Dimitris Xenakis (University of Exeter)& Panagiotis Liargovas (University of Athens)
"The Contribution of a Changing Greece to the European Union: The Dynamics of a Complex Relationship",4-7 March 1998, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Research Forum, Journal of South European Society & Politics , Vol. 2, No. 3, 1998.
This international conference which took place between 4-7 March 1998 was organised by the Hellenic Observatory at the European Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science, in conjunction with ELEMEP (The Society for the Study of Modern Greece). The aim of the conference was to examine the dynamic relations between the European Union and a changing Greece as these evolved after the signing of the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty. The conference made possible the participation of a large number of academics, policy makers and politicians. It provided a geographically and temporally wide ranging set of papers discussing aspects covering the current state of the art of Greece's contribution to the European integration process.
Conference participants debated numerous aspects of Greece’s domestic and international agenda, especially those relating to the political properties and functions of an ever dynamic Union. In a variety of multidisciplinary panels, high quality papers were presented by both academics and policy makers, while figures from the Greek political and monetary/economic scene delivered speeches and presented their views in roundtable discussions. The presentation of papers with both a theoretical and empirical nature occasioned political debates that involved contemporary Greek domestic and external politics and economics. Impressive was also the active participation of numerous British scholars who provided a different perspective as well as making policy recommendations on issues relating to the Greek polity and economy, financial sector, home affairs, legal reform, modernisation, the formation of civil society and Greek foreign affairs.
The conference was structured into several sessions. The economic and financial developments along with social policy issues monopolised the first two days of the conference agenda. This ambitious conference initially focused on the regulation and structural reform of the Greek banking and financial systems. The central issues that were raised among the speakers looked at the endogenous challenges that Greek developing sectors are currently facing and the question of harmonising them according to EU standards and, hence, the legal obligations stemming from the much debated Europeanisation process.
Stimulating discussions also took place on the second day of the conference, mainly focusing on the economic aspects of the Greek contribution to the EU. As to issues of Greek economic development and performance - always related to the EU’s own evolution such as the EMU process - the conference reached a variety of interesting conclusions that have recently attracted significant political attention within Greece. All speakers stressed the prospects and challenges facing the evolving Greek economy in its difficult path to convergence according to the Maastricht dictates, not only in domestic policy terms, but also in comparison to other southern European countries.
Social and health policy in Greece were discussed in this context. These issues are arguably interesting from the point of view of recent domestic reforms introduced by the Simitis government. Also covered during this four-day conference was the issue of modernisation and its different perspectives in Greece. Naturally enough, the issues of civil society formation and contemporary societal dynamics were extensively discussed, projecting the image of a liberal democracy on the road to substantive socio-political and institutional modernisation. In assessing the newly established institutions in this area, the participants pointed to a rather optimistic scenario for the future. Much will depend, however, on the extent to which citizens will be capable of directing their claims to the central political authorities through these new channels of civic engagement. A general consensus seems to exist on the European orientation of the country and the means toward its gaining a prominent position in the new political architecture of the continent.
Greek foreign policy preferences were presented, especially those relating to the position of the country in the post 1989 Balkans. In fact it is these which attracted several diversified views, although pointing in the same direction: that Greece acts as a promoter of stability in the region and its role could well be seen in the context of conflict resolution as a mediator. The third part of the conference focused on Greece’s foreign policy process. Greece has been working towards a new policy role as mediator in the Balkans, where of course issues related to Turkish foreign policy need to be taken into account. But as far as the rest of relations in the Balkan are concerned, 'the lessons from the period 1989-94 have been learned', and that has been the departure point for comments in the conference, not only from academics but most importantly from policy-makers. This thematic also included the examination of past and present Greek policies, as well as the mistakes that were made by both major political parties in a period when the internal balance of the Greek political scene revolved around the definition of and the difference between nationalism and patriotism.
The conference also called attention to other aspects of EU developments such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy, confirming the wholehearted support of the country for the process of creating a common European defence identity capable of dealing with common European threats. That would have to include the south-eastern borders of the Union, which will be possibly redrawn (due to the probable accession of Cyprus) and which are facing new security challenges, most notably those coming from illegal immigration. The dynamics of European integration after the Amsterdam Treaty and during the British presidency were presented from various perspectives. The evaluation of the positions and the contribution of Greece towards the Amsterdam Treaty was a major task in this respect. Emphasis was also given to issues about the role of Greek political parties in the integration process and in particular PASOK’s European strategy.
A major concern in the morning session of the final day of the conference was the modernisation of the Greek state itself. In this context, the challenges and prospects concerning new public administration procedures, economic policy reforms, regionalisation and privatisation adjustments were presented. The afternoon session was devoted to the central issue of Greece’s overall contribution to the EU. Academics, policy-makers, Euro-parliamentarians, and current and former, made up a panel of distinguished speakers that fruitfully addressed this issue. Finally the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs threw light on Greece’s new policy orientations, concluding on the country’s positive contribution to the changing European architecture.
In conclusion, this was a successful conference which tackled many important aspects of what has been generally described as a 'dynamic relationship' and what others called ‘a case of uneasy interdependence’. The conference provided a comprehensive overview of the objectives and constraints of Greece’s policy orientation during a period of significant change, including its laborious efforts to enter the EMU. The developments in both Greece and the EU have resulted in a mutually reinforcing relationship. Hence, the conference’s multidisciplinary nature stimulated academic debate among researchers, academics, policy-makers and politicians, giving them the opportunity to exchange ideas on issues that are at the top of the country’s political and economic agenda. This was a conference in which the mood was widely and consistently one of optimism, or at least one of controlled idealism, and from which a feeling emerged that the problems confronting the relationship between Greece and the EU will eventually be resolved in a mutually advantageous and creative way. After all, this is what the Greek 'psyche', as it has been colourfully observed, would have us believe !
In more detail, the conference consisted of the following roundtable discussions:
"The Greek Economy and the EMU: Prospects and Challenges". Chaired by Prof. L. Papademos, Governor of the Bank of Greece. Discussants included Prof. G. Alogoskoufis, MP, Dr. N. Garganas, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Greece and Prof. C. Pissarides (LSE). All the discussants emphasised that Greece should give emphasis to structural adjustment so as to fulfil the Maastricht criteria and become a member of the EMU in 2001.
"Civil Society and Modernisation of Political Institutions". Chaired by Prof. A. Pepelasis (Lambrakis Research Foundation, Athens). Discussants included Prof. N. Diamandouros (University of Athens), Prof. N. Mouzelis (LSE), Prof. D. Papoulias (University of Athens), Mr. T. Skylakakis (Director E21) and the journalist, Dr A. Papayannidis. All the discussants pointed to the growth and ever-increasing influence of civil society in Greek political and social life.
"Social Policy in Greece and Europe". The panel was chaired by Dr. N. Bouras (Guy's and St Thomas United Medical Schools). Discussants included Prof. L. Liaropoulos (University of Athens), Prof. M. Petmesidou (University of Crete), Prof. A. Sissouras,(Director of the Institute for Social Policy at the National Centre for Social Research, Athens) Prof. P. Tsakloglou (Athens University of Economics and Business) and Dr. H. Symeonidou (National Centre for Social Research, Athens).
"Greece and the Balkans: Economic Relations". Chaired by Prof. D. Papoulias. Discussants included Prof. Labrianidis (University of Macedonia), Dr. C. Stamatopoulos (President of the Ionian Bank) and Dr. A.S. Walden (European Commission). Discussants analysed the nature of economic ties between Greece and the Balkans, especially in the area of trade, foreign direct investment and Banking.
"Greece and the Balkans: Political Relations". Chaired by Dr. S. Economides (LSE). Discussants included Dr. S. Clement (WEU), Prof. M.J. Tsinisizelis (University of Athens), Prof. T. Veremis University of Athens) and Dr. P. Carabott (King's College, London). Discussants focused on Greece's efforts to resolve the crisis in the Balkans (former Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Albania).
"Greece in the Common Foreign and Security Policy: Contributor or Heretic?" Chaired by Prof. C. Hill (LSE). Participants included Prof. P. Ioakimidis (University of Athens), Mr O. Miles CMG (Former British Ambassador to Greece), Prof. P. Tsakaloyannis (Athens University of Economics and Business), and Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LSE). The discussants agreed that during the 1990s Greece has shifted from its previous role as heretic to a new stance as a contributor to the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
"The contribution of Greece to the European Union" Chaired by Dr. A. Mitsos (European Commission). Discussants included Prof. T. Couloumbis (University of Athens), Prof. N. Christodulakis (Vice-Minister of Finance), Mr. Stephanos Manos, MP and Dr. M. Papayannakis, MEP. Discussants realized that Greece's strategy with regard to the economy and external relations is clearly oriented towards increased ties with the EU.
Young scholars presented papers on the following topics:
"The Modernisation of Greek Economic Policy and European Integration" Chaired by Prof. K. Featherstone (University of Bradford). Young Scholar Dr. G. Pagoulatos (University of Athens) draw some lessons from the Greek Privatisation programme, while Dr. G. Korres (University of Crete) presented a dynamic macroeconomic model of the EU integration process of Greece.
"EU Regional Policy and the Greek State" Chaired by Prof. G. Kafkalas (University of Thessaloniki). Young scholar Mr. C. Paraskevopoulos (LSE) focused on institutional networks, learning and Greek adaptation of EU regional policy, while Ms D. Michel (University of Thessaloniki) made an assessment of EU/Greek Interactions in the administrative implementation of regional policy. Finally, Dr. P. Liargovas (University of Athens) analysed the changing role of the Greek state in view of EMU.
"Greek Politics and European Integration" Chaired by Dr. Stavridis (University of Reading). Young Scholar Dr. O. Anastasakis (Greek Ministry for Foreign Affairs) made an overall assessment of Greece and European Enlargement. Dr. D. Chryssochoou (University of Exeter) analysed the implications of the Treaty of Amsterdam for Greece. Dr Moschonas (University of Crete) focused on Greek Political Parties and European Integration, while Dr V. Fouskas (Herefordshire University) examined the European Strategy of PASOK.
"Greek Foreign Policy in Europe and the Balkans" Chaired by Professor T. Couloumbis (University of Athens). Young scholar Mr. H. Georgiades (University of Reading) analysed the implications for Greece of the EU/Turkish Relationship. Dr D. Kavakas (University of Leeds) evaluated Greece's contribution to the CFSP. Mr H. Kondonis (LSE) Illustrated the role of Greece as a bridge between the EU and Southeastern Europe, while Mr. A. Tziampiris (LSE) focused on Greece's contribution to EPC policies towards the Former Yugoslavia. Finally, in the same panel Dr. G. Varouxakis (Aston University) investigated the difference between a Greek nationalist and a Greek patriot in the 1990's.
"Immigration and European Culture" Chaired by Prof. I. Lambiri-Dimaki (University of Athens). Young Scholar Dr. Triandafyllidou (Centro Nazionale di Ricerca, Rome) made an overall assessment of Greek immigration policy, while Dr Theodosopoulos-Papalois (LSE) analysed the role of Greece in the development of an EU cultural identity.
Finally, keynote speeches were given by Prof. Loukas Tsoukalis, Eleftherios Venizelos Chair in Contemporary Greek Studies, LSE, Mr. I. Kranidiotis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Dora Bakoyani, MP, and Mr. George Papandreou, Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs.