Agora
Posts on June 2018
The tie that binds
A cringeworthy gathering full of symbolism but lacking any substance at the Zappeion hall in central Athens seemed a fitting way to mark the imminent conclusion of Greece’s final bailout and an agreement with the country’s lenders on debt relief.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (279), Economy (316), Greece (477)
About last night
The most tumultuous period in Greece’s modern history concluded in the middle of the night, with just a few usual suspects to share the moment on Twitter, a World Cup game being replayed on the television and the live stream of a Eurogroup press conference on the laptop screen.
Contributor: Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Europe (279), Economy (316), Greece (477)
Eurogroup marks end of cycle and squaring of circle for Greece
It was in Luxembourg in October 2009 at a Eurogroup meeting that the Greek crisis formally began when the finance minister of the newly elected Greek government at the time, Giorgos Papaconstantinou, informed his counterparts that the previous New Democracy administration had essentially been lying to them about the state of the country’s finances.
Contributor: Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Europe (279), Greece (477)
Quasi-statesmanship and political gymnastics
It’s been quite a few days for Alexis Tsipras. The Greek Prime Minister has been deemed worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize by commentators outside of Greece, while domestic critics have accused him of being a traitor. In reality, both claims are excessive, but truth is not a currency that many people like to deal in when it comes to the Macedonia name issue.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (373), Greece (477)
They have a name for it
One of the most bizarre disputes in the history of international relations may be coming to an end. Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have reached an agreement on the name dispute. This opens the door for the membership of the latter to the EU and NATO.
Contributor: Nikos Skoutaris
Categories: Europe (279), Politics (373), Greece (477)