“Mr. President, dear colleagues,
It is a reality that we are living in a region and an era characterized by insecurity and new challenges. This is an era of uncertainty. Uncertainty, because a new environment is taking shape around us. There is increased instability in the Southeastern Mediterranean. There are developments that have to do with NATO’s identity crisis and with the questioning of traditional Atlantic relations that were the foundation of the post-World War II security environment. Europe itself is being shaken in at time of great upheaval. The Brexit will take place in the coming weeks, following the landslide victory of Boris Johnson and the Conservative party in Britain’s elections. And of course the migration crisis is causing turmoil in all of Europe’s capitals and societies.
At the same time, asymmetrical threats have become part of our everyday lives. Through the use of social networks during election campaigns, in spite of the security provided by fourth and fifth generation communications. In this environment, Europe itself is struggling with dilemmas that until a few years ago would have been forgotten and left on history’s ash heap.
And while Europe itself was born as a coalition of states determined to end traditional hostilities, superseding nationalism and national planning and organizing a new environment of coexistence, today we see national planning returning on all levels. And this is why we see weakness in the European Union itself, in spite of the mandate it got from its citizens in the recent European elections, when most citizens asked for more Europe from their leaderships, voting for parties that support the European path.
In spite of this, we are seeing disagreements leading to failures of Summit Meetings to get results. We did not reach an agreement on climate. Nor did we agree on enlargement. We have not found common ground on the Union’s budget, from which two things are being sought: That we should pay less but, at the same time, get more results, which is impossible. Given this difficult environment, the fact that Greece managed to secure unanimous European support for its positions was a major success.
And this is a national achievement that admits of no doubts or caveats. Because there were no caveats in Brussels, no caveats in the recent decision from the European Council, which clearly stated two things: That the memorandum between Turkey and Libya has no legal effect for third countries and, second, that the European Union stands by Cyprus and Greece in solidarity.
Nevertheless, the environment remains unstable. And this is why we in this hall, along with those outside this hall, have a responsibility to build a framework of national consensus. Against the very real threats from Turkey, the Greek people stand tall and united. And I think this needs to be the constant refrain of all the political parties and all the political leaders. In every stance they take. Precisely because the new environment requires that we rise to the circumstances.
Dear Colleagues,
It is true that, in this new environment, Greece needs to play a leading role in a variety of ways. The first is the recovery of its economy – that Greece is no longer a beggar, that it can now borrow at competitive interest rates, that the budget we are debating is designed to create higher growth rates, increased employment. There is lively interest from major global investors in coming to Greece, and this clearly makes us stronger.
At the same time, we are continuing our consultations in the neighbourhood and in the wider Mediterranean region. And we are also opening doors beyond our neighbourhood. Whether these doors are in Africa or in Asia, with China’s door being a salient example. We need to exercise this multidimensional foreign policy because of our size and, above all, our geographical position. And because of our history: That in spite of being small, Greece has always been able to talk to all of the partners and all of the global players.
Dear Colleagues,
I want to say that, in the context of the European Union – the portfolio I have been given – we have succeeded in gaining trusted interlocutors and, above all, building alliances, which are based on two axes. The axis of mutual respect and that of respect for International Law and its principles. Because without this we would return to the law of the jungle, the era of might makes right. What is right is set out in the international treaties, and we apply these.
In closing, I would like to comment on an issue that has given rise to considerable concerns, including on the European level. And this is the migration issue.
Mr. President,
You are especially sensitive to this issue due to the fact that the island from which you hail is plagued by this problem. I want you to know two things. That the message we are conveying to our European partners is that Greece is doing what it must, changing the asylum procedures and fortifying its borders. Implementing European directives, European regulations on all levels, from the asylum procedure to hosting procedures. At the same time, we are asking Europe not to be frightened or express fear in the face of this phenomena that has come to stay. But to express themselves creatively – at long last creating the structures and procedures we need in order to deal with this. The illegal migration problems are not going to end at the Evros fences or with increased guarding of our maritime borders – things we are doing systematically, and they will fetch results. We will succeed in meeting this challenge when all of the European leaderships decide one thing: That we will manage this problem by shifting the burden onto Europe as a whole, and not by condemning countries of first reception, and especially the Aegean islands, which have our solidarity.
In closing, I would like to say that today’s budget makes Greece stronger because it makes the country’s economic outlook brighter. And this is a tool that we can use in every one of our international meetings. Because a country that does not stand firmly on its own feet – that cannot deal with its vital economic problems – unfortunately has a weak voice.
Today, through this budget we are passing, we are at long last gaining what the country has needed for so many years: A positive message on the direction the economy is taking, with strong growth rates, an improved investment environment, reduced tax rates. So that we can say we are also participating in the benefits of the common economic policy, as we draw it up in Europe.
Thank you very much."
December 16, 2019