Strong firefighting forces continue to battle the blaze in all fire fronts
Strong ground and aerial forces continued to operate on Sunday across all wildfire zones that broke out on Saturday, the most significant of which were in Attica, Evia, Kythira, Messinia, and Chania, causing damage to property and forest land.
PM’s criticism of Karamanlis era stirs unease in ND
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ decision to openly criticize the foreign policy record of former premier Kostas Karamanlis has stirred unease within Greece’s ruling New Democracy party. Mitsotakis, whose government is under pressure on multiple foreign policy fronts – most notably Turkey and Libya – said in a televised interview with Skai TV earlier last week that the 2004-2009 period was marked by “blissful inertia” in Greek-Turkish relations.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/1276309/pms-criticism-of-karamanlis-era-stirs-unease-in-nd
PASOK will likely hold party congress mid-December
Socialist PASOK, the main opposition party in Parliament, will most likely hold its next congress in mid-December, according to top party officials. The last congress was held in May 2022, so the next was normally supposed to be held in May 2026. But some party officials say that PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis feels under pressure to hold the event earlier as former prime minister and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is expected to announce his own party sooner rather than later.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/1276415/pasok-will-likely-hold-party-congress-mid-december
State budget surplus at €4.52 billion in H1
Greece achieved a primary surplus of 4.519 billion euros in the first half of 2025, according to figures on the execution of the state budget released by the Economy and Finance Ministry on Friday.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1276412/state-budget-surplus-at-e4-52-billion-in-h1
ATHEX: Stocks take some rest at week’s end
The main index of the Greek bourse lost minimal ground on Friday after a mixed session at Athinon Avenue that saw banks and mid-caps rise while blue chips declined, as did the daily turnover. The end of the month next week will bring the eagerly anticipated bank results for the second quarter, which could take the benchmark past the 2,000-point mark, thereby making headlines and attracting more international attention.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1276408/athex-stocks-take-some-rest-at-weeks-end
SUNDAY PAPERS
KATHIMERINI: Armed Forces plan foresees self-sufficient army units on islands
TO VIMA: The concentration of large masses of concrete sets Attica on fire
REAL NEWS: 6+1 changes in labor legislation
PROTO THEMA: PM Mitsotakis hardens his stance inside and outside Greece
MONDAY PAPERS:
TA NEA: Last chance for 90,000 owners to get legal titles for their assets
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Wildfires: Zero readiness
KONTRA NEWS: Half of Greece burned due to extreme… incompetence
DIMOKRATIA: Rant by Foreign Minister against former PMs Karamanlis and Samaras
NAFTEMPORIKI: Listed companies “wink” at investors
DRIVING THE DAY: VIEW FROM THE CLUBHOUSE
“ON COURSE” FOR A DEAL: Clouds circled around the Trump Turnberry Golf Course, an hour outside Glasgow, as the motorcade carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pulled up out front on Sunday. There was only one objective on her scorecard for the last-minute trip: to end the worsening trade war threatening the EU’s economy.
Snub-par: Trump managed to squeeze in 18 holes with his son Eric before sitting down with von der Leyen and her negotiators. “We’ve had a very good relationship over the years but it’s been a very one-sided transaction,” he said in a rambling press conference ahead of their closed-door session.
No greens on the green: Trump also threatened to spark a disagreement with a five-minute rant about wind turbines, which he claimed were “environmentally unsound” and “should not be allowed” in Europe. Von der Leyen, who has championed the expansion of wind power, sat silently, eyes fixed in the middle distance — taking a lesson from her party colleague, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stayed carefully detached during an awkward Oval Office meeting last month.
End justifies the means? After about an hour, Trump and von der Leyen emerged triumphantly from the negotiations, touting a landmark agreement — “the biggest one of them all,” per the American. Under the deal, the U.S. will hit EU exports with a 15 percent flat tariff — half the the 30 percent the White House had threatened to impose — from Friday. Strategic goods like aircraft parts, natural resources and critical raw materials will be exempt, while pharmaceuticals will dodge sky-high rates and be included in the 15 percent.
List of demands: In exchange, Brussels agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of American oil, gas, nuclear fuel and chips over the course of Trump’s presidency, invest an additional $600 billion in the U.S., in military equipment, and in opening up markets in the direction of tariff-free trade. My trade colleagues Koen Verhelst and Myah Ward were in Scotland and have all the details here.
Prepare for takeoff: Squeezed into a drab side room at Prestwick Airport — described by Koen as “Glasgow’s Charleroi” — von der Leyen used a post-game press conference to insist the deal was “the best we could get” and that it “delivers stability and predictability for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Behind the scenes: While trade is an exclusive competence of the Commission, the Berlaymont has been desperate to keep all 27 EU countries on side throughout the process. Ambassadors, many of whom were on a trip to Greenland, scrambled to dial into a virtual briefing with top officials ahead of Sunday’s negotiations, and a further Coreper meeting is planned back in Brussels at 8:30 a.m. in the “bunker” — the secure room used for super-sensitive talks, a diplomatic source confirmed.
Not the worst: “Tariffs are bad for consumers and businesses — full stop. We would all have much preferred a true zero-for-zero outcome,” said one European diplomat, granted anonymity to speak freely. “But we have to be realistic about what was feasible given the circumstances. And this outcome is clearly better than the 30 percent tariff we would have been facing in four days’ time.”
Not the best: “We seem to have gotten worse conditions than the U.K.,” said Brando Benifei, the Italian S&D MEP who chairs the delegation for relations with the U.S., referencing the 10 percent tariff deal London secured. “That’s not a good starting point and we need to look at the details to understand what we actually get, because it is — to be frank — not clear at all from the declarations we have seen.”
Devil in the detail: Benifei told Playbook he reckons Trump was eager to make an announcement that the deal was done, but the coming days and weeks will be just as critical to follow as officials hash out a written agreement.
EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY
DO WE REALLY NEED TO VOTE, ANYWAY? Facing down threats from totalitarian states like Russia in the east and fears of authoritarian backsliding in the U.S., Europe is increasingly isolated in its defense of democracy and civic rights. But a rising tide of populist anger could derail that, warns a new study shared exclusively with Playbook.
Scores on the doors: European Movement, the campaign group pushing for closer integration and more robust institutions across the bloc, polled more than 3,500 people in seven of the largest EU countries. The poll found just 36 percent of people are “consistent supporters of democracy” — valuing the right to have their say at elections and recognizing the importance of parliamentary checks and balances. The remaining 64 percent were only “inconsistent” supporters, more likely to say they’d prefer a strongman leader, higher than in previous years.
Different views: Democratic values were strongest in Sweden, where more than half the population refused to compromise on civic rights, and falls as low as 30 percent in France and Romania. In Spain, only one in four consistently voiced support for democracy.
Warning sign: “The low percentage of consistent support for democracy is truly worrying,” Petros Fassoulas, the secretary-general of the European Movement, told Playbook. “It does not mean though that our fellow citizens are anti-democratic. But they are disappointed, disempowered, and disillusioned; the very things that sow the seeds of authoritarianism.”
Now the good news: There are some crumbs of relief for EU policymakers. Around 80 percent of respondents said they want to see their country play a role on the global stage to promote peace and prosperity, and a majority back international action even if it means making sacrifices at home. And there is broad support for helping Ukraine, countering disinformation campaigns and boosting defense — including for a European army. Read the full results here.
WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
GAZA FIGHTING FREEZE: Israel’s military on Sunday announced a “tactical pause” in three parts of Gaza and opened up routes for aid to reach people at risk of starvation, amid a growing outcry from European countries. Insisting claims a famine is being intentionally caused were false, the Israeli Defense Forces said they would open up humanitarian corridors into the war-torn territory.
European involvement: Over the weekend, a handful of European countries, including Belgium and the United Kingdom, said they stood ready to airdrop supplies into Gaza after the U.N. Relief and Works Agency warned “severe malnutrition for children and adults” has taken hold after almost two years of fighting. That comes after French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest EU leader to say he would recognize Palestinian statehood in response.
Happening today: France, along with Saudi Arabia, will host a high-level conference today and Tuesday in New York that it says “aims to give concrete form to the two-state solution through specific measures,” in a way that “meets Israel’s legitimate security concerns and ensures the contiguity and viability of the Palestinian State in the long term.” Ahead of it, 58 former EU ambassadors have now written to the Commission calling for measures to be taken against Israel, with German and Italian ambassadors following suit.
Not all capitals are united in response: “I am very much in favor of the state of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognizing it prior to establishing it,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said over the weekend, arguing that a decision to establish full relations now could be “counterproductive.”
Wait and see: “We welcome the announcement of a humanitarian truce but we wait for the implementation to verify that terms are being adhered to,” Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told Playbook. Meanwhile, Bushra Khalidi, a policy expert with Oxfam, said “what’s needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered and safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Anything less risks being little more than a tactical gesture.”
IRAN TALKS: European envoys held talks with Iran’s foreign ministry as the E3 group — France, Germany and the U.K. — warned they could reintroduce sanctions under a “snapback” clause over its nuclear program, which it plans to rebuild following American and Israeli strikes. “E3 are ready to trigger snapback, however we offered a snapback extension should Iran meet their legal obligations and specific criteria,” the Commission confirmed.
From one autocrat to another? Meanwhile, the son of Iran’s ousted shah — whose regime also brutally tortured and murdered dissidents, ushering in the theocratic mullahs — claims he has a legion of officials inside the country ready to help him oust the current government. “There’s tens of thousands — the last estimate is over 50,000 at least, maybe more,” Reza Pahlavi told POLITICO’s Tim Ross.
MONEY MATTERS
CASH FOR KYIV: Ukraine could lose out on €1.5 billion in EU funds if it doesn’t make progress on key governance measures, the EU said on Friday (the New York Times has a write-up). That comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would reverse a decision to eliminate the independence of key corruption agencies in the wake of public protests and criticism from allies.
Meanwhile, Russia’s running out of weapons: Moscow has depleted its stockpiles of Soviet-era weaponry over the course of its invasion of Ukraine, with the flow of goods from military storage facilities to the front line back below pre-2022 levels, the FT reports. The Kremlin is increasingly relying on reinforcements from North Korea, per the paper.
Now read this: Gabrielius Landsbergis has this op-ed on the plight of the unbombed farmers of Eastern Europe.
EUR-IN FOR A TREAT: Bulgarians worried that their country’s entry into the eurozone will mean higher prices and bigger bills can relax, according to Croatians. Zagreb was last to adopt the single currency, a little over two years ago, and while its economy has heated up, experts say that’s just because business is booming.
Say hvala: Growth in Croatia was among the strongest in the EU for 2024, unemployment is at historic lows and Brussels is sending billions for reforms and regional investments. Ketrin Jochecová, Seb Starcevic and Alexander Varbanov have a smart analysis on what Sofia can expect.
RO-MONEY-IA: Romania’s deputy prime minister, Dragoș Anastasiu, announced on Sunday he would resign from the government amid a row over alleged bribes linked to his business dealings. The 61-year-old, nicknamed “Romania’s Elon Musk,” built a holiday empire including coach companies, travel agencies and resorts.
Exit stage left: Anastasiu was in charge of helping reform Romania’s public spending, as the government works to cut the country’s 9.3 percent budget deficit — the EU’s highest. “It’s clear to me that I can’t help anymore,” he said in a press conference where he seemingly admitted to making illicit payments, but called for fundamental reforms to move ahead without him. More from Europa Liberă România here.
THE BEST DEFENSE: Italy’s plan to designate a major new bridge linking Sicily to the mainland as a military project — enabling it to be counted toward defense spending targets — drew derision pretty much straight away. The €13.5 billion link would be a big boost toward meeting the 5 percent NATO defense spending target, especially as Rome didn’t even hit 1.5 percent last year.
Preparing for the worst: However, in a written response to my colleague Tommaso Lecca, Stretto di Messina, the state-owned company that won the bid to design, build and operate the bridge, insisted (presumably with a straight face) that it is an important civil defense measure because it will be able to carry tanks and other heavy equipment. That’s handy if Russia, China or Iran ever attempt an amphibious landing in the Mediterranean. Read the story here.
IN OTHER NEWS
MIGRATION WARNING: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the Financial Times that “catastrophic” budget cuts to his agency were already driving more migration to Europe. “There is no doubt in my mind that people are already moving from Chad to Libya — Sudanese refugees,” Grandi said, referring to a route used by migrants to come to Europe. “Give more assistance to states where people are ready to stay before going back home. You solve a lot of your problems by doing that.”
AUF WIEDERSEHEN, AMERICANS? Germany is fretting over a potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius preparing the ground ahead of a potential force reduction. My colleague Chris Lunday in Berlin has the inside story.
BURN, BABY BURN (OR MAYBE DON’T): Incinerating truckloads of trash to power homes in northwestern Spain was supposed to be a smart alternative to landfill. But now, it’s breaching EU rules on air, water and soil pollution. Sustainability star Marianne Gros dug into the dirty business of where our rubbish ends up, and found facilities potentially harming human health and the environment. Read the full report here.
ALZHEIMER’S HOPE? The European Medicines Agency gave an early green light to Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug Kisunla, after previously finding its benefits didn’t outweigh risks. More from Claudia Chiappa here.
TRAIN CRASH: At least three people were killed and several more injured in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on Sunday after a train derailed, according to local authorities. DW has more.