The Greek Current

The issue of migration is back on the agenda in Greece, putting the spotlight on a phenomenon that has been ongoing in the country for at least 3 decades. This was the focus of recent studies by DiaNEOsis in Greece which looked at Greek perspectives on migration and dug into the policies designed to address this issue which has an impact across society - from the labor market to demographics. Aggelos Tramountanis, a researcher specializing on migration at Greece’s National Center for Social Research, joins Thanos Davelis for a deeper dive into this issue.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, making it the sixth time the two leaders have met since the NATO summit in Vilnius fourteen months ago. Reports indicate that beyond a commitment to maintain calm and a positive agenda, issues like migration and Cyprus also came up. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to break down what message this meeting sends about Greek-Turkish relations, and to look at what else to expect from the UNGA.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Mitsotakis, Erdogan agree on next stepsGreece Aims to Slash Debt to Lowest Since 2009 Within Four YearsUK moves 700 troops to Cyprus ready to evacuate Britons from LebanonLeave Lebanon now, Starmer tells Britons

While world leaders gather in New York, we’re going to turn our attention to Athens and the historic Panathenaic Stadium, where over 40,000 fans gathered for a basketball tournament this weekend. Kathimerini described this as a night that raised the bar for Greek basketball around the world. Alexander Kitroeff, a professor of history, a frequent commentator on Greek sport, and a lifelong Panathinaikos fan, joins Thanos Davelis on The Greek Current today as we look at a night that put Greek basketball in the world’s spotlight.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:A historic night in Athens with a modern record of 42.000 fansPartizan beats PAO in historic open-air game for “Pavlos Giannakopoulos” tournamentΜια βραδιά που γιγάντωσε την Ελλάδα στο παγκόσμιο μπάσκετCYA Hellenic Executive ProgramBar not high in Mitsotakis, Erdogan talksMacron expresses interest in Crete-Cyprus interconnectorUAE’s TAQA looks to invest in Cyprus-Greece electricity project

This weekend Kathimerini reported that a US proposal is on the table that could see a resolution to the Russian S-400 missile issue that has been a thorn in the side of US-Turkey relations over the last years. This could potentially result in the lifting of CAATSA sanctions and a path for Turkey to rejoin the F35 program. Lena Argiri, the Washington, DC correspondent for ERT - the Greek Public Broadcasting Company - and Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest scoop from Washington, DC.Read Lena Argiri’s latest piece for Kathimerini: Talks on S-400 seen nearing a compromiseYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:HALC makes ‘no weapons to Turkey’ petition to US CongressBusy week of meetings for PM at the UN

Turkey’s recent role in mediating talks between Somalia and Ethiopia has put the spotlight on how Turkey’s influence in Africa has boomed over the past two decades. As the Financial Times reported in a recent in-depth piece, Turkey’s rapidly growing influence has been particularly prominent in the Sahel region, especially over the past few years. Turkey’s focus on Africa comes as a number of so-called “middle powers” are vying to gain a larger foothold on the continent. Ulf Laessing, the head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation, joins Thanos Davelis to look at Turkey’s growing footprint in the Sahel and Africa. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey’s expanding leverage in AfricaThe middle-power competition in AfricaVon der Leyen, responding to Mitsotakis, outlines plan to lower energy pricesPM: Buying 4th frigate will not upend fiscal policy

Mario Draghi recently released a report on Europe’s competitiveness that has sparked debate across the continent. The report, which shows Europe lagging behind the US and China in a number of areas, has many asking if the continent’s leaders will heed his call to action. Jacob Kirkegaard, a nonresident senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics and senior fellow at Bruegel, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why this report has sparked a debate across the EU, and look at what steps Europe needs to take to meet the challenges before it.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Mario Draghi outlines his plan to make Europe more competitiveDraghi is trying to save Europe from itselfDraghi's competitiveness report: Can Europe heed the call to action?Greece to buy US dronesMigration undermining EU’s cohesion

Earlier this month Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced a series of measures designed to alleviate Greece’s housing crisis. It came as no surprise that Airbnb and short term rentals were also targeted - especially in downtown Athens - as Greece announced it will ban new short-term rentals in the center for at least a year. Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis to look at these latest announcements, and provide a look into how Greeks living in neighborhoods of Athens that see a large number of tourists throughout the year are reacting to this news. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece to ban new short-term lets in Athens for at least a yearGuarded optimism for Cyprus cable linkGreece clinches transport and tourism portfolio in new EU Commission5 takeaways on Ursula von der Leyen’s new Commission

Earlier this month a Turkish-flagged vessel suspected of carrying weapons to Libya blocked the EU’s naval mission Irini from inspecting its cargo. This isn’t the first time this has happened. The timing of this shipment, however, which comes amid an escalating row over the leadership of the country’s Central Bank, is fueling speculation of renewed conflict in Libya. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this unfolding crisis in Libya, and break down whether this should be a cause for concern in the Mediterranean.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Libyan Central Bank standoff fuels conflict fears as Turkey, Russia send weaponsFrom Turkey, exiled Libyan Central Bank governor decries 'coup d'etat'Burning oil tanker is safely towed away from Yemen after rebel attacksGreece to ban new short-term lets in Athens for at least a year

Over the summer we’ve read about issues of water scarcity on Greece’s islands, many of them struggling to find ways to meet demand during the summer - especially as tourists swarm to the islands. New warnings, however, indicate that Greece’s countryside and the city of Athens could face their own water crisis. Experts have warned that if droughts persist, Athens would run out of water in another four years. This has spurred the government into action, and it has announced a series of ambitious water projects. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis to look into the challenge that Greece is up against.John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe. He publishes Hellenica, a weekly deep dive into Greek current affairs and history. You can find it on Substack.com.Read John Psaropoulos’ latest in Hellenica here: Greece fights climate emergency with huge waterworks as Athens risks going thirstyYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Attica faces water shortages due to receding Lake MornosThe tug of war with Berlin over migrationSalvagers launch new attempt to tow an oil tanker blown up by Yemen’s Houthi rebels

Earlier this year Europeans seemed to wrap up years of negotiations to pass a new migration pact. Now, Germany has decided to impose temporary controls on its land borders in an immigration crackdown. This is leading to a string of reactions across Europe, with frontline states like Greece increasingly concerned about the possibility of a “domino effect” that would see other member states take similar steps. Alexandra Voudouri, Kathimerini’s correspondent in Brussels, joins Thanos Davelis to look into whether the nightmare of closed borders could once again become a reality in Europe. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Concern over a migration domino effect'Unacceptable': Neighbours slam Germany for new border control measuresUnauthorized migration into the EU declined despite heated politicsMitsotakis and Christodoulides to meet in Athens for linkup deal‘Blue Homeland’ debuts at Turkish schools