By Angelos Stangos

Greeks are busy with the pandemic and its serious impact on their economic and social life, especially during the festive season - and with the Church emerge as the main obscurantist and subversive force in the effort to address the COVID-19- may not have understood in its full dimension the «emptying» of the country by its friends and partners at the recent European Summit.

«unleashing,» in which everyone participated, from her usually «suspicious» of her understanding attitude towards Erdogan Germany of the Frau Merkel to the until recently furious anger over Turkish provocation, Macron's France and from the reproducing Italy until Kurz's Austria, who was talking «through his teeth’ on the very eve of the summit.

The «emptying» of Greece by the Europeans, is fully reflected in the conclusions of the summit and the government's attempt to embellish them is not convincing. Nor is it surprising that once again, as has almost always been the case in world practice over the centuries, interests have prevailed at the expense of ostensible principles, nor is it surprising that once again the strategic perspectives of the European Union as a whole were «buried» under the petty politics of national governments.

Besides, with the exception of the decision to create the Recovery Fund, which also serves German needs, the current Chancellor has not distinguished herself as a politician willing to promote the idea of European deepening in practice. And she has never claimed such recognition, it is true.

The question that arises, given the clear indications that preceded the meeting and were confirmed by the conclusions and decisions, is because Athens was nurturing hopes and expectations that Europe would no longer tolerate Erdogan's provocativeness and would send him a stern message.

That «Mitsotakis will not leave the summit without taking something» that the government spokesman uttered in his «robotic» voice is stuck in the mind, as are the other related statements by the Prime Minister and various ministers, especially of Foreign Affairs. For the government's belief that something better would come out of the summit was surprising, certainly more so than the disappointing outcome that was reasonably expected...

So did the government have assurances from some important capitals, such as Berlin or Paris, that they would show more strongly their displeasure towards Erdogan and finally «sold out»?; Did Macron trade last-minute support for Greece for support for France's claims to fishing rights in Brexit?;

Or was it the American positions towards Ankara, which were openly communicated in Brussels before the summit, that provided the necessary pretexts? Perhaps all of the above, plus vested interests, but the government owes a response, even a veiled one, to public opinion in advance of negotiations...