Foreign investment in Greece falters amid global economic shifts

=By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Foreign investment in Greece has faltered amid global economic shifts, media reports said Tuesday.

Foreign direct greenfield investments have declined in the last 12 months to 35, from 50 in the previous 12-month period, according to a recent survey by major consulting firm EY, whose findings were disclosed Tuesday at the annual InvestGR forum in Athens, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

The intention of foreign companies to invest more for the first time in Greece has declined from 51% to 48% in 2025, while in the EU, the decline is greater, from 72% to just 59%, it said.

Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos stressed that tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump are already showing an effect on the Greek and European economies by raising obstacles and creating problems

“The international sentiment is not good, it’s a sentiment of uncertainty,” he said.

Trump announced Saturday that Washington will impose 30% tariffs on the EU and Mexico starting Aug. 1, putting the US-EU trade talks at risk, as the bloc was working to finalize a comprehensive trade deal this month.

The US president shared a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing the tariffs on goods from EU countries.

Von der Leyen voiced a readiness to work toward an agreement with the US by Aug. 1 and vowed to take steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic warned Monday that the US’ planned 30% tariff on EU goods would effectively rule out trade and vowed to use every minute before the Aug. 1 deadline to reach a negotiated solution.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached before the new surcharge takes effect.

“We have a working group, and we hope to reach an agreement — that is our goal. There are also issues related to fentanyl and security on the table, and in that case, an agreement has already made some progress, always within the framework of respect for our sovereignty,” she said.

Separately, Trump threatened Monday to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russia if a deal on ending the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days because he was “very unhappy” with Russia and disappointed in President Vladimir Putin.