An MEP interested about the welfare of the Greek people and the Greek economy has two options –
either to read the newspapers in Brussels or go to Greece and meet the people.
The Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group of MEPs decided to do the latter and go to study the situation in Greece with the vital input from Greek people.
Ten EFD MEPs and 16 members of Staff went to Athens for three study days from May 10-12, 2010. There, they learnt crucial information about the Greek economic situation, discussed ways out of the crisis which is shared by other Med countries and Ireland, and proffered pointers of a way forward.
The trip was organised in major part by the LAOS party of Greece of which Mr Nikolaos Salavrakos MEP and Mrs Niki Tzavela MEP are both members.
Most of the meetings took place in the Plaza Resort, Anavyssos, just south of Athens. On Monday 10th of May, the EFD Group delegation were welcomed to Greece by President of the LAOS Party, Mr G.Karatzaferis. This was followed by the setting out of the intense programme of meetings by Mrs Niki Tzavela MEP.
Mr. Constantine Michalos, President of Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry gave a talk about the necessary liberalisation the economy entitled, “The Greek economic crisis and the business World”
Mr. Chris Verelis, Former Minister for Transport and Communications. (Socialist) also gave a very interesting talk.
On the morning of Tuesday 11th of May there were three talks from experts on the Greek situation.
P. Doukas, Former Deputy Minister in the Finance and Foreign Affairs gave a presentation on the financial situation in Greece.
This was followed by a talk on the political situation in Greece by J. Michelakis Editor, “Eleftheros Typos” (the leading conservative daily newspaper).
The presentation on the financial situation in Greece was then given by G. Nikolopoulos, Editor, “To Vima” (Financial Newspaper), and Managing Director of Reporter.gr.
All the Greek speakers were in favour of the euro and European solidarity. Mr Constantine Michalos for instance, said that Greece must establish self-respect and dignity as a country. He was in favour of European loans to the Greek government.
Mr Franceso Speroni MEP, co-president of the EFD Group, and head of the Lega Nord delegation laid much of the blame for the current economic crisis affecting the Meds and Ireland firmly at the door of the euro currency, which is controlled, paraphrasing Prodi, by the ‘Growth and Stupidity’ Pact.
Mr Timo Soini of the True Finns Party said the Greeks are not all at fault for the current crisis. He added that low interest rates of the euro led to large borrowing and big deficits. ‘The euro does not work, the economies of the North and South of Europe cannot be held together by it. There are two workable options, either there is a single fiscal policy or each country has its own currency.’ Mr Soini, from Finland concluded that he was always opposed to Euro entry, and his long-term prognosis on the euro has been proved correct. ‘In life there are always options. I am convinced that you can do better with your own currency, the drachtma.’
Mr Bastiaan Belder, of the Dutch Reform Party commented that growing up in Holland he watched people work very hard after the War, and held strongly to the principle that people must keep to the commitments that they have made in life.
These views were echoed also by Ana Rosbach MEP for the Danish People’s Party.
Mr Morten Messerschmidt, MEP for the Danish People’s Party made a number of interventions in the debates. He pointed out that inappropriate interest rates in the Eurozone damaged the economies of South Europe, and it had been shown that the euro policy of ‘one size fits all’ does not work.
Mrs Marta Andreasen from UKIP clearly stated her opposition to the euro, and how the so-called Greek crisis was in major part created by EU bureaucrats and politicians who allowed Greece to join the euro, knowing full-well that the country did not truthfully fulfil the criteria for joining.
efd_meeting-athensThe Press Conference in the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens was very well attended. It was co-chaired by Mr Francesco Speroni MEP and LAOS leader, Mr G. Karatzaferis. In attendance were all the MEPS from the EFD Group.
Mr Speroni said this situation showed that people across Europe were deceived by those who held the levers of economic and political control. The crisis in Greece and across the eurozone was not prevented by the parachute of safety we were told the Euro currency would provide.
Mr Karatzaferis told the press that a hardcore attack by speculators was taking place on Greece.
There was a meal for Greek politicians and the EFD delegation in the Royal Olympic Hotel on the Tuesday night, after a trip to the Acropolis Museum earlier in the day. On could notice damage on some buildings from riots, a few days earlier.
On Wednesday 12th May, the study trip concluded with a EFD Group meeting which was addressed by Mrs Niki Tzavela, Mr Nikolaos Salavrakos, and Mr Franceso Speroni.
The three days of study in Greece were eye-opening, enlightening, and provided a great opportunity for debate about the economic crisis that is hitting the eurozone. It was both crucial and at the same time, a privilege to be there discussing the euro problem at such a momentous time of change.