Syriza’s victory in Greece could undermine the effectiveness of EU foreign policy

Most EU foreign policy decisions require the agreement of all EU member states. Following the victory of Syriza in the Greek elections on 25 January 2015, Kyriakos Moumoutzis assesses the impact the election result will have on both Greek foreign policy and the capacity of the EU to negotiate joint foreign policy positions. He notes that with the Syriza government already having opposed an EU statement criticising Russia over the situation in Ukraine, the early signs are that Greece may aim to differentiate itself from the positions of its European partners, making unanimous EU foreign policy decisions more difficult to achieve.

ESO: Background information: Statement of the Heads of State or Government [Ukraine] http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-of-the-heads-of-state-or-government-ukraine/

ESO: Background information: SYRIZA heads for historic victory but without majority http://www.europeansources.info/record/syriza-heads-for-historic-victory-but-without-majority/

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 29.01.15: Putin’s 'useless idiots' or signs of a deeper pathology? Russophilia and national populism in Greece https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/vassilis-petsinis/putin%E2%80%99s-%27useless-idiots%27-or-signs-of-deeper-pathology-russophil

EurActiv, 30.01.15: Greek foreign minister: 'I am not a Russian puppet' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/greek-foreign-minister-i-am-not-russian-puppet-311683

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