The Greek Current

Earlier this month, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - along with many other countries and organizations - attended the Ukraine Peace Summit. Nearly 80 countries issued a statement calling for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war. The Ecumenical Patriarch’s signature was originally on that document. Then an outraged Turkey intervened, getting the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s signature removed. Bruce Clark, who writes on European affairs and religion for The Economist, has played an active role in the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s environmental initiatives, and is the author of Twice A Stranger: How Mass Expulsion Forged Modern Greece and Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to look into what this story says about the continued pressure the Ecumenical Patriarch is under.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Patriarchate removed from Ukraine summit statement following Turkish protestsSYRIZA on the brink of civil warVon der Leyen, Costa and Kallas bag EU top jobsEuropean Leaders Name Top E.U. Officials, Opting for Stability

Greece is moving toward a six-day workweek, with regulations coming into effect on July 1 that make this possible for certain industries. The government hopes this move, which comes as other Western countries and companies are considering shorter office hours, will help deal with a labor shortage and, among other things, fight black market labor. Dr. Jens Bastian, an expert with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin with a deep knowledge of Greece’s economy, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this decision to extend the workweek, and break down whether it can solve the problems the government hopes to tackle.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Can Greece's new six-day workweek be a model for others?Higher salaries have stagnatedAs Putin menaces and Trump hovers, NATO chooses Rutte as next leaderRutte says NATO ‘cornerstone of collective security’ as he is named chiefTech giants eye project in Cyprus

With another summer tourism season in full swing, the question of over-tourism and sustainability - particularly in tourist hotspots like Athens and the Cyclades islands - is once again at the forefront. It seems the government is also beginning to address these concerns, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis announcing plans to limit the number of cruise ships visiting popular islands. Yannis Palaiologos, a journalist at large with Kathimerini and the co-editor of the "Sustainable Cyclades" project, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the latest warnings about over-tourism and sustainability, the response from Athens and locals, and its impact on the social fabric of the country - particularly on the islands.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:«Ο υπερτουρισμός διαλύει την κοινωνική συνοχή»Anger as fireworks shot from private yacht spark forest fire in HydraGreece to Cap Number of Cruise Ships at Its Most Popular IslandsBarcelona to ban apartment rentals to tourists in bid to cut housing costsGreek EU lawmaker to remain in Albanian prisonRama pushing it with Athens over BeleriDiplomatic sources in Athens respond to Turkish FM’s comments over Greece, Cyprus and Gaza

All eyes in Athens were on North Macedonia this weekend, as its new government and prime minister were sworn in. While Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski referred to his country as “North Macedonia” when taking his oath, his statements regarding the Prespa Agreement have not been reassuring, and Greece has warned that the a la carte implementation of Prespa is a violation of the agreement. Professor James Ker-Lindsay, who has worked extensively on the EU, the Balkans and Southeast Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to look into the mixed signals the new government in Skopje is sending about the Prespa agreement, and discuss the broader risks this poses for the region.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Athens ready to alert EU over Prespa Agreement violationWill North Macedonia become Orban’s Balkan gateway?New North Macedonia PM describes country’s constitutional name as ‘shameful’Albanian court to decide on appeal of jailed ethnic Greek mayor-elect, MEPIn Greece, Another Tourist Found Dead Amid Scorching Heat WaveCity of Athens braces for fresh heatwave

Greece sent its frigate “Psara” to the Red Sea this week to join Operation Aspides, the EU’s mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from Houthi attacks. The Psara is replacing the Hydra, which completed a three month deployment in the Red Sea, at a time when the Houthis are escalating their campaign. Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis to look into Greece’s role in Operation Aspides and the risks posed by continued Houthi attacks.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Visit of the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias to the Frigate “PSARA”Frigate bound for Red Sea will have better anti-drone systemSalvage firm confirms sinking of Greek-owned Tutor struck by HouthisHouthi Attacks Causing More Damage in the Red Sea, Merchant Traffic Through Suez Canal Down More than 50%EU foreign affairs chief expresses solidarity with Cyprus over Hezbollah threatsHezbollah threats against Cyprus are ‘just beyond me,’ says State Department spokesperson

Days after the US and Cyprus announced the launch of a strategic dialogue, a historic step that takes the bilateral relationship to a new level and highlights Cyprus’s strategic role in the region, Hezbollah’s leader issued a threat against Cyprus amid rising tensions with Israel. Endy Zemenides, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, joins Thanos Davelis to break down Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos’ trip to Washington and the importance of the strategic dialogue, and look into Hezbollah’s threats against Cyprus.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Why pick on us? Cyprus bemused by Hezbollah threatsTurning Cyprus from a problem into a solutionThe small country in the middle of the world’s crisesUS, Cyprus embark on strategic dialogue that officials say demonstrates closest-ever tiesPM discusses high prices with European market commissioner

Over the past 30 years, Greece has lost some 250 square kilometers of its beaches. This is expected to rise as climate change and rising temperatures continue to push up sea levels. Experts warn Greece is in the “red zone” because measures to stabilize the country’s beaches are long overdue. Costas Synolakis, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Technical University of Crete and the University of Southern California and a preeminent authority on the impact of natural hazards, joins Thanos Davelis to look at what coastal erosion means not just for Greece’s shores, but also for the Greeks living in coastal communities, and break down what steps Greece can take.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece in the ‘red zone’ of coastal erosion, warns expert'Unprecedented': Why Hezbollah threatened to attack CyprusHezbollah head threatens Cyprus in televised addressSummer wildfires plague Greece and Turkey. The worst ones have been containedHeightened inferno risk on Thursday and Friday

The aftershocks of the European elections are still being felt in Greece, as none of the big three parties reached their stated goals. The country’s attention has turned to the center left, particularly PASOK, where several party officials are calling for a leadership change. At the same time, there are growing internal discussions in PASOK and SYRIZA regarding forming a coalition. Political scientist and expert Panos Koliastasis joins Thanos Davelis to look at the crisis brewing in Greece’s center left, and break down what it means for Greece’s political scene.Panos Koliastasis is an adjunct lecturer in politics at the Hellenic Open University, and the author of the book "Permanent campaigning in Greece in times of crisis: the Samaras, Tsipras and Mitsotakis premierships".You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Election aftershocks dominate the agenda, focus on the center-leftSome 83% of SYRIZA and PASOK voters in favour of left-wing coalition, poll findsPASOK must give voice to the party baseGreek island searches for missing tourists intensify amid hiking deathsUS tourist found dead on Greek island during heatwaveGreece to set up its first sovereign wealth fund, reform posting, bus services

In the northern Greek port city of Kavala, an ultra-luxury Greek hotel owned by Egypt and built by Mohammad Ali Pasha has become a base to not only explore Kavala, but also Greece’s historic ties to the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the broader Middle East. Sean Mathews, a Greece-based journalist covering the broader region, joins Thanos Davelis to break down how Kavala can serve as a base for visitors to explore northern Greece and Thrace, which is increasingly on the radar of policymakers in Washington and Brussels, while reflecting on Greece’s rich ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Ottoman history.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:'The last stop of Europe': In a remote Greek port, live like a pasha in an Ottoman palaceCyprus and US announce launch of strategic dialogueElection aftershocks dominate the agenda, focus on the center-leftFormer minister Pappas advocates SYRIZA-PASOK electoral alliance

Greece and the whole region have been hit by an unseasonably early - and intense - heat wave, prompting warnings, fire hazards, closures of schools and archaeological sites, and even leading to deaths. In the meantime, with a number of tourists reported either missing or found dead after hiking in the heat, experts have expressed fears that tourists are not fully aware or being properly informed of the risks posed by overexertion in the searing heat. Nikos Efstathiou, an Athens based journalist and author, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the first major heat wave of the summer, and look at how this is impacting everything from daily life in Athens to tourism. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Visitors to Greece appear ill informed about heatwave risk, warn rescuersGreek PM Mitsotakis reshuffles Cabinet after election disappointmentGreece to Cap Number of Cruise Ships at Its Most Popular Islands