The position of Greece in the international imperialist system and the EU
Greece is member of NATO from 1954 and of EU from 1980
The country is participating in the following other international organization:
ACCT (associate), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Greek capitalism, as was noted in the 15th and 16th Conventions of the Party, is at the highest and final stage of its development, in the state-monopoly stage, and remains in an intermediary and dependent position in the world imperialist system. In the EU of the "15" it continues to hold one of the two lowest places. In the enlarged EU of the "25" it has risen to a more upgraded position. It has powerful political and military dependencies on the USA, NATO, and the EU, which have been formed over a long period of time.
Basic characteristics of the imperialist stage of Greek capitalism have been reinforced such as: the export of capital to the European and international markets; its participation in imperialist wars and interventions; its participation in the planning and the promotion of anti-worker and anti-popular measures dictated by the principle imperialist centers and unions, such as the EU and NATO. At the same time, Greek capitalism is experiencing the consequences of competition, the sharpening of antagonisms and contradictions in the uneven capitalist development.
Greek capitalism appears more developed than others in the Balkans, including Turkey. However, a more developed capitalism does not mean a capitalism which is free of crises, nor does it imply an established position among the capitalist economies and states.
The position of Greek capitalism today in the Balkans is not secure on the long term. Turkey has the pre-requisites such as an internal market and a strategic position, for rapid capitalist development, also favored by the prospect of Turkey's joining the EU. Romania also has certain pre-requisites for upgrading its position in the capitalist Balkans. The enlargement of the EU sharpens the competition between Greek industrial and agricultural products and those of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Greek trade balance is already negative with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia and only due to its great surplus with Malta and Cyprus, does it appear positive in total with the 10 new member states of the EU.
During the period following the 16th Convention, the export of domestic capital for direct investment was reinforced, especially in the Balkans but also in the Middle East, the Black Sea region, in Europe, the U.S.A., even in China. Greece appears to hold first place in direct foreign investment in Bulgaria, Albania and in FYROM, while also important are the investments in Serbia and Romania. Among the most powerful exporters of capital in Greece are banking and powerful industrial manufacturing groups in the sectors of food, industrial minerals, metal, petrol products, telecommunications and trade.
In 2003, 65% of business profits were concentrated in about twenty colossal enterprises that cover all sectors. About one dozen domestic monopoly groups were further strengthened in the corresponding European and international markets in regards to the concentration and accumulation of capital, profit-making and the share of sales. Greece holds the greatest share, 46%, in the banking sector in the Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus.
Capitalist development in the Balkan states, together with the initially great destruction of their productive forces, created favorable international conditions for the development of Greek capitalism. Greek capitalism took advantage of the need that existed to link the European capitalist market with those of Eastern Europe and Asian republics of the former USSR. Initially in competition with Turkish capitalism and later, to a large extent, in cooperation with it, Greek capitalism advanced its position in the energy transport sector between Western Europe and the oil and natural gas resources in the aforementioned regions.
The options of the ruling class in the energy sector focus on two complementary directions; in the promotion of "the competitive operation of the energy market" and in the "upgrading of the role of our country in the energy networks of Southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean."
A port - land - port transport connection between Western Europe and Asia via Greece, with port - Egnatia Highway serving as an axis a direct port connection Thessaloniki - Taiwan - China is being planned.
The construction of infrastructure for transportation and the exploitation of land resources will continue to constitute targets of capitalist profiteering. The 4th European Support Framework also serves these targets, while new incentives for direct foreign investment in the same sector, even if smaller than the previous period, are being offered.
Greek shipping capital maintained its strong position in European and international shipping. It increased its transport capacity and its profits. It became more aggressive. Greek shipping capital promotes the line of a return to the Greek shipping registry, under the condition of quick implementation of new pro-shipowner and anti-worker measures in order to enhance its competitiveness. It is the sector of Greek capital that negotiates from a position of power in the EU and brings to the surface several contradictions between its associations and the management of the EU.
On Greek soil, US military bases of strategic importance operate and were used for the occupation of Iraq. Despite occasional governmental proclamations for a reduction in military spending, Greece is directly and indirectly involved in the militarization of the European economy, in the export of capital and wars and the redistribution of markets. From a geo-strategic point of view it is more connected with the region to which the center of international tension is being transferred, the region in which the structuring and restructuring of alliances and opposing poles is manifested. The Aegean is included in this zone and is attracting the interest of the USA and Turkey, because of its general importance in the particular region. The reduction in military service time does not reflect the intention to reduce militarization but the transfer of emphasis on the creation of a professional mercenary army, fully compliant with NATO directives.
The country is participating in the following other international organization:
ACCT (associate), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Greek capitalism, as was noted in the 15th and 16th Conventions of the Party, is at the highest and final stage of its development, in the state-monopoly stage, and remains in an intermediary and dependent position in the world imperialist system. In the EU of the "15" it continues to hold one of the two lowest places. In the enlarged EU of the "25" it has risen to a more upgraded position. It has powerful political and military dependencies on the USA, NATO, and the EU, which have been formed over a long period of time.
Basic characteristics of the imperialist stage of Greek capitalism have been reinforced such as: the export of capital to the European and international markets; its participation in imperialist wars and interventions; its participation in the planning and the promotion of anti-worker and anti-popular measures dictated by the principle imperialist centers and unions, such as the EU and NATO. At the same time, Greek capitalism is experiencing the consequences of competition, the sharpening of antagonisms and contradictions in the uneven capitalist development.
Greek capitalism appears more developed than others in the Balkans, including Turkey. However, a more developed capitalism does not mean a capitalism which is free of crises, nor does it imply an established position among the capitalist economies and states.
The position of Greek capitalism today in the Balkans is not secure on the long term. Turkey has the pre-requisites such as an internal market and a strategic position, for rapid capitalist development, also favored by the prospect of Turkey's joining the EU. Romania also has certain pre-requisites for upgrading its position in the capitalist Balkans. The enlargement of the EU sharpens the competition between Greek industrial and agricultural products and those of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Greek trade balance is already negative with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia and only due to its great surplus with Malta and Cyprus, does it appear positive in total with the 10 new member states of the EU.
During the period following the 16th Convention, the export of domestic capital for direct investment was reinforced, especially in the Balkans but also in the Middle East, the Black Sea region, in Europe, the U.S.A., even in China. Greece appears to hold first place in direct foreign investment in Bulgaria, Albania and in FYROM, while also important are the investments in Serbia and Romania. Among the most powerful exporters of capital in Greece are banking and powerful industrial manufacturing groups in the sectors of food, industrial minerals, metal, petrol products, telecommunications and trade.
In 2003, 65% of business profits were concentrated in about twenty colossal enterprises that cover all sectors. About one dozen domestic monopoly groups were further strengthened in the corresponding European and international markets in regards to the concentration and accumulation of capital, profit-making and the share of sales. Greece holds the greatest share, 46%, in the banking sector in the Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus.
Capitalist development in the Balkan states, together with the initially great destruction of their productive forces, created favorable international conditions for the development of Greek capitalism. Greek capitalism took advantage of the need that existed to link the European capitalist market with those of Eastern Europe and Asian republics of the former USSR. Initially in competition with Turkish capitalism and later, to a large extent, in cooperation with it, Greek capitalism advanced its position in the energy transport sector between Western Europe and the oil and natural gas resources in the aforementioned regions.
The options of the ruling class in the energy sector focus on two complementary directions; in the promotion of "the competitive operation of the energy market" and in the "upgrading of the role of our country in the energy networks of Southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean."
A port - land - port transport connection between Western Europe and Asia via Greece, with port - Egnatia Highway serving as an axis a direct port connection Thessaloniki - Taiwan - China is being planned.
The construction of infrastructure for transportation and the exploitation of land resources will continue to constitute targets of capitalist profiteering. The 4th European Support Framework also serves these targets, while new incentives for direct foreign investment in the same sector, even if smaller than the previous period, are being offered.
Greek shipping capital maintained its strong position in European and international shipping. It increased its transport capacity and its profits. It became more aggressive. Greek shipping capital promotes the line of a return to the Greek shipping registry, under the condition of quick implementation of new pro-shipowner and anti-worker measures in order to enhance its competitiveness. It is the sector of Greek capital that negotiates from a position of power in the EU and brings to the surface several contradictions between its associations and the management of the EU.
On Greek soil, US military bases of strategic importance operate and were used for the occupation of Iraq. Despite occasional governmental proclamations for a reduction in military spending, Greece is directly and indirectly involved in the militarization of the European economy, in the export of capital and wars and the redistribution of markets. From a geo-strategic point of view it is more connected with the region to which the center of international tension is being transferred, the region in which the structuring and restructuring of alliances and opposing poles is manifested. The Aegean is included in this zone and is attracting the interest of the USA and Turkey, because of its general importance in the particular region. The reduction in military service time does not reflect the intention to reduce militarization but the transfer of emphasis on the creation of a professional mercenary army, fully compliant with NATO directives.
e-mail:cpg@int.kke.gr