Where is money from the EU's Covid recovery fund being invested?

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the European Union launched the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - a package of around 700 billion euros to help member states recover from the economic impact and build for the future.Greece's portion of these funds is considered vital for the country's efforts to overcome the effects of its long economic crisis, as well as the disruption caused by the pandemic.The Greek government dubbed its RRF-related scheme "Greece 2.0", claiming it would help transform the country.A couple of years in, how is Greece 2.0 performing? Has it had a transformative effect? How much money is Greece absorbing and where is it being invested?These are some of the questions that <a href="https://twitter.com/NickMalkoutzis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nick Malkoutzis</a> and MacroPolis features editor <a href="https://twitter.com/georgia_nakou_" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Georgia Nakou</a> attempt to answer in this episode.Useful ReadingMacroPolis - <a href="https://www.macropolis.gr/?i=portal.en.features.13990" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Great Expectations: Is Greece 2.0 hitting the target?</a>

How much is Greece getting out of the RRF?

Why markets view country positively when many other observers display concern

Phoebe and Nick are back to examine the contrasting images of Greece abroad and how they sit side by side.A few months ago, rating agencies started to restore the investment grade for Greece's sovereign debt - more than a decade after it was lost. It was a reflection of the growing confidence that markets have in the political situation, the government's policy choices and the country's prospects.However, while this has been happening, there has been growing concern about the rule of law and effectiveness of justice in Greece. There have been several debates about these issues in the European Parliament, while rights groups have also raised the alarm.The Agora spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/wolfpiccoli" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wolfango Piccoli</a>, co-president of political risk advisory at Teneo, to discuss why investors feel they can trust Greece again and how this renewed faith can sit alongside the complaints about transparency and accountability.Useful links<a href="https://www.esm.europa.eu/blog/greece-investment-grade-again-why-it-matters-keep-it" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece is investment grade again – why it matters to keep it</a> - ESM<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240202IPR17312/parliament-concerned-about-very-serious-threats-to-eu-values-in-greece" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Parliament concerned about very serious threats to EU values in Greece</a> - European Parliament press release<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/10bc40c8-b6f5-4ad4-8bde-b2ee4df33680_en?filename=21_1_52575_coun_chap_greece_en.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2023 Rule of Law Report</a>&nbsp;- European Commission

Between investment grade and rule of law: Greece’s contrasting images

Amid cover-up claims, much about Greece's deadliest train accident still remains unanswered

In February 2023, a freight train and a train carrying dozens of passengers crashed in Tempe, central Greece, killing 57 people. A year on from Greece's deadliest train accident, many questions remain unanswered and doubts are growing about whether the truth will ever come to light regarding what caused the disaster.Opposition parties and relatives of the victims, many of whom were university students, feel that the Greek authorities are preventing a proper investigation into the incident, while also dodging their responsibility.In fact, an opinion poll (Alco) published just after this episode was recorded indicated that 77 pct of Greeks feel there is a cover-up going on, while just 11 pct think there is no question of political responsibility.<a href="https://twitter.com/pfronista" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phoebe</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/nickmalkoutzis?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nick</a> summarise what we know about the accident and its aftermath, while <a href="https://twitter.com/nstamouli?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nektaria Stamouli</a>, Politico's Eastern Mediterranean correspondent and Kathimerini English Edition deputy editor, joins us on The Agora to discuss why there are such strong concerns about a cover-up and what implications this has.Useful links<a href="https://lab.imedd.org/en/trauma/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trauma</a> (audio documentary) - IMEdD<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-european-public-prosecutors-office-eppo-ministers-christos-spirtzis-konstantinos-karamanlis-rail-crash/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece rejected EU prosecutor’s call for action against 2 ex-ministers after rail crash</a> - Politico<a href="https://www.ekathimerini.com/in-depth/analysis/1232819/a-year-after-greeces-worst-train-disaster-railway-safety-fears-persist/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A year after Greece’s worst train disaster, railway safety fears persist</a> - Reuters

A year on from Tempe crash, trust fades as questions mount

Can opposition party find its way under troubled leadership of Stefanos Kasselakis?

Five years ago SYRIZA was in power in Greece, but it is currently languishing in third place in the opinion polls and the nascent leadership of Stefanos Kasselakis is being constantly buffeted by internal disputes.In this episode, Phoebe Fronista and Nick Malkoutzis set out how the left-wing party ended up in this uncomfortable position. Nick also speaks to MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou about Kasselakis's unusual approach and the recent stormy party conference, which almost resulted in another leadership contest.Useful links<a href="https://www.macropolis.gr/?i=portal.en.the-agora.13578" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kassalekis goes from blank canvas to empty vessel, blowing open progressive space</a> - MacroPolis<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/RztFEMCKBWU?feature=shared" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The modern left for progressive governance</a> - LSE Hellenic Observatory<a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/stefanos-kasselakis-greece-politics-tiktok" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece’s New Political Star Is a TikTok Creation</a> - Wired<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/world/europe/greece-stefanos-kasselakis-syriza.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">He’s Gone From Miami, to Celebrity, to Upending Greek Politics</a> - New York Times<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-main-opposition-syriza-party-cracks-up-some-more-stefanos-kasselakis/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece’s main opposition party cracks up some more</a> - Politico

SYRIZA embraces the chaos

Is Kyriakos Mitsotakis's political dominance all it's cracked up to be?

Phoebe Fronista and Nick Malkoutzis return after a prolonged absence to discuss what's behind Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's political dominance in Greece and whether things are more complex than they look.Their discussion was prompted by a piece Nick wrote recently for The Agora on MacroPolis's website after listening to Mitsotakis speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the Greek PM shed light on the political strategy that has helped his centre-right New Democracy party comfortably see off its opponents.As Nick and Phoebe discuss, this success cannot be separated from the Greek context because serious problems with the opposition, media and institutions have provided Mitsotakis with considerable assistance.Useful reading<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240202IPR17312/parliament-concerned-about-very-serious-threats-to-eu-values-in-greece" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rule of Law and Media Freedom in Greece</a> - European Parliament<a href="https://www.mfrr.eu/mission-report-stemming-the-tide-of-greek-media-freedom-decline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stemming the Tide of Greek Media Freedom Decline</a> - MFRR<a href="https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023/index/grc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Corruption Perceptions Index (Greece)</a> - Transparency International<a href="https://www.macropolis.gr/?i=portal.en.the-agora.13847" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Greek form of Triangulation</a> - MacroPolis

Triangulation: The shape of things to come in Greek politics

As MacroPolis marks its tenth anniversary, 10 friends join us to share their memories of this period

This episode of The Agora involves a departure from our normal format as we mark 10 years since MacroPolis was launched.During that time, so much has happened in Greece: The debt crisis, political turmoil, social upheaval, the migration crisis, diplomatic breakthroughs and impasses, and natural disasters.So, with the help of 10 friends and colleagues, we looked back on their most memorable moments of the last decade in Greece.Thanks to Alexandra Voudouri, Georgia Nakou, Omaira Gill, Jens Bastian, Marcus Walker, Yiannis Palaiologos, Megan Greene, Joanna Kakissis, Nikos Skoutaris and Mariangela Paone for taking part in this episode and providing such a rich and diverse array of recollections.

A decade in Greece: Looking back on the last 10 years

How are residents coping in the aftermath of extreme weather?

Storm Daniel hit Greece in early September, leading to almost 20 deaths and widespread destruction, as well as recriminations about whether there had been sufficient warnings and anti-flood works.The villages and communities of Mount Pelion were among the worst affected by the extreme weather. Tourists and locals lost their lives, infrastructure was damaged, buildings were demolished and businesses had to close.To start of series 5 of The Agora, we spoke to Joel von Trapp, an American architect who has been living and working in Pelion for many years. Joel spoke to us about how the area, which is also a popular tourist destination, has been coping in the aftermath of the storm.

Life on Mount Pelion after Storm Daniel

Back for a third term, i the Turkish president someone Greece and the West can trust?

For our final episode of the fourth series of The Agora, we take a look at what is happening just across the Aegean from Greece, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is back for a third term and already prompting questions about whether he is shifting his foreign policy.In the wake of the recent NATO summit, where he withdrew objections to Sweden joining the military alliance, but also seemed to gain concessions, especially in relation to the supply of F-16 jets from the USA, analysts are trying to work out what we can expect from the Turkish leader.This issue is very relevant to Greece as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has indicated that he wants to engage in meaningful talks with Ankara, aiming to even settle longstanding disputes between the two neighbours.To get a better understanding of what Erdogan is thinking and how he is likely to operate, The Agora co-host <a href="https://twitter.com/NickMalkoutzis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nick Malkoutzis</a> spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/ilhanuzgel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ilhan Uzgel</a>, a former professor of International Relations at Ankara University and currently a foreign policy analyst and commentator in Turkey.

Understanding Erdogan's foreign policy

How and why did hundreds of migrants lose their lives off the coast of Greece?

On the night of June 14, a fishing boat called the Adriana, packed with hundreds of migrants who had paid traffickers to get them from Libya to Italy, sank in the deep waters of the Mediterranean, about 90 kilometers southwest of the town of Pylos in the Peloponnese.It was one of the worst tragedies of its kind ever witnessed in Greece and Europe. What makes the Pylos shipwreck such a standout case, though, is that it seems this tragedy could have been avoided.A series of reports by international and local media suggest that the Greek coast guard, and possibly the EU border agency, Frontex, could have done more to prevent so many people drowning.The Agora spoke to independent journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/lydiaemman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lydia Emmanouilidou</a>, who has been covering the story, to find out what survivors told her and to discuss how and why the ship sank and what questions that has raised about how the authorities responded.We also hear from Valentina Brinis, a project manager at <a href="https://www.openarms.es/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Open Arms</a>, which is an NGO based in Barcelona that uses its own vessel to save migrants in distress in the Mediterranean.Useful reading<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/01/world/europe/greece-migrant-ship.html?unlocked_article_code=oDtotndtZ9K3TCDE179QR2OzggQbtBT5z4zm6NVDgGkDtoZWkZLGmDIiLkDqQZH8vlQxHPOIYIqoj6N3UmMsE-rJ-HVRgdzIZW0LncXx3VFzmMwcg6EU-NVDrdsuMntKfxGjrPwemgR1bnxojqDpbqJvkfbMjPjyvJMGyDNCubMY3bb0ZgCsOalmWlWIlpl9_LmGMa_Zp2GuUTdpTFQPbtl60opMTNpmIyLr-AX1TwT7cxZFaVCpvwIoG3fek4ncOv89Ni1fQhoB6z9urfPPcTWCjE_hpPAzlqWlClp8L3eO7GVm9j4KMXJcnk_fbVUZYEF9e8hsJeTR3XXD9UcuFWPa&amp;smid=url-share" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Everyone Knew the Migrant Ship Was Doomed. No One Helped</a> - The New York Times<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jul/10/greek-shipwreck-hi-tech-investigation-suggests-coastguard-responsible-for-sinking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greek shipwreck: hi-tech investigation suggests coastguard responsible for sinking</a> - The Guardian<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66154654" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greek coastguard 'pressured' disaster survivors to blame Egyptian men</a> - BBC News<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-warned-greece-of-dead-children-on-migrant-ship-hour-before-it-capsized/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Italy warned of dead children on migrant ship hours before it capsized</a> - Politico<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/3344121/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece to the EU: Come help stop migrant boats before they get here</a> - Politico<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/migrant-crossings-mediterranean-leave-thousands-dead-2023-06-14/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Migrant crossings in Mediterranean leave thousands dead</a> - Reuters

Lost at sea: The Pylos shipwreck and its aftermath

Greece in perspective with MacroPolis

The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind <a href="http://www.macropolis.gr/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MacroPolis</a>. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens.In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us.We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests.If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora.To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out <a href="http://www.macropolis.gr/?i=portal.en.the-agora" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Agora blog</a>, which has being going strong since 2013. Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the <a href="https://inner-ear.gr/artists/burgundy-grapes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Burgundy Grapes</a>.

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