BUCHAREST –  In the historic beginnings of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, athletes would all carry olive branches to the Games as a symbol of peace.   While the actual olive branches are no longer an official part of the Games, to this very day the Olympics remain the quintessential expression of international cooperation, [...]

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Greece is one of the most important investors in the Balkans and most analysts are concerned that the financial crisis will have a spillover effect on the Balkan countries. Greece dominates the region’s banking sector with ownership or control of nearly 28 percent of the financial institutions. With almost 2,000 branches throughout the region, Greek-owned [...]

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PARIS  - On October 4, 2009, the Greek Socialist Party Pasok scored a large victory in early national elections. With a clear majority (160 out of 300 seats) in the Greek legislature, Pasok’s top candidate George Papandreou became prime minister. A few days later, the new government announced that the budget deficit would be at [...]

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In his Transatlantic Take piece, Francois Lafond reflects on recent developments and offers some pointers for future economic governance within the Eurozone.   Having just returned from Athens, let me add some additional reflections on the potential geopolitical implications of the crisis.   First, the scale of the budget crisis facing the new Greek government [...]

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The European Union spends ‚¬55 billion a year on farm subsidies. Until recently the question of where the money goes was a closely-guarded secret. But thanks to a campaign by journalists, researchers and computer programmers, European taxpayers now have the right to know how their tax money is spent. Jack Thurston, Transatlantic Fellow at the [...]

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BRUSSELS — The mood on China in Western capitals is beginning to darken. From cyber-attacks to obstinacy in Copenhagen, Beijing’s assertiveness and the hardening tone of its diplomacy are prompting a rethink. If the competitive aspects of the relationship with China are going to dominate in the years ahead, have the United States and Europe [...]

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WASHINGTON — Israel last week submitted its response to the UN’s Goldstone Report.   That report investigated the conduct of Israel and Hamas during the Gaza war in January 2009, accusing both sides of war crimes.   It recommended resorting to the International Criminal Court if the sides failed to investigate the charges themselves.   [...]

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