ELIAMEP

The current issue of Middle East Mediterranean focuses on various aspects of safeguarding multiculturalism in the Middle East, such as the issue of Christianity in Syria and Lebanon, the multicultural example of Egypt as a case study for other societies in the region and the proposed policy that Greece, Europe and the Middle Eastern governments need to agree on and implement to make multiculturalism sustainable.

In mid-2015, a new era begins for Cyprus. Whilst the change of leadership in the Turkish Cypriot community monopolizes the news bulletins, the negotiations for the final solution of the Cyprus problem starts again from the point, at which they were suspended last year. With the control of the tension in the territorial waters of Cyprus, the page break in the modern Turkish history and the resumption of talks, a new period begins for the Cyprus issue. At the beginning of this new period, this study raises an important question: Are there adequate conditions for a rapprochement between Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean? Putting on the table a series of “promising” positive developments, but at the same time focusing on the large gap, which separates the two sides, this study aims to come to a conclusion, regarding the heart of the Cyprus Problem and the Greek-Turkish relations.

Working Paper 65/2015: A new opportunity for solving the Cyprus Question

Author: Dr Nikos Stelgias

The Lisbon Treaty introduced major reforms regarding, inter alia, the external representation of the European Union. As a consequence, the role of the rotating Council presidency has been downgraded, making way for the central EU bureaucracy to represent the EU in the international arena. Yet, as far as its parliamentary dimension is concerned, there appears to be an important post-Lisbon paradox: the role of the rotating presidency is enhanced. This is due, in part to the increased role of national parliaments and of the European Parliament post-Lisbon, and in part, to the role that each parliament of the country holding the Presidency decides to adopt. On that respect, during the Greek EU Council presidency, the Greek Parliament undertook an active role making use of the powers conferred to it by the treaties. The current analysis focuses on the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on CFSP/CSDP during the Greek presidency.

Working Paper 66/2015: The parliamentary dimension of EU external affairs during the 2014 Greek Presidency

Authors: Dr Stelios Stavridis and Dr Maria Gianniou

Dr Eleni Panagiotarea wrote an article in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini discussing the evolution of the Greek crisis. The article was published on 7 June 2015 and is available here.

You can read here the article on the dilemma of the Greek Prime Minister which was written by Professor George Pagoulatos. The commentary was published on 7 June 2015 in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini and is available in Greek.

Research Fellow of  ELIAMEP Dr Filippa Chatzistavrou was interviewed by La Tercera newspaper of Chile on negotiations between the Greek government and its creditors. This interview was published on 6 June 2015 and is available here.

The purpose of this glossary is to contribute to the public debate on immigration by clarifying some basic concepts and terms that are widely used in Greece. The research team proceeded to the interpretation of specific concepts on the basis of the legislative framework and the wider socio-political background on which they are developed and used. The migration glossary is addressed to institutions, journalists and organisations involved in migration issues as well as the wider public.

Working Paper 64/2015: ELIAMEP glossary on migration (in Greek)

You can read here the article on recent tensions in the Balkans, which was written by Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos. This commentary was published in the Greek daily Kathimerini on 4 June 2015.

Research Fellow of ELIAMEP Dr Eleni Panagiotarea gave an interview on ARTE discussing the evolution of the Greek crisis. The interview was played out on 2 June 2015.

In an article he wrote for Welt Trends Journal devoted to foreign policy Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos analyses Greek policy towards the Middle East. You can have here access to the journal.

Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos and Research Fellow of ELIAMEP and Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Bilkent University, Dr. Ioannis N. Grigoriadis analyse the Turkish election of 7 June 2015 by responding on four questions on ELIAMEP website. The content is available in Greek.

President of ELIAMEP, Professor Loukas Tsoukalis will speak at a conference organised by the Council for the United States and Italy, on June 5 and 6, in Venice. He will participate at the opening panel discussion on ‘Europe and the 2015 elections: Greece, UK, Denmark, and Spain’. Among the many distinguished speakers who will participate at the conference: Joaquin Almunia, former Vice-President of the European Commission; Peter Sutherland, Chairman, Goldman Sachs International; Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google; Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of the Board, SNAM and Chairman of the Board, Société Générale, along with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Pier Carlo Padoan.

The main issues highlighted in the report of IRMA research programme are the role of asylum as primary reason for migration, and the importance of capital as the main parameter of successful migration. The smuggler is the key actor underscoring all discussions, holding multiple roles; from facilitator of mobility, to source of information, or disruptor to the migratory project. The choice of destination and the limited information informants actually have, are discussed, as well as the role of Turkey as a hub for collection of information, but mostly of money to continue the journey. The border crossing for both entry and exit is discussed in relation to policies in Greece and particular border fencing and increased deterrence of entry. Finally, the text highlights the issue of detention, as the key policy in place at the time of writing that appears to have  impacted heavily both the migratory route but also the decision of Afghans to leave Greece, either via transit (where possible) or via return to Afghanistan.

IRMA case study on Afghanistan

The debate on the position of the United Kingdom in the European Union, as it has evolved over the last three years, is based on the logic of withdrawal (Brexit). The United Kingdom under the pretence of a potential withdrawal is now trying to exert strategic influence over the future direction of the EU, thereby rendering itself a vigorous player in European integration process (Brexin). Therefore, while the public debate continues to focus on the risk of a Brexit, a more detailed analysis invites us to mainly consider a trend that is likely to spread towards a change of the European policy mix, and therefore affecting the course and the nature of European integration, on the basis of the British claims (Brexin), as a prerequisite for the UK to stay within the EU. This article first analyzes the characteristics of this renewed British Euroscepticism which is developing into a domestic political environment with strong centrifugal tendencies (British neo-Euroscepticism). Then it lists the political demands raised by the United Kingdom to the European Union and discusses whether they challenge fundamental principles of the European acquis (Brexin). Finally, it provides theoretical explanations stemming from intergovernmental analysis in order to define the strategy of Brexin as well as to assess the prospects of the Euro-British bargain within a context now where transnational support for effective federal integration is at its lowest (inherent Euroscepticism).

Working Paper 62/2015: British neo-euroscepticism in European governance: The rhetoric of Brexit and the strategy of Brexin

Authors: Dr Filippa Chatzistavrou and Mr George Dikaios

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) will organize on Friday 12 June 2015, at 09.00 to 14.00, at the Amalia Athens Hotel (10, Amalias Avenue, 105 57 Athens) a conference on: “Western Balkans: Back to Instability? Challenges and Prospects”. During the conference ELIAMEP’s South-East Europe Programme will also launch its new report entitled: “Being Greek, Being Kosovar… A Report on Mutual Perceptions”.

The event will be held in English and Greek with simultaneous interpretation.

Students who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of attendance.

To confirm your participation, you are kindly requested to fill in and return the confirmation form by Monday, 8 June 2015  (Tel. 2107257124, activities@eliamep.gr).

The agenda of the event is available here.

The confirmation form is available here.

You can find more information about the South-East Europe Programme here.

The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) will organise on Monday, June 8 2015 at the City of Athens – Europe Direct’s Conference room (50, Academias street) from 10.00 to 12.30 an event on “MIPEX 2015: Integration policies in Greece. The development and use of indicators in the debate on the integration of immigrants”.

The aim is to present the results for Greece and to inform the key political and social stakeholders about the use of indicators to improve integration governance and policy effectiveness.

The agenda of the event is available here.

You can find more information about the program MIPEX 2015 here.

On March 4th 2015 the European Commissioner of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos announced the “European Agenda on Migration” in an effort to deal more efficiently with the management of migration flows from third countries setting out the four main areas where actions are envisaged to be implemented. Dr. A. Dimitriadi discusses in the document, the main points of the new policy on migration and asylum. The document outlines the similarities and differences with the EU policies of the past addressing migration and highlights the main points that need improvement in order to allow for a holistic approach to tackle migration in the spirit of European solidarity and equal burden sharing of migrants and asylum seekers in EU member states.

Briefing Note 35/2015: The European Agenda for Migration: A new narrative for an old tale?

Author: Dr Angeliki Dimitriadi

This working paper written by Dr Evangelia Psychogiopoulou focuses on the use of the open method of coordination (OMC) in the field of culture as one of the new cultural policy instruments of the EU following the publication of the European Commission’s Communication on a European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World. The analysis examines the EU institutions’ initial reaction to the idea of a cultural OMC, explores the design and evolution of the cultural OMC through two distinct cycles (2008-2010 and 2011-2014) and examines its relation with national cultural policies and the cultural action of the EU.

Working Paper 63/2015: The open method of coordination in the field of culture (in Greek)

Author: Dr Evangelia Psychogopoulou

On 7 June, Turkey will hold a general election. Although it is likely that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will secure a majority, the election will be an important one. Speculation and uncertainty are rife about the possible results of the elections and the consequences for the AKP, which has been in power since 2002 and is looking increasingly authoritarian under President Erdogan, and for Turkey as a whole. The war just over Turkey’s border in Syria means that regional implications could also be significant. No matter how the vote turns out, there will be repercussions for Turkey’s Kurdish minority. The Kurdish-dominated People’s Democratic Party (HDP) is projected to win something like 9%, tantalizingly close to the parliamentary threshold of 10%. In previous elections, Kurdish candidates have run as independents in order to sidestep the barrier, but the decision to run as a party this year means the stakes are much higher. In its latest issue Southeast European and Black Sea Studies Journal extensively deals with the Turkish election.

You can find more information here.

Dr Angeliki Dimitriadi participated in the annual conference of the Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS) held in Toronto, Canada from the 13th to the 15th of May 2015. Dr. Dimitriadi presented the results of the IRMA project pertaining to Afghan migration to Greece. Full conference program is available here.