W. SCHÄUBLE: For a number of years, Mr. Venizelos and I were Finance Ministers together, we fought many battles in the difficult time of the Euro-crisis, and we have a very friendly relationship, even though it happened that we had to resolve very difficult issues.
Greece has left difficult years behind it. These years are successful; the reforms made a lot of progress. Today, Greece is, economically and as regards fiscal indicators, in a better position that most thought possible three of four years ago. This shows that the course of solidarity and reforms was the right one. It was a tiring path for the Greek people, but it was worth it.
Yesterday, Greece submitted a request that the current programme, which would have expired in its current form on 31 December, be extended by two months. As a federal government, we will bring the issue to the Federal Parliament next week, and the Bundestag will debate it and agree on the two-month extension, so that the negotiations with the troika can be completed, and so that we can have a successful outcome of the current programme and all of the accompanying measures.
We also said at the Eurogroup that we are prepared for a successful outcome of the programme, to provide a preventive line of credit, but this is a step for after the successful completion of the current programme.
Greece must continue on this path, but I believe that the targets that have been met are encouraging for everyone, for the continuation of this path, and Greece can continue to depend on the solidarity of Europe and Germany.
E. VENIZELOS: Mr. Schäuble and I are linked by an old and solid friendship, because we have experienced very difficult moments together, confronting the Greek crisis.
Mr. Schäuble is in a position to understand more than anyone the successes and the sacrifices of the Greek people over the past five years, because he is a decisive figure in the Eurogroup, which is the critical organ regarding these measures.
Thanks to European solidarity, but mainly thanks to the efforts of Greek society itself, the Greek economy is now in a completely different position. It has shown a primary surplus, a positive growth rate, and a stable banking system.
Regarding the matter of political stability: There is the major issue of a clear political horizon. That is why, as Mr. Schäuble knows, we decided with the Prime Minister to move forward the process for election of the President of the Republic by the Hellenic Parliament, so that we can have at our disposal 18 months – up until the end of the parliamentary term – to ensure that the Greek economy takes off.
And at this point our European partners know that the Greek people as a whole are prepared to respond to this great challenge, which is the challenge of the day after the memorandum.
The government was very satisfied to see the conclusions of the Eurogroup of the day before yesterday; conclusions that Mr. Schäuble played a decisive role in shaping. The Eurogroup encourages the Greek government to ask for the extension of the programme by two months, so that we can achieve the completion of the evaluation and, subsequently, the transition to a completely different status: the status of a line of credit, protective armor for the Greek economy, but under completely different conditions.
And I am glad that, at this defining moment, I will have the opportunity to talk about these issues with the most authoritative collocutor one can have: Mr. Schäuble.
December 10, 2014