Analyses - EBR

Edition: International | Greek

FOLLOW EBR MAGAZINE ON:

Home » Analyses

Reforming the economic and political system and letting the Warsaw Pact countries “do it their own way” (the Sinatra song evoked by Gorbachev) were not just deeply troubling ideas. They were also directly antithetical to the elites’ power and to the ideological legitimation of their rule.

Trump: The West’s Gorbachev?

By: EBR | Friday, January 20, 2017

Will Trump have a similarly devastating effect on democracies that Gorbachev had on Communism?

Before the election of the Parliament President, S&D candidate Gianni Pittella announced that the traditional grand coalition between his party and the center-right EPP was over and would not be restored after the vote. The initial EPP/S&D deal for the Parliament presidency terms was signed by Martin Schulz and Manfred Weber. When the EPP leader revealed the document last week, he heavily critisised Pittella for breaking it, but not Schulz.

S&D: Schulz’s departure paves the way to the left

By: EBR | Thursday, January 19, 2017

The decision of former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz to return to national politics is a “relief” for the Social Democrats’ group

Instead of constantly trying to retain control of the world, the West should learn to share power. Asians should be allowed to run the IMF and World Bank. Equally importantly, Western pundits must drop their traditional condescension when speaking about the rest. Emerging Asian entities, like China, India and ASEAN, should be treated with more respect. India should be immediately given a seat on the UN Security Council, with the UK and France stepping aside.

Yes, this is the Asian Century. But there’s still cause for Western optimism

By: EBR | Thursday, January 19, 2017

The big question of our time is a simple one: should we feel optimistic or pessimistic for the future of humanity, all 7 billion of us?

He’s on several occasions spoken out against the European Union – just a few days ago, he described it as a “vehicle for Germany”, predicting that more countries will follow Britain and leave.

5 things you’ve got wrong about Donald Trump, according to one of his closest aides

By: EBR | Wednesday, January 18, 2017

When Donald Trump was unexpectedly voted in as 45th president of the United States back in November 2016, many commentators predicted it was the beginning of the end for globalization

Uncertainties in Brussels over the future state of the European Union are directly reflected in EU-India relations. Prime Minister Modi met the leaders of Europe, President Tusk and Juncker at the EU-India Summit in Brussels, 2016. Europe is popular with Indians tourists. Efforts by Indian multinational companies, operating in industrial engineering and ICT domains, to cover European markets via quality-price competition and by providing innovative goods and services substitutes has seen mixed results due to structural shortcomings and regulatory difficulties.

India’s foreign policy increases thanks to PM Modi

By: EBR | Wednesday, January 18, 2017

How is India dealing these days, politically, and with international trade and terrorism? Since the 26th of May 2014 Narendra Modi is in charge of more than a 1,5 billion Indians. In 2019 there will be elections again in India. Who is Narendra Modi?

Investing in infrastructure was one of Trump’s important campaign issues. Legislation to spend money on the nation’s roads, bridges and airports likely won’t be unveiled until later in Spring, after Trump’s 100th day in office. But it seems there will be a big infrastructure package immediately after the first 100 days’ period. Trump has floated a $1 trillion proposal that would offer federal tax credits to private entities investing in infrastructure projects. A good idea, and top Democrats expressed already openness to working with Trump on such a proposal, considering it as one area of potential common ground with the new president.

What will happen in Trump’s first 100 days in office?

By: EBR | Friday, January 13, 2017

Topic A for business leaders worldwide is the presumed avalanche of pro-business actions about the cascade from Washington after the new Congress was sworn in early January

Trump, despite the questioning of his abilities, convinced many voters that a man who had run a corporation could run their country, thus ticking the ethos box. By connecting with the portion of the electorate that was hopping mad with Washington and the so-called “political elite”, he also had emotional reach. And it was this raw emotion that proved more powerful than logic at the ballot box.

What leaders can learn from the rise of the outsider

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Times of change and distrust create challenges and some valuable lessons for leaders

Trump didn’t waste time and responded. Unlike Kerry’s one-hour speech, Trump answered, as usual, with a couple of tweets: “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect… They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but … not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”

Trump just might land the deal that’s eluded so many others

By: EBR | Monday, January 9, 2017

The Obama administration’s decision to abstain, when the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 2334, denouncing Israel’s settlements, left me perplexed

Greece’s choice was a no-brainer: side with the IMF, have less austerity, have immediate and deep debt restructuring, and implement reforms that will make Greece more competitive and bring it out of the crisis. Instead, the Greek government sided with the EU, accepted higher austerity and less debt restructuring. Why? The Greek government wants to avoid reforming and shrinking the State because civil servants are its main block of voters. Compounding this error, the Greek government has now violated the fiscal agreement and reverted to the defiant tactics of the first half of 2015. But there’s still hope.

How Greece’s troubled economy could turn around in 2017

By: EBR | Thursday, January 5, 2017

Violating the terms of its bailout program, the Greek government recently announced that it will distribute a sizeable “Christmas gift” to Greek pensioners even though this requires additional borrowing from the EU since the Greek budget is not balanced and Greece cannot borrow from money markets

Western business leaders need to realise that they are key players in the survival of a globalised system that has benefitted them and their nations greatly. Brexit and Trump, among others, are indications that this system is threatened. Business leaders need to redouble their efforts to make globalisation palatable to the people, thus enabling politicians to “sell” high levels of economic openness, including EU membership, to voters so their countries can reap the attendant benefits. I have previously laid out some options.

The Future World Order

By: EBR | Wednesday, January 4, 2017

With globalisation on the ropes and a hegemon in decline, prevalent political science theories suggest a conflictual future

The mechanism that is most often offered for this state of events is the existence of echo chambers or filter bubbles. The argument goes that first social media platforms feed people the news that is closest to their own ideological standpoint (estimated from their previous patterns of consumption) and second, that people create their own personalized information environments through their online behaviour, selecting friends and news sources that back up their world view.

Can social media transform politics?

By: EBR | Thursday, December 29, 2016

Of course social media is transforming politics. But it’s not to blame for Brexit and Trump

For EU decision-makers, the main challenges derive from “the perceived lack of control and fears related to migration, terrorism, and economic and social insecurity”, reads the Bratislava summit’s conclusions. “We need to tackle these issues as a matter of priority over the coming months”, the statement emphasised.

2017 seen as turning point for liberal democracies

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Western democracies will be further challenged next year, as populist parties are expected to make gains in Europe, while China and Russia increasingly set the global agenda, taking advantage of a US withdrawal

It can never be said enough: lobbying is action. However, for two or three years we have seen a growing trend of lobbies who talk a lot about action but do little. The secretary-generals or director-generals appointed to lead European associations these days are mostly communicators, sometimes technical experts from the national scene, but rarely career lobbyists. They therefore have to adapt their new jobs if they want to reach the required performance levels – and the leadership that goes with it.

2017: action, action, action

By: EBR | Thursday, December 22, 2016

“My right flank is destroyed, my left flank is in retreat, everything is fine – attack!” Those were the words of General Foch in the darkest moments of World War One. We are there once again. Sink or act – that is the choice we have.

Halfway through a transition from election to the inauguration, Donald Trump is forging a transactional path to the presidency. He is passing over loyalists, defending people he once pilloried and rethinking central campaign promises as he assembles his administration.

Trump easily affirmed the winner of the 2016 election

By: N. Peter Kramer | Thursday, December 22, 2016

Donald Trump was easily affirmed the winner of the 2016 election after the Electoral College met in the US state capitals. It was the end of the last-ditch attempts by activists to deny Trump the US Presidency.

NATO is needed more than ever today, especially given Russia’s occupation of parts of eastern Ukraine and the massive instability along Europe’s southern neighborhood. A European army would instead be welcomed by Russian president Vladimir Putin because the United States wouldn’t have a say in the affairs of such a force.

The last thing Europe needs right now is an army

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Donald Trump is right about one thing. The European members of the NATO alliance have long taken it for granted that the United States would always be their security umbrella

Angelos M. Syrigos, associate professor of International Law & Foreign Policy at Panteion University in Athens, Greece, assesses everything that has occurred in the recent months concerning the Cyprus issue, he evaluates and explains the negotiations’ developments, the plan and the proposals that are on the table, what is at stake, what is the role of Greece, what the Turkey’s intentions are, as well as its incentives and possible next steps.

A. Syrigos: The worst possible timing for closing the Cyprus issue

By: EBR | Monday, December 12, 2016

“Turkey is under severe pressure at its Eastern borders. It is pushing for a broadest swapping of territory and power in its neighborhood. It is placing many of its claims on the table, led by an arrogant leadership”

Turkey’s attitude vis-à-vis the EU will not be driven by foreign policy considerations. Rather, domestic political requirements will likely impose new strategic choices to push the country toward a societal setup that is hardly compatible with EU and Western standards. Such choices are in sharp contrast with the diversity of Turkish society. If this trend is confirmed, 2017 could witness a transformation of historical proportions in Turkey.

Turkey’s impending estrangement from the West

By: EBR | Monday, December 12, 2016

Turkey’s leaders are heading toward a clear-cut divorce from the European Union, due to current domestic political trends in the country. This is a highly risky course

The Russian government is offering foreign firms that sign a ‘Special Investment Contract’ which includes a pledge to invest in the country, the same status as domestic producers, making them eligible to apply for state contracts and special tax benefits.

Wall Street Journal reveals boosting investments in Russia

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, December 12, 2016

‘German companies are quietly boosting investments in Russia even as Western leaders are warning Moscow about possible new sanctions…’, the Wall Street Journal reported last week

This means there are no formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan -so Trump’s decision to take Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s call could risk a major upset. Trump reacted right away with a remarkable Tweet: ‘Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call’.

President-elect Donald Trump is making noise and news

By: EBR | Friday, December 9, 2016

Donald Trump spoke on the phone with MsTsai Ing-wen, president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), who congratulated him

This will be the first time EU judges give their view on the disruptive sharing economy. The ruling will contribute to harmonise national laws, given the many restrictions imposed on Uber by local and national authorities across the EU. It could also have an impact on how authorities deal with other sharing economy players in other fields, such as Airbnb.

Uber in EU Court - Airbnb restricting its market

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, December 5, 2016

Sharing economy companies are under legal pressure

Pages: Previous Next

EU Actually

Has the EU diplomatic service EEAS had its day?

By: N. Peter Kramer

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about proposals for a radical overhaul of the EEAS and the power struggle between Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas.

Europe

European Security Strategy: In Search of a New Ambition

The EU is putting together a new security strategy to meet today’s myriad challenges. But for any proposal to be effective, the union needs to grapple with its identity and ambitions.

Business

Why the US economy keeps defying the odds

In Dresden, in east Germany late last year, the final car rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen’s "Transparent Factory", built to showcase the pinnacle of European industrial power. Thousands of miles away in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a different German giant, BMW, is running its biggest plant in the world.