GREEK ACCESSION AND EC COMMERCIAL POLICY TOWARD THE SOUTH

Greece formally joined the European Communities (EC) on January 1, 1981 in the middle of a worldwide stagnation and rise of protectionist sentiments. As the accession negotiations were carried out within a spirit of political urgency, not much effort was put by the Greek side to assess the impact of the EC common policies on the Greek economy and negotiate compensation for potential damage. As a consequence Greece agreed to adopt without change all the existing EC common policies.