Greece’s recovery depends on Europe holding together

Deeper EU economic coordination now looks less like ideology and more like insurance against future shocks

Sir,

After years in which Greece was held up as a cautionary tale, it is striking to see the conversation shift from survival to long-term resilience and strategic positioning within Europe (‘Why Greece’s recovery depends on deeper EU economic integration’.)

The euro, access to capital, and the stability investors now associate with Greece all depend on the EU holding together and functioning more coherently. That is an uncomfortable truth for those who still frame integration as a loss of sovereignty rather than a form of shared insurance.

Fragmentation across the EU has long limited Europe’s ability to absorb shocks and compete globally, and a genuine Capital Markets Union would not just benefit large economies but give countries like Greece the financial depth needed to sustain growth when conditions turn.

What the article also made clear is that this is no longer just about Greece. Europe’s choice is between deeper coordination or gradual marginalisation; Greece just happens to illustrate the stakes more clearly than most.

The recovery underway should not be taken for granted. If Europe wants Greece’s progress to last, deeper integration looks less like an abstract ambition and more like a practical necessity.

Yours faithfully,

Dimitris Papadopoulos

Athens, Greece