Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

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.

At the upcoming G7 Summit held in Elmau, G7 members should seize the opportunity and push for a successful outcome of the major multilateral events of 2015 dealing with development finance (Addis Ababa), the post-2015 agenda for sustainable development (New York) and climate change (Paris). We identify opportunities for action at three different levels. •   The G7 should introduce changes at home with a significant global impact: (i) G7 leaders should commit themselves to formulate national, time-bound plans for implementation of the universal post-2015 agenda that are linked to existing national processes such as sustainable development policies and strategies; (ii) they should be frontrunners in tackling unsustainable consumption and production patterns and (iii) specify national contributions on how to limit global warming to 2°C. •   The G7 should support sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs): (i) The G7 should scale up support for national public health systems in LICs and help create a health contingency fund; (ii) reconfirm and specify commitments to contribute to global public finance, including         official development assistance (ODA) and climate finance and (iii) promote the transfer and development of technology for LICs and MICs. •   At the global level the G7 should promote global rules for global commons: (i) the G7 should implement reforms of the international financial architecture; (ii) advance the reform of the international tax system by promoting multilateral agreements to foster international cooperation among tax authorities and (iii) encourage an enabling international trade system for developing countries including a development friendly Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The post-2015 agenda for sustainable development reaffirms the universality of human rights and other core G7 values. While the current draft proposal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not perfect, it could trigger urgent collective action which is needed now to maintain and secure prosperity and wellbeing of current and future generations within planetary boundaries. Furthermore, the sustainable development agenda provides an example of how to deal with collective problems: in a rules-based partnership, based on ideas of fairness, equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. The G7 must play their part and help the negotiations succeed.

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.

Bei den Wahlen in der Türkei sind alle Augen auf die pro-kurdische "Demokratische Partei der...

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

Pierre Jacquemot est chercheur associé à l’IRIS, président du Gret. Il répond à nos questions à l’occasion de la parution de son ouvrage « Le dictionnaire du développement durable » (Sciences Humaines Éditions) :
– Qu’est-ce que le développement durable ? Pourquoi avoir choisi la forme d’un dictionnaire pour appréhender ce sujet ?
– Comment le développement durable se décline-t-il au niveau de la gouvernance mondiale et au niveau étatique ?
– A l’heure de la COP21, les États et en particulier la France ont-ils pris la mesure des enjeux climatiques ?

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.

Le professeur Jean-Jacques Roche, expert « Formation, études et recherche » auprès du directeur de l’IHEDN, était l’invité ce matin de l’émission « Les enjeux internationaux »...

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Suite à l’assemblée générale de l’Union-IHEDN hier, il a été procédé au renouvellement du conseil d’administration de la fédération d’associations et à l’élection d’un nouveau président : ...

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Sollte es zu einem Atomabkommen mit dem Iran kommen, würde Präsident Obama nur diejenigen unilateralen US-Sekundärsanktionen aussetzen, die sich gegen Teherans Nuklearprogramm richten. Dagegen würden jene US-amerikanischen Strafmaßnahmen fortbestehen, die Washington mit Irans Unterstützung von Terrorismus und der Verletzung von Menschenrechten in dem Land begründet. Folglich werden sich ausländische Einzelpersonen und Unternehmen auch weiterhin gezwungen sehen, ihre Geschäftsinteressen auf dem iranischen gegen jene auf dem US-Markt abzuwägen. Mit diesem Vorgehen verletzt Washington das mit Brüssel vereinbarte Stillhalteabkommen, wonach die Administration die extraterritorialen US-Sekundärsanktionen gegen europäische Einzelpersonen und Unternehmen nicht anwendet. Eine angemessene Antwort Europas könnte in einer Amerikapolitik liegen, die auf eine Kombination aus Zusammenarbeit und Druck setzt.

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.

Namibia und Südafrika haben nicht nur eine Staatsgrenze gemeinsam. Das Streben nach einem demokratischen Rechtstaat verbindet beide Länder.Beim Women’s Breakfast im Mai 2015 in Windhoek, Namibia, sprach Thulisile Nomkosi Mandonsela, Public Protector in Südafrika, über die Bedeutung weiblicher Führungspersönlichkeiten in Politik und Wirtschaft. An deren unverzichtbarer Rolle für Demokratie und Rechtsstaat ließ sie keinen Zweifel.