ELIAMEP

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.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Ελληνικά.

Associate Professor  at the University of Athens and  Senior Research Fellow at ELIAMEP Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos wrote an article on the Greek crisis in the Sunday edition of To Vima newspaper. The article was published on 24 May 2015 and is available here.

Over the past few years, the debates within and among EU member states on political issues have become more intense and often controversial. Following the Treaty of Lisbon, national parliaments gained more influence on EU policy-making. Throughout the European debt crisis, national parliaments have regularly voted on measures with great political, financial and social implications for other member states and the EU as a whole. In addition, numerous new actors have competed in elections, thus changing the political landscape and discourse.

In this context, Stiftung Mercator launched the Mercator European Dialogue in cooperation with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) in Germany, the Istituto Affari Internationali (IAI) in Italy, the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) in Spain and the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) in Greece. This project aims at encouraging and growing a European network of emerging as well as senior parliamentarians. The exchange of ideas will be enhanced by innovative workshop formats in order to ensure a high level of interaction and dialogue.

For members of parliament the Mercator European Dialogue is an important opportunity to exchange their ideas on the future of Europe, get to know colleagues from other countries, and channel national concerns to the European level and better understand emerging trends.

The Mercator European Dialogue convenes two levels of activities:

1.         A regional level with a series of smaller bi- or multilateral gatherings and

2.         A European level with three to four events bringing together 35-40 members of parliament from different countries.

You can read here the article on Greek foreign policy, which was written by Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos. This commentary was published in the Greek daily Kathimerini on 20 May 2015.

Professor Anna Triandafyllidou gave an interview to WDR discussing European migration policy. By clicking here you can access the interview.

Dr Eleni Panagiotarea wrote an article in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini discussing the evolution of the Greek crisis. The article was published on 17 May 2015 and is available here.

Dr Ioannis Armakolas gave an interview on recent developments and unrest in FYROM in To Vima on Sunday. He attempts to explains the reasons for current tensions and analyse  the evolution of the crisis and its impact not only on the country but also on the Balkan region. The interview is available here. It was published on 17 May 2015 (in Greek).

From 11 until 13 May 2015 Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos participated in a conference organised by FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas) in Brazil in co-operation with Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The conference theme was: ‘The European Union, Brazil and the Challenge of Sustainable Development’. Dr Thanos Dokos spoke on European governenance and EU security policy. You can find more information here.