Concern over an Israel-Iran open conflict [AP Photo] | Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor |
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. There is widespread concern in Athens over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with his Israeli counterpart Benhamin Netanyahu on Saturday. According to a statement released by the Greek government, during the call, that was held following an initiative by the Israeli side, Mitsotakis underlined the urgent need for regional de-escalation. The Greek prime minister acknowledged that Iran should not acquire a nuclear weapon arsenal but stressed that only diplomatic means can offer a viable and sustainable solution. Mitsotakis added that there must be no new fronts of conflict in the already unstable wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Mitsotakis also discussed the latest developments with the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, with the two examining the security implications of the Israel-Iran conflict and possible outcomes regarding regional stability. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis also discussed the situation with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, with the two ministers pledging to coordinate their efforts to safeguard regional peace, security, and stability. Additionally, the Government Council on Foreign and Defense Affairs (KYSEA), the top decision-making body on these issues, held an emergency meeting chaired by the prime minister on Friday night. At the same time, the Shipping Ministry sent a warning to Greek-owned merchant shipping companies to avoid sailing through areas under the maritime jurisdiction of Iran, citing a series of past events where the freedom of navigation of transiting ships was violated. It also called on ships currently near the area to strictly adhere to all security protocols. The ministry also called on the shipping companies to log the details of any vessel that is either currently sailing or set to sail in the immediate future through the Straits of Hormuz. A day earlier, acting on British intelligence, the ministry had also warned of a possible escalation in the region of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Foreign Ministry also issued a safety advisory to Greek citizens in both Israel and Iran, urging them to remain vigilant and to avoid unnecessary movements while following instructions from local authorities. Finally, Aegean Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until July 12, and all fights to Beirut, Amman, and Erbil until June 28. Spotlight - Three members of the far-right Spartans party, including party leader Vasilis Stigas, lost their parliamentary seats this week, following a decision by Greece’s Special Highest Court. Their election was cancelled citing electoral fraud as the court found that the party had an undercover leader in Ilias Kasidiaris, the jailed former leading member of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn organization. The ruling means that the Hellenic Parliament will continue with 297 MPs for the first time in its history as the court stated that the Constitution does not foresee the redistribution of seats to other parties for the specific crime. Comments by the government spokesperson suggested that the required government majority had dropped to 149 MPs, but Speaker of the House Nikitas Kaklamanis clarified that the number of votes required for an absolute majority continues to stand at 151.
- The Council of State, Greece’s top administrative court, rejected three legal challenges against a law passed by the government allowing the establishment of non-state universities. The court decided that the establishment and operation of branches by European Union universities and by those of countries under the General Agreement on Trade and Services is not prohibited by the Constitution, based on a special law that ensures quality education and protects academic freedom. “This is an end to the taboos and obsessions of those using the Constitution as an alibi to remain stuck in absurdity and the past”, said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who hailed the court decision, while Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who had spearheaded the government’s legislation in his former capacity as Education Minister, called the decision “historic”, noting that it is an important step forward.
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OPINION | Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition |
Energy transition in East Med and Southeast Europe [Shutterstock]Greece’s location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and its role as a gateway to the European markets, will be highlighted this week during a conference on energy transition in the East Med and Southeast Europe, that Kathimerini co-organizes with the Financial Times. Top executives, government leaders, and energy experts will gather in Athens to share strategies and exchange ideas on regional energy developments and the efforts needed to overcome financial, technological, and regulatory hurdles. An issue central to the process is how the grids of countries in the area that are increasingly strained by outdated infrastructure and fragmented interconnections, will be improved through investment, innovation and cross-border collaboration. It’s a crucial question that should be part of a greater European, if not western, debate and the necessary strategic planning, with Greece’s multifaceted contribution playing a central part. As divergent national priorities and regulatory mismatches risk undermining progress, energy ministers from many countries in the region will offer ideas and exchange experiences that will, hopefully, assist in effectively dealing with a number of shortcomings. Energy transition in the East Med and Southeast Europe also hinges on the robustness of shipping and maritime infrastructure, and here the role of Greek commercial shipping, which accounts for almost one fourth of global maritime trade, will be discussed; how it influences energy security in Europe and the US and how it impacts the new geopolitical order. Another critical issue is the economic benefits of LNG hubs and what infrastructure investments are needed for their operation. In this context, the role of the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal, which began operations in 2024, aiming to supply 5.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Southeast Europe, will be at the forefront. The optimum use of sources like nuclear or hydrogen will be raised in a number of panels. One of the challenges faced by policymakers, industry leaders, but also investors, is to build clean, reliable, affordable energy systems, and to do so against a backdrop of volatile geopolitics and market uncertainty. In this context, participants will discuss how to balance the short-term stability with long-term sustainability. Many countries in the region are poised to embrace renewables, but lackluster economic growth, geopolitical tensions and supply chain fragility have thrown energy affordability and security into sharp focus. The conference will focus on trying to find the best answers to the numerous energy related equations, so as to be able to navigate the present unpredictable regional landscape. |
| CHART OF THE WEEK | |  Kathimerini understands that a joint ministerial decision announcing the increase of cruise disembarkation fees is due in a matter of days. The new rate will be introduced on July 1 and seeks to both decongest several busy tourist destinations, with an emphasis on the islands of Mykonos and Santorini, and to increase revenues from the activity of the cruise industry in Greece, with a view to funding port and tourism infrastructure projects. It is worth noting that several experts point to the case of Santorini, where the tens of thousands of daily cruise visitors in the summer threaten not only the very character of the island but harm other aspects of the local tourism industry. The measure has already been voted on in 2024 and has been announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. |
| | |  | ESCAPADE | | ‘They say we are Europe’s waiters. Wrong: We are hosts’ Rethymno has survived the tourism onslaught and efforts are ongoing to preserve architectural tradition and invest in gastronomy Go to article > |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL | | | “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,835.40 points, down 0.40% from last week.” | | | “Greek households in 2024 spent 35.5% of their disposable income to cover housing costs (rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, etc), the highest percentage in the European Union with an EU-wide average of only 19.2%. In fact, while the European trend is for this rate to decrease, in Greece it increased.” | | | “There was a total of 70.6 million instant payment transactions in Greece last year, up 92.1% from 2023. The IRIS platform has established a commanding share of this instant payment market, with both private individuals and businesses flocking to the service for a total of 57.3 million transactions.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA | | - 16/06/2025Medicine deliveries: Greeks receiving high-cost medications from National Health Fund pharmacies will be able to have these delivered at home, free of additional cost. The measure aims to reduce long queues at these pharmacies.
- 17/06/2025Train strike: Hellenic Train staff have called for a strike on Tuesday, demanding, among others, the immediate full modernization of the rail network’s signaling and safety systems.
- 18/06/2025Karamanlis vote: Parliament will hold a secret ballot vote on whether to refer former transport Kostas A. Karamanlis to a preliminary investigation committee, with the government dismissing concerns over possible leaks by calling for strict party discipline.
- 19/06/2025Eurogroup: Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis will participate in the Eurogroup meeting held in Luxembourg, ahead of the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council the following day where ministers will discuss the 2025 European Semester Spring Package.
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Editor's Pick When even a global giant like Microsoft – with over $100 billion in annual revenue and 230,000 employees – needed two years to obtain the necessary permits for an investment triumphantly announced by Mitsotakis himself, it’s easy to see why business leaders are hesitantNotis PapadopoulosRead the article |
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