Welcome to New Europe Online

“New Europe Online,” independent news service for European Union matters, born in Brussels, Friday, September the 2nd, 2011.

Everything started 33 years ago in a suburb of Athens, Aghia Parakevi, when on the 2nd of September, 1978, I have published the first issue of “Business & Finance,” Greece’s only English weekly magazine which lived until 1993. I decided to kill it, despite the strong complaints of all my associates (it was a successful and profitable operation). However, I wanted to concentrate all our efforts on “New Europe,” and decided to sacrifice all other activities.

I felt, at the time, that by only stopping the “Business & Finance” workflow and earnings, we would all take the new venture seriously. And indeed, “New Europe” despite difficulties and hostility shown by many quarters, proved successful.

Throughout the years we had a variety of different successful activities, such as intelligence newsletters and reports, books and guides, conferences, etc., which secured a steady yet not spectacular growth. Indeed, in this 33-year career in the media, our group, never applied for a loan and never had a check bounce thus making us a rather rotten client for the banks. At the same time, we never got support or a subsidy from anybody, and we never participated in any government or EU funded program. This is why we have the luxury of being independent in a city where almost everybody owes something to somebody else.

I remember very well that evening of Friday, September the 2nd 1978, when I got in my hands the first printed copy of “Business & Finance” which feels like it was only yesterday. Today, after 33 years, Alexandros Koronakis, who was not even born then, is launching “New Europe Online.” I wish him success.

                                                                               Basil (Vassilis) Coronakis