Pots are for plebs: why vases were cheap in Ancient GREECE

“If it's full of Theory and jargon, put it in the bin”, said the books editor. The trouble with Jeffrey Hurwit's Artists and Signatures in Ancient GREECE is that ...

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Refugee crisis: GREECE sets up island 'hotspots' to process incoming refugees

Under EU pressure, GREECE has created centres to register refugees after they arrive on islands. They are coping for now, but as weather warms, ...

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Cypriot Negotiators Meet Again On Monday

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami, will meet again on Monday in the context of the ongoing UN-backed talks for the reunification of Cyprus. Reliable sources have told CNA that Mavroyiannis and Nami, who met today, continued their general discussion over various aspects of the Cyprus problem. When the two

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GREEK-Russian trade volume down by 33.7 pct during 2015

The volume of trade between Greece and Russia fell by 33.7 pct to 2.8 billion US dollars in 2015, with GREEK exports falling by 54 pct to 229.4 million ...

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Greece could require $10K from owners of zombie homes

The town of Greece may soon require owners of vacant properties to post a $10,000 cash bond that can be tapped to pay for maintenance and upkeep if the houses begin to fall into disrepair. A public hearing on the proposed new town law will be held March 15.

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2 Children Die Every Day On Journey From Conflict Zones To Europe

In less than one year, two children have drowned every day on average while on the perilous journey from their homes in conflict zones to Europe. Since September, more than 340 children -- many just infants and toddlers -- have drowned in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to a new report by the United Nations refugee agency. UNHCR began tracking the numbers after a photo of 3-year-old Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, found dead on a tourist beach in Turkey after the boat he was on capsized, went viral. The image put a human face to the devastating and ongoing refugee crisis. Kurdi is just one of hundreds. There was 7-year-old Houda, from Afghanistan, who fled Kabul with her family amid death threats. But when she and her family boarded a tightly cramped boat in the middle of the night, Houda disappeared and her parents died. Houda's teenaged brother and sister, Aziz and Aisha, lived to tell her story. "I was impressed by the resilience and the courage of Aziz and Aisha since we met them at the port where they were brought by the Coast Guard vessel which rescued them that terrible night,” Marco Procaccini, who runs UNHCR in Kos, said. "Despite going through the worst we can ever imagine for a child, they remained always polite and kind.” The two children hope to be reunited with what is left of their family, including a brother currently living in Germany. "These tragic deaths in the Mediterranean are unbearable and must stop," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told UNHCR. "Clearly, more efforts are needed to combat smuggling and trafficking. Also, as many of the children and adults who have died were trying to join relatives in Europe, organizing ways for people to travel legally and safely, through resettlement and family reunion programs for example, should be an absolute priority if we want to reduce the death toll." Most deaths have occurred in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece due to the winter's rough seas. Without enhanced safety, and more countries stepping in to help mitigate the loss of life, organizations including UNHCR and UNICEF estimate that the number of child deaths will only increase. At the end of March, the U.N. secretary-general hopes to have a meeting on global responsibility in Geneva to help find legal pathways for Syrian refugees to find safety in other countries. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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World-Renowned Economist Sergei Guriev on the Russian Economy: Takeaways from his Speech at the Oxford Guild

On January 27, 2016, Sergei Guriev, a leading Russian economist and Professor of Economics at Sciences Po University in Paris, made a speech to the Oxford Guild entitled "Whither the Russian Economy." During his speech, Guriev shared his thoughts on Russia's economic growth prospects, the current economic crisis in Russia, and the linkage between economic conditions and the political situation under Putin. Below is a synopsis of Guriev's opinions on the state of the Russian economy, and what the future may hold for Putin's economic recovery efforts: GURIEV ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RUSSIA UNDER PUTIN Sergei Guriev argues that during Putin's first decade in power, economic growth was foundational for the social contract that upheld his regime's legitimacy. The consistency of 7-8% annual growth rates recorded in Russia during this period arguably surpassed the 1930s Stalinist economic boom in magnitude. The 2008 financial crisis came as a shock to many Russian policymakers who were largely unprepared for a scenario in which oil prices declined steeply and associated their popularity with maintaining income growth in their respective regions. Russians did rely to some extent on consumer loans as real wage increases led to growth in car and house ownership, but the investment climate and corruption remained serious issues. By 2012, the structural drivers of Russian economy growth had slowed considerably, and Putin at the state-level undertook many reform projects to reverse this trend. These included the Gref Program, Strategy 2020, Strategy 2035, and the 2012 Open Government Partnership. The drivers of the 2012-2013 financial crisis in Russia were structural and not cyclical; the origins are rooted in issues largely independent from the slowdown in Europe or the US. Russia's economy is not declining relative to its potential GDP but its potential GDP is actually declining. The assumption that Russia's natural level of GDP growth is 4% has come under threat. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev's 2013 statement that 4% is too low a threshold for Russia, which should be growing at a minimum of 5%, also is too optimistic given current conditions. Russia's recession does not fit the typical mold of economic decline as it has been characterized by inflation instead of deflation, low unemployment rates and large flows of consumer credit. Russia needs to have structural reforms to improve the investment climate, so spending more and more on stimulus could just create more inflation but not durable fast GDP growth. GURIEV ON THE CURRENT ECONOMIC RECESSION IN RUSSIA Guriev describes the 2014-15 economic crisis as a perfect storm where every wind was against Russia. Russia's economy began to decline steeply by the second half of 2014 as the combination of poorly-planned investments during the boom period and a unique confluence of low oil prices and sanctions relating to the annexation of Crimea plunged the economy into recession. Russia's reliance on oil revenues is not comparable to Saudi Arabia's for instance, as its share is only around 20% or 30% of GDP depending on the year you examine. Half the Russian budget comes from oil and gas taxes though, which creates a fiscal problem. The ruble has been devalued as the vast majority of Russia's exports are linked to oil prices. Sanctions reinforced the decline in oil prices as they prevented Russia from borrowing its way out of the crisis to offset the oil price decline. 2015 witnessed a 4% fall in GDP and real incomes adjusted for inflation fell sharply. This is a big difference from 2009 where the GDP fell by even more but there was not a comparably large decrease in living standards. The bite from individual-level sanctions has been much more limited for the overall economy than from the sanctions that restrict borrowing. The Russian government has allowed inflation to continue, making it unlikely that inflation in Russia will drop to its target of 6% in the short-term. The target of 6% has been consistently announced year-on-year, but Putin's tenure has been characterized by double-digit inflation even during more prosperous periods. High inflation could damage the investment climate further, but it is necessary for keeping a balanced budget. Capital flight from Russia averaged 3-4% of GDP prior to the current crisis, but the problem ballooned markedly to 12% of GDP in 2014, leaving the Russian people and investors in a panic heading into 2015. The Russian government's approach to tackling this issue has stabilized capital flight, though the problem still remains large. Capital outflows are a product of sanctions, and Western investors remain cynical towards Russia even though the ease of doing business ratings for Russia improved substantially under Putin. Putin raised the ease of doing business rating from 120th to 51st in four years with a long-term target of reaching the top 20 in the world. Much of the growth is attributable to changing measurement methodology, however, making a top 20 result unlikely. GURIEV ON PUTIN'S RESPONSE TO THE 2014-2015 RECESSION Guriev argues that the Russian government learnt many lessons from the 2008-2009 financial crisis in its handling of the current recession. The ruble was allowed to float unlike in 2008, on the assumption that Russia will receive more rubles for its exports than before, which translates into more money. The flexible exchange rate also helps buffer the shock resulting from oil price declines. Exchange rate flexibility is useful as Russia has more leverage than struggling EU countries like Greece, which are bound to the euro. Despite the volatility, floating the ruble was an effective policy. The fiscal shock from the 2014 crisis was more problematic. Putin decided to cut expenditures right away even before the reserve funds were used up. The budget developed in summer 2014, which began to be drafted in February 2014, was based on $100 a barrel oil originally but was signed into law when oil prices were at $45 a barrel. Spending was cut by 8% relative to the original plan, keeping the deficit in check for 2015. Putin cut the budget by a further 8% in real terms for 2016, with pensions being indexed at just 4% with inflation at 15%. Military spending also decreased in 2016, with nominal declines in health and education spending. Military spending in Russia is approximately 4% of GDP, and since Kudrin's dismissal, Russia has found it hard to afford escalated military activities. GURIEV ON RUSSIA'S EXTERNAL DEBT PROBLEM Russia has made considerable progress on the issue of external debt, despite an oft-quoted statistic of $700 billion in external debt in early 2014 being used by policymakers as proof of Russia's uncompetitive position in the world economy. About 25% of the debt was denominated in rubles and some was held by Russian businesspeople (effectively intra-company debt). Sovereign debt is 13% of GDP; debt levels are around $520 billion as a lot was paid off in 2014-2015 and one-third of this debt was held by Russian businesses. Russia currently possesses $370 billion in reserves, which has made the problem less serious. Monitoring external debt is very important for the Russian economy, as Eurozone banks holding the debt fear a depreciation of assets that could lead to a financial panic. GURIEV ON CORRUPTION IN RUSSIA UNDER PUTIN Corruption in Russia is often underemphasized in plans to tackle the country's economic challenges due to prevailing tropes that other countries are corrupt or that Russia has made a great deal of progress and has been marred by endemic corruption for centuries. There are countries like Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan or Lebanon with similar levels of development to Russia that are more corrupt than Russia as of 2014, and Russia is approximately on par with Kazakhstan. But overall, Russia is one standard deviation away from the norm for countries of its development level, which suggests that it is unusually corrupt. Efforts to improve Russia's investment climate prior to the 2012-2013 crisis also fell short. GURIEV ON RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH PROSPECTS The initial consensus amongst Russian policymakers was that the Russian economy would grow from 2016-2017, but that is now correctly regarded as unrealistic. International organizations predict a 1% decline in growth, but that assumption is based on higher oil prices. If oil prices remain at $30 a barrel, Russia could face a 3% growth decline. While stability and the assumption that one will be paid on schedule is important for economic success, Russia has shifted away from 3 year planning towards 1 year planning, as conditions are unpredictable. The deficit will be covered in 2016 but not by 2017, as the reserve fund will likely be gone by the end of 2017 if current trends persist. If oil prices stay at $30 a barrel, the reserve fund will likely disappear before the end of 2016 as the projected 6-7% of GDP budget deficit will surpass the 4.6% of GDP held by the reserve fund. Sanctions prevent borrowing, so Russia will have to cut pensions again in order to pay its obligations. Russia can theoretically borrow from China, but Chinese credit is insufficient to cover the gap. Official forecasters have been more optimistic predicting 2% GDP growth once the recession is over. As late as 2013, the Finance Ministry regarded 2% growth as a worst-case scenario; now it is an optimistic target. The recognition that steady state growth in Russia has declined has seeped even into the official discourse. GURIEV ON STRUCTURAL FACTORS IMPACTING RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH It is often hard to diagnose the structural problems afflicting Russia, as some structural characteristics that have historically been labeled as problems have actually been enablers of growth in the past. Russia has a lot of physical and human capital. Many analysts see agriculture in Russia as a weak point, but Putin has pushed for land reforms and grain exports to revitalize this sector. The quality of human capital is not high, but even the highest skilled Russians are leaving Russia. The brain drain problem proves that Russia does not inherently lack human capital but needs to be more effective in harnessing and using the human capital that it possesses. Demographics are poor in Russia but are not as bad as previously feared. The official forecast for 2013 was that Russia would lose 4 million people due to natural decline but gain 5 million people through immigration, which is a completely plausible statistic, notwithstanding the social tensions that result from immigration. Migration could be reduced if Central Asian countries become more prosperous compared to Russia. Kazakhstan's GDP per capita is now higher than Russia's for the first time, which could lead to a shift in Kazakh migration patterns. Labor productivity remains a problem, despite the success of Yandex (the Russian Internet company which displaced Google) and other companies. The idea that Russia is unsuited for capitalism is unsubstantiated. The experience of East Germany demonstrates that an adjustment period is necessary and that Russia could eventually succeed with Western managerial techniques and modern equipment. The best firms in Russia like Gazprom can compete with the best in China or the West, but lower-tier firms drive down productivity. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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Economic ‘war’ in Greece

I came to live in Greece in 2009, on Feb. 12, the day of my birthday. On my first night in Athens, I had a fantastic, welcoming dinner with my Greek friends. It was normal for one person to buy everyone dinner at the time and it was a pleasure to share ...

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GREECE Town Supervisor Proposing New Regulations for Zombie Homes

GREECE Town Supervisor Bill Reilich says if you have a zombie home on your street, it's a problem. He says in the town of GREECE, there are 170 ...

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Britain's future, migrant split reveal growing EU divide

Tensions between European Union leaders at this week's summit in Brussels have highlighted a gnawing lack of confidence that the bloc of 28 nations can provide timely answers to Europe's challenges. The crisis is also hurting Europe on a psychological level, with the refugee response increasingly unworthy of Europe's proclaimed values and possibilities as a powerful, relatively prosperous world trading bloc. Professor Hendrik Vos of Belgium's University of Ghent, says EU migration policy is hardening along the lines of Hungary's populist leader, Viktor Orban, who has erected anti-migrant razor-wire fences. The fear of EU migrant workers taking advantage of Britain's welfare system is partly driving Prime Minister David Cameron's push for a referendum on whether his country should leave. At the summit, Cameron pushed his partners for reforms that include limiting benefits to those migrant workers, ensuring that nations like Britain that are outside the euro currency union don't have to pay for euro needs, as well as simplifying EU bureaucracy. Italy's economic woes have seen Prime Minister Matteo Renzi aggressively take German Chancellor Angela Merkel to task in recent months on the economy, migration and energy policy. While ostensibly Europe's driving force, Merkel has also become synonymous with the austerity measures imposed on countries like Greece to meet fiscal targets and budget plans.

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Greece records 5 more deaths from flu bringing death toll to 115

According to the latest data, a total of 356 patients have been treated in intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the country, including 118 people who are still hospitalized in the units. Greece Epidemiologists called on the public to take the necessary ...

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GREEK Government Continues to Worry About Intention of Visegrad Group Over Borders

synodos_001 The GREEK government has asked to have an explicit commitment from Europe's leaders that the borders will not be sealed off prior to ...

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Greek Community Throws Hit Party During Greek Glendi

Canberra’s Greek community showcased its rich culture and diversity last Sunday during the 18th annual Greek Glendi street party at the 2016 National Multicultural Festival. The event exceeded all expectations, attracting more people than any year before ...

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More than 2000 migrants arrive on Lesbos in just ONE DAY

More than 2,000 migrants have been rescued and brought to the Greek island of Lesbos in just the last 24 hours. Coast guards and the EU border ...

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Mitsotakis Expresses Condolences Over Death of Michael Jaharis

  The president of the New Democracy Party Kyriakos Mitsotakis was saddened by the news of the passing of Emmanuel (Michael) Jaharis and expressed his sorrow and sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife Mary, their children and grandchildren, to Archbishop Demetrios of America and the Archdiocesan Council, and by extension to the Greek-American community. […]

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Custody Battle Over GREEK Marbles: 'It's a Matter of Justice'

The Parthenon temple in Athens sits at the top of the Acropolis, a site dedicated to the GREEK goddess Athena, marking the GREEK'S victory over Sparta ...

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Christian leaders come to Donald Trump's defense amid spat with 'confused' pope

[U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to members of the Sun City Republicans at their gated retirement community in Bluffton, South Carolina February 17, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst ]Thomson Reuters Religious leaders are coming to Donald Trump's defense after Pope Francis suggested Thursday that the Republican presidential candidate "is not Christian." "I'm convinced he's a Christian," Jerry Fallwel Jr., an evangelical leader, president of Liberty University, and a Trump supporter, told CNN. "I believe he has faith in the lord Jesus Christ, but I don't think that's the issue and I think the pope is mistaken," Falwell added. He continued:  I think John F. Kennedy would be rolling over in his grave right now if he could hear what the pope was saying. Because that's a man who fought to be president against a lot of prejudice because a lot of protestants in this country did not want to elect a Catholic president and he broke down those barriers and now here's the pope saying we have to elect leaders that share his faith or share the Christian faith. Falwell added that, in the middle of a presidential election, the pope was bringing up Christianity as a criteria to be president.  "It's not our job to choose the best Sunday school teacher, like Jimmy Carter was," he said. In a Thursday Facebook post, the Rev. Franklin Graham, a prominent evangelical leader who is also the son of the famed Rev. Billy Graham, said Francis should "build a bridge to Trump." Graham noted that fellow GOP candidates have also mentioned building walls along the border. The Raw Story reported that another prominent pastor, Robert Jeffress, suggested that Pope Francis was "confused" about the role of the church. "The pope is confused between the role of the Church, which is to show compassion, and the role of government, which is to uphold order and to protect its citizens," the pastor was quoted saying during a Thursday interview with conservative talk-radio host Sean Hannity. "And I want to make a prediction," Jeffress added. "I think the pope has succeeded in doing what no other man on Earth could do, and that is creating a martyr in Donald Trump." [2x1_trump vs pope]Thomson Reuters Francis first said "a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," at the conclusion of a six-day trip to Mexico yesterday, per The New York Times. The answer was in response to Trump's well-known and frequently touted stance on illegal immigration, which includes building a massive wall along the US-Mexico border.  Trump fired back quickly, saying during a rally in South Carolina on Thursday that it was "disgraceful" to have a religious leader question someone's faith and that Francis would wish for a President Trump "if and when" the Islamic State were to attack the Vatican. "If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS's ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president," Trump said at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. "Because this would not have happened." The Vatican seemed to downplay the apparent rift on Friday. A Vatican spokesman said the pope's comments were not a "personal attack" and did not intend to target Trump. Trump often touts his Presbyterian faith while making his pitch to evangelical voters on the campaign trial. [Lemelson]Thomson ReutersRev. Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson, a Greek Orthodox priest who also works as a hedge fund manager and has been dubbed the "hedge fund priest" told Business Insider in an email that Francis should take Trump "at his word" about his faith.  "Donald has confessed the Christian faith and stated he intends to defend it," he said. "He has asked for the blessing of an Orthodox Christian Priest in sincerity and humility. Let us take him at his word." NOW WATCH: Ted Cruz's new Donald Trump action-figure ad looks like something out of 'Saturday Night Live'

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EU leaders dismiss Greek threat to block summit deals over migrant crisis

BRUSSELS/ATHENS (Reuters) - European leaders played down a Greek threat on Friday not to sign off on final agreements at an EU summit on migration and Britain's membership of the bloc unless Athens wins assurances that EU states will not shut borders.

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Slovak prime minister says to protect border with Austria

Slovakia will take measures to protect its border with Austria following Vienna's decision to cap the number of migrants travelling through its territory, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Friday. Austria, sitting on the migrant route from Turkey via Greece and the Balkans to Germany, has set a daily limit of 3,200 migrants arrivals and 80 asylum claims - a move that Brussels says breaks EU law. Fico told journalists in Brussels that authorities would take technical measures to protect of the border with Austria "for the eventuality that larger groups stay at the Austrian border, for example in Slovenia, and try to get around and get to Germany via a different route." He did not go into further details.

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GREECE soccer team bonds while clearing hydrants

Members of the GREECE United Travel League team clears hydrants together went out onto the streets in the Town of GREECE with their coach and ...

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GREECE demands open border pledge at EU summit

GREECE wants a UK deal to keep it within the Union linked to demands on maintaining open internal borders, according to a Greek government contact ...

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Christine Lagarde appointed for second term as IMF boss

The former French finance minister won praise from developing countries but criticism from Greece during first term The International Monetary Fund has appointed Christine Lagarde for a second term as managing director after she rebuilt the Washington-based organisation’s reputation following the sex scandal that engulfed her predecessor. Lagarde, 60, who was the only candidate, was backed by the UK, Germany, China, and her home country France to stay on for another five years. Continue reading...

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Greece-Bulgaria Truck Dispute Causes 30-Kilometer Tailback

A dispute between neighbors Greece and Bulgaria over ongoing protests by Greek farmers has caused highway tailbacks of up to 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) at the border

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Zoë Caddell helps Syrian refugees on GREEK island of Chios

Fresh off her cycling journey to raise funds for displaced Syrians, a Rothesay woman has returned to Europe to help receive refugees arriving from the ...

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Austria, Hungary moves highlight EU disarray over migrants

[German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left,speaks with French President Francois Hollande, center, and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. European Union leaders are holding a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to hammer out a deal designed to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)]BERLIN (AP) — Austria raised the prospect of even tighter limits on the number of asylum seekers entering the country Friday while Hungary said it is shutting three railway border crossings with Croatia, highlighting the disarray within the European Union over migrants.

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Is it really so terrible for Britain to have a different vision for Europe?

In May 1950, at the height of the Cold War, Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, offered his vision for the future. Following the devastation of the World War II, he said the future of Europe “cannot be safeguarded without … creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it”. However, he also famously warned: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan”. What happened to those aspirations? Today, the EU lacks leadership. Frustration is growing within the union and the group is failing to make a positive impact beyond its own borders. Brexit, Grexit, economic stagnation, youth unemployment and uncontrolled migration – all are threatening this partnership. At the core of this problem is the fundamentally dangerous belief that the EU can become some kind of a promised land. In fact, too few people are actually questioning the EU integration project as an end in itself – its aims, its intentions and, above all, the impact on those “creative efforts” that Schuman argued had to be at the heart of European integration. Instead, the EU has become a victim of its own agenda. The people who spent decades arguing that the enlightened European project will solve problems beyond the reach of sovereign states now see no other future but the “ever closer union” enshrined in the EU treaties. In this logic, alternatives have no place in Europe. It must now be built all at once and according to a single plan. When the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty in 2008, they were merely asked to vote again. When the Greeks overwhelmingly rejected the terms of the bailout in 2015, prime minister Alexis Tsipras was merely summoned to Brussels and forced to sign the terms anyway, and when the Visegrad countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) complained that the Schengen rules on border protection were being ignored by other member states, they were portrayed as xenophobic wall-builders. The Brexit debate is another good example. It is not that I believe the UK should leave the EU – it’s that the arguments for staying in (including my own) do need to be questioned. But instead of having a real debate, exit is perceived as a lunacy, or even British bullying of the “good” Europeans. How could anyone possibly want to willingly live outside this great project? No state could possibly want to be, like Norway, on the outskirts of Europe. The consequences could indeed be dire if the British people do vote to leave but what concerns me more is the belief that more integration is the only rational remedy to the crises threatening the world. More EU on the external borders, more EU in monetary affairs, more EU in defence. I do not believe that the UK’s leave campaign has the right answers, but at least it is raising questions. It makes perfect sense that members of the European Union should submit to certain conditions, such as democratic governance. If you wish to join any club, whether it involves your weekly game of squash or a monetary union, you have to abide by the rules. But clubs generally provide different membership options, and those options generally depend more on members’ willingness than the club’s expectations. CRUSHING DISSENT Unfortunately, a union set on simply promoting a singular vision of the future (however bright) merely breeds intolerance to alternative visions, despite the fact that the EU’s very motto stresses “unity in diversity”. A UK membership re-negotiation is a symbol of this intolerance. It is all too easy to accuse London of being the awkward partner, but there are plenty of those in Brussels who appreciate the constructive role British representatives play in day-to-day decision-making. On issues of security and defence, for example, Britain never shies away from responsibility, including the EU’s successful anti-piracy operation off the Somali coast. However, it is true that the UK has been historically uneasy about the “ever-closer union”. In fact, it has resisted it on a number of occasions (the euro being a particular case). Resisting does not mean striking down the Brussels leviathan. It just means imagining different visions of Europe, playing closer attention to the needs, interests and, indeed, different understandings of how Europe ought to be achieved. Economists these days seem to be in consensus that fitting German or Greek economies under the same monetary policy was a historically symbolic move, but an economic catastrophe. Similarly, that the UK is more interested in deepening the single market instead of promoting the vague European citizenship does not make it an awkward partner, but rather one with a different vision of where a more effective Europe can be built. It’s time to recognise that the future of the EU is not threatened by allowing divergent voices to contribute to the debate but in seeking conformity. Each club needs rules, but these rules are important only as long as they stimulate productivity or creativity. As soon as they seek to control, they become a hindrance and a threat to the system they are trying to uphold. As history has taught us, a singular vision of the future can have dangerous consequences. Let’s forget the quest for obedience. The aim, instead, must be to stop touting the ever-closer union as the only option. That’s how to revive our thinking about what Europe is and what it can and should become. [The Conversation] _Igor Merheim-Eyre does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above._

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Seasonal flu deaths climb to 115, virus to peak by early March

Athens, February 19, 2016/ Independent Balkan News Agency By Marina Spyropoulou The number of people in Greece who have died of seasonal flu complications since the start of the year climbed to 115 on Friday after five patients who had contracted the virus passed away within the last 24 hours, the Hellenic Center for Disease […]

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Road accidents cost Greece 1,600 lives and 12 billion euros each year: road safety campaigner

Athens, February 19, 2016/ Independent Balkan News Agency By Marina Spyropoulou Tassos Markouizos -or “Iaveris” for his fans- has combined his name with the history of the Greek rallies as a driver in the late 70’s and early 80’s and as a passionate road safety campaigner ever since. While several Greeks mourn today the death […]

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Greece makes Odyssey progress, still some seas to cross: Euler Hermes analysis

Athens, February 19, 2016/ Independent Balkan News Agency By Marina Spyropoulou After making remarkable progress in recent months despite turbulences Greece has still some seas to cross before the Odyssey ends as long as state officials and entrepreneurs seize three key opportunities that could help drive the country out of recession, Vassilis Christidis, CEO of […]

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Romanian cold meats get EU “protection”

Bucharest, February 19, 2016/ Independent Balkan News Agency By Irina Stoica The EU register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications has enriched with a Romanian product. And another one is due to follow, after Romania solves an issue with Greece. Romania obtained the entry of ‘Salam de Sibiu’ (a salami) in the […]

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Greek court clears hurdler Halkia of intentional doping

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — An Athens court has ruled that Greek former hurdler Fani Halkia did not intentionally take illegal performance-boosting drugs that led to her expulsion from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Athens Court of Appeal also ruled on Friday ...

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Britons with arms cache on Turkish border jailed awaiting trial

Thessaloniki (GREECE) (AFP) - GREECE has jailed three Britons caught carrying weapons and ammunition near the Turkish border apparently destined ...

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Three Britons held in custody in GREECE after arms seized

Three British nationals have been held in custody pending trial on weapons possession charges after being arrested last weekend near GREECE'S ...

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Greek Paranoia: Releasing a neonazi killer

George Roupakias, the self confessed murderer of greek hip-hop artist, Pavlos Fysas, was released today. The reason... The Greek judicial system has been.... wait for it..... unable to find a suitable hall.... This supid buraucracy has meant that the trial ...

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Austria migrant cap angers Greece amid domino effect fears

Vienna (AFP) - Austria on Friday introduced a daily cap on asylum-seekers, sparking EU fears of a domino effect along the Balkan migrant trail and a threat from Greece to veto an accord keeping Britain in the bloc. The arrival of more than a million ...

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Bulgaria Parliament Speaker Calls on EU to Act to Lift GREEK Border Blockade

Bulgaria expects that the European Union will act in a timely manner to resolve a worsening crisis at the country's border crossings with Greece ...

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Greek-Australian-Brazilian-Lebanese boy lives playing football

Like most children his age, Orlando Savvaris lives and breathes football. He wakes up thinking about it, plays every chance he gets, watches it on TV and goes to bed dreaming of becoming the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi. But dreams can only take you ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.parikiaki.com

3 Britons Jailed in Greece After Arms Seized

Three British nationals have been jailed pending trial on weapons possession charges after being arrested over the weekend near Greece's border with Turkey. Court officials said the three men, who identified themselves as being of Kurdish origin, were ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT a.abcnews.com

Greece detains Britons found with arms cache on Turkish border

[Greece has detained three Britons carrying weapons and ammunition suspected of seeking to join Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State]Greece has detained three Britons carrying weapons and ammunition suspected of seeking to join Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State jihadists, officials said Friday.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT uk.news.yahoo.com

Greek veto threat puts Brexit talks in jeopardy

Greece has threatened to veto the conclusions of a crunch EU summit over Europe's handling of the migration crisis, a move that would torpedo David Cameron's hopes of an EU reform deal. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras threatened the move overnight ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.newstalk.com

Greek Antiausterity Hopes Boosted by Budget Surplus

Greece had a primary budget surplus of 0.2% of gross domestic product in 2015, according to senior government officials, who hope the better-than-expected outcome will help them to convince creditors that Greece doesn’t need extra austerity measures this year.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.wsj.com

Bulgaria Asks for EU Intervention Regarding Greek Farmers’ Roadblocks

The Bulgarian Parliament is asking for the EU to intervene on the issue of the closed Hellenic-Bulgarian borders, that are being blocked by the tractors of Greek farmers. According to the Bulgarian Finance Minister, Bozhidar Lukarski, the blocking of both borders — by both the Greek farmers and the anti-blockade by the Bulgarian truck drivers

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

OAED: 2.09% Rise in Registered Unemployed in January

New people registered to Greece’s Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) in January amounts to 17,950, according to data that was released by the organization today. Τhis means, there was a 2.09% raise since last month. More specifically, the total of registered unemployed who seek for work for the month of January 2016, rose to 876.752 people.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Department of Theatre Play Gives New Twist to Greek Classic

The Department of Theatre in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will present Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl this week and next. The show opens Friday, Feb. 19, and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 28, in the University Theatre in the Fine Arts ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT news.uark.edu

Discontent returns to the streets in Greece

"A NEW phase of the SYRIZA era" is how one activist characterized the political situation in Greece since the re-election of the post-bailout SYRIZA government in September. In the last months of 2015, teachers, students, seamen, metro workers, municipal ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT socialistworker.org

GREECE proposes law to require banks to keep up 'zombie homes'

GREECE N.Y. - GREECE Town Supervisor Bill Reilich announced Thursday a proposed amendment that will deal with the issues of vacant and ...

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Hope on the Refugee Highway: A Special Report on Christians in Iraq and Greece

Just beyond the still-under-construction ring road on the outer edge of Erbil, a group interview turns into a mutiny. “You already understand why we are here,” says one of the 15 displaced Christians and Muslims who have gathered at a World Vision food ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.christianitytoday.com

Greece Makes 2015 Primary Budget Surplus

ATHENS—Greece had a primary budget surplus of 0.2% of gross domestic product in 2015, according to senior government officials, who hope the better-than-expected outcome will help them to convince creditors that Greece doesn’t need extra austerity ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.wsj.com

Greece threatens to veto Britain-EU deal if states close borders to refugees

Europe’s negotiations about the UK’s membership and about the refugee crisis become entangled at Brussels summit Greece is threatening to veto a new deal for Britain in the European Union if other member states close their borders to refugees.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com

Greece may possibly not sign EU summit conclusions

Greece may possibly not sign EU summit conclusions on migrants and Brexit unless bloc agrees no border closures, according to media reports. Greece wants assurance that EU states will not shut borders over the migrant crisis. Meanwhile, Belgium’s prime ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.fxstreet.com