With a 12.7% deficit for 2009 Greece is not the only country in Europe with a double-digit deficit. However, large deficits and debt, combined with mismanagement and lack of credibility, have produced an explosive mix in the Greek case. In the context of an unregulated global financial system that has run amok, the destabilising factor of market speculation dealing with sovereign credit default swaps has affected other vulnerable eurozone members as well, resulting to the weakening of the euro. While prime responsibility for dealing with the Greek problem lies in Greece and measures will certainly hit hard for the next three years, a credible political leadership will be the key not only within Greece but in the context of the European Union as a whole. Denial or indecision and lack of solidarity can be dangerous for Greece and potentially also for the euro and the European system more generally. The Greek debt crisis may be a precursor of things to come as sovereign debt climbs up everywhere, itself a by-product of the crisis. Now, it is high time for the euro to acquire solid foundations. We needed them yesterday, not in 2020. While this is a difficult project and political odds are against it, the E.U. and the Euro are living proofs that we, Europeans, have done it before.

Although there is a noticeable increase in diplomatic attention regarding the Cyprus problem, there is no substantial progress yet and expectations for a positive outcome remain rather limited.  The present paper –the fourth published by ELIAMEP on the Cyprus issue in the last few months [More..]

Over the next decade the EU must be ready to redefine itself: what its role is as a political entity in a rapidly changing world and how it should reform itself, both internally and externally, in order to overcome and respond to the multifaceted challenges of the global age we now live in. In short, the challenge of making the EU “fit for purpose”. Needless to say, this is where controversy begins: what exactly is the EU’s “purpose” in the 21st century and what kind of reforms are required to render it “fit”? In this volume, leading thinkers and experts provide compelling answers to issues of legitimacy, governance, internal security and migration.

Over the next decade the EU must be ready to redefine itself: what its role is as a political entity in a rapidly changing world and how it should reform itself, both internally and externally, in order to overcome and respond to the multifaceted challenges of the global age we now live in. In short, the challenge of making the EU “fit for purpose”. Needless to say, this is where controversy begins: what exactly is the EU’s “purpose” in the 21st century and what kind of reforms are required to render it “fit”? In this volume, leading thinkers and experts provide compelling answers to issues of economic governance, financial regulation, budget reform, social policy and sustainable growth.

Over the next decade the EU must be ready to redefine itself: what its role is as a political entity in a rapidly changing world and how it should reform itself, both internally and externally, in order to overcome and respond to the multifaceted challenges of the global age we now live in. In short, the challenge of making the EU “fit for purpose”. Needless to say, this is where controversy begins: what exactly is the EU’s “purpose” in the 21st century and what kind of reforms are required to render it “fit”? In this volume, leading thinkers and experts provide compelling answers to issues of defence and security, global economic governance, neighbourhood policy, trade, energy and climate change.

The present ELIAMEP Thesis by Prof. Andreas Theophanous–the third published by ELIAMEP on the Cyprus issue in the last few months, argues that for many Greek-Cypriots the fundamental question “what model can lead to a viable solution?” has not been answered in a satisfactory manner. Despite several rounds of meetings, there is considerable distance between the two communities on several major issues: constitutional issues, governance, property issues, the three fundamental freedoms, security, settlers, territorial issue, economy. [More..]

Policy Network, in partnership with Friends of Europe, hosted a major international conference in Brussels on 4 November 2009 to launch and discuss the policy and political recommendations of the research programme, “An EU “fit for purpose” in the global age“. The event marked the launch of the substantial report “An EU ‘fit for purpose’ in the global age – Can we rise to the challenge?” authored by Loukas Tsoukalis, Olaf Cramme and Roger Liddle [More..]

ELIAMEP’s Working Paper no 4 by  Dr. Filippos Proedrou, Lecturer of Politics and International Relations in City College, Thessaloniki,

aims to examine the Greek policy of energy security. The analysis is divided in two parts: the practical and the normative. After analyzing the main problems of energy security at the European level, the paper presents the Greek “dual policy” of, on the one hand, promoting a strategic relationship with its main energy supplier, Russia [More..]

In the latest issue of ELIAMEP Thesis , Mr. Costas Carras, Greek Coordinator of the Greek Turkish Forum, provides seven reasons why the chances for a settlement of the Cyprus problem are higher over the next five months than at any time since 1974. It also however points to some of the most serious remaining difficulties which might easily prevent the successful negotiation of such a settlement. [More..]

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) organised a lecture delivered by the Secretary General for Public Order Ambassador Constantinos Bitsios. The lecture was held on Tuesday 22 September 2009 at ELIAMEP offices.

The question of irregural migration, has surfaced in recent months as a highly important political issue with strong economic and social implications for Greece. [More..]