Commercial policy

On the question of whether Greece is a country that can change, my answer is affirmative. Yes, Greece is a country where reforms can be made that improve the quality of democracy, strengthen the economy and change the lives of Greeks for the better.

The European Commission has unveiled plans for significant tariff hikes on grain imports from Russia and Belarus. The proposed tariffs, described as potentially functioning as de facto sanctions, aim to address growing concerns over the use of food exports as a geopolitical tool by Moscow while safeguarding EU markets and farmers.

We are at a point where we need to evaluate the gains of 50 years of democracy, to assess our strengths and weaknesses in the face of the time's challenges, to think of where we want to go. These thoughts were prompted by the passing of the law ensuring equality in civil marriages, an important step - a milestone, as the prime minister said - towards a more just society.

Greece still has a long way to go to before it strengthens its competitiveness and climbs the world rankings, leaving the low positions it has been in for years.

Chinese carmakers are fast increasing their share in the Turkish market, but subsidies the Chinese companies receive from their government may lead to unfair competition, warns Baran Çelik, the board chair of the Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OİB).

President Rumen Radev referred the Constitutional Court to the provisions of the Law on Control of the Implementation of Restrictive Measures in view of Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, which imposes "energy contributions" on the import of Russian natural gas into Bulgaria, as well as on its transmission to Europe through the territory of Bulgaria.

The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), in association with ALBA (the Graduate Business School of the American College of Greece), is organizing its seventh cycle of scholarships for the educational evolution of its members' officials.

Three Cypriot companies are included in the new list of sanctions imposed by the US. A press release by the US Department of the Treasury says that with over 300 sanctions, the US is targeting Russia's circumvention and evasion of previous sanctions, military-industrial supply chains, and future energy revenues.

Washington says there is no new policy to announce regarding a recent arms embargo lift on the Republic of Cyprus, following news that US sanctions have been imposed on several dealers including individuals who are based on the island.

The government aims to strengthen trade with public and private sector investments, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş has said, noting that Türkiye has been constantly increasing its share of the global exports.