"The Conference on the Future of Europe is a living invitation to young people. It is the anxiety of young people that we want to listen to. "This is the moment when Brussels and the national governments should stop talking and listen to the citizens", said today the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis in an interview with ERT1’s show "Symveni stin Evropi" and journalist Giorgos Syriopoulos.
In particular, the Alternate Minister referred to the priorities Greece has set in the framework of the Dialogue regarding the deepening of the eurozone, the digital and green transformation of the economy, immigration, border security and the welfare state. He reminded that Greece has come forward with the proposal for the establishment of a Guaranteed Minimum Income, a proposal which has already acquired significant momentum and a positive response within the EU.
Mr. Varvitsiotis noted that those who question the deepening of the EU and demand less and a smaller Europe are on the margins. "At the heart of it all is that we want more Europe; more Europe in security, economy, health, education", he stressed, while - as he said - the change of the EU Treaties is not necessary.
Answering a relevant question, the Alternate Minister assessed that the amendment of the EU Treaties is very difficult, as there does not seem to be the necessary consensus between the Member States to achieve such a large undertaking. He also pointed out that Greece would also be reluctant to the changing of the Treaties, especially as regards the unanimity on foreign policy issues. "European unanimity is a security shield for Greece, given that we are under great, continued pressure from Turkey and it is necessary for us to exert pressure on our part for the adoption of policies that address vital security issues," the Alternate Minister said.
Mr. Varvitsiotis added, however, that the European Treaties enable us to change the way the Union works, emphasizing the need for more democracy, accountability and transparency. At the same time, he explained that European cooperation can be deepened without the complicated and painful process of the Amendment of the Treaties and their ratification through referendums, citing the example of cooperation on health issues on the occasion of the pandemic, but also the example of energy, which is currently at the forefront.
November 13, 2021