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In this episode of The Agora, we unpack one of a sensitive and consequential energy project in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI). It’s the subsea electricity cable designed to link the power grids of Greece and Cyprus. It’s an infrastructure project that sits at the centre of a much bigger story - one involving contested waters, Greek–Turkish tensions, European energy security, and now the diplomatic signals coming from Washington after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Athens. With Greece preparing to issue a NAVTEX for the next phase of seabed surveys, and with political pressure mounting ahead of the 2027 elections, the GSI has become a test of sovereignty, strategy and regional coordination. In this episode, MacroPolis features editor and energy expert Georgia Nakou helps is break down what the project actually is, why it has become so politically charged, and what the coming weeks may reveal about the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Useful reading Rubio says US committed to Mediterranean undersea power cable – Reuters EU-backed east Mediterranean undersea cable project applies to resume seabed research, Greece says - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Agora, we unpack the latest findings from the Q2 2026 ProMacro_Scope - one of the most detailed quarterly portraits of Greek public opinion available. Produced in partnership by MacroPolis and Prorata, the publication combines exclusive polling with proprietary socioeconomic indicators to track how Greeks are experiencing this moment of macro stability, social pressure and political fragmentation. MacroPolis co-founder and The Agora host Nick Malkoutzis speaks with Prorata’s research director Angelos Seriatos about what the data reveals: a persistent cost‑of‑living strain, cautious foreign policy instincts, and entrenched distrust in institutions – and how this is affecting support for Greece’s political parties as the next general elections appear on the horizon. The trends picked up by the latest polling map a Greece entering a volatile pre‑election period - resilient on paper, but with voters who feel squeezed and sceptical of the country’s political and civil‑ society structures. Useful reading Volatile election season ahead as parties court skeptical electorate - Kathimerini English Edition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece has come a long way since the dark days of 2015, but has it fully recovered? In this episode of The Agora, Nick Malkoutzis speaks with Peter Sanfey and Dimitris Sourvanos, authors of the new Hellenic Observatory paper Out of the Abyss, to unpack Greece’s decade‑long journey from crisis to stability. Peter Sanfey is the Deputy Director for Country Economics, Strategy and Policy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Dimitris Sourvanos is a Principal Political Counsellor at the EBRD. Drawing on their “10×10” benchmarking of Greece’s performance across ten socioeconomic dimensions, the discussion explores where the country has made real progress, and where deep structural gaps remain. From happiness and household confidence to governance, education, financial resilience, digitalisation and the green transition, this conversation goes beyond headline GDP figures to examine the lived reality of recovery. Is Greece converging with Europe? Why are businesses optimistic while households remain cautious? And what reforms will matter most in the decade ahead? A data‑rich, nuanced look at Greece’s post‑crisis trajectory, and what comes next. Useful reading Out of the abyss: has Greece fully recovered from the crisis? Sanfey, P. & Sourvanos, D. (2026). (GreeSE Papers 220). Hellenic Observatory, London School of Economics and Political Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece’s political landscape is shifting at remarkable speed. Alexis Tsipras’s new party, ELAS, has upended the opposition, destabilised SYRIZA, rattled PASOK, and pushed New Democracy into full campaign mode. With voters frustrated, trust low, and new actors entering the scene, the run‑up to the next elections is proving unusually volatile. In this episode, Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis co‑founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou to unpack the major developments: – New Democracy’s stability‑focused messaging and internal anxieties – ELAS’s rapid rise and organisational build‑out – SYRIZA’s existential crisis – PASOK’s strategic confusion – The rise - and subsequent slide - of Maria Karystianou’s Elpida As Greece heads toward elections, which are expected later this year or next spring, the political system is entering a new phase of flux. Yiannis and Georgia help us make sense of what’s driving this moment and what we should expect next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece says it is entering a new era of “brain regain”. Government programmes like Rebrain Greece are touring European capitals, employers are hiring, and the economy is finally growing again. But is the tide really turning? In this episode of The Agora, host Nick Malkoutzis digs into the data behind Greece’s talent flows, and finds a far more complicated picture. While official narratives highlight return migration, European surveys show the number of Greeks abroad is still rising, especially among university graduates. And the deeper, structural drivers of the brain drain remain stubbornly in place. To make sense of it all, we speak with Dr Elli Siapkidou, a UK‑based researcher who attended the recent Rebrain Greece event in London. She offers a first‑hand view of what these initiatives can achieve, and what they cannot. Is Greece truly reversing the brain drain, or simply reframing it? And what would real, evidence‑based “brain regain” actually require? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Iran is sending economic and energy shockwaves far beyond the Middle East, and Greece is no exception. Rising oil and gas prices, renewed inflation pressures, and uncertainty in global energy markets are already shaping the country’s outlook. In this episode of The Agora, we break down how a conflict thousands of kilometres away is affecting Greece’s economy, energy security, and political decisions. MacroPolis co founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to assess the economic implications, from inflation risks to the government’s fiscal plans. Georgia Nakou, MacroPolis features editor and energy expert, explains how turbulence in global energy markets could impact Greece’s energy system and long term strategy. If you want to understand how international crises ripple into Greece - through prices, policy, and the energy system - we've got you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a set of long‑lost photographs of the 1944 May Day executions of 200 Greeks by Nazi occupation forces suddenly surfaced on eBay in February, Greece was shaken. The images — the first ever to show the two hundred political prisoners, Communists, walking to their deaths at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens — reopened a chapter of history that has never stopped shaping the country’s politics. With the help of our guest Professor Elias Dinas from the European University Institute in Florence, in this episode we explore why these photographs matter now: how they collide with decades of suppressed memory, why Kaisariani remains a defining symbol for the Greek Left, and what their reappearance reveals about the ongoing struggle over who gets to tell the story of the past. Useful reading Never-before-seen photos of Nazi executions in Greece surface on eBay – France24 ‘We can see that courage’: Greece recovers long-lost photos of Nazis’ May Day executions – The Guardian Man moved as photo of grandfather’s execution by Nazis surfaces - Kathimerini Message from the past, mirror for today - Kathimerini Kaisariani Execution: Three More Historic Photographs Surface – To Vima Photographs of 1944 Nazi Executions in Greece Declared Protected Monument – Dnews Cretan Man Recognizes His Grandfather in Kaisariani Execution Pics – To Vima Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece is navigating one of its most complex geopolitical moments in years — from tensions stretching across Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, and Ukraine to the high‑stakes energy diplomacy of the Vertical Corridor. With pressure mounting on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens is working to balance alliances, protect its credibility, and seize new economic openings. In this episode, host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by George Tzogopoulos, Senior Fellow at ELIAMEP and Director of EU–China Programs at the European Institute of Nice. George breaks down the strategic dilemmas shaping Greece’s foreign policy amid the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's global designs. Useful reading Athens navigates geopolitical whirlwind - Kathimerini Greece’s Vertical Corridor Heads to Washington After Athens Energy Summit - OT Trump’s erratic trade policy blamed for US gas auction flop in Eastern Europe - Politico Athens fears Turkish trap on Trump's peace board - Euractiv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece's 2026 budget was voted through Parliament on Tuesday, just ahead of the Christmas break. It contained some gifts for Greek taxpayers as it includes the tax cuts worth 1.2 billion euros that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced earlier in the year. But what else of note is in the budget? MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the details of the economic plan. They take a closer look at the role of investments and Greece's broader economic story as it heads into the New Year. Useful reading Greek parliament approves 2026 budget amid protests - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece is trying to secure a central role in the global energy game. In this episode of *The Agora*, we explore how a flurry of recent deals is positioning the country as a key player in the transatlantic energy landscape. From the launch of the Vertical Corridor - linking U.S. LNG to Ukraine via Greece - to offshore drilling in the Ionian Sea and the revival of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) with Cyprus, the stakes are high but the ambitions seem to be even higher. Is this a strategic masterstroke or a risky bet? Host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis energy expert Georgia Nakou to unpack the geopolitical, environmental and domestic implications of Greece’s energy pivot. We examine whether Greece can balance power and principle in its new starring role. Useful reading Ionian Sea gas exploration deal a ‘vote of confidence’ - Kathimerini Greece signs first long-term deal to supply Europe with US LNG - Reuters Athens and Kyiv sign LNG deal as Greece adopts US energy agenda - Politico Greece: Offshore gas instead of green energy projects? - Deutsche Welle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past year the United States has reset its trade stance through a series of executive tariff moves and a high profile EU–US framework that established a 15 percent baseline levy. In this episode we’ll trace how a headline tariff number translates into real costs for businesses in Greece and what broader implications there are for global trade. Our guest on The Agora is Jens Bastian, an independent economic consultant and author of a timely briefing for MacroPolis on the likely effects of recent US tariff policy on Europe, but also the Greek economy specifically. Useful reading How will Trump's tariffs affect Greece? - MacroPolis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece's new political season is underway and it promises to be full of twists and turns as the ruling New Democracy party tries to perform a course correction to get on track for a decisive third straight election victory. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis got the ball rolling this month by announcing a package of significant tax cuts, mostly aimed at helping Greek households cope with ongoing cost-of-living challenges. Mitsotakis is hoping that the reductions will help rebuild his government's damaged relationship with voters, keep the opposition parties at bay and put the ruling centre-right party on a trajectory that would secure it another parliamentary majority in the next elections, which are due in 2027. MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the economic and political implications of the Greek PM's announcements. Useful reading Greek Premier Offers €1.6 Billion Tax Cuts to Spur Middle Class - Bloomberg Greek PM unveils tax breaks amid cost of living crisis - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anyone hoping for a calm summer in Greece just had their hopes dashed. A political storm is engulfing Athens, with four government officials already ousted amid a deepening scandal tied to the misuse of EU agricultural funds. At the heart of the storm is OPEKEPE—the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid. An explosive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has uncovered what appears to be sweeping fraud in how EU subsidies were handled. Some experts warn the financial fallout could stretch into the hundreds of millions of euros. The EPPO has handed over its finding, based in part on legally sanctioned surveillance, to the Greek Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical decision: whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of more than a dozen politicians named in the case so formal charges can be brought. Among those implicated are former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Voridis, who had most recently served as migration minister, resigned on June 27, while firmly denying any wrongdoing. Three deputy ministers also stepped down. This latest crisis couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Still reeling from the public backlash earlier this year over his administration’s handling of the Tempe train disaster, he now finds himself back on the defensive. So what does this mean for the future of the Mitsotakis government, and for Greek politics as a whole? Could this be the spark that sets off snap elections? To dig into the implications of Greece’s newest political convulsion, The Agora welcomed MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou for a deep dive into what may be a defining moment for the summer, and beyond.   Useful reading The big fat Greek plot to defraud the EU – Politico Prosecutor implicates two Greek ministers in huge EU farm fraud – Politico EU funds way to get fickle farmers’ vote – Kathimerini OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving – Kathimerini OPEKEPE: The bowl with honey – Inside Story The country that watched the goats go by – Inside Story       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the world mulls the impact and consequences of the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on so-called "liberation day", Greece has a very specific concern. The focus of the tariff-related debate in Greece was very much on the fate of feta, Greece's most popular cheese and one of its main agricultural exports to the US and many other parts of the world. What is feta? Why does it hold such a special place in Greek culture? And, why is Greece so keen to protect this particular product? To answer all these questions, we invited Thomas Ntinas to join us in The Agora. Thomas is our show's producer, but he joins us in his capacity as the host of The Delicious Legacy, which is an archaeogastronomical podcast that travels through time to discover recipes and traditions from the past, but also to examine the sociopolitical and economic aspects of food and gastronomy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years after Greece's deadliest rail disaster, the political fallout is escalating rather than abating. The largest protests Greece has seen in decades were held on February 28 to mark the two-year anniversary of the crash, in which 57 people died when a passenger train collided with a freight train in Tempe, central Greece. The growing public outcry over how the aftermath of the crash has been handled, as well as the shocking circumstances of the accident itself, has put Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government under intense pressure. Mitsotakis survived a confidence vote in parliament on March 7, but the Tempe issue is likely to haunt his government for the rest of its second term. MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined The Agora to discuss the political implications of the latest developments. Useful reading Tempe Accident Investigation Report - EODASAAM Two years later, outrage over Tempe disaster hits a tipping point - Kathimerini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.