The European Union must strengthen its competitive advantage by modernizing its institutions and its governance, by improving the effectiveness of its financial resources and by investing more in research and innovation, noted Dr. Theodoros Skylakakis, Member of the European Parliament, President of Drasi, and the keynote speaker at the DEREE Symposium, “EU Integration Revisited: Business Opportunities in the Post-Crisis Europe.”

Europe MP Dr Theodoros Skylakakis speaking from Brussels on Skype

Speaking via Skype from Brussels, Dr. Skylakakis also outlined the root causes of the European crisis.

A host of other notable speakers also shared their views on the internal market and it’s potential during the Symposium that took place on November 5 at the John S. Bailey Library of DEREE’s Aghia Paraskevi campus, organized by the department of International Business and European Affairs (IBEA) of the DEREE School of Business – in cooperation with the program’s student academic society.

The event featured two discussion panels which examined opportunities in the internal market amidst the eurozone crisis as well as the European energy security question and the potential role Greece might play in Europe’s energy self-sufficiency. Panelists at the Symposium were Dr. Constantine Papadopoulos, Group Advisor on Economic and European Affairs of the Eurobank Group, Dr. John Halikias, Head Research Supervisor of the Panhellenic Exporters Association (PEA), Dr. Elias Conophagos, Advisor to the Greek Government and Vice President of Flow Energy, Mrs. Tereza Fokianou, President and CEO of Flow Energy and Dr. Evangelos Venetis, Head of the Middle East Research Project of the Hellenic Institute for European and Foreign Policy – ELIAMEP.

IBEA faculty, Dr. Anna Visvizi and Dr. Georgios Filis moderated the two panel discussions, while Dr. Antonis Klidas, Head of IBEA, and Professor Vilma Sinanoglou, Associate Dean of the School of Business, opened the Symposium. The event was well attended by DEREE students and faculty, as well as College guests.

Dr. Constantine A. Papadopoulos, Group Advisor on Economic and European Affairs, The Eurobank Group

Associate Dean of the School of Business Professor Vilma Sinanoglou speaking at the event, flanked by Dr. John Halikias, Head Research Supervisor of the Panhellenic Exporters Association (PEA), and IBEA Professor Anna Visvizi

Dr. John Halikias, Head Research Supervisor of the Panhellenic Exporters Association (PEA)