At the event of the presentation of Dimitris Tsiodra’s book entitled “European Integration. The adventures of a vision” after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the floor was taken by Theodore Roussopoulos and the former commissioners of our country in the Commission. Specifically they spoke Dimitris Avramopoulos, Maria Damanakis, Stavros Dimas, and Anna Diamantopoulou.

THE Mr. Roussopoulos in his speech he praised Mr. Tsiodra’s book and emphasized the efforts of European integration and its effects. He noted that some factors in European countries unite, while others separate, while the preservation of national identity is considered a condition by the peoples for unification. Mr. Roussopoulos pointed out that the security conditions in countries that are in a sensitive position such as Greece, are credited to the argument of unification. He recalled that Europe was divided a few years ago “with that vulgar acronym PIGS” which referred to the European south, while he emphasized that Greece went from being an example to be avoided to becoming an example of recovery with the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He said that the prestige of the country has recovered, and now other countries treat us with respect, while he succeeded against populism, saying that Helmut Kohl used to say that when he made a decision he had everyone against him, while after a while when the results became visible of this decision, was on his side.

ND MP, former minister and former commissioner at the Commission Dimitris Avramopoulos ahe referred to his own European experience from the Immigration portfolio he held, saying he started from scratch because Europe had no immigration policy. He made particular reference to populism exploiting the immigration problem, and said that in a meeting with former British Prime Minister Theresa May, she told him that her country had left the EU. because the anti-European forces invested in this problem.

Mr. Avramopoulos said that Kyriakos Mitsotakis after Macron is raising the European flag, and keeps Greece on a European trajectory, while he noted that Europe is going through an existential crisis, and referred to the instability that prevails in the wider region, and said that the greatest achievement is the creation of a united Europe after two world wars.

The former commissioner Maria Damanaki, said that when he was in Europe he would wake up every morning and take large financial foreign newspapers to see if our country remains in the euro. He said that Mr. Tsiodra’s book is based on facts and added that Europe is at a critical point, because it is not developing in a vacuum but in a world that is looking for its pace. He spoke of insecurity and uncertainty that characterizes the world, because – as he said – great changes have occurred at speed, such as the technological revolution and planetary crises. Referring to the technological revolution, she said that it has succeeded and is changing our lives, and added that with technology, now in the American elections, Taylor Swift will judge critical states. He also said that we have a crisis and now wealth is not generated by production but by capital movements and this increases inequalities. He specifically stated that the 5 richest people in the world doubled their wealth in recent years and 5 billion people became poorer. He estimated that the answer could be the global fight against tax evasion and finally mentioned that Europe is inferior to the USA.

Former Minister and former Commissioner Stavros Dimas initially congratulated Theodoros Roussopoulos on his election to the presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, while he emphasized, referring to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, that he restored the international prestige of our country from 2019. He referred to the book and he said that he is studying the path to the unification of Europe, and stressed that there are barriers that prevent this unification. He mentioned the loss of national sovereignty which, as Mr. Dimas said, fuels Euroscepticism and also referred to the economic inequalities in the EU member states. The difference in the levels of employment development and living standards of the countries is great and citizens may feel that their voice is not heard, Mr. Dimas added, referring to the factors that hinder European integration. Finally, he referred extensively to the USA and China, as well as to the economic and industrial developments in these two countries, in contrast to Europe, which is not following at the same speed.

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Finally, the former commissioner also spoke about the book Anna Diamantopoulou who referred extensively to the enlargement of Europe during her term of office, and the consequences it had, while she said that in 2024 she finds Europe facing an upheaval with different problems of different countries and places citing as an example the mobilizations of farmers and workers in Europe. She added that Angela Merkel had told her when she was asked about it, that her vision was for the Germans to live better, and today – Mrs. Diamantopoulou said – Europe itself is paying for it. He pointed out that the election of Donald Trump can change any balance and estimated that there will be changes in the Ukrainian and relations with China and Russia, and Europe is not preparing for this eventuality, which – as he said – must be done . Finally, Mrs. Diamantopoulou said that Europe must proceed with changes such as the removal of unanimity, at any cost, even if some countries are affected.