Crisis Politics in Europe: Vulnerability to Adjustment, Policy Responses and Political Conflict

The Euro crisis has turned into one of the most serious challenges that the European Union (EU) has had to face so far. At its root the crisis is a balance-of-payments crisis; caused by divergent economic developments among member states in the pre-crisis years and the deep financial integration that accompanied this process.

Grexit has always been Tsipras' endgame

Greece's economy and society have been through the wringer over the past 6 years. Successive bailouts, haircuts, Memoranda of Understanding, and persistent austerity have mired the country in a bog of economic depression and political instability. The failed attempts of the previous Samaras coalition government (including conservative New Democracy and centrist PASOK parties) to conclude the review of the latest ‘Troika’ program and his inability to garner the 180 votes (in a 300-seat Parliament) constitutionally required for the election a figurehead President paved the way for the electoral rise of the radical left-wing Syriza party to power.

3rd Annual GPPF Chania Forum 2014: Executive Summary

Europe in Flux: 

Secessionism, Ideological Polarisation, 

and  the Emerging Institutional Design of the EU

26-27 September 2014

Kiani Beach Resort

Chania, Crete

Greece

Executive Summary of the 3rd Annual GPPF Chania Forum

The Greek Public Policy Forum organised its 3rd Annual GPPF Chania Forum, titled “Europe in Flux: Secessionism, Ideological Polarisation, and the Emerging Institutional Design of the EU”, on September 26 and 27 at the Κiani Beach Resort in Chania, Crete. The event took place thanks to the kind sponsorship of Decidendi Consultants, Europe Direct Region of Crete, and the solar systems company CALPAK S.A.. We also wish to thank the ELIAMEP Crisis Observatory, the Hellenic Alumni Association of the London School of Economic, and the Economic Chamber of Greece (Department of Western Crete) for their support.

The Past, Present and Future of the European Union

The edifice of the European Union (EU) has been built on the basis of equilibrium between intergovernmental co-operation and supranationalism. In other words, the fathers of Europe wanted to attain integration through the institution of organs which would be representative of the two currents: institutions with an intergovernmental character, through which the voice of the Member-States could be heard, and institutions with a supranational character, which would represent Europe, as a potentially integrated entity, with its own interests and expectations. In the first category, the central institution is the Council of Ministers, which functions with the presence of national Ministers, depending on the subject-matter of the agenda, while in the second category the main organs are the Commission and the European Parliament. The Courts, finally, settle disputes in a spirit of supranationalism, and in this direction they have offered their good offices to integration.

The Political Economy of the Eurozone: The Short-term and the Long-term View

Introduction

The key point of my talk is that EMU has two very different types of problems, depending on whether you think of the short or the long term.

• The short-term one is a combination of excessively low growth, massive sovereign debt because of the links between weak banks and governments, and no way out (weak banks increase sovereign debt, which translates into weak banks).
• The long-term one is that two very different types of economies were integrated into EMU, without a political mechanism that compensates for the negative effects of these differences.

2nd Annual GPPF Chania Forum 2013: Executive Summary

“‘Muddling Through’ or ‘Breaking Through’? 

New Challenges for the European Project”

2nd Annual GPPF Chania Forum, 27-28 September 2013

Executive Summary

The Greek Public Policy Forum organized the 2nd Annual Chania Forum 2013 titled “‘Muddling Through’ or ‘Breaking Through’? New Challenges for the European Project” on September 27 and 28 at the Kiani Beach Resort in Chania, Crete. The Forum was kindly sponsored by Decidenci Consultants, the Regional Development Fund of Crete – Region of Crete, Europe Direct Region of Crete, CALPAK S.A, and the E. Apostolopoulos Law Firm. The two-day event was further supported by the ELIAMEP Crisis Observatory, the Hellenic Alumni Association of the London School of Economics, and the Economic Chamber of Greece (Department of Western Crete).