News In English
Greece’s HELLENiQ ENERGY Responds to Global Energy Shifts with Bold Strategy
Facing the dual pressures of climate targets and market volatility, HELLENiQ ENERGY is modernizing its refining operations and embracing cleaner technologies to stay ahead in Europe’s shifting energy landscape. At a recent technical briefing, company executives outlined a multi-pronged strategy centered on sustainability, diversification, and energy autonomy—key pillars for navigating the industry's rapid transformation.
Gucci’s Former Athens Home Gets New Life Under French Investor
Veteran French entrepreneur Alain Bern Green is deepening his presence in Greece with the launch of two real estate firms in central Athens, signaling a strategic shift for a pair of landmark properties in upscale Kolonaki. The move marks Green’s latest step in a growing portfolio that spans tech, mining, and now high-end Athenian real estate.
Tourists Spending More for Shorter Stays in Greece, But Overall Trip Costs Hold Steady
Tourists in Greece are splashing out more cash each day, but cutting their vacations short—leaving total spending per trip virtually unchanged since before the pandemic. New Bank of Greece data for 2024 reveals a sharp drop in average stay length and a tourism sector increasingly skewed toward high-end, short-term travel.
Greek Agricultural Subsidy System in Crisis Amid EU Corruption Probes
Billions in European Union farm subsidies are at risk as Greece’s agricultural payment agency, OPEKEPE, comes under criminal investigation for large-scale fraud. With allegations of phantom farmland and misused funds, Brussels is threatening to suspend payments - escalating a crisis that could cripple Greek agriculture and force sweeping reforms in the country’s subsidy system.
Why Greece’s Push for Bank-Only Rent Payments Won’t Fix Tax Evasion
The core of the problem isn’t how rent is paid — by bank transfer or cash — but the significant discrepancy between actual rental prices and what is officially declared to the tax authorities.
Greece’s Retail Sector Shows Fragile Growth
According to recent data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), total retail turnover reached €16.16 billion—just 0.6% higher than the €16.07 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
Greece Surpasses EU Standards in Bank Deposit Protection
By the end of 2024, DGS across the EU had collectively accumulated €79 billion in available financial resources, meeting the target set by the EU's Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive (DGSD).
New Poll Shows Most Greeks Fear for Economy, See Wrong Direction Ahead
Greece is once again grappling with a wave of economic pessimism, as a new nationwide poll reveals growing financial insecurity among households and a sharp downturn in public confidence.
Over a Million Greeks Get Faster Tax Refunds in Major System Overhaul
Greece has reached a new milestone in its tax administration, issuing more than €309 million in income tax refunds to individuals in just over two months, according to figures released this week by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
Greece to Bring in Private Firms to Tackle Mounting Social Security Debt
Greece is moving to involve private firms in managing its ballooning social security debt, as authorities prepare to launch an international tender aimed at improving the collection of overdue contributions.
The Network Powering Greece’s Newest Energy Megaproject
Intriguing new details have surfaced about a major energy project underway in central Greece, shedding light on the stakeholders and financial mechanics behind the Larissa Thermoelectric plant.
Greece Ties EU Defense Cooperation with Turkey to Policy Shift on Casus Belli
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced his intention to formally request that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revoke Turkey’s longstanding casus belli—a declaration that considers a potential extension of Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea as grounds for war.
Greece and Israel’s Flight Training Deal Under Scrutiny as Costs and Questions Mount
As Israel commemorates the 77th anniversary of its independence, attention turns to one of its most significant recent international defense partnerships—the government-to-government (G to G) agreement signed with Greece in April 2021.
A Two-Speed Greece: Stark Regional Inequalities in Wealth and Liquidity
Greece is increasingly becoming a country of two economic speeds, as glaring disparities emerge in wealth and liquidity across its regions.
Greece’s Banking Map: 54% of Deposits Concentrated in Attica
By the end of 2024, total bank deposits and repos held by businesses, households, and non-profit institutions in Greece reached €203.6 billion, according to the Bank of Greece.
Greece's DEPA Commerce Acquires 35% Stake in Gas-Fired Power Plant Project in Larissa
A significant energy sector agreement was finalized on Wednesday in Greece, as DEPA Commerce, the state-owned gas and energy trading company, signed a shareholder agreement to acquire a 35% stake in Larissa Thermoelectric.
Greek Star Klavdia Captivates Global Audience with “Asteromata” After Eurovision Success
Greek singer Klavdia has emerged as one of the breakout stars of Eurovision 2025, captivating audiences across the globe with her song “Asteromata.” At just 22 years old, she achieved a stunning 6th-place finish in the Grand Final—Greece’s highest ranking in over a decade—and has since taken the international music scene by storm.
When the Power Goes Out: Why Europeans Are Stashing Cash Under the Mattress
As digital payments become the norm and cash fades into obscurity, European authorities are urging citizens to prepare for a very analog kind of emergency: one where your phone doesn’t work, your card gets declined, and your only lifeline is a stash of physical cash tucked away at home.
Greece Decries Shadow Fleet While Selling Ships Into It
Although Mitsotakis insists Greece is committed to international maritime law and sanctions compliance, Greek shipping firms were by far the most active sellers in this trend.
Athens Faces Political Uproar Over Silence on Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
Greece has been sharply criticized for its silence.
Prime Kolonaki Property with Rich Legacy Draws Investor Attention
The modest price point is expected to attract considerable interest from investors, possibly leading to competitive bidding and a higher final sale price.
PPC Sees Steady Progress in Grid Reliability and Digital Upgrades
In Greece, network reliability has shown marked improvement, as demonstrated by the reduction in the SAIDI index (System Average Interruption Duration Index), which tracks the average duration of power outages per customer.
Who Benefits from Greece’s New Development Law? Not Everyone
At the heart of the law is a broad set of financial instruments, designed to stimulate private investment and speed up licensing procedures.
What the Suspension of Ethniki Insurance’s New Compensation Model Reveals About the Piraeus–CVC Deal
The abrupt suspension of a new health insurance compensation model by Greece’s Ethniki Insurance has triggered serious concerns—not just about the company’s ability to carry out long-term reforms, but also about the wider challenges facing the private insurance sector in Greece.
European Prosecutors Search Greek Farm Subsidy Agency Amid Integrity Concerns
In the context of an ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), Greece’s Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE) announced that its new administration has fully cooperated, handing over all requested documentation to facilitate the process.
Leadership Contest Unfolds at American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
The race for the presidency of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce is heating up amid an atmosphere of intense behind-the-scenes maneuvering. With the term of current president Nikos Bakatselos coming to an end, the spotlight has turned to the two leading contenders vying to succeed him: Giannis Sarakakis and Alexandros Kostopoulos.
New IMF Tool Maps Global Trade from Space, Highlighting Greece’s Maritime Clout
The International Monetary Fund has unveiled a groundbreaking new tool designed to track global trade in near real time by analyzing satellite data from commercial ship movements.
Lost in Translation: Predator Spyware Trial in Greece Delayed Amid Interpreter Shortage
The high-profile trial linked to Greece’s surveillance scandal has been postponed indefinitely, after a failure to translate key court documents into English.
Is Greece Poised to Use EU Regulation to Tighten Grip on Its Ports?
After years of delay, the Greek government has finally brought to Parliament a draft bill aimed at aligning the country with European Union Regulation (EU) 2019/452, which establishes a common framework for the screening of foreign direct investments (FDI) into the EU.
Greek Government Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Voter Defections
Greece's conservative government is navigating increasingly turbulent political waters as it grapples with declining support and shifting voter loyalties.
Greece’s Housing Dilemma: Buying vs. Renting in a Market at a Crossroads
In Greece, the question of whether to buy or rent a home has become increasingly complex in recent years.