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[Previous entry: "The Can of Worms I"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Halle-bloody-lujah"] 13 April 2003: "Greece - nation of traitors redux"The Economist this week features a lovely article ("Having it both ways" which, sadly, is premium content) on the Greek stance towards America: In a televised speech to his Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok), [Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis] said that by waging war America and Britain were trying to undermine the EU. “Those fighting the war don't want to see progress in unifying Europe. They want it to weaken,” he said.That last bit, frankly, says everything about the Greeks, because you can bet they're not going to send back the money. As for the EU, the main reason the Greeks are so keen on it is because they're a major beneficiary of common agriculture policy funding, development funding and because last October the European Commission decided that feta is a "label of protected origin." The latter means that by the end of 2007, only Greek-produced feta will be allowed to be called "feta" within the EU. The Greek Dairies Association hailed the ruling, stating Feta [...] will no longer face illegal competition from other white cheeses in brine.("Illegal competition"... looks like somebody needs the concept of "free market economy" explained.) Some 75% of feta is produced outside Greece. Denmark, the foremost non-Greek producer of feta, is appealing the ruling before the European Court of Justice. So much for "unifying Europe." My earlier sentiments on Greece remain unchanged. |
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