"Europe may be criticized for not doing enough to inspire its citizens, especially in the face of the challenges that lie ahead, such as migration or climate change. However, it has acted quickly, effectively and with a single voice, on issues such as the management of the pandemic, Brexit and the Recovery Fund", pointed out today the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis from Thessaloniki, where he participated in the 2nd Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum, themed "The future of Europe - 40 years of Greece in the European Union ".
In particular, as Mr. Varvitsiotis noted, last year, “in a landmark year for the Union", Europeans coordinated on the management of the pandemic, the supply of sanitary equipment, transport, the adoption of the European Digital Covid Certificate and, of course, the 750-billion Recovery and Resilience Facility, through which Europe has tapped the markets for the first time, issuing bonds on its behalf. "Probably, the mistakes made regarding the management of the Greek economic crisis have taught the EU a lesson. Thus, with its support, the Member States can pursue expansionary economic policies and achieve high growth rates, such as the 6% growth rate for our country the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis estimated a few days ago”, the Alternate Minister stated characteristically.
In the same context, Mr. Varvitsiotis noted that Europe achieved to manage Brexit without being divided but with keeping a single voice. At the same time, the EU decided to expand to its poorest neighbourhood, the Western Balkans, by launching the procedures for the accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. In fact, on the occasion of the special event for the Western Balkans joining the Dialogue for the Future of Europe, to be held today in Thessaloniki on his own initiative, the Alternate Minister stressed that Greece is returning to its Balkan policy and invites its neighbours to the discussion.
Furthermore, the Alternate Minister underscored that the European Union needs a common defense policy and that it should place greater emphasis on its foreign policy, and to its relations with third countries, such as Russia, China and the USA, in order to build an expanded security system. That is why Greece is trying to include this external dimension in the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Finally, Mr. Varvitsiotis pointed out that the debate on Social Europe has reopened, commenting that the Greek proposal to set a guaranteed minimum standard of living within the European Union, which will shield its social cohesion, seems to be taking shape.
It is noted that the forum was also attended by the constitutionalist and professor of Public Law and Political Science at the Aristotle University, Ev. Venizelos, the constitutionalist and professor of Public Law at the Democritus University of Thrace and SYRIZA Member of Parliament, G. Katrougalos, the European Parliament Member, Eva Kaili and the President of the Board of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), Loukas Tsoukalis. The discussion was moderated by Symeon Tsomokos, President of the Delphi Economic Forum.
September 15, 2021