw (dpa, AFP)