[Translated from the Greek transcript]
E. BONINO: Thank you for being here. My meeting with my friend Evangelos Venizelos gave us the opportunity to exchange views and to reaffirm our excellent bilateral relations, which I want to underscore in particular.
The focus of our talks was the preparations for the two EU Presidencies. As you know, Greece will hold the Presidency in the first half of 2014, and we will hold the Presidency for the second half of 2014. And we will focus jointly on 2014, the Mediterranean year, which includes many issues and sectors that my colleague Mr. Venizelos will elaborate on. We mean the southern Mediterranean, but also the Adriatic-Ionian region, on which we have collaborated. These were the general themes we discussed. Our bilateral meetings will be more intensive in view of the preparations for the two Presidencies. For example, the Greek Interior Minister is expected to visit in the coming days to meet with his Italian counterpart, Mr. Alfano.
E. VENIZELOS: Emma, Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity for us to talk directly here in Rome about our joint strategy, the Mediterranean year. This coming year, 2014, is our joint opportunity, thanks to our consecutive Presidencies – the Greek and Italian Presidencies. Our common denominator is the Mediterranean dimension of European policy. Our joint decision and our shared willingness is to take major and attractive political initiatives for our common geographical and cultural space, the Mediterranean Sea, on the level of border protection, security, migration, and, naturally, on various energy issues.
The new Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is a new geographical link between the two countries, and now our next plan, our next endeavour, is to have the Adriatic-Ionian region declared a macro-region, in accordance with European regulations. This is a development that is very important for the region’s development. This Mediterranean neighbourhood is of great importance, not just for economic reasons, but also for political reasons, and our next goal is the need to reopen the political debate on the future of Europe. To reopen a true political dialogue in the Eurozone and in the European Union.
The European crisis is not just of a financial nature. In the end, it is also a crisis of democratic legitimization. From a societal perspective, it is absolutely imperative that we provide our citizens with fresh hope and new prospects, a new narrative for Europe as a single space, as a continent of quality, democracy, culture and prospects for the future.
JOURNALIST (RAI): It is true that the Mediterranean year will be a major opportunity for Europe and European citizens, but 2014 is a major opportunity for Greece and Italy. What do these two countries want to point up to Europe? What does Greece want to say to Europe: What do Greece and Italy want to show through their Presidencies?
E. BONINO: Following up on what Mr. Venizelos said, I want to stress that both countries want to say to Europe that we are not calling into question the necessity of fiscal discipline. But Europe must also mean growth, possibilities, future. It cannot be just austerity. Austerity is a tool for achieving a goal, it is not political. I think this also came out of Mr. Venizelos’ meeting this morning with Prime Minister Letta, who visited Athens recently.
The second thing we want to say to Europe is that the Mediterranean is not optional. The Mediterranean space is problems and opportunities that are relevant to the whole of Europe and its population of 450 million. It is clear that we have to succeed in passing on this message. No one has magical solutions, but it is significant that we have already managed to impose on Europe a priority that concerns the Mediterranean.
The initiatives can obviously be adapted to variations in the Mediterranean countries – we are not setting strategies for the planet Mars. We have to pay attention to the developments in the Mediterranean countries. But it is decisive that the southern section of the Mediterranean is not simply a geographical region: it is interests, problem, but also great opportunities for the whole of Europe.
E. VENIZELOS: The Mediterranean parameter as a common denominator of our joint Mediterranean year is not a political choice – it is geographical and historical destiny. We need to accept our common Mediterranean and European destiny. This is the firm foundation of our shared will to promote other European dimensions as well. It is not possible for European societies to accept only one take on the financial crisis and on the adaptation programmes.
It is imperative that we reopen the debate on growth, on the creation of new jobs, on protection of social cohesion – as well as the debate on the historical attributes of our continent. Europe is a continent of history, of culture, of quality, of democracy. It is of exceptionally vital importance that we reopen the political debate.
T. ANDREADIS-SYGGELAKIS (ANA): Will this initiative help to create new jobs in Europe and combat unemployment? Did you discuss the matter of the German elections? And whether there will be some change in the economic crisis following the German elections.
E. BONINO: We didn’t talk about the German elections. There is little to be gained. The German citizens will decide on Sunday, and we will maintain relations with the new leadership that is chosen by the German people. This doesn’t change our position. We are not against fiscal discipline, but there has to be something more.
For example, the policy for supporting MSEs, policy for promoting growth, industrial policy – all of these issues have to be made priorities. Austerity alone will not suffice. We do not disagree with austerity, but it is not enough. Austerity is a tool – fiscal discipline is a means, it is not the end. We are also looking at the progress on what was agreed at the June Council on the issue of youth employment, and these decisions have to be implemented during the Greek and Italian Presidencies.
E. VENIZELOS: For Greece, following four years of crisis and the sacrifices of our citizens, the principal goal is to restore Greece’s real economy. The main goal, the number-one priority, is growth. And this is what is important: we are talking about growth and the creation of new jobs. We are talking about growth and social cohesion. We cannot accept the policy that says growth without credit, growth without jobs.
This is a serious threat to Europe’s future. We are ready to discuss things openly and in a friendly manner, to negotiate with the new German government, but always on the firm basis of mutual respect and on an institutional basis: the so-called institutional equality of EU member states.
Our common goal is for Europe, the European Union. to acquire a new model for growth. This is vital for us, for Greece. We cannot bear any more fiscal measures, more cuts. We are prepared for radical, structural changes. We cannot accept the theory that says, growth without credit, growth without new jobs. For us. growth means liquidity, it means new jobs, it means protecting social cohesion.
September 17, 2013