“Energy or Survival?” – Mytilineos’ BBC Shock on Europe’s Energy Drama

Evangelos Mytilineos, the powerhouse CEO of METLEN and president of Eurometaux, shook Europe’s energy debate with a blunt, no-filter interview on BBC, accusing politicians in Europe, Greece, and the UK of “selling fairy tales about green energy while hiding the real bill under the carpet.”

Speaking with a mix of realism and outrage, Mytilineos argued that energy policy has turned into a political show disconnected from economic reality. “The metal industry is just energy in solid form,” he said — “and Europe is killing it with its own rules.”

“I support the green transition. But let’s be honest: no one told citizens they’d have to give up 30% of their salary for the next 30 years to pay for it.” — Evangelos Mytilineos, BBC interview

The Truth Behind the “Green Illusion”

The METLEN boss didn’t mince words: Europe’s energy costs have become unsustainable, forcing dozens of energy-intensive industries to shut down in the last three years.

“Hundreds of companies have already closed. They simply can’t compete. It’s that simple,” he warned.

For Mytilineos, the crisis isn’t just economic — it’s moral and political. “Politicians weren’t honest about what this transition would cost. They lied by omission.”

A Political Bombshell — Chosen Medium, Chosen Message

Choosing the BBC instead of Bloomberg or the Financial Times was no coincidence. Mytilineos knew exactly where to drop his message — in the heart of British politics, where the new Labour government seeks a fresh start after years of Tory energy failures.

The message? Europe and the UK must face the truth: there is no “green” future without affordable energy.

The “Trump Effect” and Rising Right-Wing Waves

In one of the interview’s most striking moments, Mytilineos invoked Donald Trump, warning that populism is thriving on the failure of energy policy.

“When people keep paying without understanding why, they turn to extremes,” he said.

His comment was seen as a sharp warning to European leaders — that ignoring citizens’ pain will only empower far-right movements across the continent.

A Greek Voice with Global Echo

Although he spoke as a European industrialist, Mytilineos’ message clearly resonates in Greece, where households and businesses are still paying among the highest electricity prices in the EU.

His recent decision to list METLEN on the London Stock Exchange was, in his own words, a “strategic choice” — signaling that Greek entrepreneurship can lead Europe’s energy transformation, not just endure it.

“Let’s sit down and calculate: how much can we really invest, and what can we realistically achieve?

If we don’t speak clearly to the people, resistance will only grow stronger,” he concluded.

Between Green Dreams and Harsh Reality

Evangelos Mytilineos didn’t just give an interview — he delivered a wake-up call. In a Europe obsessed with slogans, he dared to say what others whisper behind closed doors:

Without affordable energy, there’s no growth, no industry, no future.

The question he leaves hanging: How much longer will Europe pay gold prices for electricity — just to feel “green”?