Journalist: Does everyone ask you about the crisis?
Mr. Lambrinidis: They ask me. Suddenly I’m an economist, though I was trained in law. These questions are obvious. Not just because the crisis is affecting Greece and comes from there. It has national, Greek roots, but apparently, especially in recent months, also European roots. Greece is a wealthy country with strong influence, and in recent years it had bad management. The problems with the economy and growth are matters of decades, not years. Now we have to guide Greece onto the course of a healthy tax system – from which we were derailed – and at the same time carry out structural reforms concerning the operation of hospitals, schools and the pension system.
Journalist: Can one point to the most important factor that caused the crisis? A politician or party?
Mr. Lambrinidis: We didn’t have sustainable development in Greece. The money borrowed from abroad was not invested in a prudent manner, with the aim of bringing future gains. But it is not part of my portfolio to point my finger at anyone. It is important to ensure national unity during a crisis. Now the time has come for Greeks to show one another solidarity. It is also time for Europe to be convinced that we are determined to carry out reforms in Greece.
Journalist: In the northern eurozone countries, people are expressing the view that the Greeks are not ready to work hard; they are not willing to make sacrifices and cut spending.
Mr. Lambrinidis: I am aware of these allegations. They are false. They were also false before the crisis. Much more so now, if one looks at the magnitude of the cutbacks that the Greeks have agreed to suffer. These allegations are also belied by Eurostat and OECD data on working hours per week, which are higher in Greece than the European average, or retirement age, which is not early in Greece. Part of the problem we are facing in Europe right now is that in the midst of a crisis we see a tendency to attack rather than extend a helping hand to one another.
Journalist: There are those who believe that the crisis has to do with the lifestyle of Greeks, who spend all day at cafés.
Mr. Delavekouras: I’ve heard that, too, and I will point to the statistics on working hours in Greece as compared to other countries in the EU. But I must admit that we were not at a satisfactory level of productivity. It isn’t true that we don’t work hard. There are problems with competitiveness. But that is linked to balanced growth. It is when the crisis comes that we see how unfavourable it is for the economy not to be based on a variety of productive investments. Everyone is happy when the cow is fat. This was the case at the beginning of the last decade. When we adopted the common currency, the euro, everyone was under the impression that harmonization of economies was possible without the political and financial harmonization of the EU. But during these eleven years, the economies of the eurozone countries diverged from one another more and more, rather than converging. The adoption of the euro made it cheaper to borrow money in the southern countries. It was easier to borrow and grow by consuming, but this also helped increase exports from countries with heavy industries.
Journalist: Are you insinuating that Greece is disappointed in the way the crisis and Greek reforms are being assessed abroad?
Mr. Lambrinidis: No. We are grateful to Poland, to Germany and to the other countries that, in a difficult situation, showed solidarity, which might be unpopular with public opinion in these countries. At the same time, we are facing off against the rhetoric of punishment and the assignment of blame. This has to end. The Greeks made mistakes, and, more specifically, their governments made mistakes. Now the Greeks are accepting sacrifices and will continue to suffer. That is why it is important to stop the punitive rhetoric. Pointing fingers doesn’t help.
Journalist: Since we’re not supposed to talk about the causes of the crisis, let’s think about the future. What does the future hold for Greece in three years, for example?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Everything will change. For the better. These will be three very difficult years, but no one expects it to be easy in Greece. We are determined to carry out all the reforms we promised, because we want to change the economy. But to achieve this, Greeks need to see the light at the end of the tunnel and they have to believe there is a way out. That is why it is so important to stop talking about who is responsible for the crisis, about sins and about exacting punishment.
Journalist: Is there Greek nostalgia for the drachma?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Almost every week I read somewhere about the end of the euro and the need for Greece to return to the drachma. That’s not an option. Not for Greece and not for the EU. And it never was.
Journalist: How is the crisis affecting foreign policy? Now that Greece is facing problems, for example, is it against EU enlargement?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Quite the contrary. I reiterated at the SEECP meeting that Greece supports further EU enlargement in the Balkans. We haven’t changed our view on this matter. In fact, we have a stronger desire to see our northern neighbours join us in the EU.
Journalist: What does Greece expect from the Polish EU Presidency?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Reading the programme, one sees the advent of an excellent Presidency. Poland is underscoring everything that is vital to the EU right now. Its vision is of an ever stronger Europe dedicated to the principle of solidarity. Poland has a great opportunity to breathe new life into a Europe that is trying to emerge from the crisis.
Journalist: How is the crisis affecting your life?
A few weeks ago, I was the vice president of the European Parliament and head of the Greek socialist contingent. Two days after taking up my post as Foreign Minister, I met in Brussels with the Foreign Ministers from the other member states and no one congratulated me, but everyone wished me good luck. That says a lot.
Journalist: Then I, too, wish you good luck.
July 21, 2011