Energy tops Cairo Summit agenda
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travels to Cairo on Wednesday for the 10th Trilateral Summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, a high-stakes meeting held against a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1257973/energy-tops-cairo-summit-agenda
Turkey’s naval build-up has Hellenic Navy considering the purchase of more ships
The announcement of the shipbuilding program by the Turkish Armed Forces and the geopolitical challenges in the wider region have prompted the Hellenic Navy to explore acquiring more ships.
January electricity subsidy set at 1.5 cents per kWh
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, a subsidy of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour has been fixed in electricity tariffs for January. This has resulted in the final consumer price being around 14 cents.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/875001/January-electricity-subsidy-set-at-15-cents-per-kWh
Stores to open on two Sundays over the winter sales
The winter sales are starting as usual on the second Monday of the year, i.e. on January 13, but this time there will be two instead of one proposed Sundays for retail store operation.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1257946/stores-to-open-on-two-sundays-over-the-winter-sales
Bourse index climbs to new 13-year high
On Tuesday Greek stocks followed the trend set by fellow eurozone markets on Monday (given the long weekend domestically), sending the benchmark of the local bourse to highs unseen since April 2011. Led by bank stocks, the main index climbed above the 1,500-point level for only its second time in the last few months and continued climbing fed by the increased turnover that reflected market optimism for the new year.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1257988/bourse-index-climbs-to-new-13-year-high
KATHIMERINI: Israel: Turkey is becoming the new Iran
TA NEA: Flu and COVID-19 spike: Are we in danger due to the wave of infections?
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Coup d’ état by employers regarding arbitration proceedings
RIZOSPASTIS: “Heart-attack” for state hospitals due to the collapse of primary healthcare
KONTRA NEWS: Wave of confiscations of dangerous food products
DIMOKRATIA: Full guide regarding “Exikonomo” power saving program for households and the boiler change program
NAFTEMPORIKI: The new TAXIS system will have a centenarian memory
PEEKING UNDER THE COVERS
NEW MANDATE, NEW MEDIA: As the new European Commission enters its second month, many journalists returning to their keyboards in Brussels this week are also navigating unfamiliar office environments. Some of the biggest media outlets in town are now led by new editors.
All change in the fourth estate: Matt Karnitschnig is the new editor-in-chief of Euractiv … Elena Sánchez Nicolás has been promoted to editor-in-chief of EUObserver … Claus Strunz is now CEO and editorial director of Euronews … Philip Herd started as editor-in-chief of the Brussels Times in November … and Playbook hears Contexte will soon announce an editor to lead its English-language expansion. Plus POLITICO’s own Brussels newsroom is on the hunt for a new top editor (hello, future boss, if you’re reading).
The Springer feeder school: Several outlets focused on EU politics are now led in some capacity by current or former big-hitters from German publishing giant Axel Springer (POLITICO’s owner). Euractiv’s Karnitschnig is a former colleague of ours, as is MLex Managing Editor Kait Bolongaro; Euronews’ Strunz previously worked for Springer’s BILD tabloid in Germany.
IT’S ALL RIGHT? Some recent moves suggest the town’s media might be following its institutions in a rightward tilt. There are ongoing concerns at Euronews about the possible influence of Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán, who has ties to its owner. Editorial boss Strunz reportedly assured his journalists last October that he wouldn’t impose his own views on programming. But since then reporters at the EU-funded publication have revolted over what they alleged were “partisan and non-sourced stances” Strunz has taken on the outgoing German government and Donald Trump’s reelection in the U.S.
Not so cozy: Other outlets with a decidedly more critical take on the EU and its institutions are becoming more active: the European Conservative led coverage on a German MEP who employed an alleged Chinese spy, and the Brussels Signal start-up (which is also linked to Hungary via its publisher) does news and sit-downs with far-right politicians — but also with the likes of former liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld. Signal’s Head of News Justin Stares said his outlet aims to do away with “cozy” reporting and instead fill a gap that “a lot of people on the right” are happy to see catered to.
The rosy take: The influx of right-wingers and Euroskeptics into the media bubble “proves that Brussels matters, that EU policies matter,” argued Margaritis Schinas, a former European Commission vice president and spokesman. He described the new landscape as “an adaptation to changing realities … The diversity of outlets and views here reflects the breadth of European politics.”
On the Hungarian influence (and money) flowing into the Brussels media bubble, Schinas said: “These outlets are part of a broader trend where certain national political players seek to shape the narrative in Brussels.” He added (oh-so-optimistically): “I believe that any outlet that consistently broadcasts only one narrative won’t get very far.” More from Schinas below.
The less rosy take: “What worries me is that a more right-leaning media is more likely to embrace and normalise narratives that are gravitating towards those of the radical right,” wrote EUobserver Publisher Alejandro Tauber on LinkedIn last month.
Something for the Euro-boomers: Still, not everyone is going down the Euroskeptic route. La Matinale Européenne is a free daily Substack newsletter (known for its Piepergate scoop), written by journalists David Carretta, Christian Spillmann and Idafe Martín Pérez. “I call it the newsletter of the ‘EU boomers,’ nostalgic for a certain Europeanism of the past,” Carretta told Playbook.
HITTING THE AIRWAVES: In the podcast space, there’s Euronews’ Radio Schuman (hosted by POLITICO alum Maïa de la Baume and Eleonora Vasques), Euractiv’s Today in the EU podcast (with Giada Santana) and Long Story Short from Europod’s Evi Kiorri. On TV, Euronews is expanding its slate of weekly shows, adding the French-language “Bruxelles, je t’aime?” to the schedule (filling a gap left by Jean Quatremer’s canceled “La Faute à l’Europe.”)
ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA
MUSK TREMORS CRASH THROUGH BRUSSELS: The shockwaves from Elon Musk’s full-throated backing of European far-right parties including Germany’s AfD have reached the EU nerve center. Europe’s center-left political parties — Germany’s Social Democrats among them — have jointly released a statement urging the EU to use “all the legal means available” to protect democracy against misinformation and foreign interference on social media.
Stop the straw man: “It is clear that this is not about defending free speech but about promoting specific parties and political views,” said former Swedish PM and Party of European Socialists chief Stefan Löfven.
Liberals want debate: The Renew group in the Parliament wants an “urgent debate” on what it called “Musk’s growing interference” in European politics, in a statement.
Now read this: 13 times Elon Musk meddled in politics.
MEANWHILE, IN ALBANIA: Tirana is coming down on TikTok with a one-year ban after the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old in November following a series of arguments the teen had on social media. But the ban has raised eyebrows among opposition politicians and human rights watchers, who told our colleagues Eliza Gkritsi and Jakob Weizman it was an “abuse of power.”
ZUCKING UP TO TRUMP: Facebook’s parent company Meta is ending its third-party fact-checking program and shifting to a community notes model in which users keep tabs on falsehoods, company chief Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday. “We’re going to get back to our roots, and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms,” Zuckerberg said.
Reading the runes: Meta’s move is being read as the company sacrificing its values on the Trump altar. But as my colleague Derek Robertson writes in his Digital Future Daily newsletter, Meta — and the tech industry writ large — have been moving away from the liberal vision of fighting “misinformation” for years.
MORE TRUMP
WHAT GREENLAND, CANADA AND THE PANAMA CANAL HAVE IN COMMON: They’re all going to belong to America, if you ask the incoming U.S. president. Trump’s claims, made on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago (where else?), prompted Denmark’s PM Mette Frederiksen to issue a sharp rebuke that Greenland, a Danish territory, is “not for sale.” Canadian PM Justin Trudeau posted on X that there’s not a “snowball’s chance in hell” of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, after Trump threatened to use “economic force” to take over.
What else Trump said on Tuesday: That NATO members should spend 5 percent of GDP on defense (which is more than the U.S. spends itself) … that he will end Russia’s war with Ukraine “long before six months” (so much for one day) … he sympathized with Vladimir Putin’s demand that Ukraine not join NATO and lamented not meeting the Russian president before inauguration day … and called Elon Musk a “very smart guy” who is “doing a good job.”
EUROPEAN MISSION TO WASHINGTON: Against that turbulent outlook for transatlantic relations, the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle — Germany’s Annalena Baerbock, France’s Jean-Noël Barrot and Poland’s Radosław Sikorski — are planning a trip to Washington shortly after the Trump administration takes office on Jan. 20 (though the exact date is tbc). EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas may also be coming along, my colleagues Clea Caulcutt, Nicholas Vinocur and Hans von der Burchard hear.
MIGRATION
HUMAN RIGHTS COURT CONDEMNS GREECE FOR PUSHBACKS: The European Court of Human Rights found Greece illegally deported a woman back to neighboring Turkey and described the use of summary expulsions or “pushbacks” as systematic. The landmark ruling issued Tuesday could impact how Europe handles migrants at its borders, at a time when member countries are seeking tougher measures. Kathimerini has a write-up.
Speaking of countries cracking down on migration: With Herbert Kickl in pole position to become Austria’s chancellor, the EU’s establishment is bracing for a renewed push for hardline policies in areas like migration, Oliver Noyan writes.
METSOLA IN EGYPT TO TALK CASH AND MIGRATION: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola kicks off a two-day trip to Cairo today. During the trip, she’ll meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, among others.
What they’ll discuss: The EU’s macro-financial assistance to Egypt, per Metsola’s office. The Parliament needs to give the OK for disbursing a second tranche of €4 billion, after the European Commission issued a first batch of €1 billion in June following a migration deal. Other topics include migration flows and asylum, as well as Syria and Palestine.
WHATSAPPING WITH SCHINAS
TAKING MARG OUT FOR A SPIN: Few former European commissioners are more qualified to talk about the way the media covers the EU than Margaritis Schinas. Before his just-completed five-year stint in the Berlaymont, Schinas was former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s spokesperson. Playbook got his thoughts on the new media landscape in the EU capital. Here’s our Q&A, edited for clarity and length.
Q: Is the media in Brussels moving to the right?
A: “Brussels media reflects the shifting political landscape in Europe, but I wouldn’t say it’s a conscious move to the right (or the left for that matter), as much as it is an adaptation to changing realities,” Schinas said. But “this evolution underlines Brussels’ relevance” and “proves that Brussels matters, that EU policies matter.”
Q: How do you view the emergence of Hungary-linked outlets in Brussels?
A: “Their emergence shows the EU is seen as a critical battleground for ideas and influence. These outlets are part of a broader trend where certain national political players seek to shape the narrative in Brussels. A plurality of voices can enhance the debate, only if they all play by the same rules, be it on transparency or financing,” Schinas said. That said, he added, “I believe that any outlet that consistently broadcasts only one narrative won’t get very far.”
Q: What role should journalists play now that social media companies are scaling back fact-checking and content moderation?
A: “This is the moment of truth for traditional journalists. They have an even greater responsibility to uphold standards of accuracy and analysis than ever before. They must fill the gaps left by the likes of Elon Musk … All journalists — even ‘traditional’ ones — should try to counterbalance the echo chambers we create (or sometimes are created for us) on these platforms.”
Q: The EU has taken a legalistic approach to dealing with misinformation and propaganda. Does it need to adapt its comms strategy to be more proactive?
A: “The EU’s communication strategy is always evolving … The Commission has adopted a more dynamic, responsive approach — with dedicated teams and more resources, quicker to refute falsehoods, clearer in its messaging, and more attuned to the platforms and channels where misinformation thrives. The Commission — and the EEAS — are getting better in this game, much more than EU’s enemies think we are.”
Q: What matters more to the EU institutions: Brussels bubble outlets or the national media?
A: “Both matter, but in different ways. Bubble outlets set the tone within Brussels, influencing insiders and policymakers. However, it’s still national media that shapes public opinion and political realities in member states. EU institutions know that to remain credible they must bridge the two — ensuring their policies and actions resonate not just in Brussels, but in the national and local contexts.”
Q: Over your years as spokesperson and then commissioner, did you see evidence that a real EU public space is developing?
A: “Outlets like POLITICO, Euractiv and Euronews (to name a few) have contributed to the emergence of a more interconnected EU public space. However, it’s still fragmented … A truly European public opinion emerges only twice a year: on the nights of the Eurovision song contest and the Champion Leagues final. The challenge remains to make this nascent European public space accessible and relatable to citizens across Europe … This is the next frontier for EU communications: Reporting from Brussels but de-Brusselizing Europe.”
IN OTHER NEWS
MORE QATARGATE DELAYS: Belgian daily La Libre reports that the legal counterattack from those charged in the massive European Parliament Qatargate corruption scandal will drag on until at least March or April. The judicial system is mulling cases put forward by Eva Kaili’s lawyers, among others, arguing the Belgian authorities didn’t carry out their criminal investigation in a legally watertight way.
JOE VS. ROGÁN: U.S. President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration announced it had sanctioned one of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s closest aides, Antal Rogán, over allegations of corruption. Rogán is a minister overseeing the secret services, swathes of the media and Orbán’s Cabinet (the FT had a good profile last year). “The United States will not hesitate to hold accountable individuals, like Rogan, who use the power of their office to illicitly enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of their country and their fellow citizens,” the U.S. Treasury wrote. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the sanctions “personal revenge” from outgoing U.S. Ambassador David Pressman.
JEAN-MARIE LE PEN DEAD AT 96: John Lichfield has the obituary for POLITICO.