Newsflash

Greece-US cooperation reshaping Europe’s energy future, minister says

Greece and the United States are strengthening their cooperation to reshape Europe’s energy future, according to Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou. In a recent interview with Fox News, Papastavrou highlighted the strategic partnership between the two nations, emphasizing Greece’s pivotal role in Europe’s energy transition. He noted that Greece is shifting the continent’s energy flow from an east-to-west model, heavily reliant on Russian gas, to a resilient "vertical corridor" running from south to north, enhancing energy security and stability.

Papastavrou praised Greece’s geographical advantages, extensive infrastructure, and strong regional connectivity, making it an ideal entry point for American liquefied natural gas (LNG). He also underscored Greece’s political and economic stability, with its five-year bonds currently trading at lower yields than those of the US, France, or Italy. The minister emphasized Greece’s pragmatic approach to the green transition, balancing household needs and economic competitiveness, positioning the country as a reliable partner in Europe’s energy landscape.

Discussing infrastructure, Papastavrou highlighted the importance of the port of Piraeus while exploring alternative port options, such as Elefsina, amid growing US interest. He also noted Greece’s strategic position in emerging trade routes, including the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), where expanding ports and infrastructure remains a priority. Additionally, Greece is resuming exploratory drilling after a 40-year hiatus, with ExxonMobil and Chevron showing promising early results in the Ionian Sea and south of Crete. 🌍💡

Russia pounds Ukraine's Kremenchuk as US-hosted peace talks wrap up

Russia launched a significant overnight attack on the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, targeting critical water and heating infrastructure. The assault occurred as Ukrainian officials concluded three days of peace talks in Florida with U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisers, aimed at securing a potential agreement to end the ongoing war. The strike underscores the escalating tensions and the challenges of achieving a peaceful resolution amid Russia’s continued aggression. 🌊🔥

EU set to tighten migration rules with plan for offshore ‘return hubs’

The European Union is poised to adopt stricter migration policies, with member states expected to endorse the creation of "return hubs" outside the bloc to manage rejected asylum seekers. This move comes as governments across Europe seek to counter rising far-right influence by demonstrating a tougher stance on immigration. Interior ministers will vote on measures to tighten controls on migrant arrivals and expedite returns, marking the first step in implementing proposals introduced this year.

Key aspects of the proposed measures include establishing centers outside the EU for migrants whose asylum applications are denied, imposing harsher penalties on those who refuse to leave, and returning migrants to countries deemed "safe" by the EU, even if not their origin. Despite a 20% reduction in irregular entries this year, political pressure to address migration remains high. The EU's migration commissioner, Magnus Brunner, emphasizes the need for swift action to reassure citizens that the situation is under control.

Critics, including migrant advocacy groups, argue that these policies will push more people into danger and legal uncertainty. However, Denmark, which holds the EU presidency, is driving the initiative forward. While some member states, like France and Spain, express skepticism about the legality and effectiveness of these measures, there is broad political support from center-right and far-right factions. If approved, negotiations with the European Parliament will begin immediately.

Additionally, discussions will focus on relocating at least 30,000 asylum seekers under a new solidarity system to support countries like Greece and Italy, which face high numbers of arrivals. However, with political risks involved, securing agreements on resettlement remains a challenge. The EU aims to finalize a decision by the end of the year. 🌍🚨

X axes European Commission’s ad account after €120M EU fine

The European Commission has been locked out of its ad control panel on Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) following a €120 million fine imposed on the platform for violating EU transparency rules. X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, announced the termination of the Commission’s ad account, accusing the EU of attempting to exploit a feature in X’s Ad Composer to mislead users and artificially boost the reach of a post about the fine. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the EU and X over compliance with European regulations. 🚨💻

An alliance hanging by a thread

The transatlantic alliance is on the brink of collapse, with Europe facing unprecedented danger as the U.S. under Donald Trump distances itself from the continent. Trump’s administration has shown clear disdain for the EU, seeking to disengage from security commitments and prioritize commercial deals with Russia. Recent events, including a secretive peace plan for Ukraine that heavily favors Russia and excludes European input, underscore the growing rift. The U.S. has already reduced its military presence in Europe and is pressuring the EU to return frozen Russian assets to Moscow, leaving Europe to bear the financial burden of Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The U.S. has also cut direct military communication with Germany, raising concerns about NATO’s cohesion. Meanwhile, Russia’s aggressive stance and rapid rearmament suggest a heightened risk of conflict. European leaders must act swiftly to secure Ukraine’s future, strengthen military capabilities, and reduce dependence on both the U.S. and China. The EU’s internal divisions, exacerbated by far-right parties aligned with Trump, further complicate the situation. With time running out, Europe must decide whether it can unite to safeguard its security and sovereignty. ⏳🌍

Estonian electronics industry sees renewed momentum as order volumes rise toward year-end

Estonia’s electronics industry is experiencing a strong upward trajectory, with increased order volumes, heightened market activity, and significant investments in new technologies. This positive momentum is highlighted by the international seminar "EMS & Beyond 2025," held in Tallinn, where over 230 experts from 19 countries convened to discuss the sector’s competitiveness and future outlook. Arno Kolk, CEO of the Estonian Electronics Industries Association, noted that the final quarter of the year has seen a notable surge in order volumes and market activity, reflecting companies' confidence and readiness to expand. He emphasized the importance of talent development, with high admissions to engineering programs and growing interest in electronics, ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals.

The newly established Chip Centre (KIIP) is a key development, consolidating Estonia’s expertise in chip design and testing, which bolsters the country’s high-tech capabilities. Dieter Weiss, a prominent electronics industry analyst, highlighted the rapid and complex shifts in the sector, including a surge in mergers and acquisitions, rising customer acquisition costs, and the increasing demand for high-end PCBs driven by AI servers. The seminar explored various critical topics, such as the growing importance of Central and Eastern Europe in the global electronics landscape, market dynamics, and geopolitical factors influencing growth and investment. Speakers included industry analysts, business leaders, and senior officials, who discussed strategies for maintaining Europe’s competitiveness in electronics manufacturing. The event was supported by key industry players and organizations, underscoring the collaborative efforts to drive innovation and growth in Estonia’s electronics sector. 🌐💡

Russia praises US security strategy shift heralded by ‘strong’ Trump

Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitriy Peskov, has praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s new National Security Strategy, stating that it aligns closely with Russia’s global perspective. This public endorsement highlights the growing rapport between the two nations since Trump’s return to office earlier this year. Peskov expressed hope that this alignment could facilitate constructive dialogue and potentially contribute to a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. The remarks underscore a significant shift in U.S.-Russia relations, marking a more cooperative stance between the former Cold War adversaries. 🤝

Europe’s populist right hails Trump team’s EU bashing

Europe’s far-right leaders are seizing the opportunity to align themselves with a growing U.S. backlash against the European Union. Senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have criticized the EU for what they describe as "censorship" and an "attack" on American tech companies. This sentiment was sparked by a €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission on social media platform X for violating EU transparency rules under the Digital Services Act.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a vocal critic of the EU, echoed these sentiments, condemning the fine as an overreach of power by "Brusselian overlords." He argued that Europe needs free speech and should resist the influence of unelected bureaucrats. Orbán’s remarks reflect a broader trend among far-right European leaders who are leveraging U.S. discontent with the EU to advance their own agendas, positioning themselves as defenders of free speech against perceived authoritarianism. 🇺🇸🇪🇺

Assessing Greece’s stance on Ukraine

Greece has firmly supported Ukraine since the onset of Russia's invasion, driven by its commitment to international law and concerns over territorial integrity, particularly in light of Turkey's revisionist actions in the Aegean and Cyprus. Athens has provided Ukraine with military aid, including ammunition, anti-tank missiles, and armored vehicles, a decision made unilaterally by the prime minister and later approved by the Government Council on Foreign and Defense Affairs. This move marked a significant departure from Greece's traditional policy of avoiding direct involvement in conflicts and lacked broad political consensus.

While Greece's support for Ukraine has strengthened its ties with the U.S., it has also strained relations with Russia, reaching a low point not seen since 1991. Greece must now navigate the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine and maintaining a strategic relationship with Russia, especially as European powers prepare for a prolonged confrontation with Moscow. The decision to send military aid was bold but raises questions about Greece's long-term national interests and the potential consequences of alienating a powerful neighbor. 🌍🇬🇷

Just one in 10 pensioners keeps working

Greece faces significant challenges in leveraging its workforce, particularly among its elderly and youth populations. Despite strong demographic pressures from an aging population, only one in 10 retirees continues to work, and youth unemployment remains high at nearly 20%. Women’s participation in the labor force is also notably higher at 11%, compared to 6.5% in the eurozone. While many OECD countries incentivize extending the retirement age, Greece, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, and Turkey, offers little to no encouragement for retirees to remain in the workforce. In fact, Greece imposes a 10% supplementary contribution on retirees who continue working, effectively taxing their earnings without increasing their pension benefits. This stands in contrast to countries like the Czech Republic, which exempt working pensioners from pension contributions while maintaining employer contributions.

The low wages in Greece further discourage retirees from working, exacerbating labor shortages amid declining population trends. The country’s failure to fully utilize its elderly and youth populations—with youth unemployment at 18.8% compared to 14.4% in the eurozone—highlights a missed opportunity to address demographic challenges and boost economic growth. 🇬🇷📉

Growth in Q3 driven by investments

Greece’s economy experienced robust growth in the third quarter of 2025, driven by a significant surge in investments, which increased by 12.8%, according to data from ELSTAT. This growth rate of 2% annually outpaced both the European Union (1.6%) and the eurozone (1.4%). Over the first nine months of the year, Greece’s average growth rate was nearly 2%, placing it seventh in the eurozone, which averaged 1.5% growth. The strong investment performance, largely attributed to the Recovery and Resilience Fund projects and construction activity, offset earlier setbacks and positioned Greece to meet its 2026 budget target of a 2.2% annual growth rate. Key contributors to this growth included a 17.9% rise in "other construction" and a 25.4% increase in housing construction, with investments as a percentage of GDP reaching a 15-year high of 18.4%. This surge in investment marks the highest growth rate since early 2023, underscoring Greece’s economic resilience and strategic focus on infrastructure development. 📈🏗️

Welfare is increasingly borne by those born abroad

Sweden's municipal and regional workforce has seen a significant increase in foreign-born employees, rising from 13% to 22% in municipalities and from 14% to 20% in regions between 2014 and 2024. These employees, many of whom arrived in the last decade, are crucial to Sweden's welfare sector, particularly in healthcare. Over half of nursing assistants (53%) and a substantial portion of nurses (37%), dentists (46%), and specialist doctors (37%) are foreign-born. However, Sweden's aging population and declining birth rate pose challenges, with the growth in working-age individuals primarily driven by immigration. A stricter migration policy could exacerbate workforce shortages in healthcare.

Foreign-born individuals are increasingly pursuing careers in welfare, with their representation in nursing programs rising from 10% to 28% and in dental programs from 20% to 57% over the past decade. Since 2018, the proportion of foreign-born care assistants has surged from 30% to 50%, and foreign-born nurses now make up 37% of the workforce in municipalities and 28% in regions. Approximately 4,000 doctors, 2,000 nurses, and 33,000 nursing assistants and care assistants have migrated to Sweden in the last ten years, highlighting the vital role of immigration in sustaining Sweden's welfare system. 🌍🏥

Trump: Zelensky not ready for peace deal

Donald Trump expressed disappointment after U.S.-Ukraine peace talks in Florida concluded without a clear breakthrough. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported further negotiations for a lasting peace, Trump claimed Zelenskyy was not ready to accept the latest draft proposal. Trump also noted that Zelenskyy had not yet reviewed the draft, adding to his frustration.

The earlier draft, criticized as a "Russian wish list," included 28 points, primarily requiring Ukraine to cede occupied territories, limit its military capabilities, and renounce future military alliances. A new draft has since been developed, but key details remain undisclosed, particularly regarding Ukraine's allowed defense capabilities. The stalled negotiations highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving a mutually acceptable peace agreement. 🤝💥

Poland buys used rail carriages from Deutsche Bahn, prompting opposition criticism of “German scrap”

Poland’s state rail operator, PKP Intercity, has acquired 50 second-hand rail carriages from Germany to address surging passenger demand. The decision, announced by CEO Janusz Malinowski, aims to quickly expand capacity, as record numbers of passengers—40.4 million in the first half of 2025—are straining the system. The carriages, set to enter service in early 2026, will help alleviate ticket shortages while new double-decker trains, ordered in a historic €1.6 billion deal, are still years away from delivery.

Critics from the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party have condemned the move, accusing the government of prioritizing foreign imports over domestic production. They argue that Poland risks becoming a "graveyard for old German wagons," undermining Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s efforts to "repolonize" the economy. However, PKP Intercity defends the purchase as a necessary measure to compensate for years of underinvestment in rolling stock under previous administrations. The company is also investing heavily in Polish manufacturers and improving existing infrastructure, with plans to spend 16.5 billion zloty on new domestic production. Despite opposition criticism, the government insists that the purchase is a pragmatic step to meet immediate demand while long-term investments continue. 🚆🇵🇱

Few voted when Hong Kong went to the polls

In Hong Kong's recent legislative elections, only "patriots" and individuals loyal to Beijing were permitted to run or sit in the legislature. The public could vote for just 20 of the 90 seats, with voter turnout reaching 31.9%, a slight increase from the previous election but resulting in fewer actual votes cast. For these 20 seats, voters chose from 51 candidates, none of whom represented Hong Kong's two largest democratic opposition parties, both of which have either dissolved or are in the process of doing so. Additionally, at least 11 people were arrested for allegedly encouraging voters to boycott the election. 🇭🇰🗳️

EU reacts to US security strategy document saying Europe face 'civilisational erasure'

The European Union has responded to a U.S. security strategy document that warns of a potential "civilizational erasure" facing Europe. The document highlights growing concerns over Europe's security, particularly in light of Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine and the shifting stance of the United States under a new administration prioritizing commercial interests over traditional alliances. European leaders have expressed alarm at the prospect of a Russian victory in Ukraine, which they argue would further destabilize the continent. However, Europe finds itself in a precarious position, unable to provide credible security guarantees to Kyiv without robust American support.

The situation underscores the urgent need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities. While some European countries struggle to meet NATO's 2% GDP defense spending target, discussions are underway to raise it to 3%. Beyond financial commitments, Europe must invest in strategic enablers like satellite systems, intelligence, and heavy transport to reduce its dependence on the U.S. To achieve this, Europe may need to establish new institutions and collective procurement mechanisms, as individual nations lack the fiscal capacity and coordination required for such large-scale defense investments. The challenge lies in overcoming nationalistic procurement practices and fostering a more unified and efficient defense market. 🛡️

‘Yes, there’s a strategy’: Trump’s trade chief hits back at tariff critics

President Donald Trump has long championed tariffs as a key tool in his economic strategy, a stance supported by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Greer, a seasoned trade lawyer who served in the first Trump administration, is now spearheading efforts to overhaul the global trading system under Trump’s direction. Despite widespread criticism that Trump’s tariff policies have been implemented without clear direction, Greer insists there is a deliberate strategy at play.

Greer emphasizes that transforming decades of trade policy cannot happen overnight. He dismisses claims of chaos, arguing that critics are merely seeking a return to the pre-Trump era—a shift he believes is impossible. The administration’s approach reflects a commitment to reshaping international trade dynamics, prioritizing U.S. economic interests in a rapidly evolving global landscape. 🌍💼

Keep hitting US Big Tech with fines, Europe’s Greens tell von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission must continue enforcing its digital regulations firmly, despite criticism from U.S. officials and tech giants, according to Bas Eickhout, co-chair of the Greens in the European Parliament. Speaking at the Greens' annual congress in Lisbon, Eickhout emphasized that the EU should uphold its laws without hesitation, particularly in response to a recent €120 million fine imposed on social media platform X for violating the EU’s Digital Services Act. He argued that the penalty, while substantial, is insignificant for billionaire Elon Musk and urged the Commission to take even stronger action. The EU’s commitment to enforcing its digital regulations remains steadfast, despite pushback from powerful interests. 🌍💻

Baltics, Poland to receive “special favor” from US, war secretary Hegseth says

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently outlined the nation's new National Security Strategy, emphasizing a shift in focus away from Europe. The strategy, unveiled at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, underscores the expectation that European nations should take greater responsibility for their own defense starting in 2027. Hegseth commended countries that have significantly increased their defense spending, particularly the Baltic states and Poland, which have pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense. He stated that nations meeting these expectations will receive "special favor" from the U.S. This policy shift highlights a growing emphasis on self-reliance among European allies and a critical stance on Europe's migration policies. 🇺🇸🔄

US envoy: Two issues must be resolved for peace

Efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine are gaining momentum, according to John Kellogg, who will soon step down from his post. Speaking at the RNDF defense conference in California, Kellogg expressed optimism, stating that a resolution is within reach. The key challenges, he noted, are resolving the status of Donbass—comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions—and the future of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control.

Russia occupies significant portions of Donbass but has demanded that Ukraine cede the remaining areas, a proposal Ukraine has firmly rejected. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that surrendering territory without a referendum would be both unreasonable and illegal, warning that Russian control of Donbass could serve as a launching pad for future aggression. Meanwhile, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, remains a critical concern due to its role in Ukraine’s energy supply. Kellogg believes that resolving these two issues could pave the way for a broader peace agreement. 🤝⚡