European Business Review Q&A Session

by Sofia Kosma

The answers were all edited by the magazine’s Chief Editor N. Peter Kramer, who answered plenty of interesting questions regarding the elections that have been lately taking place all over Europe as well as the future of the European Union. 

Judging by the interest of our Facebook page fans and their questions, it is more than clear how much concern there is around EU and its future. But at the same time, N. P. Kramer’s excitement was also obvious watching that young people in Greece are actually alerted. 

Questions managed to cover a wide range of current reality. The Chief Editor answered whether there will be eventually Brexit or not and pointed out the importance of the good beginning in the official negotiations. However, the UK will first have to organize itself and the economic relation with the EU before it starts looking for new economic alliances.  

As far as the French election is concerned, it was mentioned that especially in the first round of the Presidential election, many votes for Mrs. Le Pen were protest votes. Thus the French didn’t really vote for Le Pen, but against other candidates. And when it came to why so few people voted for the elections, according to N. P. Kramer a lot of people had the idea that had no choice: they didn’t like to vote for Macron and they didn’t like to vote for Le Pen either. Result: Macron was elected President by only 35% of the total French electorate.

Given the crucial location of Greece, there was also a question put regarding who is considered nowadays as Europe’s biggest “frenemy” among Turkey, Russia or the USA. After a short analysis the conclusion was that EU has double standards and collaborates with all looking for the most beneficial relationship with other states and continents, emphasizing this way the significance of diplomacy. Furthermore, N. P. Kramer did recognise the efforts of the Greek Prime Minister to stable the situation inside and outside Greece. 

Last but not least, as far as a question about the future of the European Union was concerned, the Editor in Chief gave an example of a photograph taken 10 years ago which depicted A. Merkel and N. Sarcozy. “They were equally determined back then to do great things” he said. “Since then, nothing has changed apart from the French Prime Minister’s Name”.