Attached below is the translated text of the interview Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos granted to ANSA journalist Patrizio Nissirio in the framework of his visit to Rome:
Title: “Venizelos in Rome – major European initiatives with Italy”
An ambitious European agenda and the re-establishment of member-state equality, with a common agenda for Italy and Greece in 2014, with many plans and joint proposals. In his interview with the Ansamed news agency, Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, within the framework of his visit to Rome, explains how the case of Greece is linked closely to that of Europe, and that the unprecedented and harsh sacrifices of the Greek people are expected to bring results, not just in economic terms.
“Italy and Greece have an institutional duty to coordinate the two presidencies,” he explains, “but on the bilateral level, as well, we want to do many things together, taking major political initiatives. We are countries of southern Europe, with the same interests in the Mediterranean, and we are facing the difficulties of the economic crisis.” Among the issues of concern to both Rome and Athens is migration, “which, together with security of borders, is one of our Presidency’s priorities. I have the excellent opportunity to be hear to talk to my counterpart and the European Affairs Minister about how we can cooperate on European and bilateral matters. Italy and Greece are a gateway to Europe, we are in a very special position that is very different from that of other countries.”
But, while talking to Mr. Venizelos, who was Finance Minister during the most dramatic times in the crisis, it is impossible not to refer to how Athens is progressing and the price the Greeks have paid and are paying to emerge from the tunnel. “This is the only way to get past the crisis, through very difficult measures, through the tough sacrifices made by our citizens,” the minister states, “but now, after six years of recession and four years of obvious crisis, we have the opportunity to present the main result of the budget: a primary surplus, for the first time in many years. This is the most tangible evidence of our efforts.”
“At the same time, it is our goal to move ahead with the structural changes that are necessary and vital to the transformation of Greece’s real economy, so that we can strengthen the competitiveness of all our enterprises and of the public sector. However, this is a response that is based on numbers and financial data. The main problem is the state of society, the crisis of Greek society, the unacceptable unemployment rate. We need to maintain social cohesion. It is imperative that we send a message of hope and prospects. We cannot talk about numbers alone. We also need to talk about the real economy, real society. This is the real problem: the re-creation of a new relationship of trust between the political system and Greek society.”
In spite of the necessity of continuing the reforms, the Foreign Minister warns that “it is impossible for us to consider new horizontal economic measures; new wage and pension cuts are unthinkable. From 2010 to 2012, Greeks saw their incomes fall by more than 35%, which is unprecedented and unacceptable in peacetime.”
According to projections, Greece will reach the level of primary surplus in the first half of 2014. “A return to a normal pace is difficult, but we are now prepared for the last stage of the course. Symbolically, one fifth of the course remains, with four fifths of this difficult collective effort already completed.” And Mr. Venizelos stresses that “Greece can boast the largest structural primary budget surplus in the Eurozone, at 2% of GDP.”
Europe, too, is linked to the Greek case, having been hit by the crisis, on the level of prospects, as well. “In the wake of this experience,” Mr. Venizelos says, “we need to reopen the debate on the future of Europe. We need to protect and recreate conditions of equality amongst the member states, we need to talk about the democratic deficit, from a new perspective. It cannot be acceptable for there to be governments with the power to take decisions, while other countries are obliged to implement decisions to avoid default or disaster for the economy and the banks. We need new forms of solidarity, new forms of burden sharing in the framework of the Eurozone.”
“But this is a very difficult debate. It is not a problem between governments, but between national economies. The foremost obstacle to strengthening Europe is the role of new forms of economic nationalism, and it is very difficult to reconcile the high European targets with national election perspectives. Personally, I respect our partners, European solidarity, the loans from the Eurozone and the IMF – which are vital to the reconstruction of the Greek economy – but from a political standpoint it is imperative that we open a new debate on European democratic institutions and building equality amongst the member states.”
September 17, 2013