JOURNALIST: Did the opposition parties ask for Vroutsis’ resignation over the issue of the vouchers for professional training? Was this the government’s first major misstep, forcing the Prime Minister to use some of his political capital to protect the government?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Greece’s successful response to the coronavirus has been recognized throughout the world. Through the coordinated actions of the Greek government and the deep sense of responsibility exhibited by Greek society, Greece showed that it can cope with difficult situations. And we have to do the same thing in the second phase, with the gradual lifting of restrictions. That’s why it’s important for us to stay safe, behaving responsibly as individuals. In the midst of this unprecedented global health crisis, a new and strong relationship of trust was built between the state and the Greek citizen. Trust in our institutions, the authorities, the National Health System. And we have to safeguard this even after the crisis. And if mistakes were made, they have to be corrected. This is what happened with the Professional Training Centers (KEK). In any event, the Labour Ministry came out first with the employment support programmes, and the EU followed. Through his handling of the crisis both at home and abroad, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proven that he is a major part of the country’s political capital. And as all the surveys show, the Greek people recognize this.
JOURNALIST: The response to Covid-19, and mainly the economic repercussions for the member states, were the focus of the latest video conference of the EU leaders. Were you satisfied with the results of that meeting?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Europe’s initial response to the coronavirus crisis was somewhat ‘frugal’. The first €500 billion clearly isn't enough to deal with the impact of Covid-19. In the video conference of EU leaders and in the video conferences of European Affairs ministers that I participate in, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and I have made it clear that you can't do a lot with too little, too late. We need a strong economic support package for the European economies – a package based on more grants, and not new lending.
JOURNALIST: Did the alliance of the countries of the South come together just because of the coronavirus, or does it have political depth and continuity?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: While the 2010 crisis was dealt with differently, today’s health crisis requires – more than ever before – a common strategy to respond to the repercussions. We need new funding tools and joint interventions that will safeguard cohesion and solidarity among the member states so they can respond to the economic challenges of the crisis. The frugal northerners should listen to the voice of the South. And they need to do this without delay.
JOURNALIST: How many billions of euros does the country need to jump-start its economy? Is there a chance we’ll borrow from Europe on new difficult terms?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Greece fully supports the urgent creation of a large Recovery Fund that has to be front-loaded and focus primarily on grants rather than loans. The recovery of the Greek economy is also directly linked to the new European budget. It will take more money than there was in the previous NSRF to jump-start the economy. But the sum our country gets in the end will depend on the total amount of the new Multiannual Financial Framework, which will be renegotiated. In any event, the new European budget cannot be a poker game. We have to lay our cards on the table. Especially now, due to the repercussions of the coronavirus. The antidote to the recession is provision of ample liquidity to the European economies.
JOURNALIST: What has to happen on the European level to respond to the impact of this crisis on tourism?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: The tourism issue was raised by the Prime Minister in the Summit Meeting video conference and by me in the EU General Affairs Council. Europe has to coordinate on opening borders and establishing a European health protocol for reopening air travel. No flights means no visitors, and if there are no visitors, there won’t be any tourism. But everything has to be done in a coordinated manner to ensure the flights are safe.
JOURNALIST: In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Turkey is continuing its provocations in the Aegean. What is Erdogan pursuing with his aggressive rhetoric and tactics? Do you agree with the New Democracy officials who say Turkey is sending coronavirus-infected migrants to Greece?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Greece has responded successfully to multiple crises in recent months. Apart from the coronavirus pandemic, we dealt with the threat in Evros and Turkey’s attempt to exploit refugees and migrants. And we were successful! The same thing is happening every day in the Aegean. The Greek authorities, and especially the coast guard, are on high alert to respond to any developments, because among the migrants who try to reach Greek islands, there may be individual cases of people who are carrying the coronavirus. There are those who predict that the deeper Turkey’s economic crisis gets, the more Ankara will export insecurity and destabilisation, but I hope they are wrong. Ankara has to see that, for its own good, it must abandon its policy of gunboat diplomacy and provocations in the Aegean and the Southeast Mediterranean. We are pursuing understanding and stability. But we are also determined to defend our national sovereignty if need be.
May 2, 2020