ELIAMEP

You can read here the article on the US presidential election, which was written by Professor Emeritus and Member of the Board of Trustees of ELIAMEP Theodore Couloumbis. This commentary was published on 29 October 2016 in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini. It is available in Greek.

On the occasion of a publication of a relevant research report by ELIAMEP, Dr Ioannis Armakolas, Head of South-East Europe Programme, spoke on Athina 9.84 radio station on relations between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The interview is available here (in Greek).

Greece’s non-performing exposure ratio is the second highest in Europe, largely linked to the unprecedented contraction of domestic economic activity in recent years. Causality is known to go both ways, with persistently high non-performing loans (NPLs) constituting a drag on credit and GDP growth. Theoretically, Greek governments keen to reduce the debt overhang and restore the productive pillars of the economy should have created the conditions for a rapid and effective workout of NPLs. The country’s third bailout programme has provided a road map for reform, with the Institutions bent on facilitating or enforcing ownership. Conditionality, anchored on a ‘reforms for cash’ logic, has reduced perceived or real margins for noncompliance.

In fact, NPLs resolution has remained a work in progress. Weak cyclical conditions tell part of the story. Democratic politics have collided with reform ownership. Electoral and non-electoral pressures, multiple veto points, and private sector resistance have undermined majority-backed rules and regulations. The current fully-liberalised framework has come about under conditions of severe stress – a heavy debt repayment schedule and the country’s dependence on bailout programme funds.

The Institutions have upped their game: outcomes-based conditionality has been central to boost and reinforce political ‘will’. In some cases, ownership has altogether been removed from government hands. Greek recalcitrance and the paradoxes of inaction, procrastination or limited response in the face of a glaringly unsustainable equilibrium cannot be discounted. The strongly directive elements of an externally-dictated process, however, raise questions about the political tradeoffs between prompt implementation, accountability, and the legitimacy of the Institutions’ design.

To enhance the framework’s credibility, scope, and effectiveness, the main stakeholders, regulators, elected politicians, bankers, and investors, will have to flesh it out and create the right incentives for engagement. After six years of seeking to build ‘ownership’, the Institutions have yet to link capacity with the broader institutional context, including the integrity of the legal and judicial process, the independence of regulatory agencies, and the transparency of business-government relations. They have also yet to own up to their role in the self-reinforcing negative loop of recession, deterioration of credit quality, NPLs creation.

Author: Dr Eleni Panagiotarea

Source: Hellenic Observatory blog, LSE

From national coordination to supranational supervision: Greece towards the EU programs of economic adjustment – This article assesses the impact of European economic governance on the political and administrative system of Greece in the context of the sovereign debt crisis. It describes the changes in the coordination and administrative system that Greece has put in place according to the requirements of the economic adjustment programmes in order to adapt to the new environment at national and European level. The article assesses how the strict conditions of the Greek membership in the Eurozone have weakened the centrality of the State, the administrative and political sovereignty of Greek governments and their bargaining power in the intergovernmental decision-making bodies governing the Eurozone.

Author: Dr Filippa Chatzistavrou

You can find here more information.

 

On 21 October 2016, ELIAMEP organised in cooperation with Hertie School of Governance a focus group on the topic of corruption and good governance in Greece. The focus group took place in the framework of the Anticorrp project (www.anticorrp.eu) and it was led by Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, professor of policy analysis and democracy at Hertie. The aim of the focus group was to discuss key issues concerning corruption and anti-corruption efforts in Greece in order to generate specialised knowledge in the field. The focus group brought together participants from the academia, the public sector, anti-corruption bodies, staff from the European institutions, legal practitioners and representatives from civil society.

The focus group started with a presentation of the Anticorrp project and the concept of corruption that is used in its framework. Alina Mungiu-Pippidi explained that corruption should be understood as a ‘governance regime’, encompassing any form of favouritism, legal or illegal, which results in the privilege or discrimination of citizens and companies by public authorities. Participants were subsequently invited to react to various questions. The discussion focused in particular on the following issues:

• Why is Greece below the EU average on corruption? Is the country as corrupt as it was? Has there been any real redress?
• Is there a domestic demand for less corruption? If yes, what forms does it take?
• Has the Greek deficit been caused by corruption? If there are any causal links, have they been removed?
• Has Greece become a merit-based society? Does corruption lead to brain drain? What should be done in order to promote meritocracy?
• Corrupt societies discourage innovation. Is this true in the case of Greece? If yes, is any action taken to prevent this?
• Are EU funds a resource for corruption or one for redress?

Participants exchanged views and opinions on the above mentioned themes and more broadly, they had a fruitful discussion on the pros and cons of anti-corruption strategies in Greece. One of the points they tended to agree upon was the significant improvements brought to the legal framework during the past few years in the context of the crisis, and largely in response to the reforms that the Greek government agreed with its lenders to undertake. The institutional anti-corruption arsenal has been substantially strengthened. However, implementation problems were said to persist mainly due to limited resources, the lack of personnel and expertise, and the absence of coordination and interconnected procedures. Participants also agreed on the lack of objective surveys and statistics on corruption in Greece. This allowed Prof. Mungiu-Pippidi to suggest research avenues for the future. For more information on the focus group, you can contact Dia Anagnostou (danagnos@eliamep.gr), Evangelia Psychogiopoulou (epsychogiopoulou@eliamep.gr) and Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos (dsotirop@pspa.uoa.gr).

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) in collaboration with the University of Warwick and the University of Malta have the pleasure to invite you in the closed workshop on

“Crossing the Mediterranean by Boat: Mapping and Documenting Migratory Journeys and Experiences”*

The workshop will be held in English on November 11th 2016, from 9.30 am to 12.30pm, at the Electra Palace Hotel (18 Nikodimou Street, Athens)

 

You are kindly requested to confirm your participation to Ms Nina Papaioannou (Tel. 2107257111, e-mail: nina@eliamep.gr ) by November 7th 2016.

 * The project is funded through the Economic and Social Research Council under Grant ES/N013646/1

  

“Crossing the Mediterranean by Boat: Mapping and Documenting Migratory Journeys and Experiences” Workshop

“Crossing the Mediterranean by Boat: Mapping and Documenting Migratory Journeys and Experiences” is a research project that assesses the impact of policy on those that it affects most directly: refugees and migrants themselves. This event will present initial findings from the second phase of the project, which is based on 120 in-depth qualitative interviews carried out during May-June 2016 in Athens, Berlin, Istanbul and Rome. Critical insights will be provided by project researchers on the journeys and experiences of people moving via the Central and Eastern routes, including those affected by the EU-Turkey Deal and by border security operations off the Libyan coast.

 

Session I: “Retracing the migrant journey”

 9.30-9.45Welcome and project presentation

Dr.Vicki Squire, Reader in International Security, University of Warwick &

Nina Perkowski, Researcher University of Warwick

 9.45-10.00Asylum seekers and migrants in Turkey

Dr. Maria Pisani, Lecturer, University of Malta

 10.00-10.15Stranded in Greece

Dr. Angeliki Dimitriadi, Research Fellow, ELIAMEP

 10.15-10.30Destination Germany

Assoc. Prof. Dallal Stevens, Associate Professor of Law, University of Warwick

 10.30-10.45The other Mediterranean crisis: Italy

Prof. Nick Vaughan-Williams, Professor of International Security, University of Warwick

 10.45-11.00Commentary on presentations

Angelos Athanasopoulos, Journalist TOVIMAgr

 11.00-11.20Coffee break 

Session II

 11.20-12.30Q&A and Roundtable discussion

Moderated by Angelos Athanasopoulos, Journalist TOVIMAgr

 

ELIAMEP’s South-East Europe Programme has published its newest report focused on Greek Public Opinion of the ‘Name Dispute’ and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The report was authored by Dr Ioannis Armakolas and George Siakas of the University of Macedonia, and was generously funded by the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University.

The study focused around a survey which aimed to measure Greek public attitudes about international life in general and about the “Macedonia” dispute, its parameters and potential solutions, and is the first survey of its kind. The results indicate highly pessimistic, introverted and distrustful attitudes toward international affairs, and public opinion emotional in its attitudes towards the name dispute and FYROM, resulting in a highly rejectionist outlook. The survey shows that, twenty-five years after the emergence of the new “Macedonian question”, the issue has not been forgotten by Greek public opinion and still remains very relevant.

You can access the study here.

Associate Professor  at the University of Athens and  Senior Research Fellow at ELIAMEP, Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos, gave an interview on the website of SciencesPo discussing the Greek crisis. He, inter alia, analyses issues such as populism and corruption. The interview is available here.

On 21 October the ELIAMEP South-East Europe Programme hosted a roundtable discussion focused on the relationship between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Professor David Philips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, presented “The work and accomplishments of the Balkan Dialogue project between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.’ In addition, Dr Ioannis Armakolas of the South-East Europe Programme presented the Programme’s most recent report, entitled ’Greek public opinion and attitudes towards the ‘name dispute’ and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.’ The report is based on an opinion poll conducted by the University of Macedonia in collaboration with ELIAMEP’s South-East Europe Programme.

Following the two presentations, a lively round-table discussion between attendees from academia, media and diplomacy touched on the project’s findings and on how the relationship between Greece and FYROM might be improved. The report is available here.

 

In his article published in Kathimerini newspaper on 22 October 2016 journalist Vassilis Nedos refers to ELIAMEP’s research finding in relation to a survey on the name issue with FYROM. The article is available here (in Greek).

Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos wrote an article on Huffington Post on Erdogan’s strategy. The article is available here (in Greek).

You can read here the article on the role of soft power in diplomacy, which was written by Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos. This commentary was published in the Greek daily Kathimerini on 19 October 2016 [in Greek].

On 16 October 2016, Stefanos Kassimatis wrote an article  in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini of Professor Tsoukalis’ new book ‘In Defence of Europe’. You can read the article here.

Τhe Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) has the pleasure to invite you to a conference on: “Tackling Corruption in Greece and in Europe” - Findings from the ANTICORP Research Project

The event will be held on Monday 24 October 2016, from 09:30 to 14:40, at Aegli Zappeion (Room Olympia, Garden of Zappeion, 105 57 Athens),  in Greek with simultaneous interpretation into English.

Speakers:

- Dia Anagnostou, Assistant professor, Panteion University

- Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Professor, Hertie School of Governance

- Evangelia Psychogiopoulou, Researcher, ELIAMEP; Lawyer, PhD

- Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos, Associate professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Interventions:

- Yannis Androulakis, Lecturer, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

- Maria Gavouneli, Assistant professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

- Thanassis Xiros, Lawyer, PhD

Students will receive a certificate of attendance

RSVP by 20 October 2016

Ms. Nina Papaioannou

Τ: 210 7257111, F: 210 7257114,

e-mail: nina@eliamep.gr

 

You can read here the article on populism, which was written by Professor George Pagoulatos. The commentary was published on 15 October 2016  in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini and is available in Greek.

In cooperation with Kathimerini newspaper, the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) embarks on an attempt to analyse threats and dilemmas of European security as well as challenges and opportunities for Greece. In a series of special publications by Kathimerinui, experts offer insights on critical themes.

The first series was published on 15 October 2016 and includes the following articles: 

-  ‘The European security at a crossroads’, by Thanos Dokos 

- ‘External threats and internal insecurity’, by Othon Anastasakis

- ‘Quo vadis NATO; After Brexit and Warsaw», by Panagiotis Tsakonas

- ‘The global security strategy’, by Spyros Economides

The first series will be complemented with an interview of Ambassador Thrasyvoulos Stamatopoulos, former NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, to be published on 17 October 2016.

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) is interested in hosting researchers intending to submit an application for the call of Individual Fellowships in the framework of the Irish Research Council MSCA CAROLINE 2017 fellowships. All fellowships under CAROLINE will be hosted by an Irish research-performing organisation (RPO), with international and inter-sectoral mobility.

The application process is to be driven by prospective applicants, which includes identification of suitable host organisations and mentors (academic as well as in the NGO/IO sector). Applicants would then liaise with their prospective academic mentor (in host organisation) as well as with their proposed secondment mentor (in partner organisation)  as they are preparing their fellowship application.

From the point of view of deadlines applicable to organisations participating in a proposal, the application process will involve completing a brief online form in advance of the applicant deadline (which is 4pm Ireland time on 30th November 2016) on behalf of the organisation. The proposed secondment mentor will then be required to complete an online statement in support of the application; deadline for submitting this statement is 4pm Ireland time on 7th December 2016.

The Council offers two types of CAROLINE fellowships.

α) Irish fellowships- Researchers awarded an Irish fellowship will be hosted by a home host institution in Ireland for two years, with a mandatory secondment of between six and twelve months’ duration during this time to a main partner organisation with an optional placement to a placement partner organisation possible (up to three months). Eligible applicants are those of any nationality or residency who have not been in Ireland for more than twelve months in the three years prior to the time of recruitment.

β) International fellowships- Researchers awarded an International fellowship will spend the first two years seconded to their main partner organisation outside Ireland, with a mandatory one-year return phase at their home host organisation in Ireland, with the potential for optional placements to placement partner organisation(s). Placements can be up to six months in the outgoing phase and another six months in the return phase.

Eligible applicants are those who have not been in the country of the main partner organisation outside Ireland for more than twelve months in the three years prior to the time of recruitment.

All CAROLINE applicants must fulfil the criteria for one of the two experienced researcher types mentioned in the document 2017 CAROLINE Terms and Conditions. For example as regards “Experienced researcher type 1”, the researcher should have been awarded the doctoral degree within the seven-yearperiod before the time of recruitment.

CAROLINE fellows must not be a permanent member of staff in a HEI/RPO in Ireland or elsewhere. CAROLINE fellows must not be a permanent member of staff in the proposed main partner organisation. Eligibility criteria and mobility requirements for candidate fellows are available in the document 2017 CAROLINE Terms and Conditions.

ELIAMEP’s application to act as a partner organisation has been approved by the  Irish Research Council. ELIAMEP invites all applicants interested to submit an application for a Fellowship to the Council with ELIAMEP as a partner, to send a short CV and a summary presentation of their research proposal, prior to submitting their application online, to the email address: development@eliamep.gr .

Applications will be submitted via the Council’s online application system due to open for CAROLINE applications in mid-October. All applicants must create and complete their submission through the online system by the deadline of 16:00 (Irish time) on 30 November 2016.

• FEUTURE Background Paper Turkey and the European Union: Scenarios for 2023, by Nathalie Tocci
• FEUTURE Working Paper:  Mapping periods and milestones of past EU-Turkey relations, by Hanna-Lisa Hauge, Wolfgang Wessels, Nurdan Selay Bedir, Atila Eralp

Available to download on: http://www.feuture.uni-koeln.de/de/publications

 

The 20th issue of the Middle East-Mediterranean Report deals with the economics of the Middle East and Greece. In particular, it focuses on the comparison of the interest-based and interest-free models in the fields of banking and regulatory issues related to the concept of interest-free finance.

You can read here the article on whether a new policy is required in Greek-Turkish relations, which was written by Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos. This commentary was published in the Greek daily Kathimerini on 5 October 2016 [in Greek].