by Pantelis Savvidis
To speak about Europe, one must first define the perspective from which they view it. That of those who hold power, or that of the people?
If one looks at its development through the lens of European societies, the following can be pointed out:
The peoples expected that by joining Europe:
- Their democracy would expand and become more substantive
- They would enjoy greater security
- Their standard of living would improve
Unfortunately:
- Democracy has been curtailed. Power groups made up of politicians, economic players, intellectuals, and media barons have hijacked societies. Europe is absent when it comes to enforcing rules.
- Solidarity in matters of security has become a mere formality — just words. Europe often abandons its members in favor of forces that threaten them.
- But the most tragic mistake of Europe, which has led to its widespread rejection, is its tolerance of mafia-style power structures within member states. These structures have entrenched themselves atop their peoples and exploit them.
Let me be clear with the example of Bulgaria, which will become a member of the Eurozone next January.
In an article published on the thoughtful blog The Conversation, journalist Yuxiang Lin writes:
“The EU has funneled €16.3 billion into Bulgaria since its accession, with a primary focus on infrastructure development. However, as my one-year field research has shown, Sofia has been the main beneficiary. Small municipalities and rural areas have not felt the same benefits. Out of the €16.3 billion, €3.1 billion went to Sofia and €800 million to Plovdiv. While new metro lines are being built in Sofia, in other regions residents struggle to access basic public services. About 15% of the population finds it difficult to maintain stable and quality water supply.”
The same is happening in Greece, which is steadily descending — not just to the bottom of Europe, but to the bottom of the Balkans.
This all mirrors the mafia-style Greek governments (they are structured and operate as such — not like classic Western-type governments), which have treated Greece’s provinces similarly, without any intervention from Brussels. Why should we desire such a Europe? Its periphery is in the same miserable state whether within or outside its borders.
If Brussels wishes to replicate such centralized regimes like Bulgaria’s, Greece’s, and others, it must understand that citizens outside the circle of benefit will reject it.
And they will be right to do so. People who were not just pro-European but federalists now wish to escape the EU’s influence.
Especially as the EU tolerates this authoritarian centralism in Greece, and this parody of information coming from media outlets that have been bought off. Have you seen any meaningful EU intervention in Greece’s disgraceful situation? The country lags even behind African dictatorships in terms of media quality.
Was this the goal of the EU’s political leadership?
As things stand, Europe has failed.
In Brussels, individuals like Mr. Mitsotakis, Mr. Gerapetritis, and others from the Greek government may currently hold sway. But with such choices and mindsets, Europe is finished.
This lumpen plutocracy and political class in Greece — from the Simitis era to today — have destroyed the country.
The greatest contributions to this destruction came from:
- Kostas Simitis, with the Olympic Games,
- George Papandreou, with the “Kallikratis” reform and the bailout memoranda,
- and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with his absolute amorality.
The Tsipras kindergarten was a historical accident.
If Mitsotakis clicks the “I am human” button on the internet, the system will not open. It will identify him as a machine — and a thoroughly amoral one at that.
He has corrupted the entire society. Whatever escaped corruption before, he has finished off completely and emphatically.
You know what’s most tragic? There are still people who support him…
Given today’s composition of political leadership, economic elite, intelligentsia, and media — along with the prevailing mentality of the Greek people — Turkey will take everything from Greece. It just won’t do it abruptly or all at once.
P.S.: To understand the mentality of this society — it doesn’t strive to defend itself. It just waits, hoping others will fight each other and it might benefit from it.
And what if the others don’t fight?
Τετέλεσται…;
«Η ΕΕ έχει διοχετεύσει 16,3 δισ. ευρώ στη Βουλγαρία από την ένταξή της, με βασική έμφαση στην ανάπτυξη υποδομών. Ωστόσο, όπως έδειξε μια ετήσια επιτόπια έρευνά μου, η Σόφια υπήρξε ο κύριος ωφελημένος. Οι μικροί δήμοι και οι αγροτικές περιοχές δεν αισθάνθηκαν εξίσου τα οφέλη. Από τα 16,3 δισ., τα 3,1 δισ. πήγαν στη Σόφια και 800 εκατ. στο Πλόβντιβ. Ενώ στη Σόφια κατασκευάζονται νέες γραμμές μετρό, σε άλλες περιοχές οι κάτοικοι δυσκολεύονται να έχουν πρόσβαση σε βασικές δημόσιες υπηρεσίες. Περίπου το 15% του πληθυσμού δυσκολεύεται να έχει σταθερή και ποιοτική υδροδότηση».
Έτσι όπως πορεύεται η Ευρώπη απέτυχε.
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