PM Mitsotakis at MED9: Future threats may not come from the east, but also from the south
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, responding to a question at a press conference in Portoroz, Slovenia, where the MED9 summit is taking place, stressed that “there is a general understanding that we need to move faster in building a common European energy market, especially in Southeastern Europe, where we are still facing high prices-higher than in other member states.” “A greater integration of the energy market, through significant investments, interconnections and networks, should be a top priority in relation to our common energy strategy,” he said.
Gerapetritis and Fidan discuss bilateral issues at EU council
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis discussed bilateral and regional issues with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. According to diplomatic sources, Gerapetritis reiterated that the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf remains the only dispute between Greece and Turkey.
Controversial amendment for monument in front of Parliament submitted
The government submitted to Parliament an amendment regulating the guarding and operation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the House on Syntagma Square. Public order will remain under the Ministry of Citizen Protection, while maintenance, care and promotion of the monument will transfer to the Defense Ministry. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to address Parliament on the measure, which has sparked controversy as it will also affect a makeshift shrine erected for the victims of the 2023 Tempe rail tragedy in the forecourt in front of the monument.
Registered unemployed 7.3 pct down in September 2025
The total number of registered unemployed persons in the Public Employment Service (DYPA) registry reached 720,039 in September 2025, marking a decrease of 56,287 people (-7.3 percent) compared with the same month of the previous year, and a decrease of 70,805 people (-9.0 percent) compared with the previous month, August 2025.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/942207/Registered-unemployed-73-pct-down-in-September-2025
ATHEX: Weak rebound after five days of decline
The reaction of the Greek stock market on Monday to five consecutive days of decline was a meager nine points gained for the benchmark, while the mid-caps index actually kept sliding for another day. The rebound of a few blue chips sufficed to return the market to positive territory, but not to bring the main index back above the 2,000-point mark.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1284382/athex-weak-rebound-after-five-days-of-decline
KATHIMERINI: Greece’s EEZ and Cyprus enter the chain reactor
TA NEA: The great feast among the Parthenon marbles
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Government submits Junta-like amendment for the unknown soldier monument
RIZOSPASTIS: OPEKEPE’s farm subsidies must be handed out now to the struggling farmers and livestock breeders
KONTRA NEWS: The government is setting up a tension scenery
DIMOKRATIA: Retroactive payments for pensioners: the pending issues
NAFTEMPORIKI: Hurdles and obstacles for the cadastre and TAXISnet
DRIVING THE DAY: COMMISSION RESHUFFLE
MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE BERLAYMONT: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her chief of staff, Bjoern Seibert, are sketching out a high-stakes reshuffle of the EU executive’s top ranks. Several directors-general could move places in what one official described as a “chess play” by von der Leyen’s arch-strategist to fill strategically vital positions with figures aligned with the president’s political vision.
“Big changes are on the horizon,” one Commission insider said, but only a restricted group of officials know what’s going on. There were whispers last week it might even have sneaked onto the agenda at the College of Commissioners today, but it’s still being worked on behind closed doors. In recent days, POLITICO’s Mathieu Pollet, Jacopo Barigazzi, Gabriel Gavin, Seb Starcevic and yours truly spoke to 13 Commission officials in the Cabinets and deep in the machine — all granted anonymity to speak freely — to piece together secretive high-level discussions.
Ch-ch-ch-changes: Top staffers in trade, competition, communications, enlargement, communications network, health and energy are expected to be on the move. The reshuffle is driven partly by structural realities: some directors-general have hit their tenure limits, others are retiring, and in one case a DG shares the same nationality as her commissioner (never ideal).
Why it matters: The names circulating are familiar — and so are their loyalties — but where they land could reshape the power balance inside the Berlaymont. Some DGs are particularly strategic, too. Take DG COMP, for instance: not just any directorate, but also the one where Teresa Ribera, von der Leyen’s most powerful internal critic, holds sway. Interim chief Linsey McCallum — seen as Ribera’s favorite — has already ruled herself out. Whether the next appointee is a von der Leyen loyalist or simply someone Ribera can work with will say a lot.
The shake-up began with the need to replace Olivier Guersent, who left his post as head of DG COMP in August. That vacancy has set off a domino effect across the institution. Once one piece moves, the rest follow.
COMP contenders: The strongest contenders for DG COMP are Gert Jan Koopman, the enlargement DG chief (yes, the one known for owning that eco-luxury resort in Bali with its famous infinity pool), and Ditte Juul Jørgensen, current boss of DG ENER. Some insiders also float Céline Gauer, head of the reform and investment task force, though she’s seen as a more likely pick for Commission secretary-general.
Who’s not going to COMP: Sabine Weyand — the familiar face from DG TRADE … and the “sad face” from the U.S.-EU deal — is expected to leave her post, where she’s served with distinction. She could move to DG GROW or even DG ENEST, especially if the directorate is split again into Enlargement and Neighborhood, as it has been in the past (insiders say the current setup is overstretched).
Energy shifts: At DG ENER, the departure of Jørgensen — who shares the same nationality and surname as her commissioner, Dan Jørgensen — looks increasingly likely. She’s being talked about for both DG TRADE and DG COMP.
Other question marks: Then there’s Anthony Whelan, another of von der Leyen’s close aides. He’s rumored to be in line to replace Roberto Viola at DG CONNECT, though some suggest he could instead take a deputy role in state aid in DG COMP, which would suit von der Leyen’s “go and spend” stance on the matter. Meanwhile, the potential retirement of DG SANTE’s Sandra Gallina could open yet another vacancy in the coming months.
The biggest mystery: The job of secretary-general remains the toughest nut to crack. Weyand would be a natural choice — but as a German senior figure in the European People’s Party (sounds familiar, right?), politically complicated. That leaves Gauer as the frontrunner. Still, the post doesn’t carry the same clout it once did under Martin Selmayr, as one source put it.
Timing? The reshuffle isn’t “imminent imminent,” according to one official. Whatever happens, the changes will only take effect next year, two officials told Playbook. A Commission spokesperson said there’s “no comment on the timing or scope” of the planned reshuffle.
Cautionary tale: This whole process is extremely delicate. One senior Commission official recalled Jean-Claude Juncker’s reshuffle in 2018 — the one that elevated Selmayr to sec-gen — also paved the way for his downfall, after it was handled entirely in-house without consulting member countries. Could von der Leyen and Seibert be making the same mistake?
3 THINGS FOR YOUR RADAR
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: There’s action today across all three EU institutions and in all three of the bloc’s main centers — Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg.
COMMISSION — MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR YOUNG FARMERS: It’s College day, with the unveiling of the 2026 work program (the Commission’s to-do list, which we talked about last week) and the long-awaited strategy on generational renewal in farming — Brussels’ bid to tackle the bloc’s looming rural demographic crunch.
Farmers, endangered species: It’s a slow-moving crisis that looks more like the EU’s mission impossible: stopping young farmers giving up before they’ve even begun. Curtain-raiser here.
COUNCIL — BUYING OFF THE DOUBTERS: EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra will tell environment ministers in Luxembourg today that Brussels plans to rein in its new carbon price — a move aimed at winning support for the bloc’s 2040 climate target.
What to expect: In a letter Monday, von der Leyen said Hoekstra would propose tweaks to the carbon price on heating and transport fuels to calm fears of “too high or volatile prices.” The goal: get leaders on board with climate targets ahead of this week’s European Council. Full story by my colleague Zia Weise.
PARLIAMENT — MEPs TAKE THE AX TO FOREST MONITORING: The EU’s plan to track the state of Europe’s forests faces another likely defeat in Parliament today, after the environment and agriculture committees voted it down.
The issue: Lawmakers from the EPP, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Patriots for Europe argue the proposal oversteps national powers — and this right- to far-right majority is expected to hold in today’s plenary.
Last-ditch push: The Socialists and Democrats’ Eric Sargiacomo and co-rapporteur Emma Wiesner have put forward amendments to save the file, with support from the Greens, but few expect a miracle. Even if rejected, the ball moves to the Council, which can either shelve the file or send its own position back for a second reading.
EU-CHINA: INSIDE THE CALL
CAN YOU HEAR ME, BEIJING? When Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speak on the phone today, they won’t be short of issues to discuss.
On Brussels’ mind: Beijing’s recent export controls on rare-earth magnets and their raw materials top the agenda.
On China’s mind: Brussels’ plans to require Chinese companies to transfer technology to European firms as a condition for investing in the EU.
What now: “We need to get the Chinese to agree to carve-outs and waivers on certain issues that are particularly sensitive for us,” former Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy told my colleague Camille Gijs. “And that’s something that can be negotiated. Basically, the Commission is saying to the Chinese, ‘Look, we understand that you’re at loggerheads with the Americans, but if you want us to stay somewhere in between, don’t treat us the way you treat the Americans. There are five or six issues where, if you hurt us, we will be forced to react.’”
One of them is rare earths:China dominates the global rare earths supply chain, controlling 61 percent of extraction, 92 percent of refining, and supplying nearly all of the EU’s rare earths and magnets, per the IEA.
Case in point: The Dutch government this month moved to seize control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, barring it from transferring assets or appointing executives without approval. Lamy called the move “embarrassing,” saying it showed Dutch sensitivity to U.S. pressure — a claim the Netherlands denies.
Coming up: EU leaders are set to discuss rare earth dependency at Thursday’s European Council. “That is a topic that can no longer be avoided,” a German official told our Berlin-based colleague Nette Nöstlinger, though they added no decisions are expected yet.
UKRAINE-RUSSIA LATEST
BELGIUM BLINKS ON FROZEN ASSETS: In a key shift, Belgium signaled it won’t block an EU plan to tap billions in frozen Russian state assets to fund a major loan for Ukraine. My colleague Gregorio Sorgi has everything you need to know about it.
All systems go: Euroclear, the financial giant that holds the assets, is based in Belgium. The country’s government was against seizing the money due to fears a court could one day hold Belgium liable and order it to repay the funds. But a Belgian diplomat told POLITICO his country will not oppose a call for the Commission to draft a legal proposal on the use of frozen assets. A draft of European Council conclusions seen by Playbook will give the “political go-ahead” for the Commission to move forward after the EU summit on Thursday.
The stakes: If approved, the plan could unlock up to €140 billion for Kyiv — enough to finance two to three years of military and budget support — by leveraging interest from frozen Russian state assets seized after the February 2022 invasion. Even with the green light, though, the Commission’s proposal faces tough negotiations with national capitals in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, in Washington: The Trump administration is stalling the EU-led plan for the G7 to expand the use of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
PUTIN’S FLIGHT OF FANCY? European countries are grappling with the prospect of Russian President Vladimir Putin — who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges — paying a visit to an EU capital in the coming days. The plans, endorsed by Donald Trump, have divided governments and raised both practical and legal questions.
Not for us: Responding to a question from POLITICO’s Gabriel Gavin in Luxembourg on Monday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he “cannot imagine him [Putin] crossing our airspace” to take part in a proposed summit in Hungary.
Others are more cynical … “If the U.S. wants Putin to come, he’ll find a way to get there,” said a senior European diplomat, granted anonymity to speak frankly. “The real challenge is responding to the constant changes — it’s two or three new developments a day from Trump.”
Romain where you are: Romania — which sits between the Black Sea and Hungary — said Monday it had not received any requests to use its airspace for the Russian leader. The country’s foreign minister, Oana-Silvia Țoiu, said Moscow would have to ask if it planned to fly over its territory, despite Budapest’s insistence it can host the talks.
Meanwhile … Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas told journalists in Luxembourg that the principle of territorial integrity for Ukraine should be non-negotiable in any discussions. More from Playbook’s Nick Vinocur.
PATRIOTS’ GAMES
CALLS GROW FOR VÁRHELYI TO RESIGN OVER SPY CLAIMS: Ursula von der Leyen is facing growing calls to force Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to resign over the alleged spying scheme that operated out of the Hungarian permanent representation during his time as the country’s ambassador.
The push: More than 60 academics from the Good Lobby Profs network have written to von der Leyen saying new revelations — including the former Hungarian intelligence chief confirming the network’s existence — “significantly strengthen the credibility of earlier claims.”
The demand: If she doesn’t ask him to resign, von der Leyen should “explain publicly why she doesn’t do so despite having manifestly lost confidence,” the group says — and to refer him to the EU Court of Justice for possible sanctions.
The reply: A Commission spokesperson told my colleague Mari Eccles that Brussels takes the allegations “very seriously” given their security implications and has launched an internal group to examine the claims. The spokesperson added that Várhelyi told von der Leyen he was not aware of recruitment attempts by Hungarian intelligence services targeting European Commission staff while he was at Hungary’s permanent representation and declined to comment further.
SWEDISH PLAN TO TURN SCREWS ON HUNGARY: Stockholm is circulating a proposal to restrict access to EU funding for countries that flout the bloc’s rules.
Harsher than Brussels: The Commission has already proposed tightening “conditionality” for obtaining EU funds under the bloc’s long-term budget, but Stockholm’s plan, seen by Nick Vinocur, aims to close loopholes that could allow scofflaw states to keep pulling in EU cash.
No names (but no doubts): Under the draft plan, loopholes in the conditionality restrictions would be closed. While Stockholm doesn’t name Hungary in its paper, it’s the country most immediately concerned by such moves.
It’s simple — no EU funds without rule of law: Sweden’s European Union Affairs Minister Jessica Rosencrantz told Playbook: “Our position is clear — all screws need to be tightened to implement President von der Leyen’s clear principle: no EU-funding without the rule of law. I don’t want to see a single euro to member states that do not respect our fundamental European values.”
FALL OF THE GENERAL: Roberto Vannacci, the colorful ex-general who has become a far-right firebrand in Brussels and Rome, is heading toward a reckoning in Italy after embarrassing the League party in a regional election.
A general with an army: Vannacci made his name with a controversial book entitled “The World Upside Down” that slammed progressive values, and he has since been made deputy of Matteo Salvini’s League party, while overseeing an array of “teams” that function as a kind of parallel organization.
Fall from grace: But now the erstwhile military man is under a growing barrage of criticism after garnering a miserable 4.48 percent of the vote in a regional election in Tuscany following a campaign for which Salvini gave him full responsibility.
Do or die: According to one League grandee, speaking on condition of anonymity, Salvini is now expected to present Vannacci with an ultimatum at a party council scheduled for today. The choice: either he keeps his prestigious deputyship of the League but dismantles the “teams,” or leaves the party altogether. “I don’t expect the general to attend the board meeting, so it could become a sort of trial in absentia,” the official said.
Ripples in Brussels: That could knock Vannacci’s standing not only in Rome but also in the European Parliament’s Patriots family, in which he became a prominent member after last year’s EU election. That’s if he doesn’t take a good chunk of the League’s constituents — and MEPs — with him. Italian media also reported on the meeting.
IN OTHER NEWS
LIKE CLOCKWORK: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has revived the never-ending EU debate on scrapping daylight saving time ahead of this week’s clock change. “I, frankly, no longer see the point in it,” he said in a social media post Monday.
SARKOZY BEHIND BARS: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to begin a five-year sentence today in Paris. My Playbook Paris colleagues report that Sarkozy’s children are organizing a rally in support of their father before he heads to La Santé prison.