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The different voices in his party, however, reduced his reliability both in the EU and his own country.

Syriza’s breakup and the next day in Greek politics

By: EBR | Thursday, July 23, 2015

Tsipras’s adventurous strategy offered a chance and a wake-up call for European socialists on a government level. The only strong supporter of Tsipras during these months in the EP was Gianni Pittella, the head of S&D.

The Greek "production problem", which results in high unemployment, could not be symbolized better than the fact that throughout the 40 years, from 1970 to 2009, the productive sector of the country was increasing at a rate less than 1% per year, a percentage lower than even the birth rate.

The unsolved problem of Greek production

By: EBR | Thursday, July 16, 2015

It is a fact that in recent years, Greek economy has been through a period of political instability, uncertainty and constantly increasing unemployment which currently exceeds 27% of the active population, while youth unemployment is over 50%.

To that end, particularly since 2009 and in response to the financial debt crisis in Greece, we had a series of “institutional coups” - which resulted today to a non-typical but substantial exit from the European Union, where we conventionally remain. And the basic question arises: for how long?

A coup that failed...

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Wednesday, July 15, 2015

At the eleventh hour, Alexis Tsipras prevented the worst for Greece and managed to annul the plans of some cynical political speculators.

So, while capital controls are technically possible, I have failed to see any clear answer as to why they would actually desirable, especially from the Greek perspective.

The how, what, when and why of Greek capital controls

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 17, 2015

We present what would happen if the government enters the road of gradual exit from the eurozone; an exit which technically would be very difficult to happen instantly, but it would be very probable in the long run of the next two or three years.

In the future, the focus of digitization will shift to industries such as manufacturing. This is no doubt a huge opportunity for Europe. I believe that, enabled by Industry 4.0, Europe′s strong manufacturing sector will continue to lead the world in the digital era.

Building a Broader Industry Ecosystem for Europe 4.0

By: EBR | Monday, June 15, 2015

Over the last ten years, the focus of digitisation has been on the service sector. Indeed, Internet has reshaped banking, retail, and many other sectors.

What are the chances borders and peripheral regions might have? To answer to this question the Region of North Aegean (Greece) organised an exclusive event in the framework of the “European Business Summit (EBS) 2015” - held in Brussels on May 7 - under the title: “Innovation as a stimulus for Regional Growth”.

Innovation as a stimulus for Regional Growth

By: EBR | Friday, June 12, 2015

It is a fact that Cohesion policy for 2014-2020 adopts a new approach towards the necessity to address the needs that the economic crisis emerged. The new agenda aims at bridging the gap between public infrastructures and private investments [...].

So, my question is the following: What do you ladies and gentlemen believe is in the interest of Europe? What would help Europe to be integrated in the future? A Greek and European failure in the implementation of this program that will lead us all in an uncharted territory? Or the successful implementation of our program? I leave it up to you to decide.

What is needed for Greece’s recovery

By: EBR | Friday, June 12, 2015

There is the need to restore investments and faith, both decimated by seven years of debt’s deflation (2008-2015). But how can this be done? How can we restore investments and faith in line with disengagement speed?

While PM Alexis Tsipras deals with the dilemma of signing a new loan agreement (a third MoU?), possibly worse than the previous ones, he faces two immense problems; the first has to do with him maintaining power and under what conditions - the second has to do with a potential split of SYRIZA and, if so, who and how will “cover” the political gap within the party that will occur.

Backroom political developments

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Tuesday, May 19, 2015

While both New Democracy (ND) and SYRIZA are facing internal conflicts, high-ranking members of both parties are under informal negotiations regarding the formation of a possible Coalition Government, most probably in the forthcoming June.

“We cannot have an agreement with the neocolonial centers that dominate the EU and the IMF if Greece is not able to really threaten their basic economic political and geostrategic interests.”

Greece’s Far Left Against the World

By: EBR | Monday, May 4, 2015

In a recent interview to an Athens newspaper, Greek Minister of Energy and Development Panagiotis Lafazanis declared that Greece faces a life or death struggle against “neocolonial foreign centers.”

To achieve rising and shared prosperity requires not a silver bullet but an arsenal of policies deployed in systematic fashion.

Designing policies that support growth

By: EBR | Friday, March 6, 2015

Productivity growth is necessary but not sufficient to support broad-based well-being, which also depends on quality of life, health, and environment.

Clearly the Turkish provocations in the Aegean are of an experimental nature, i.e. of exploratory intent.

Ankara is testing Athens…

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Wednesday, March 4, 2015

In this current phase, therefore, due to the overall developments in our region, Europe is tired with Greece and Turkey knows it very well.

The “in principle” agreement reached by the Eurogroup on Friday 02/20/15 regarding the four month extension of the Main Contract for Economic Facilitation of Greece relieves every intelligent man.

Is the “honeymoon” for SYRIZA over?

By: EBR | Monday, March 2, 2015

Any embroilment would be a mortal danger for the European course of the country with devastating economic, geopolitical and social impacts. Therefore, the first difficult steps of the government towards more realistic directions are absolutely welcome.

New elections or referendum is the most likely political scenario to happen in the months to come, a period of artificial crisis.

Where is Tsipras heading the country?

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Thursday, February 5, 2015

Why Mr. Alexis Tsipras ordered his party members not to harshly attack against Mr. Antonis Samaras? What is in the mind of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Yianis Varoufakis, when he talks about a "simple life"?Which is the purpose behind the flirt with Russia?

The Greek Commissioner was proposed by centre-right New Democracy which was recently defeated by leftist Syriza in Greek elections.

Migration Commissioner to be Greece’s next President?

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Intense rumours are being circulated in Athens that the current Greek Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, is intending to quit from the European Commission and run for the Presidency of Greece.

Syriza swept to a stunning victory yesterday in the general elections in Athens, triggering mixed reactions on an EU level. For many, a beginning of the “European Spring” just initiated.

Syriza’s victory opens Pandora’s Box in EU politics

By: EBR | Monday, January 26, 2015

Syriza will form a coalition government with the right-wing anti-austerity Independent Greeks, sending this way multidimensional messages to Brussels.

The economic survival of Greece depends on voters’ rationality.

Greek elections: Athens plays with fire

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Wednesday, January 21, 2015

This is what a leading member of the group of financial forecasts of The Economist notes, predicting at the same time that a non-continuation of the economic policy of the Greek coalition government will only lead the debt-ridden country to new adventures.

The polls’ results on January 25 are open to anything since the conditions are so uncertain that may result from self- reliance to a lack of a sustainable government.

Greek elections: The electoral law determines either self-reliance or coalition!

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The critical answer to the crucial question which all address, that is if self-reliance is possible and under which conditions, is completely unclear because it depends on many conundrums and unknown parameters which will finally determine the winner of the elections.

For the Western world and not only, 2015 will be a year of crossroads about whether the murderous Islamic State will succeed or not its objectives.

The crucial year for Islamism

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The confrontation between the West and Islamism will be one of the most crucial points in 2015. As modern observers argue, large dimensions will be given over this dispute and it seems that blind terrorism would dominate in countries with numerous Islamic followers.

“The elections on 25 January are considered to be more crucial than the ones in June 2012”, according to high EU official, who also believes that the EU is tired of paying for Greece.

Greek elections: The ones who decide are the “undecided”

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Monday, January 12, 2015

The climate is extremely heavy for Greeks in the European Union and the worst case scenarios have already been foreseen. Thus, on January 25th the ones who have not decided yet which party to support will actually determine the future of the country.

Meeting the expectations of its citizens will require the French state to become more effective.

Four principles for an effective state

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Reforms are urgent, but difficult. To achieve them, a four-pronged approach is required: restructuring, competition, evaluation and accountability.

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