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Summer crucible [InTime News] | Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor |
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. High temperatures and strong winds have fanned wildfires across Greece, with members of the Hellenic Fire Service (HFS) battling dozens of blazes. The islands of Crete, Lesvos, Paros, Andros, were among those tested, as well as several areas in mainland Greece including Boeotia in central Greece and Attica. In Crete and Paros, more than 5,700 hectares of land were affected according to satellite data from the Copernicus Rapid Mapping Service and the European Forest Fire Information System. In just the 24 hours between Thursday and Friday, a total of 51 new fires broke out with the HFS trying to put out more than 73 wildfires. High winds also impeded the use of firefighting planes and helicopters which cannot operate under such conditions. The extreme situation facing the Hellenic Fire Service is exacting a heavy toll with three firefighters dying during operations. The loss of the two firefighters on Crete and one in the Peloponnese was met with sorrow, with leaders from across the political spectrum sharing their condolences. “My most sincere condolences to Greece and the Greek people for the loss of the three firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty,” wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that “their courage will be recorded in history. Europe stands by Greece’s side”.# Additionally, on Sunday two firefighting helicopters operating near Attica collided, with both crews being found. Residents of several settlements across the country have also been ordered to evacuate, including more than 500 people who were stranded at a coastal Boeotian settlement. As a result, Hellenic Coast Guard boats, Fire Department vessels, and private boats operated by local residents and fishermen were called to ferry them to safety. The fire near Attica, burning near a coastal town on the Gulf of Corinth approximately 70 kilometers west of the capital, has also been very destructive despite the efforts of 325 firefighters, 92 vehicles and 18 forest firefighting teams. “Porto Germeno has been completely burned. There are dead animals on the roads, rocks have fallen onto the roads. Everything has burned,” a volunteer firefighter told state broadcaster ERT. Spotlight - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced his intent to convene an informal expanded 5+1 meeting (including the guarantor powers of Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom) in an attempt to move forward with the resolution of the ongoing occupation of Cyprus, following meetings with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on the island on Wednesday. “I decided that I would convene another five plus one meeting, after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance”, said Guterres to the press. While no timetable was given, the Secretary-General said he had secured agreement from the parties to move forward with talks. For his part, Christodoulides noted that the substance of the Cyprus reunification dispute was touched upon for the first time since the collapse of peace talks at Crans-Montana in 2017 during his meeting with Guterres and Erhurman. The European Union is also seeking a more active role during these talks, European Commissioner Raffaele Fitto arriving on the island just a day after Guterres.
- United States President Donald Trump continues to push for the sale of advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, despite both domestic and international opposition to the sale. Among the main opponents of the transfer of advanced military hardware to Turkey is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, generally seen as a close ally of the White House. However, this does not seem to have deterred Trump. “Nobody tells me what we should be selling”, said the president when asked to comment on Netanyahu’s remarks over a possible F-35 sale. “Turkey’s not a big fan of Israel, not a great fan of Bibi [Netanyahu]. But they’ve been great for me”, he added. It is also worth noting that a Turkish Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flew over the Greek island of Agathonisi, the first time a Turkish UAV or plane has flown over Greek territory in more than three years.
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OPINION | Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition |
Greece critical of Spain’s migration policy [Reuters]Walking a fine line between appealing to both the Center and the Right, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, opted for joining 21 other European Union leaders in signing a letter to the presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as to the rotating Presidency of the Council, presently Ireland, calling for an immediate and coordinated European response to the escalating migration situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The letter criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s project of regularization of undocumented migrants as, in essence, encouraging the mass crossing into the Spanish enclave on the northern African coast bordering Morocco. Some leaders, among them Italian PM, Giorgia Meloni, have gone so far as to announce the suspension of the Schengen Treaty with Spain. The treaty guarantees freedom of movement among 25 EU countries; Cyprus and Ireland are not members yet. The 22 leaders’ letter was clear evidence that the issue has become a major social problem in many European nations with significant political repercussions. In the particular case of Greece, which is heading to national elections by next spring, many voices on the right of the political spectrum, most notable among them former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, have voiced concern about illegal immigration and have harshly criticized the ruling Conservatives for not being tough enough. As more than 1.2 million migrants have applied for regularization under Spain’s scheme, the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden, wrote that “we have a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration, by coordinating our action, strengthening our external borders and addressing all policies that can serve as pull factors, such as the regularization of a very large number of irregular migrants.” It was the first time a Greek PM expressed in such a vocal and official way concern for the issue and open displeasure with the policy of a fellow EU member state. |
| CHART OF THE WEEK | |  Greek aluminum producer Metlen Energy & Metals announced on Wednesday that it signed a long-term agreement to supply a US technology company with the critical mineral gallium, noting that the deal would absorb 25% of its annual production. The goal of the Greek company is to launch its gallium production in 2027 and ramp up to an annual output of 50 metric tons by 2028. This quantity would be enough to fully cover the European Union’s needs. Gallium has become increasingly important, as China, which maintains a stranglehold on the processing of rare earths, has introduced export controls on several critical rare earths, including gallium, that are used in defense applications, the AI industry and in semiconductors. |
| | |  | ESCAPADE | | Five Greek villages seek UN authenticity distinction Five Greek rural communities are eyeing a spot in the UN Tourism organization’s network of Best Tourism Villages, joining more than 300 destinations worldwide that are recognized for preserving their cultural heritage, supporting local communities and promoting sustainable tourism. Go to article > |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL | | | “The Euronext Athens (ATHEX) general index closed at 2,569.75 points, up 3.09% from last week. Overall, the benchmark is up 4.47% for the month of July.” | | | “Greek businesses continue to have a hard time finding workers with digital skills, with most continuing to be unable to find qualified personnel to design, implement and support new digital systems. Demand for programmers, software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, data scientists, systems analysts and project managers has increased substantially.” | | | “Wealthy foreigners looking to transfer their tax domicile to Greece has been fueling the country’s luxury housing market. Specifically, non-domiciled citizens accounted for 29% of the volume of transactions in the luxury market in 2025, up from 14% in 2024.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA | | - 03/08/2026ID Cards: Greeks will no longer be able to travel abroad using their old identity cards.
- 07/08/2026Vouchers: The application platform for the “Tourism for All” voucher will go online, offering support for prospective holidaymakers ranging from 200 to 600 euros.
- 07/08/2026Epidaurus: A reimagining of Sophocles’ play ‘Antigone’, directed and choreographed by Alan Lucien Øyen, will be presented at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.
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Editor's Pick The wildfire that burned part of Paros, and reportedly started at the island’s landfill, is yet another bitter reminder of the chronic shortcomings of infrastructure on the Cycladic islands.Yiouli EptakiliRead the article |
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