George Katrougalos: Greece's fate was to discourage others from breaking with neoliberal politics

By the end of August 2022, the EU's „enhanced surveillance” over Greek finance was finally lifted. But is the crisis really over or is Greece heading towards another turmoil period, now when inflation and high energy prices are reality of all European countries? Cross-Border Talks invited George Katrougalos, the last foreign minister in Syriza's government of Greece, to discuss the situation of Greek state and society after the shock therapy imposed by European Union. Katrougalos explains mechanisms that led to the Greek debt crisis, including structural factors resulting from how the Eurozone works, sheds light at the role of Germany when austerity was imposed on Athens, and recalls how Syriza struggled to save what could have been saved from Greek economy. We also sum up the results of the shock therapy in the long term and ask: can European Union be reformed from within, or will it be always neoliberal and unfriendly towards economic alternatives.