![]() This logic, however, fails to understand the real problem in Greece and the psychology of the European public. From this point of view, a hard line toward Greece is a necessary evil. Its governing party, Syriza, needs to fall in order to dampen the European public’s support for parties that are challenging the EU status quo. Greece, the thinking goes, needs to fail now in order to discipline other unruly countries. Instead, many EU bureaucrats, ministers of finance, and heads of state saw-and some still see-the Greek crisis as a case study in moral hazards. ![]() What resonated in the moment was that this exchange was exactly what the founders of the European Union envisaged: a solidary group of European citizens living in peace and prosperity. It was also of little matter that many of my compatriots would find this story depressing. It is besides the point that I did not personally need this form of solidarity. In 30, she came back with her own credit card, swiped it, and handed over to me the first of the three tickets saying: “This is from me. When she heard the word “Greek,” she put her hand close to her heart and repeated the word in French with compassion and solidarity. In her attempt to help me buy the most appropriate tickets for the next three days, I (apologetically) revealed to her that I am Greek and that I do not speak French. At the station, a woman my age was standing behind the ticket booth. ![]() As the Greek negotiating team was preparing its latest reform proposal for the country’s creditors, I was walking to the Montparnasse metro station in Paris on my way to the Council for European Studies conference held at Sciences Po.
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