Politics
Greece changing direction on energy policy, warms to US-backed projects
Following a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Daniel Mitov in Athens on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias commented that “the world is changing and energy sources are changing,” which appears to be confirmation of the Greek government’s switch in energy policy.
Government meets resistance on TV permits and revenues chief
Alexis Tsipras's bid to replace the head of Greece's revenue service and launch a new tender for broadcasting licences with minimum fuss has not gone according to plan.
Tsipras sees political mileage in bill for broadcasting licences
The government unveiled on Monday its long-awaited draft legislation for the new broadcasting licence tenders, with the aim of voting the bill through on Saturday.
Loose ends to tie up on prior actions as lenders head back to Athens
Having got through the parliamentary debate and vote on the first set of prior actions Greece has to carry out this autumn without any major problems, the government now begins the potentially more complicated task of reaching an agreement with its lenders.
Athens seeks enhanced regional role via international religious conference
The Greek government's decision to host the international conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East, which begins in Athens on Sunday and runs through to Tuesday, has two main aims.
Little trouble for Tsipras in multi-bill vote but bigger problems may lurk over revenues chief
The omnibus bill containing many of the 49 prior actions the coalition has to fulfill to secure the next sub-tranche of bailout funding passed through Parliament without any major problems on Friday night.
Optimism and concern for Tsipras after EU summit on migration
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras walked away cautiously optimistic from Thursday’s European Union summit in Brussels, which addressed the refugee crisis.
SYRIZA seems to be mulling a switch in Greece's energy policy
The SYRIZA-led government in Athens appears to be re-orientating its policy and strategic relations in regards to the energy sector.
Leadership race brings New Democracy factionalism to the surface
New Democracy’s leadership race appears to have triggered a descent into disarray for the conservative party, which is now threatened by serious infighting.
Omnibus bill prompts no more than rumblings of discontent from coalition MPs
The submission of the draft law containing the first set of measures Greece has to pass to receive further bailout funding has prompted some disquiet within the government but not to the level that there are any concerns about the multi-bill not being approved in a vote on Friday.