Former minister says he was threatened over efforts to expose OPEKEPE subsidy abuse
Former minister of rural development and food Spilios Livanos told the parliamentary committee investigating the OPEKEPE farm subsidy scandal that he faced insults and threats when he attempted to confront what he called a “subsidy glut” at the agency.
PM: ‘Daniel’ will cost over 3 bln euros to Greek state, but restoration is progressing
Storm Daniel that hit Thessaly was unprecedented not just for Greece, while it was also the greatest natural catastrophe the country was called on to manage, said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing an event of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) on Monday honoring the Union members’ contribution to the action plan for the restoration of afflicted regions of Thessaly. Daniel will cost the Greek state over 3 billion euros, Mitsotakis said, providing a sense of the scale of damage and cost to restore what the storm destroyed. If the Greek economy had not performed as it did in the last few years, it would not have been possible to support Thessaly to such an extent, he noted.
Stournaras: Faster and better recovery than expected
Greece’s recent “economic miracle” was the “most ambitious fiscal transformation ever to occur in a developed economy,” Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that focused mainly on Greece’s recovery from the painful 10-year economic crisis.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1286319/stournaras-faster-and-better-recovery-than-expected
OECD: Greece among states with the lowest food inflation
According to the latest OECD data for September 2025, food inflation stood at 1.4% in Greece, compared to 3.5% in the EU average and 5% in OECD countries.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1286320/oecd-greece-among-states-with-the-lowest-food-inflation
ATHEX: Greek stocks bounce back on Monday
The benchmark of the Greek stock market came off Friday’s 100-day lows to stage a remarkable recovery on Monday that allowed it to reclaim the 2,000-point level amid universal relief in the eurozone after the agreement on the temporary ending of the US public sector shutdown. The upgrading of Greece’s credit rating outlook by Scope Ratings from “Stable” to “Positive” also played its part. While bank stocks went up, energy stocks went down.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1286345/athex-greek-stocks-bounce-back-on-monday
KATHIMERINI: Hellenic Post and Citizens’ Service Centre to be under the same roof
TA NEA: Samaras and the “Trump system”: First the interview and then the… dinner
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: The far-right dogma regarding “self-defense”
RIZOSPASTIS: The plan to escalate rallies is in the hands of workers
KONTRA NEWS: Lasting conflict between government and farmers
DIMOKRATIA: Retroactive payments for pensioners: Those who still have a chance
NAFTEMPORIKI: Overhaul in the statute of limitations for tax-fines
DRIVING THE DAY: IN FLANDERS FIELDS
FROM ONE WAR TO ANOTHER: Just over an hour and a half by train from Brussels, rows of bleached stone graves around the Belgian town of Ypres mark what was once Europe’s front line. But today, as we commemorate 107 years since the end of what was supposed to be “the war to end all wars,” Europe is again forced to rearm and defend its allies.
Plea for help: It is increasingly evident that Russia’s aggression is not confined to Ukraine. “Europe’s peace and security are being safeguarded today through the courage and sacrifice of Ukrainians on the front line,” Kyiv’s ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, told Playbook. “The EU must remain united and take determined, forward-looking action to ensure that Ukraine has enough resources to defend itself and the whole of Europe.”
The Western Front(load): With Kyiv’s application to join the EU blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Brussels is hatching a plan to ensure precious time isn’t wasted. A previous ploy to formally open the next steps to membership without unanimity failed to attract support. But, according to two officials who spoke to POLITICO, a new push in the coming weeks will see Ukraine (and fellow candidate country Moldova) start working through the practical reforms needed without waiting for the green light — a process being termed “frontloading.”
Short term/medium term: “The idea is to do as much as possible without having to wait,” said one of the officials, granted anonymity to speak freely. “Then, when Hungary no longer has a veto, we can move without delays.” (EU leaders are pinning their hopes on Orbán being ousted in Hungary’s parliamentary election in April — given his party is trailing in the polls — which would then allow them to formally move ahead with enlargement.)
Dec. 10 crisis talks: The gambit will come to a head on Dec. 10, Playbook can reveal, with the Danish Council presidency inviting European affairs ministers to a new informal summit in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to address enlargement. “By convening in Ukraine, we will send a clear and united political message that the future of Ukraine lies within the EU,” per a letter sent Monday and seen by POLITICO. Delegations will talk about how to step up support for the accession process, as well as attend “a memorial service to honor those who given their lives for freedom and Europe’s common values.”
The more immediate problem: Efforts to convince Belgium to get on board with using Russian assets to underwrite a loan to Ukraine remain stuck after talks on Friday ended without a deal, my colleagues Bjarke Smith-Meyer, Seb Starcevic and Camille Gijs report.According to one senior official, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is taking a maximalist position and demanding assurances for all of Russia’s global assets to win his support for the proposal.
If not now then when? “Obviously that’s not gonna happen so it’s a matter of figuring out which concessions De Wever can extract before he eventually backs down,” the official said. “The longer this drags on, the worse it looks for Brussels and Europe on the world stage.”
NAKED AND AFRAID: European People’s Party chief Manfred Weber delivered a stark assessment last night at the Allianz Forum in Berlin, warning in a speech that the continent is “alone and naked in a world full of storms. That is why now is the time to say a clear yes to a common European defense.”
Human resources: But EU countries’ rearmament depends on bringing through a new generation of soldiers, which experts warn is being undercut by a lack of supportive policies. “You can spend money on investment, new materials, new equipment and everything, but there is still one big problem,” said Emmanuel Jacob, president of the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions. “You need also the men and women to deal with them.” At the EU level, “almost nothing is done” to facilitate recruitment or help boost existing soldiers’ welfare and deal with the immense stresses associated with war.
That point is echoed by Philip Ingram, a former NATO planner and British military intelligence colonel who has opened up about his struggles with post-traumatic stress. “Most people in the military are pacifists,” he said. “But, because of human nature, we have to ask the military to put themselves in harms way, to fight for peace and see things nobody should have to experience.”
VDL VS. PARLIAMENT
NOT JUST A RUBBER STAMP: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks set to survive what could have been a tough challenge to her leadership, having reassured her coalition of lawmakers that she is listening to them about the bloc’s €2 trillion long-term budget. But her efforts to avert crisis have set a new precedent for the Parliament calling the shots on key issues — one that could come back to bite her.
Anything for a deal: On Monday, von der Leyen held talks with Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the Danish Council presidency to lock in a compromise under which the Commission will back down and offer MEPs new powers over the budget, giving them unprecedented leverage in talks with countries. “The Commission forced the Danish presidency to accept these changes” to avert Parliament’s rejection, said an EU official with knowledge of the discussions. Max Griera and Gregorio Sorgi have the inside track.
What to watch for: Now though, parliamentarians sense they have the upper hand. “We will push further for the full inclusion of the regions, with mandatory regional chapters in the plans,” said an official from the EPP’s centrist coalition partner Renew Europe.
The EPP’s other ally, the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D), says it also wants more progress. “There are no suggestions on how to improve the link between investments and reforms, and no proposals to guarantee that regions are not penalized because of lack of national fiscal austerity reforms,” said an S&D official.
Angry insiders: The repercussions of the row already have some worried about repeats of the showdown. “The Parliament are overselling this and, in doing so, they seem to be picking a fight with the Council,” said a senior EU official, as frustration grows with MEPs holding up key policies.
SEE EU IN COURT: Right-wing and far-right lawmakers are now moving forward with a bid to sue the Parliament over the failure to give them a vote on whether to investigate EU institutions like the Commission over corruption and contract bids. Daniel Freund, a Green MEP who is far from a friend of those bringing the action, told POLITICO they “might have a point that, legally speaking, it should have probably been decided in plenary.” More from me and Max Griera.
EU-US RELATIONS
TRUMP’S BIG BILL: It’s been almost three months since von der Leyen signed an agreement with Donald Trump to avoid sky-high tariffs on EU exports to the U.S. But Brussels is no closer to setting out how it plans to meet a demand for $750 billion in investments and energy purchases promised to Washington as part of the exchange. The figure has been widely decried as nonsensical — something the Berlaymont seems to fully appreciate.
Fudging numbers? According to two officials and a diplomat, the EU will get creative to show it’s delivering on the pledge, counting a string of previously agreed deals toward the total and putting some spin on the numbers to keep the Americans happy. “It’s not in their interests either to look too closely at the deal,” said one European who spoke to Playbook. “Right now this can be presented as a win for everybody.”
Pump it: The balance sheet has been buoyed by a string of new orders for American fossil gas. Over the past few days, Spain and Greece both concluded major contracts with U.S. firm Venture Global for long-term supply agreements, potentially worth billions. Brussels has backed increasing the transatlantic energy trade as a way to end reliance on Russian fuel.
Hungary for cash: Those hopes have been somewhat dashed after Viktor Orbán secured exemptions to new U.S. sanctions on Moscow’s energy sales. Now, the Hungarian leader is hinting Washington could provide his country with a “financial shield” to plug the holes in its broken national budget and replace money withheld by the EU over backsliding on the rule of law. His opponents worry any such financial bung could be an electoral bribe designed to sway April’s election, similarly to how Trump stepped in to save another ideological ally, Javier Milei in Argentina. Details here.
BELÉM DISPATCH
COP OUT: Germany is launching a diplomatic effort to ensure it doesn’t get a prestigious gig hosting next year’s annual COP U.N. climate talks. Berlin will default to providing the venue if Australia and Turkey can’t resolve their rival bids. “We would have to, but we do not want to,” said the German climate minister. Karl Mathiesen and Zia Weise have the story.
TALKING SHOP: Meanwhile, frustration is growing over the lack of enthusiasm among developed countries for tackling climate change. In an op-ed this morning, a litany of climate campaigners and municipal politicians argue COP30 could still be the “People’s COP” if it manages to reset relations with the public.
MORE COP30 COVERAGE … from our team in Brazil here.
IN OTHER NEWS
DISSING DISINFO: The EU’s long-awaited European Democracy Shield — promised by Ursula von der Leyen in July 2024 — will lack real teeth in the fight against foreign interference and will instead be only an optional framework.
Shield thyself: My colleague Pieter Haeck got a hold of the draft, set to be released Wednesday, which includes plans for the Commission to work with countries to develop guidance on how to use AI in elections, after deepfakes rocked several campaigns. More for Pros here.
VDL GETS THE INTEL: The European Commission is setting up a new intelligence body under Ursula von der Leyen, the FT reports. The move comes as part of efforts to improve intelligence sharing around the bloc. (ICYMI, my colleague Antoaneta Roussi reported last month that spy agencies across Europe are starting to build a shared intelligence operation to counter Russian aggression.)
ON THE BORDER: Lithuania has a new defense minister to oversee a massive military spending boost, amid chaos in the EU eastern flank state’s coalition government. Giedrė Peseckytė has a primer on newcomer Robertas Kaunas.
NEW NAME NEEDED? Germany’s hard-left, Moscow-friendly Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is losing its eponymous leader. Sahra Wagenknecht is stepping down but will maintain her involvement, she said.
NEW NAME REVEALED: Meanwhile, a new far-right party is launching in Belgium called “Tous Réunis pour l’Union des Mouvements Populistes” — TRUMP, for short.