- Reform Program – The Greek government is scheduled to implement 60 significant reforms and execute 40 emblematic projects and investments within the year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis. Notable initiatives include the planned expansion of the Thessaloniki metro and E65 highway in central Greece, as well as the commissioning of the nation’s first supercomputer. Key reforms encompass the reorganization of the urban planning framework alongside the completion of the land registry, continued enhancement of the judicial system through new digitalization efforts, infrastructure improvements for court buildings, expedited legal procedures, and the establishment of a new anti-corruption framework.
- Greek Bonds – Greece experienced record demand for its benchmark 10-year government bond this month, successfully raising €4 billion at a yield of 3.47%, compared to 3.63% in the previous year, and despite a general rise in European interest rates by approximately 25 basis points on average. The issuance attracted €50 billion in bids, representing a twelvefold oversubscription, with 93% of demand originating from international investors. For the current year, Greece is aiming to raise around €8 billion, in line with last year’s amount.
- Record Travel – Athens International Airport, Greece’s main gateway for travelers, reported a 6.7% increase in passenger traffic in 2025 to reach a record 34 million passengers. Both domestic and international passenger traffic rose, surpassing 2024 levels by 5.5% and 9.6% respectively. Separately, total passenger traffic at the country’s 14 regional airports, all managed by Fraport Greece, rose 3% last year to 37.1 million, underscoring the continuing strength of Greece’s tourism sector.
- Tourism Awards – Crete was ranked among the world’s Top 10 travel destinations in the 2026 Tripadvisor Best of the Best Travelers’ Choice Awards, which also recognized six other Greek destinations in a variety of subcategories. Separately, in the latest GT Tested Reader Survey Awards by Global Traveler, Greece was awarded Best Tourism Destination for the fifth consecutive year, underscoring the country’s continuing appeal as one of the top destinations for U.S. travelers.
- Trilateral Agreement – The leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel agreed to boost trilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean during a summit in Jerusalem on December 22 reinforcing their ongoing ties in energy and security. They discussed linking electrical grids between the three countries and further cooperation on developing offshore natural gas. A week after the summit, military officials from the three countries signed a separate trilateral work plan for military cooperation for 2026 and held talks on the creation of a joint, rapid-deployment force.
- Oil Pipeline – The 213-kilometer Thessaloniki-Skopje oil pipeline has resumed operations after a 13 year hiatus and following technical upgrades, further enhancing Greece’s role as an energy hub for Southeast Europe. The pipeline, launched in 2002 to supply crude oil to a refinery owned by Hellenic Petroleum in North Macedonia’s capital, became obsolete after the refinery shut down in 2013. However, last year the pipeline was upgraded to transport refined petroleum products with the aim of supplying the markets of North Macedonia, Kosovo, southern Serbia and Bulgaria.
- Greek Frigate – Greece has taken delivery of the first of four new French-made Belharra frigates as part of the country’s €25 billion defense modernization program. The frigate, featuring advanced detection and tracking systems, supports Greece’s efforts to build Achilles Shield, a new-generation defensive network designed to defend against a range of air and sea attacks.
- Hellenic Train – Parliament has ratified a new €308 million agreement between Greece and Italian railway group Ferrovie dello Stato and its subsidiary Hellenic Train for the delivery 23 new trains. The deal, which foresees the first delivery within 18 months, represents the biggest investment in Greece’s land transport system ever. The introduction of new trains and improvements to the rail line connecting Athens and Thessaloniki will shorten travel time between Greece’s two largest cities to under three and a half hours.