ND leads in latest poll; cost of living top concern for Greeks
A new poll by Metron Analysis for Mega TV has shown gains for ruling New Democracy and main opposition SYRIZA, and losses for socialist PASOK and nationalist Greek Solution.
Mitsotakis to meet Erdogan in Ankara on May 13th
The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced from Brussels on Thursday that he will meet President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 13th in Ankara.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/812991/Mitsotakis-to-meet-Erdogan-in-Ankara-on-May-13th
‘Easter’ and ‘Godparent’ baskets to kick in from next week
The special “Easter Basket” that offers lower-price traditional Easter foods will come back into effect in the run-up to Orthodox Easter, from April 24 to May 4. In addition, the “Godparent Basket” measure will run from April 22 to May 4.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1236784/easter-and-godparent-baskets-to-kick-in-from-next-week
Probe into prosecutor’s handling of Tempe complaints
A Supreme Court prosecutor has ordered a probe into possible disciplinary liabilities on the part of a prosecutor in Larissa, who, in the context of the investigation of the 2023 Tempe railway collision, shelved complaints against political figures, instead of forwarding them to Parliament.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1236765/probe-into-prosecutors-handling-of-tempe-complaints
Reuters: Greek economy surges after decade of pain
The Reuters global news agency refers to the upward trajectory of the Greek economy following the decade of crisis.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/812956/Reuters-Greek-economy-surges-after-decade-of-pain
ATHEX: Convincing rebound at stock market
This time the bulk of stocks at Athinon Avenue produced a strong reaction on Thursday to the decline of previous days, unlike the weak rebound of Wednesday. The main index reversed a significant portion of its recent losses, even if banks did fail to impress with their recovery on the day. This may be attributed to a possible delay in the planned divestment of bank bailout fund HFSF from National Bank.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1236804/athex-convincing-rebound-at-stock-market
KATHIMERINI: Tension regarding marine parks did not cancel Greek PM’s visit in Turkey
TA NEA: Banks ease housing loans criteria
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: EU faces existential crisis
AVGI: Mitsotakis is selling patriotism
RIZOSPASTIS: EU threatens and adds fuel to fire in the Middle East and Ukraine
KONTRA NEWS: 800 ISIS fighters have entered Greece through Cyprus
DIMOKRATIA: Council of State blocks never-ending construction activity in Amorgos
NAFTEMPORIKI: Explosive demand for mutual funds
BREAKING NEWS: A site in central Iran came under attack in the early hours of Friday morning. The New York Times and Reuters are attributing the assault to Israel’s military, in retaliation for Tehran’s bombardment last weekend.
EYES ON US CONGRESS
UKRAINE AID VOTE LOOMS IN CONGRESS: It isn’t everyday that Brussels Playbook leads our readers to watch what’s happening in the United States, but here we are — by Saturday, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is expected to submit a bill for a vote on some $60 billion in aid for Ukraine that’s been held up for months by hardliners in his party.
For Europe, the vote is hugely consequential. Despite efforts to deliver ammunition shells and aerial defenses to Ukraine, the EU’s proposed aid isn’t making up for the holdup on U.S. support — not even close.
No alternative: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said as much when he traveled to Washington in February, calling U.S. aid “indispensable.” So did the EU’s top envoy, Josep Borrell, late last year when he said Europe couldn’t “fill the gap” left by the United States.
Danger of defeat: The monthslong blockade has had devastating effects on the battlefield and for Ukraine’s morale (read Jamie Dettmer’s bracing piece on why the Republican blockade is killing Ukraine’s defense efforts here). So the response to the prospect of U.S. aid flowing once again has been a huge relief for Europe.
But is the relief warranted? Johnson’s bid to unblock the aid, along with billions for Israel and border security and, er, a proposal for a ban on TikTok (why not?) is laden with risk. In order to garner enough votes, Johnson will need help from Democrats. And two Republicans in the hard-line so-called Freedom Caucus, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, have vowed to try to oust Johnson over his alleged betrayal.
Back to Europe: Whatever happens during the high-stakes machinations, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that Europe’s security is still largely dependent on U.S. lawmakers playing ball.
Don’t get comfortable: Hence this warning from an EU diplomat who spoke to POLITICO’s Barbara Moens on condition of anonymity: “Obviously, it’s good news that the U.S. aid package may be moving, but there is also a risk that it would take the pressure off.”
Cont’d: “The discussion among leaders, with [Ukrainian President Volodymr] Zelenskyy, [German Chancellor Olaf] Scholz and others pushing for more air defense really led to a renewed sense of urgency. Europe has to step up in the absence of the U.S. If the money from Washington now starts flowing in, that urgency may disappear again.”
Bottom line: Some EU leaders dream of a future in which the bloc’s security isn’t dependent on the whims of the U.S. Republican Party. But that day is still a long way off.
CAPITAL MARKETS FAIL
EU LEADERS FALL SHORT ON CAPITAL MARKETS UNION: It’s been billed as a key milestone on the road to making Europe an economic powerhouse for the 21st century — a so-called Capital Markets Union (CMU) that would boost investment by harmonizing rules on how markets work and are regulated across the EU.
Ahead of a EUCO gathering this week, France and Germany had prepared the ground by co-drafting changes to leaders’ conclusions on the CMU, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz discussing the file Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, my colleague Bjarke Smith-Meyer writes in to report.
Not having it: But the push came up against a wall of resistance from at least 10 smaller countries, with Ireland and Luxembourg leading the push against tougher and more centralized supervision of capital markets.
Manu takes the long view: “There was a very long debate because we have starting positions that are divergent, but it’s also an essential battle if we want to succeed in the next stages,” Macron told reporters after the meeting.
Thin gruel: The French and German leaders had to end up accepting a watered-down list of targets that involve generalities, such as “improving conditions” for investors and “creating an attractive and a consumer-friendly investment environment,” and tasks that capitals have been quibbling about for years, such as streamlining insolvency law.
As for supervision, EU leaders invited the European Commission to “assess and work on the conditions” that would allow the EU’s three regulators for banks, insurers and securities to oversee big financiers that operate across borders — a far cry from an EU watchdog.
Enrico Letta, Italy’s former prime minister, might be wondering why he even bothered to show up to the summit to present a report he’d spent months writing, calling on EU leaders to think big or lose relevance on the global stage.
Don’t give it all to the States: “We know very well that on financial markets today we are sharing the crumbs and everything is in the U.S.,” Letta told EU leaders Thursday morning as he opened the meeting.
SANCTIONS
EU’S FOREIGN POLICY SERVICE TAKES FLAK OVER IRAN SANCTIONS: Extending Iran sanctions on drones to include missiles is facing obstacles within the EU’s foreign policy arm. Three EU diplomats accused the European External Action Service of stalling the process during a technical meeting Thursday, despite being given the political green light by both the EU’s foreign affairs ministers and EU leaders, Barbara Moens and Jacopo Barigazzi report.
Not pleased: Leaders at the European Council “emphasized once more the urgency to expand the Iran drone sanctions regime, but the EEAS is stalling the process,” said one diplomat.
Waiting for ministers: But one EU official rejected the accusations against EEAS, arguing that “some member states want to initially sanction only the export of missiles, and then to move also against their production, so the decision was to wait for the guidance of foreign ministers on Monday before tabling the legal acts.”
IN OTHER NEWS
NATO CHIEF IN CAPRI: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was in Capri yesterday attending a meeting with G7 foreign ministers, plus their Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, Stuart Lau writes in to report. None of them are in a holiday mood.
Today with Zelenskyy: Volodymyr Zelenskyy will today join the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, chaired by the alliance chief, with the allies’ defense ministers. Air defense will be the big topic. “We expect allies to come up with more urgent plans to give air defense systems to Ukraine, especially since Germany pledged a Patriot system over recent days,” a NATO diplomat said.
Now read this: Mike Pence warns that he has “no doubt” Vladimir Putin will wage war on NATO if Ukraine loses, Stuart writes in after listening to the former U.S. vice president at the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum.
SPAIN BETS ON RIBERA TO NET TOP JOB: It looks like the rumor we’ve all heard is true: Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera will be Spain’s candidate for the next Commission. Sources belonging to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party told El País that the minister will almost certainly head its list for June’s European Parliament election, a post that positions her to be Madrid’s pick when the time comes to put forward a nominee, Aitor Hernández-Morales reports.
METSOLA SITS DOWN WITH CONSERVATIVE BIGWIGS: With all the focus on the EU’s top job — head of the European Commission — it’s easy to forget that a race is also on to head the bloc’s Parliament. One person who’s not forgetting: Parliament President Roberta Metsola. The Maltese conservative has been touring Europe to build support for a second term, but on Thursday she won what’s arguably her strongest expression of support yet — from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Insta or it didn’t happen: At least that’s how it looks from this cryptic Instagram post, showing Metsola sitting with both leaders in rapt conversation.
Key backing: The two leaders are the biggest hitters in the European People’s Party, and their support would be crucial to ensuring Metsola could rally the conservative camp behind her after the Parliament election in June. It so happens these are the same two leaders that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tapped to endorse her bid to become the EPP’s lead candidate for the Commission top job in early March.