The Agora

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.

On the latest episode of The Agora we look at what the return of Donald Trump to the White House could mean for Greece.Host Nick Malkoutzis speaks to Macropolis foreign policy analyst Alexandra Voudouri about the concerns and hopes Greek diplomats have concerning the Trump presidency and its impact on geopolitics.Our second guest, Frank De Mita, who has worked on several US presidential campaigns, discusses some of the lessons mainstream parties in Greece can take from the Democrats' defeat in the US and the way that political communication is changing.Useful readingPost-election blamestorming or Why Harris lost and the Democrats should nominate Oprah - Frank De MitaWho is Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump's pick for US ambassador to Greece? - BBC NewsWhat Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean For Greece? - To Vima Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greek Parliament is about to vote on the 2025 budget, so The Agora is looking at what the government's economic plan entails, while also examining the bigger picture as far as the country's economy is concerned.MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to explain why there has been so much attention on the revenue side of the budget. He also identifies where the key strengths and weaknesses of the Greek economy lie as we prepare for a year that seems full of uncertainty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In mid-November, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to expel from the ruling New Democracy party one of his predecessors, Antonis Samaras.Samaras headed the centre-right party for several years and was the leader of a coalition government between 2012 and 2015, which means his dismissal was big news in Greece.So, why did Mitsotakis make this dramatic move and what it could mean not only for unity within New Democracy, but also for the stability of the Greek government?MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined Nick Malkoutzis to discuss all the permutations.Useful readingFormer Greek premier Samaras is expelled from the ruling conservative party - Associated PressTurkey rapprochement sparks rift in Greece’s ruling party - Politico Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Agora hosts a discussion on how Europe, and Greece specifically, have been handling the green transition, addressing questions like how the pivot away from natural gas is going.The basis for our discussion is three articles written by MacroPolis features editor Georgia Nakou, and senior policy analyst and partner at The Green Tank, an Athens-based think-tank, Nikos Mantzaris.The articles were published in English by MacroPolis, and in Greek by Inside Story. They were produced with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Athens as part of a climate journalism project.Useful linksIs Greece on track to decouple from fossil gas? - By Nikos MantzarisCan the Green Transition be just? - By Nikos MantzarisFrom pipe dreams to power cables: the changing map of Greece's energy ambitions - By Georgia Nakou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece is preparing to welcome a record number of tourists again this year, but their visits will take place against a backdrop of growing concern among locals about the damage being done to the islands and their way of life by rapid development.Greek policy makers face a dilemma over how to balance the growth and job creation provided by tourism, a vital industry for the local economy, against the fear that going down this path too fast and too far is ultimately unsustainable.Journalist Yannis Palaiologos joins us on The Agora to discuss these issues. Yannis is part of the team behind the Sustainable Cyclades media project, which has been reporting on the impact that overtourism and development has been having on the Aegean islands and their residents.Useful readingSustainable CycladesLocal Greeks pushed out as mass tourism takes over Athens - France 24'Without rules we cannot live’: Greece seeks ways to tackle ‘overtourism’ - Al Jazeera Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Nick Malkoutzis and MacroPolis features editor Georgia Nakou attempt to answer in this episode.Useful ReadingMacroPolis - Great Expectations: Is Greece 2.0 hitting the target? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Phoebe and Nick summarise what we know about the accident and its aftermath, while Nektaria Stamouli, 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 linksTrauma (audio documentary) - IMEdDGreece rejected EU prosecutor’s call for action against 2 ex-ministers after rail crash - PoliticoA year after Greece’s worst train disaster, railway safety fears persist - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.