Common values
Greece is the birthplace of European civilization and one of the strongest proponents of modern European integration. The fundamental European values of participatory democracy, civic freedom, and the rule of law were born in Ancient Greece. Today these values are shared across Europe and indeed form the core of the European way of life. “Europeanness” is in turn deeply enshrined in Greek consciousness with an unbreakable thread of Greek community and statehood presence across the Mediterranean and Balkan peninsula running from ancient times to the modern Greek state.
Greece was the 10th country to join the European Union in 1981 and belongs to the first wave of countries that adopted the euro in 2001. Despite the economic crisis of 2008, which led to the collapse of the Greek economy and a resurgence of populism, Greeks remained strongly committed to their European identity and European membership. Even at the peak of the economic recession, at the time of the referendum of 2015, more than 70% of the electorate stated in polls that the country should remain a member of the European Union.
Strategic importance
Greece’s importance for Europe stretches beyond its historical contribution to encompass its strategic location at the south-eastern flank of the Union. From the time of the Athenians and Spartans standing up against the absolutism of the Persian Empire, through to Byzantium in its clashes with the Arabs, Turks, and other nomadic tribes, and all the way to the modern Greek state fighting in two World Wars alongside the Allies, Greece has been the entry point and one of the most critical borders of Europe.
Greece’s role as a defender of European borders has been complicated in recent years by the tremendous irregular immigration flows resulting from the Syrian Civil War and other political and economic problems in the Middle East and further afield. The Greek state and people have paid and continue to pay a heavy price in terms of time and resources trying to succour the genuine refugees reaching their borders, while at the same time controlling irregular immigration. Tens of thousands of refugees have been rescued in the Aegean Sea after having been put at risk by unscrupulous traffickers that arrange their passage from the Turkish coast. Many of them still remain in hospitality structures on the Greek islands, aiming to continue their inwards journey to Europe. Greece is therefore bearing a disproportionate security, financial, and humanitarian burden on behalf of its European allies.
European defence
Being a major contributor to the European defence and security budget, Greece is fully committed to the collective European Defence and Security Doctrine. Over the last decade, Greece spent more than €40bn (3% of GDP) on defence expenditure, military equipment, and procurements. Greece has consistently – and for a long time alone amongst Continental Europe countries – met the NATO target of 2% spending on defence. Together with France, Greece has the largest and most advanced fleet of fighters – more than 220 fully operational fighters. The Hellenic Air Force defends the European airspace on a daily basis through the performance of interception missions against numerous Turkish violations.
Greek Diaspora in Europe
Greeks have always been a seafaring people of explorers, spreading their city-state colonies across the Mediterranean from as early as the 8th century BCE: Naples, Syracuse, Marseille and Nice are probably the best known of these. Members of the Greek diaspora have played a pivotal role in the formation of modern European society, by for example transferring the knowledge of the ancient world from Constantinople to Italy after the fall of Byzantium, helping to fuel the fledgling Renaissance. In modern times many Greeks left their home country in order to seek education and professional opportunities in Europe and this trend accelerated during the recent financial crisis. It is estimated that more than 1,000,000 people of Greek origin live in Europe, with the majority of them residing in Germany (450,000), France (60,000), Italy (50,000), Belgium (45,000), and the Netherlands (40,000). Many of them are highly educated professionals, active in for example law, medicine, and business. They maintain close ties with the families they left behind and are keen to see Greek (and by association European) interests safeguarded and promoted.
Common values
Greece is the birthplace of European civilization and one of the strongest proponents of modern European integration. The fundamental European values of participatory democracy, civic freedom, and the rule of law were born in Ancient Greece. Today these values are shared across Europe and indeed form the core of the European way of life. “Europeanness” is in turn deeply enshrined in Greek consciousness with an unbreakable thread of Greek community and statehood presence across the Mediterranean and Balkan peninsula running from ancient times to the modern Greek state.
Greece was the 10th country to join the European Union in 1981 and belongs to the first wave of countries that adopted the euro in 2001. Despite the economic crisis of 2008, which led to the collapse of the Greek economy and a resurgence of populism, Greeks remained strongly committed to their European identity and European membership. Even at the peak of the economic recession, at the time of the referendum of 2015, more than 70% of the electorate stated in polls that the country should remain a member of the European Union.
Strategic importance
Greece’s importance for Europe stretches beyond its historical contribution to encompass its strategic location at the south-eastern flank of the Union. From the time of the Athenians and Spartans standing up against the absolutism of the Persian Empire, through to Byzantium in its clashes with the Arabs, Turks, and other nomadic tribes, and all the way to the modern Greek state fighting in two World Wars alongside the Allies, Greece has been the entry point and one of the most critical borders of Europe.
Greece’s role as a defender of European borders has been complicated in recent years by the tremendous irregular immigration flows resulting from the Syrian Civil War and other political and economic problems in the Middle East and further afield. The Greek state and people have paid and continue to pay a heavy price in terms of time and resources trying to succour the genuine refugees reaching their borders, while at the same time controlling irregular immigration. Tens of thousands of refugees have been rescued in the Aegean Sea after having been put at risk by unscrupulous traffickers that arrange their passage from the Turkish coast. Many of them still remain in hospitality structures on the Greek islands, aiming to continue their inwards journey to Europe. Greece is therefore bearing a disproportionate security, financial, and humanitarian burden on behalf of its European allies.
European defence
Being a major contributor to the European defence and security budget, Greece is fully committed to the collective European Defence and Security Doctrine. Over the last decade, Greece spent more than €40bn (3% of GDP) on defence expenditure, military equipment, and procurements. Greece has consistently – and for a long time alone amongst Continental Europe countries – met the NATO target of 2% spending on defence. Together with France, Greece has the largest and most advanced fleet of fighters – more than 220 fully operational fighters. The Hellenic Air Force defends the European airspace on a daily basis through the performance of interception missions against numerous Turkish violations.
Greek Diaspora in Europe
Greeks have always been a seafaring people of explorers, spreading their city-state colonies across the Mediterranean from as early as the 8th century BCE: Naples, Syracuse, Marseille and Nice are probably the best known of these. Members of the Greek diaspora have played a pivotal role in the formation of modern European society, by for example transferring the knowledge of the ancient world from Constantinople to Italy after the fall of Byzantium, helping to fuel the fledgling Renaissance. In modern times many Greeks left their home country in order to seek education and professional opportunities in Europe and this trend accelerated during the recent financial crisis. It is estimated that more than 1,000,000 people of Greek origin live in Europe, with the majority of them residing in Germany (450,000), France (60,000), Italy (50,000), Belgium (45,000), and the Netherlands (40,000). Many of them are highly educated professionals, active in for example law, medicine, and business. They maintain close ties with the families they left behind and are keen to see Greek (and by association European) interests safeguarded and promoted.