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Slower global economic growth can lead to lower oil and gas prices in 2019
Oil prices are unlikely to rise significantly this year because of fears of an oil supply glut caused by over production and reduced oil...
Analysis
UN face off over Kosovo army vote
The Kosovo Parliament’s December 14 vote to formally create a military structure triggered the almost-automatic UN Security Council (UNSC) face off December 17 in...
Analysis
US-Greece strategic dialogue inaugurated
In an atmosphere of already close bilateral relations, the US and Greece inaugurated their “Strategic Dialogue” in Washington on December 13. US Secretary of...
Archive
Kosovo votes to transform civil defence force into formal military structure
The Kosovo Parliament voted almost unanimously on December 14 to begin the process of upgrading the country’s existing NATO/KFOR-trained paramilitary force, the Kosovo Security...
Archive
Greece, Cyprus, Israel to discuss gas exports to Europe
A trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel summit will take place in Beersheba on December 20 where host Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras,...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Independent Greeks on the rocks
The ratification process for the Prespes Agreement, signed by Greece and Macedonia/FYROM last June in attempt to resolve the Name Dispute between them, rolls...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Flaws in Prespes Agreement fuel new Greek firestorm
With the Prespes Agreement ratification steamroller moving almost inexorably forward in Macedonia/FYROM, public attention to the issue in Greece has refocused and the subject...
Archive
Greece launches expanded LNG terminal to deliver gas to the Balkans
REVITHOUSSA, Greece - Greece inaugurated on November 22 the upgraded liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) in Revithoussa, operated by gas grid operator DESFA, in...
Analysis
Hungary grants former Macedonia/FYROM PM Gruevski asylum
The flight of former Macedonia/FYROM Prime Minister Hungary Nikola Gruevski to Hungary took on wider implications as Budapest reportedly granted Gruevski’s asylum request. In...
Archive
Putin voices support for OPEC, sees no need to cut production
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said on November 15 that Moscow is committed to continuing its cooperation with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries...
Albania
FYROM's nationalist former prime minister on the run
By far the most interesting development related to the Name Dispute between Greece and Macedonia/FYROM this week was the departure in stealth mode of...
Archive
EU Commissioner calls for more prevention to deal with climate change
BRUSSELS – Contrary to US President Donald J Trump’s arguments, climate change is real and Europe should lead the way in taking preventive measures...
Archive
Name Dispute: Work progresses on Prespes Agreement implementation
With Greece currently distracted by a wide range of political issues and debates, legislators in Skopje are hard at work debating the constitutional amendments...
Archive
As Exxon prepares to drill off Cyprus, tensions flare with Turkey
LIMASSOL, Cyprus – The drillship of ExxonMobil is reportedly expected to arrive in the port of Limassol on November 5 as the US energy...
Archive
Turkey challenges Greece, Cyprus again over East Med hydrocarbon exploration
Echoing his warnings against Cyprus' energy exploration, Turkey Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said October 24 his country will not allow Greece to interfere in...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Athens takes a breather
The political processes in both Greece and Macedonia/FYROM are still adjusting to the surprise victory by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the October 19...
Archive
Name Dispute: Zaev scores stunning victory from failed referendum
In a late-night vote October 19th, Macedonia/FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev collected the required 80 yes votes, or a 2/3 majority, to approve the...
Archive
Name Dispute: Greece’s odd couple stays the course
The fate of the yet-unratified Prespes Agreement, signed last June as the vehicle for resolving the so-called Name Dispute between Greece and Macedonia/FYROM, was...
Archive
With an eye on Nord Stream-2, EU Gas Directive debate heats up
The European Union debate on the on-going revision process of the Gas Directive continues as businesses and companies are concerned that changes will affect...
Archive
Greek Foreign Minister Kotzias resigns after tussle with Defence Minister
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias submitted his resignation which was accepted Wednesday by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after several days of feuding with Defense...
Africa
Trump establishes US International Development Finance Corporation
President Donald J. Trump quietly approved the creation of a new foreign assistance agency on October 5, named the United States International Development Finance...
Archive
Greece, Egypt and the EU support Cyprus’ right to explore for hydrocarbons
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Egyptian President met on the island of Crete on October 10, for talks aimed at...
Archive
Name Dispute: Questions raised over Greek commitment to Prespes Agreement
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos displayed to his American interlocutors a total lack of policy coordination within his country’s coalition government when he proposed...
Archive
Greek Defence Minister proposes new Balkan alliance and US base offers
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos used a scheduled Washington visit and meetings on October 9 to drop two headline-grabbing proposals. He first proposed the creation...
Africa
In Greece, EU sees transition to sustainability, energy security
ATHENS – Greece’s energy sector is a vital pillar of the transition to sustainable growth and has helped boost the EU’s energy security, European...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Taking stock in Skopje after the disappointing referendum
Shockwaves continue from the low turnout in the referendum in Macedonia/FYROM, which had been hoped to approve June’s Prespes Agreement settling the Name Dispute...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Referendum results wound two Balkan leaders
Zero hour has passed in the Name Dispute.
Surprisingly low turnout for the September 30 referendum in Macedonia/FYROM to approve June’s Prespes Agreement settling the...
Archive
Hamburg highlights wind energy role in fighting climate change
HAMBURG – Cross-boarder electricity interconnections are vital for Europe to achieve its climate and energy goals and integrate more renewables into energy markets but...
Analysis
Zero hour for Name Dispute
In the run-up to Macedonia/FYROM’s referendum on settling its three-decade-old Name Dispute with neighbouring Greece, the rival parties involved in the vote made impassioned...
Archive
Cyprus-Egypt pipeline deal may facilitate LNG gas exports to EU
Cyprus and Egypt have signed an agreement for the construction of an underwater pipeline to export natural gas to Egypt. Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Parade of stars to Skopje continues as referendum approaches
A wave of important visitors before the September 30 referendum on the Prespes Agreement -- which aims to settle the Name Dispute between Greece...
Archive
Russia’s ‘western route’ to China may jeopardise Gazprom’s supplies to Europe
The Power of Siberia gas pipeline is scheduled to start on December 20, 2019, transporting gas supplies to China from the Russian Far East...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Leaders line up to support “Yes” vote in September 30 referendum
A flood of important visitors has hit Skopje, and this is continuing, clearly part of a coordinated work program to “save the referendum” by...
Archive
Despite EU measures, US sanctions against Iran to drive oil prices higher
Oil prices are likely to rise as traders worry that US sanctions against major oil producer Iran will lead to a tighter market towards...
China
A revived role for the US in Northern Greece requires dynamic action and focus
As a former US diplomat who served as Consul General in Thessaloniki, it’s impossible not to become a lifelong booster of the Thessaloniki International...
Analysis
Greece’s Thessaloniki International Fair focuses on the American factor
The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) has for 83 years marked the traditional high point of the Greek economic calendar and forms the venue for...
Archive
WikiLeaks revelations propel Name Dispute issue back to center stage
The Prespes Agreement - the latest attempt to end the quarter-century-long Name Dispute between Greece and its neighbour FYROM/Macedonia by renaming the latter 'the Republic of North...
Archive
EU hails California legislation to boost clean energy transition
Arnold Schwarzenegger may no longer be the governor of California, but the US' most populous state is still spearheading efforts against climate change.On the...
Archive
Merkel, Putin to discuss Nord Stream-2 and Ukraine transit
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at the Meseberg Palace outside Berlin on August 18, the two leaders will reportedly discuss...
Archive
Trump-Erdogan spat, Iran sanctions, Maduro’s Venezuela could spike oil prices
Growing tensions between the United States and Turkey, fresh US sanctions against Iran, and falling oil production in Venezuela have increased the possibility of...
Archive
Russia’s Gazprom to supply China via Power of Siberia pipeline
In an effort to strengthen Russia’s foothold in the Asia-Pacific region, Gazprom is advancing plans to supply China with gas via the Power of...
Archive
Oil prices likely to rise as US plans to officially pull out of Iran deal
US President Donald J. Trump has said the United States will pull out of a nuclear agreement with Iran and any company dealing with...
Archive
Name Dispute: A week for summitry and skullduggery
In the context of the shrill NATO-US debate over President Donald J. Trump’s demands for higher European defence spending, the situation involving the potential...
Archive
Trump vs Nord Stream-2
At an early breakfast meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on July 11, US President Donald J. Trump launched an attack on the...
Archive
Exxon, Total get the green light for drilling off the Greek island of Crete
ATHENS - A consortium of US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, French energy major Total, and Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE) has been awarded a...
Archive
Name Dispute: Prespes Agreement reaction destabilises Greek political scene
In Greece, the furore over the Prespes Agreement that was intended to resolve the Name Dispute between Greece and Macedonia/FYROM continues to grow, and...
Archive
Russia resumes construction of TurkStream Line 2 for Europe
THESSALONIKI, Greece – Russia has resumed the pipelaying operations for the second string of the Turkish Stream or TurkStream offshore gas pipeline, which aims...
Archive
Name Dispute: Furious reaction to Prespes Agreement expands
Strong public and political reactions have continued throughout Greece following the June 17 signature of the Prespes Agreement that was intended to resolve the...
Archive
Russia, Saudi push for OPEC oil supply increase while demand is strong
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers are seeking a compromise as Saudi Arabia and Russia are pushing the oil cartel...
Archive
Name Dispute: Rough sailing for ratification procedures despite quick work in Skopje
The Parliament in Skopje quickly ratified the historic June 17 Prespes Agreement resolving the Name Dispute with Greece, but the required steps to get...
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