The Unique Situation of Greece in Eastern Europe.

[JohnSmith]

I thought Greece is in Southern Europe.

They are Western in Political terms. Many say Greece is the Cradle of Western Civilization. The Iliad and the Athenian Democracy which lasted about 200 years.

They have since the end of WWII been politically on the NATO Western Democratic side of issues Vs. the Soviet dominated Eastern European block.

[Petros Houhoulis]

I thought Greece is in Southern Europe.

To grasp how Greece could be both Western Europe and Southern Europe (actually it it Southeast!) you should start thinking in terms: Coastal=Civilized Europe vs Continental=Barbarian Europe, which was a fact until land communications improved during the last centuries. Before that, you couldn't be much civilized beyond the seafront.

East Europe is still lagging behind in several aspects.

[JohnSmith]

To grasp how Greece could be both Western Europe and Southern Europe (actually it it Southeast!) you should start thinking in terms: Coastal=Civilized Europe vs Continental=Barbarian Europe, which was a fact until land communications improved during the last centuries. Before that, you couldn't be much civilized beyond the seafront.

East Europe is still lagging behind in several aspects.

Eastern Europe is catching up. The EU is benefits many of them currency wise. Greece's standard of living has actual improved since joining the common currency.

When a Eastern European country joins the EURO that causes issues for countries like France and Italy because now Protectionist France and Italy have to compete with the new Eastern European country which has much lower labor cost.