Mitsotakis: It is time to remove every threat in our mutual relations; Erdogan: Thorny issues are not unresolvable, under international law
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had an opportunity to carry out an analytical and comprehensive review of bilateral Greek-Turkish relations in the last two-plus years, during a joint press conference following the Greece-Türkiye High-Level Cooperation Council in Ankara on Wednesday.
Independent lawmakers now form third-largest group in Parliament
An opposition lawmaker formally announced Wednesday that she’s leaving the small populist leftwing party she was elected with, raising the number of independent lawmakers in Parliament to 26 – the third largest parliamentary group. Following the departure of Course of Freedom (Plefsi Eleftherias) lawmaker Eleni Karageorgopoulou, the party she was elected with now has five seats, just one shy of losing its formal designation as a parliamentary group.
Entire Peloponnese Region placed on ‘Red Code’ alert over threat of flooding Thursday-Friday
The Region of the Peloponnese was placed under ‘Red Code’ alert on Wednesday through Friday (Jan 13), due to worsening weather. The General Secretariat of Civil Protection placed the entire region on alert following an updated emergency bulletin issued by the National Meteorological Service that warns of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gale-force winds in western Greece – including the Ionian Islands of Zakynthos, Cephalonia, and Ithaca – and a heightened threat of flooding from Thursday afternoon to at least Friday morning.
Greek 10-year bond yield falls to 3.34%
The yield on the 10-year Greek government bond fell to 3.34% on Wednesday, from 3.375% according to the Public Debt Management Agency, which saw the reopening of the note get oversubscribed 2.62 times, to raise €300 million. The total bids in the reissue of bonds reached €785 million.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1295049/greek-10-year-bond-yield-falls-to-3-34
ΑΤΗΕΧ: Late rally offsets all early losses
Despite the selling spree in the morning and the pressure on bank stocks, the Greek stock market somehow managed to avoid any losses for its benchmark upon closing on Wednesday. Non-banking blue chips increasingly gathered buying interest as the session went along, though most small-caps remain in the wilderness for the majority of investors, despite their considerable potential. That meant declining stocks outnumbered gainers.
KATHIMERINI: Casus belli under discussion
TA NEA: Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting: Half step forward
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: EU favors industries at the expense of European peoples
RIZOSPASTIS: Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting: “Agendas” and agreements in favor of businesses and NATO will not bring peace and calmness to the people
KONTRA NEWS: Rigid agenda set by Erdogan
DIMOKRATIA: Mitsotakis submits to Erdogan
NAFTEMPORIKI: Historical high for foreign investors in ATHEX
DRIVING THE DAY
STORM THE CASTLE, SAVE EUROPE: It may be a curtain-raiser for the European Council in March, but there’s a lot riding on today’s informal gathering at Belgium’s historic Alden Biesen castle.
Top European Union leaders and officials, while receiving some tough love from the two former Italian prime ministers invited to address the gathering, will brainstorm on competitiveness behind closed doors. There are likely to be few hard outcomes today, but we should get some real clues about whether the bloc is truly serious about shifting gears on Europe’s place in the world.
Lower the drawbridge: Doorsteps will start at 9:30 a.m. The meetings will kick off at 10:30 a.m., featuring the customary pre-summit exchange with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Mario Draghi will speak at 11 a.m. But will the former European Central Bank president pull his punches? Or will the dragon roar, letting loose another “whatever it takes” moment with national leaders and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the house?
Send a Letta: The same question applies to the other former Italian prime minister, Enrico Letta, who will address the meeting after a working lunch. Letta is set to outline his single-market vision at 3 p.m. — pitching 2027 as the year in which key goals must be reached. If his recent comments to Playbook are anything to go by, he will say there’s not a moment to waste.
The meeting of the 27 leaders will continue after that, with proceedings expected to wrap up by 6:30 p.m. Von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and some national leaders are expected to attend a press conference at the end of the gathering. And it’s then that the real signals of how the day has panned out are likely to emerge.
Several leaders are expected to appear (some possibly in clusters) at the presser, offering clues about which elements of the competitiveness agenda they want to elevate. (Livestream here.) Also watch the standard post-meeting remarks from von der Leyen and Costa. The emphasis — and the omissions — will matter.
What to look out for: The pre-meeting scuttlebutt suggests the future of the Savings and Investment Union and the controversial “Europe Inc.” concept may rate a mention. But the broader themes of the meeting go beyond individual policies and initiatives. Here are a few themes to watch:
1. Only the fax: Brussels bristles at being blamed for overregulation. Just yesterday, von der Leyen shot back in Parliament, pointing to national practices as the true culprit. She said that “some member states, for example, only accept correspondence by fax.” Will she repeat that message in front of leaders?
2. Competing Europe(s)? France is pushing “Made in Europe,” deeper integration and possibly eurobonds — with Spain broadly falling in line. Meanwhile, closer ties between Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni hint at another power axis (for lack of a better term). Will these tribal lines appear in the final statements?
3. Better together? The recent Ukraine funding workaround — with three countries opting out — revived the concept of “enhanced cooperation.” It’s a Pandora’s box that has now been opened. Smaller coalitions, like the so-called Big Six, are increasingly active. Does this mean a faster, multi-speed Europe — and a less overbearing Commission?
4. Is Parliament back? At the informal summit in Copenhagen in October, some leaders criticized the European Parliament for being too slow. But interinstitutional coordination has improved since then. Metsola’s cabinet told Playbook it doesn’t expect a blame-game on this front. “There’d be very little reason to do so, and everyone is interested in delivering.”
5. Ukraine envoy? Rumors continue to swirl about the appointment of an EU envoy for Ukraine. One EU official said the topic “might come up,” even though it’s unrelated to the meeting. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker signaled in a press briefing ahead of the retreat that he’s open to dialogue, adding: “If [Vladimir] Putin is interested in negotiations, he will negotiate with someone equipped with a mandate.”
FOLLOW IT HERE: POLITICO will be there through the day and covering all the developments in our live blog.
IN QATARGATE’S WAKE
FIRST MEETING SINCE SCANDAL: At 9:30 a.m. today, the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula holds its first formal meeting with Qatar since diplomatic ties were frozen after the 2022 Qatargate cash-for-influence scandal. (The Belgian judicial case remains ongoing).
Nowhere to be found: Don’t go looking for details of the meeting or its agenda on the Parliament’s website — there’s nothing there. But the lead lawmaker on Arab Peninsula relations, Reinhold Lopatka, confirmed the meeting to POLITICO. “I am confident that we can strengthen dialogue and cooperation with our partners from Qatar for our mutual benefit,” he said.
Popcorn emoji: While this particular meeting was not publicly advertised, interparliamentary events are typically open. So …
On the table: According to the agenda obtained by POLITICO, discussions will cover EU-Qatar interparliamentary cooperation, “enhanced cooperation” amid global and regional security tensions (read: from Washington to Sudan) and bilateral economic ties “with particular focus on trade, investment, renewable energy and sustainable development.”
The Qataris are also likely to push for a bilateral visa liberalization, one official said.
Who’s in the room: The Qatari delegation is led by Yousef bin Ali Al-Khater, chair of the internal and external affairs committee of the Shura Council, an advisory assembly. On the EU side, Lopatka and several MEPs will attend, alongside Mathieu Briens, director for the Gulf at the Commission’s DG MENA.
Restrictions lifted: After Qatargate erupted, Qatari lobbyists were barred from Parliament’s premises, with access for diplomats and officials tightly restricted and monitored. Those measures were lifted in February 2025 by Parliament’s leadership.
EU–GULF DIPLOMACY — RELOADED: Heads of state and government, senior policymakers and business leaders will gather from May 15 to May 17 for the first-ever Europe-Gulf Forum. Playbook can exclusively reveal some of the big names: Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
More than a gabfest: The first-of-its-kind Europe-Gulf Forum was launched on the margins of the 80th U.N. General Assembly in New York, with backing from numerous governments. The initiative is spearheaded by Theodore Kyriakou, chairman of Antenna Group, a Greek media company, and Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, a U.S. foreign-policy think tank.
PARLIAMENT’S TRANSFER WINDOW
MIDTERM RESHUFFLE: Lawmaker Lukas Sieper, from the German Party of Progress, is joining the European Parliament’s liberal Renew Europe group, he told POLITICO. The move officially kicks off what promises to be a year of internal horse-trading ahead of the midterm reset in January 2027, when Parliament’s top jobs are renegotiated and groups scramble to bulk up.
Why Renew? Sieper says the group’s ideological diversity is part of the appeal. “Joining a group that is not, at least from the outset, seen as one-on-one representing a certain political ideology is the best thing for us,” he said, highlighting the mix of liberal, green-leaning and more conservative strands within Renew. That diversity, he argues, leaves room for pragmatic deviations from the party line.
The Italian twist: But the European Parliament’s transfer window has only just opened. Elisabetta Gualmini, an Italian MEP from Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, is also preparing to jump ship, according to three parliamentary officials.
Renewed open arms: Gualmini is expected to leave both her national party and the Socialist and Democrats group, with two officials saying she might also join Renew Europe. A spokesperson for Renew said no formal request has been received but that an application would be “considered positively.”
The numbers game: Renew is currently the Parliament’s fifth-largest group and is eyeing fourth place, currently held by the European Conservatives and Reformists. With Sieper’s arrival, Renew sits three seats short of overtaking ECR — or two, if Gualmini ultimately makes the move.
“We are a very constructive group and we are interested in gaining more members,” Renew Chair Valérie Hayer said Tuesday at a press conference.
Let’s go shopping! “Groups are reaching out to every single MEP that could flip; the MEP shopping is all over the place,” said a Greens parliamentary assistant, who noted that lawmakers across the hemicycle have been approached.
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE
BAVARIA BOUND: The annual pilgrimage to the Munich Security Conference kicks off Friday — and, yes, POLITICO will be live on the ground through Sunday (here’s our coverage so far), along with the now-famous POLITICO Pub for networking (congratulations if you’ve secured access). Side events are already underway from today.
Commissioners incoming: Several members of the College have already landed in Bavaria. Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen is delivering a keynote today, while Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius is set to take part in a roundtable on the threat of algorithmic propaganda.
How many commissioners? A lot. We asked the Commission for an official tally — no reply yet. A scan of the weekly agenda suggests 12 Commissioners will attend: roughly 44 percent of the College. That makes Munich one of the most heavily attended events outside Brussels — second only to … confidence votes involving Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Attendance overkill? The conference is highly thematic and sector-specific. So why such a large turnout? Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho argued earlier this week that Munich is about more than the formal panels — it’s a rare opportunity to engage a critical mass of global leaders and ministers in one place.
Raised eyebrows: Water resilience and agriculture commissioners, for instance: Why are they at a security conference? One Commission official offered a succinct justification: Future conflicts will be fought over water and food. Case closed.
TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA
DO YOU COME FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER? Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen will meet Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell in Brussels today, as part of ongoing talks on a trade deal. As Koen Verhelst reports, the sticking point remains agricultural quotas — notably beef and sheep meat. And when agriculture joins trade at the table, you know the file is sensitive.
Can you hear the thunder? Monday’s technical talks reportedly deteriorated to the point where some on the EU side worried Farrell might not board his flight to Brussels, according to an official with knowledge of the negotiations. And beef wasn’t the only problem. Cars, the pricing of critical raw materials and geographical indications (yes, naming Italian cheeses) remain unresolved. This negotiation has been marketed as low-hanging fruit — but it isn’t.
Better run, better take cover: A second collapse in talks would be damaging for EU-Australia ties — particularly after last week’s optimism, when von der Leyen appeared close to flying to Australia to seal the deal. Margins on both sides now look thin and the hoped-for breakthrough hasn’t materialized.
IN OTHER NEWS
PLAYBOOK FOLLOW-UP: The Slovak rule-of-law debate we previewed Wednesday unfolded with one headline moment: Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath committed to conducting a “virtual visit” to Slovakia as part of preparations for the 2026 Rule of Law Report. Corruption concerns in Slovakia, however, continue to swirl.
NATO ALLIES FALL OUT OF LOVE WITH WASHINGTON: New results from The Politico Poll reveal U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to rewrite longstanding international relationships, particularly in Europe, are repelling traditionally loyal partners. Across all countries polled, including Germany and Canada, far more people described the U.S. as an unreliable ally than a reliable one.
FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY: Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef will attend the 50th Ordinary Congress of UEFA, where he’ll speak along with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Micallef and Infantino have recently diverged on ticketing policies and on lifting the ban on Russian athletes. No bilateral meeting is officially scheduled, but nor is one ruled out.
PARLIAMENT VS. COMMISSION COURT DAY: At 9:30 a.m., the Court of Justice of the European Union delivers its advocate general’s opinion on whether the Commission broke EU law by unfreezing €10 billion for Hungary in December 2023 — funds previously withheld over rule-of-law concerns. MEPs believe the executive acted out of political expediency.
What’s at stake: The opinion follows a hearing in October 2025 and a final judgment is expected in the coming months. The case goes to the heart of institutional power: How much discretion does the Commission have when assessing compliance with rule-of-law conditions? The court’s eventual ruling will set important precedent.
LUFTHANSA STRIKE: Heading to the Munich Security Conference? Double-check your boarding pass. Lufthansa warned Wednesday that a strike announced “at short notice” for Thursday is expected to disrupt its flight schedule across all German airports — including the key hubs of Frankfurt and Munich, as Tommaso Lecca reports.