Alternate Minister of European Affairs Nikos Xydakis, participated in the meeting of the European Ministers from the Party of European Socialists (PES) today.
Harlem Désir, Chair of the PES GAC Network, extended a warm thanky you to our country since, as he said, in the meeting the European Progressive Ministers had on the 10th of September in Athens, there was a real debate on European economic and social cohesion issues, which will lead to a new European vision by means of right and proper contributions. The Ministers of Portugal and Malta seconded the aforementioned and sided with Germany and Sweden in voicing skepticism or even criticism as to the political outcome of the Bratislava Summit.
In his address Alternate Minister Xydakis said that, unfortunately, in Bratislava not even some ‘productive compromise’ was reached ahead of the Rome Summit of March 2017, which will be commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Rome. On the contrary, divergence and discrepancies among the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament became more apparent, as is the case with the Old and the New Europe. The Alternate FM for European Affairs pointed out that Germany is trying to proffer a unifying frame and help bridge differences, nonetheless certain countries continue to harbour notions, such as ‘flexible solidarity’, which run counter to the very Founding Treaties of the EU.
‘We will need to put a convincing and appealing European vision in place in view of the Summit in Rome or else fear and authoritarianism will eventually prevail. The European Union can only proceed as a democratic Union, with social and political priorities for its citizens, and not as an area for the movement of goods and capital. Should we, progressive statespersons, fail to speak in political and combative terms, the voice of the far-right will end up sounding antisystemic-like’, N. Xydakis concluded.
September 20, 2016