After decades in which the EU elections hardly caused a ripple, the June 6-9 voting is the most important in memory. It is being held at a time of continuous crises on a continent which is experiencing a war in Ukraine, climate emergencies, a shifting of geopolitical plates and fundamental questions on the reach and purpose of the EU itself. “It will be an existential fight,” said Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and outgoing free-market liberal member of parliament who has been in the thick of EU politics for over a quarter century. It will pit “those who want less Europe and, then, those political forces who understand that in the world of tomorrow you need a far more integrated European Union to defend the interests of the Europeans,” he said in an interview.   In naked political terms, it means those traditional socialist, liberal and green forces that ran the EU parliament with the Christian Democrats over the past five years against the surging powers of the hard nationalist right, exemplified by leaders like Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Georgia Meloni of Italy. The vote is the second-biggest exercise in democracy behind the elections in India, as the 27-nation bloc of 450 million people will be picking 720 parliamentarians to serve them over the next five years with decisive votes on everything from digital privacy rules to international trade policy and climate measures. But more than that, when the results are made public late on June 9, it will be an indication whether the continental political drift will match the rightward swing seen across much of the globe from Argentina to the Netherlands and Slovakia. Even if surveys diverge somewhat on the margins of the gains, they all point toward one thing: The nationalist hard right and populist parties will make strong gains. “If I look at the polls all over Europe, more or less, I can always see the same scenario,” said Nicola Procaccini, Meloni’s man in the European Parliament, who typically considers himself as part of the center-right far removed from the neo-fascist roots of his Brothers of Italy party. He said like-minded parties “are rising more or less, everywhere.” That includes election victories in the Netherlands and Slovakia and polls showing they lead the way in France with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. When it comes to the fundamentals, the EU battle could be seen as Verhofstadt vs. Procaccini, with one insisting only more joint policies on issues like defense are the answer to the EU’s global challenges ahead, and the other saying how the individual member states, with their cherished nationhood at its core, should always come first. While 27 nations with often inefficient individual defense programs have left Western Europe at the mercy of US goodwill for much of the past half-century, Verhofstadt wants a full defense union to stave off a belligerent Russia, and anticipates a non-committal United States if Donald Trump becomes president in November. “It is not individual member states which will protect the people,” he said. “And that’s the reason why it’s an existential fight. Because if we lose this fight against the right-wing parties, we will be without defense, without security,” Verhofstadt said. Procaccini instead centers on what many far-right parties see as encroachment and downright meddling in national affairs by the EU’s institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg, France. They have specifically lashed out at the EU Green Deal to keep climate change at bay and have specifically targeted measures to force farmers into more environmentally friendly methods such as overbearing and overruling national decision-making. They want to hark back to the EU’s timid origins some 60 years ago when cooperation was much more voluntary and limited. “We want to restore the original idea of Europe,” Procacinni said. It is unlikely the anti-EU parties will get a grip on legislative power but a surge into third place behind the Christian Democrats and Socialists would have a major impact. If the forecast of the European Council on Foreign Affairs holds, the think tank says “this ‘sharp right turn’ is likely to have significant consequences for European-level policies … particularly on environmental issues, where the new majority is likely to oppose ambitious EU action to tackle climate change.” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already softened some of the climate rules and her center-right Christian Democrat European People’s Party, the biggest in the legislature, has moved rightward on migration on top of climate policy. With a wilting of the Green Deal, it would make sure that beyond facing geopolitical crises, the EU would also face one of its own making. Thursday’s Europe Day honors the memory of Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, who once said: “Europe will be forged in crises.”

Specifically, Easter candles, bread, and eggs were distributed to 20 girls from the Christodouleio Female Orphanage and Children's Protection Foundation, 55 girls from the Chatzikyriakio Children's Protection Foundation, and 44 boys and girls residing in the hostels of the Parents Association of Children with Neoplasmatic Diseases "The Flame". The facilities selected were those whose children Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou had met last year.

Following Chios, Kos, Lesbos, Rhodes, and Samos, the visa program is also being extended to Leros, Lemnos, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, and Symi, the Greek embassy said. The visa express program was announced on December 7 at the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkiye held in Athens. The agreement was reached after negotiations between the Greek government and the European Commission, creating the first such exception in the Schengen Area. The program, which was a response to the requests of both Greek islanders and Turkish tourists, has already yielded positive results. In the first ten days of April alone, the number of Turkish tourists tripled compared to last year on the initial five islands where the program began this year, thus significantly boosting the local economy. The visa express is valid for 7 days, costs 60 euros, and can be issued at any time throughout the year. It is granted with a special stamp placed on the passport, while the visitor cannot leave Greece to travel to another destination during this period. The goal of the program is to extend the tourist season and boost the local economy of the islands, some of which had faced greater challenges due to migration.

The 2 regional rivals are NATO allies but have been at odds for decades over a series of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean and drilling rights in the Mediterranean, and have come to the brink of war three times in the last 50 years. A dispute over energy exploration rights in 2020 led to the two countries’ warships facing off in the Mediterranean. Monday’s meeting in the Defense Ministry in Athens was to discuss confidence-building measures, following a similar meeting in Ankara last November. The two countries have engaged in the confidence-building process on and off for years, trying to seek common ground on a series of lower-key issues as a means of improving ties. The meeting comes ahead of planned talks in Ankara on May 13 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Tense ties have improved significantly over the past year, with Erdogan visiting Athens in December and signing a raft of trade, energy and education deals. But Mitsotakis’ announcement last week that Greece will create two marine parks for the protection of sea mammals and birds — one in the Ionian Sea in western Greece and one in the central Aegean — has angered Turkey. Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling party, said last week that Ankara considers the creation of the marine parks “a step that sabotages the normalization process” in relations, and said Turkey would “in no way allow actions toward the declaration of marine parks in the Aegean Sea.” Mitsotakis, speaking last week after a meeting of European leaders in Brussels, expressed surprise at what he described as “Turkey’s totally unjustified reaction to an initiative which at the end of the day is of an environmental nature.” The Greek prime minister said the recent improvement in relations between Greece and Turkey was “undeniable and measurable,” but that this did not mean Turkey had changed its positions on the delineation of maritime zones in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean. “These positions remain positions which are deeply problematic for our country,” Mitsotakis said. “But this does not prevent us from being able to talk, to create a general good climate and invest more in a positive agenda and less in the issues which divide us and over which we clearly disagree.” Turkey’s delegation at Monday’s talks was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar, while the Greek one was headed by Ambassador Theocharis Lalakos, Greece’s Defense Ministry said.      

The concert had been organized in May last year under the previous municipal administration, headed at the time by ruling New Democracy’s Kostas Bakoyannis. It had been scheduled to take place on April 29 at the Olympia Theater in downtown Athens. Doukas’ decision was a response to a written appeal from the association representing the Athens Municipality’s musicians, who expressed concern that going ahead with the concert “may not be safe for the performers or the audience,” given the latest developments in Israel’s war against Hamas and other recent  conflicts. In a tweet on Tuesday, Health Minister and ND heavyweight Adonis Georgiadis lashed out at the mayor, saying that the decision to cancel the concert was “proof of how completely unsuitable” Doukas is for the post. Georgiadis also scoffed at the election of Doukas – a professor at the National Technical University of Athens who ran with the support of Socialist PASOK –  in October, saying that he was chosen “by a disparate coalition of voters of the Far Left, PASOK, and voters of [far-right Ilias] Kasidiaris chiefly on the basis of ensuring that Kostas Bakoyannis would not be re-elected.”

"Any escalation at this time would be a critical threat for regional stability and security. We continue to stand by Israel but, at the same time, we urge all sides to show the necessary restraint in order to avoid a probably very dangerous further escalation," Mitsotakis noted at the start of his meeting with the European Commission vice president. Speaking of issues relating to the rule of law, he underlined that cooperation with the Commission continues to be excellent. "I believe that significant progress has been made, which is also acknowledged by the European Commission. We always take the recommendations of the annual report on the rule of law very seriously and try to comply in the best possible way. I am happy with the progress we have achieved and our teams are all at your disposal to examine the details of the issues you have raised and to ensure that we will respond as much as is possible", he said. On her part, the vice president of the European Commission referred to her very good cooperation with the Greek authorities. "You are aware that all four issues we cover in the report on the rule of law are essential for our democratic systems, whether this has to do with justice and the prosecution stage, or with the legislative process, or the state of the media, the tackling of corruption and the overall the system of institutional controls. It is a very important set of factors or areas that we would like to see working well in all member states," she said.  

“The populist demagogues want to raise artificial divisions, which as [European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen] pointed out, was something that Greece has paid a high price for in the past. We will never allow the things that happened in the past decade to happen again,” he said. “The economic crisis lasted longer in Greece because populism prevented the country from rallying round. Syntagma Square is not far from here. We remember the two sides of the lie uniting in anti-European, supposedly anti-systemic demonstrations,” he continued, referencing the Indignant protests that took place there at the height of the crisis. He said that Greece has progressed from laggard to leader in economic growth, with an increase in investments, a reduction of unemployment and an easing of public debt and higher wages and pensions.   “We are closing the gap with Europe and we want to close it everywhere. In this effort, we have the support of the EU,” Mitsotakis said, accusing the opposition parties of seeking to stop this progress and of “polluting the political dialogue with toxicity.”             He said the “instrumentalization of pain” from the 2023 railway collision which cost 57 people their lives was an example. “As if there are some Greeks who are more greatly grieved by this tragedy. On the way to the polls we must turn our backs on division.” He concluded by noting that a vote for ND in the upcoming European elections was a vote for the stability and progress of the country. Addressing the delegates, von der Leyen described Greece as a pillar of stability and security, a pillar of NATO and the European Union, that has helped Ukraine defend itself.

Von der Leyen is the lead candidate of the European People's Party (EPP) in the upcoming European elections and is seeking re-election as president of the European Commission. "That is thanks, above all, to the people of Greece, it is thanks to all of you here in this room, and thanks to New Democracy and to you Kyriakos," she added, addressing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "Thanks to you all, Greece's story in the last years is a story of amazing recovery and I want to pay tribute to you for that. This is impressive," von der Leyen said to the gathering, pointing out that, not so long ago, Greece had been staring into the abyss but had now become, under the leadership of the Mitsotakis government, an economic frontrunner. "Under your leadership, Greece's economy has outperformed the Eurozone average. Under your leadership, Greece is driving growth and innovation, it is attracting investment from across the world, and it is home to some of your fastest-growing startups. And you have achieved all of this while supporting people where it matters, their wages, their pensions, their daily life...There is no doubt: you have done Greece proud, you have done Europe proud," she said. Von der Leyen then noted that the key to Greece's transformation has been leadership, courage and trust to deliver on the things that really matter, adding: "In this more volatile and unstable world, this is exactly what Europe will need in the years ahead. And we know that we can do it. Since 2019 we have shown what we can do when Europe is united and ambitious. Together, we overcame a global pandemic, ensuring that citizens in every member-state got their vaccines at the same time. Together, we pulled our economies back from the brink with NextGeneration EU." At this point, she thanked the Greek prime minister "for his invaluable leadership in making that happen." Von der Leyen then spoke of the fight against climate change, noting that Europe was leading this together, through the European Green Deal, while at the same time showing true solidarity to those most affected. She noted that more than 10 countries had provided support to Greece in battling the devastating wildfires in the Alexandroupolis region, just as Greece had helped others in their time of need. "This is European solidarity at its best," she emphasised. Regarding migration, also, she pointed out, it was made clear that Europe will decide who enters the Union and on what terms, not the rings of traffickers, while she underlined the threat of populism, saying it was one of the biggest challenges now facing Europe. She referred to the efforts of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to "wipe out" Ukraine and also referred to his allies within the EU, which she said were openly defying European values. These parties may go by different names, von der Leyen commented, but their goal was the same: to destroy Europe. "We will not allow them to do this, we must stand up to them and strike back," she emphasised, noting that the Russian missile attack on Odesa during the Greek prime minister's visit there showed how ruthless Vladimir Putin could be. The European Commission president concluded by saying that the EU must spend more, in a better and more European way, on defence, insisting that cooperation in defence must be "our future priority". She also noted that the EU must strengthen the competitiveness of its economy and social state, stressing that "the battle for democracy never ends."  

In addition to various aspects of bilateral relations, regional and international issues were discussed during the meetings. The two sides reiterated their joint commitment to build on the existing positive atmosphere in line with the Athens Declaration signed last December by the leaders of the two countries, exploring further areas of bilateral and international cooperation.  They reviewed the preparations for the upcoming visit of PM Mitsotakis to Türkiye in May and took stock of progress achieved so far in the existing dialogue channels covering all aspects of the bilateral relationship.

“My presence here reflects the respect of the entire free world for your people and underlines Greece’s commitment to remain by your side,” Mitsotakis told Zelenskyy in his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Greece, a NATO member and a traditional ally to Ukraine’s bid to join the military alliance and the European Union, has offered military help to the country. “We discussed what other means we can use to expand the security space in the Black Sea. How we can add protection to our people – both military and civilian. We need more air defense,” Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy said Greece would participate in a peace formula summit in Switzerland. Greek government sources said Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s intention to contribute to the reconstruction of Odesa, whose historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in January 2023, while he met with representatives of the Greek diaspora. At the same time, he said Greece will continue to support Ukraine within the framework of the country’s capabilities and without weakening Greek defense. The two leaders visited a residential building – the site of Russian drone attack on Saturday, that killed 12 people, including five children.  The sound of a large explosion reverberated around the Ukrainian port of Odesa as Zelenskyy and Mitsotakis ended their tour of the war-ravaged southern city Wednesday. The Greek prime minister said the delegations were getting into their vehicles when they heard the blast, which he called a “vivid reminder” that Odesa is gripped by the war with Russia. It is one thing to hear about the war and “quite another to experience war firsthand,” Mitsotakis said. Zelenskyy said the explosion caused an unknown number of dead and wounded. “You see who we’re dealing with, they don’t care where to hit,” he told reporters. Russian officials made no immediate comment. Mitsotakis’ unannounced visit to Ukraine takes place before his trip to Romania for a two-day conference of the European People’s Party (EPP). [Reuters/AP/Kathimerini] In breaking news,  The visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Ukraine on Wednesday had all the makings of a Hollywood thriller, as an explosion from a Russian attack on Odesa, probably with missiles, occurred less than 200 meters from where he stood with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who were at the port at that time. According to estimates, the attack was aimed at Zelenskyy and, as the analysis of existing evidence suggests, Moscow was probably also aware of the presence of the Greek prime minister there. Moscow confirmed the attack, but claims that it targeted a warehouse where naval drones are manufactured for the Ukrainian armed forces.  The Greek delegation led by Mitsotakis was with the Ukrainian delegation on a customary tour of the port. The Greek delegation consisted of Minister of State Stavros Papastavrou, the head of the PM’s diplomatic office Anna Maria Boura, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou, foreign affairs advisor Aristotelia Peloni and communications director Kira Kapi.  The attack reportedly took place at 11.45 a.m. when the two delegations were on a tour of the historic port of Odesa.  “Suddenly there was a piercing siren, a loud noise and then smoke,” a member of the Greek delegation told Kathimerini. The same source said that the tour was ending when the attack occurred, with the Ukrainians and Greeks heading to their cars to go to the site of the joint press conference. The Greek delegation reportedly got into the car, moving at breakneck speed through the streets of Odesa.  Kathimerini understands that the schedule was changed, as was the itinerary, which was deemed necessary for security reasons.   After the joint statements by Mitsotakis and Zelenskyy, the Greek delegation left Ukrainian territory by road and headed on a three-hour journey for Chisinau, Moldova’s airport. The Greek delegation returned safely to the Romanian capital of Bucharest late Wednesday afternoon. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Charles Michel condemned the attack in messages. Meanwhile, Mitsotakis said Greece will continue to support Ukraine as it fights for its freedom. “My presence here reflects the respect of the entire free world for your people and underlines Greece’s commitment to remain by your side,” Mitsotakis told Zelenskyy in his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.  Moreover, the US is in constant contact with Greece and Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said regarding the Russian attack in Odessa during a visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US State Department spokesperson was asked a question during the regular press briefing on the US reaction. More specifically, Matthew Miller said: "We are in constant contact with both of those countries. I don’t have any specific conversations to read out. I think the strike is yet another reminder of how Russia continues to strike Ukraine every single day, and it’s a reminder of Ukraine’s need for air defence interceptors, and it’s a reminder that the United States Congress needs to take action, as we have called on them to do, to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression."

"We have to be able to defend ourselves," Nikos Dendias told Reuters, adding that the European Union could achieve that in cooperation with NATO and other allies. "What we're trying to do is have a home-grown defence industry in Greece and Europe which could service the needs of the European Union." The EU's Red Sea naval mission, dubbed "Aspides", which in Greek means "Shields", was launched last month to guard vessels from attack by Iranian-aligned Houthi militants in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas in its war with Israel. At the crossroads between Asia, Africa and Europe, Greece controls the largest merchant fleet in the world and attacks against its vessels have increased. Greece's largest port, Piraeus, has seen trade drop 40%. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The Greek frigate Hydra sailed last week for the Red Sea as the country assumed command of the EU mission whose headquarters will be in the city of Larissa. Italy commands the naval force. "It's important that we succeed," Dendias said.  "You cannot be a crossroads if roads do not exist or do not function. So for us (Greece) this is a huge threat directly and indirectly." Both Greece and the European Union are alarmed by the "sophisticated approach" of the Houthis, he said, with sea mines and submarine weapons used in attacks. The safety of the five Aspides warships and crew, also from Germany, Italy, Belgium and France, was also a concern, he said, urging close coordination with other fleets in the area, which include warships from the United States and India. "Having a very close communication and as much a common approach as possible with other fleets ... is something advisable and important," he said. Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the European Union wants to increase its defence role as a bloc rather than as a collection of 27 nations where military policy is drafted at a national level. Greece, also a NATO member, wants to reform its army along the example of Finland. It also aims to revamp its defence industry and boost its shipyards' business, as it recovers from a decade-long debt crisis that forced it to slash spending. It has drafted a multi-billion, 10-year purchasing plan, that includes acquiring up to 40 new F-35 fighter jets from the U.S, three frigates from France and U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters. It wants to produce drone and anti-drone systems and is in talks with the United States to co-design and build Constellation-class frigates for the Greek Navy. Foreign frigates could be serviced in Greek shipyards, Dendias said. "This presents a huge challenge," he said. "We're a proud maritime nation but it's the first time in our history that we may be able to co-design a platform as important as the Constellation."  

Follow a few simple steps to make sure that you can vote in the 2024 federal U.S. elections: Request your ballot. Complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). You must complete a new FPCA after January 1, 2024 to ensure you receive your ballot for the 2024 elections.  Submitting the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted.  All local election officials in all U.S. states and territories accept the FPCA.You can complete the FPCA online at gov.  The online voting assistant will ask you questions specific to your state.  We encourage you to request your blank ballots be delivered electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state).  Include your email address on your FPCA to take advantage of the electronic ballot delivery option.  Return the FPCA per the instructions on the website.  The online voting assistant will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original ink signature.  If you must return a paper version, please follow the same instructions below for returning your ballot.   Receive and complete your ballot. States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and generally send ballots at least 30 days before primary elections.  For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.   Return your completed ballot.  While some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically, others do not.  If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can do so free of charge at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Place your ballot in a postage-paid return envelope or in an envelope bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage, and address them to the relevant local election officials.If you opt to mail your election materials through the U.S. Embassy in Athens or the Consulate General in Thessaloniki, you may mail or drop off your completed and sealed ballot in the following ways: Mail:  U.S. Embassy Athens, American Citizen Services, 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens Greece Drop off at the U.S. Embassy in Athens American Citizen Services Unit:  Kokkali gate entrance Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on workdays. 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Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact Athen’s Voting Assistance Officer at +(30) 210-721-2951 (Option 1), or at VoteAthens@state.gov. Remember, your vote counts! Assistance: U.S. Embassy Athens +(30) 210-721-2951 AthensAmericanCitizenServices@state.gov https://gr.usembassy.gov      U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki +(30) 2310-376-300 usconsulate@state.gov   State Department – Consular Affairs (888) 407-4747 or (202) 501-4444     EVENT In related news, the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary kicks off on March 5th, as Democrats Abroad members around the world participate in selecting the Democratic Party candidate for president for the 2024 General Election this November. Democrats Abroad Greece will run two voting centres to help Americans living in Greece cast their votes. In Thessaloniki, the polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 5 at the Dukakis Center, American College of Thessaloniki (17 Sevenidi Street) and in Athens in Athens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 10 at the Athens Center (48 Archimidous Street). Worldwide results will be announced after voting closes on March 12th. Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party arm for the millions of Americans living outside the United States. Like its state parties, it runs a presidential primary every four years so that it can send committed and uncommitted delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Americans living abroad who will be 18 or older as of November 5th, 2024, are eligible to vote in the Global Presidential Primary. Voting is restricted to members of Democrats Abroad, but registration as a member is possible on the spot.