His new book entitled “European Integration. The adventures of a vision” will be presented by Dimitris Tsiodrasdirector of the Prime Minister’s Press Office, Monday, February 5at an event at the Athens Concert Hall.

The prime minister will speak about the book Kyriakos Mitsotakiswhile a discussion will follow in which the former Commissioners of Greece to the EU participate, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Maria Damanaki, Stavros Dimas and Anna Diamantopoulou.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will also make an intervention Theodoros Roussopoulos.

The event will be coordinated by the Prime Minister’s adviser on international affairs, Aristotelia Peloni.

From the very title of his book, Dimitris Tsiodras accurately states the subject and his perspective on it: the road to making the vision of a united Europe a reality was from the beginning and continues to be difficult, uphill and far from clear. The beautiful and extremely ambitious adventure, which began after the Second World War, is always open – certainties and legalities do not fit here.

Dimitris Tsiodras, director of the Prime Minister’s Press Office, with studies in political science and international relations, has a long career in journalism behind him.

The book (with 272 bibliographic references) starts from the birth of the idea of ​​European integration and records the disputes within the Union and the pivotal moments that determined its course. He eloquently describes the national rivalries, disagreements, compromises, and even setbacks – with research focus on both foreground and background: The first plan for defense integration in the early 1950s and its unfortunate end. The controversy, in the 60s, for the creation of a common currency and the differences in economic philosophy between France and Germany. The reactions of France and Britain to the reunification of Germany and the bargain for the common currency.

The great hopes and the wreck (finally) of the Euroconstitution. The Eurozone crisis and its response. Brexit and its implications. The role of Germany and fears about its power. The reduction of the special weight of Europe in the world system today. The new security challenges, the centrifugal tendencies and the Euroscepticism that is developing threateningly within many member countries.

Of course, Dimitris Tsiodras also deals with the “Greek adventures”, which marked our European path: from Constantinos Karamanlis’ great goal of joining the EEC, the European turn of Andreas Papandreou, the economic crisis, the adventures of Alexis Tsipras and SYRIZA in 2015, up to and including the strengthening of the country’s European image after 2019, with the election of Kyriakos Mitsotakis as prime minister.

The author’s conclusion is a call for participation. He writes about it: “The European idea can gain new life, only if there is a clear goal and it becomes a matter for the citizens. Nothing is predetermined. Developments will take the form that European citizens and European leaders will give them. A better future for all goes through the common path.