JOURNALIST: Minister, 9 May, Europe Day. Is Europe – and, by extension, the European Union – living up to the expectations of its founders, or has it become a club of powerful and subordinate members?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: During these 70 years, the European Union has certainly made significant progress. For one thing, as a political creation it is unique in history. A Union of 500 million citizens who live in harmony, move freely, are educated jointly and carry out transactions with their own strong currency. In that sense, yes, the Union has realised the vision of its ‘founding fathers’. However, while it has matured significantly in terms of economy, its political integration hasn’t progressed as far. This is where the Union has something of a deficit, and that’s why it has been unable to avoid some serious crises to date, especially in the past decade. At this point, what the European Union needs to do, if it is to carry out its mission, is to strengthen the supranational nature of its governance model at the expense of the inter-governmental model. It needs to work towards substantial integration and real cohesion among its members: economic, social, and in terms of defence and values. This is the only way European citizens will realise that the Union, despite its imperfections, is their best option in the face of the dilemmas of today's competitive and globalized environment. The safest shelter, the strongest hope for growth, is our common home.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the Covid-19 pandemic revealed Europe’s solidarity deficit? How do you rate the EU’s response in terms of the economic measures that were needed? And do you think the pandemic can cause a serious crisis in the EU?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Let’s be frank. Europe’s reaction, especially at the beginning of the crisis, was hesitant and inadequate on the level of material assistance and economic measures. The first €500 billion was certainly an unprecedented sum, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to respond to this crisis. Just as the Union’s usual financial tools aren’t effective. Right now, Europe needs a strong Recovery Fund to provide direct and bold liquidity for the European economies, not through lending on harsh terms, but in the form of grants that keep public debt from mushrooming, especially in countries like Greece. However, even if Europe gets through this solidarity crisis, there is another potential crisis we are concerned about: a crisis of Democracy. In some of its countries, we are already seeing a trend towards disproportionate curtailing of fundamental freedoms. But this is unacceptable in European Democracies. Greece is assuming the six-month Chairmanship of the Council of Europe this coming Friday, on 15 May. And the central priority of our Presidency is to safeguard and promote Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Europe during the pandemic. Our intention is for Greece to lead this fight, which is at the very heart of European culture.
JOURNALIST: We see Turkey is turning up the heat in its relations with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Flyovers, migration, disputing sovereign rights in the Aegean, illegal surveys in the Cypriot EEZ. Why are tensions increasing at this time, and how do you think this situation will develop?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Today, Erdogan’s government is being shaken by the Covid-19 crisis and the weakening of the Turkish lira. In spite of this, Turkey continues to instigate turmoil in the wider region – unlike Greece, which is a factor for stability. 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. However, it is our job not to allow our country’s sovereign rights to be challenged by anyone in any way. And we’re doing our job! We proved this recently in Evros. We are proving it every day in the Aegean. With respect for international law, and serving the national interest, we are protecting our country’s borders, which are also Europe’s borders. Greece has shown that it is pursuing good neighbourly relations. Good neighbourly relations would be in Ankara’s interest. After all, responding to the coronavirus’s impact on tourism requires joint actions. However, our neighbours must realise that gunboat diplomacy and threats obviously cannot be accepted and cannot serve a joint effort towards a better future in the two countries’ relations.
JOURNALIST: Could there be an ‘accident’? How do you respond to those who say Greece should respond more aggressively?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: Turkey has often crossed the lines set by the rules of international law and the rules of good neighbourly relations. I don’t think any militarisation of diplomatic disputes is in Turkey’s interest right now. But there is always the chance of an accident. Militarisation of the crisis is not the right response to Turkey’s provocations. Foreign policy isn't exercised to regulate domestic politics. The Greek government is prepared, at any time, to use all of its diplomatic weapons to respond to any Turkish provocation. We are not afraid. We always respond, armed with our rights.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the EU is fulfilling its ‘duty’ to Greece and Cyprus with regard to Turkey, and what will you be pursuing from here on in?
M. VARVITSIOTIS: During the recent crisis in Evros, with European officials making a joint appearance with the Greek Prime Minister, the European Union showed that, institutionally, as a whole, it stands by its members, stands by justice, stands by Greece. And this support was unanimous and resolute. At the same time, about a year ago – in an unprecedented move – the Union imposed sanctions on Turkey for its illegal drilling in the Cypriot EEZ. This is all an enormous European acquis, but it can’t stop here. As Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed at the April meeting of the European Council, we have to send a clear message to Turkey, making it clear that Europe is changing its stance, at long last. We are asking the European Union to show Turkey that provocative actions are not an investment in a privileged relationship with the Union, and that violations of international law have consequences.
JOURNALIST: One of the things Turkey is using to exert pressure on Greece and to blackmail the EU is the migration issue. However, any initiatives have been frozen due to the coronavirus. What is Athens doing to keep the EU focused on this particular issue.
M. VARVITSIOTIS: The provocative statements the Turkish leadership made recently, in obvious exploitation of the refugees and migrants in Evros and the Aegean, are clearly aimed at pressuring and blackmailing our country and Brussels. However, in spite of the difficult state of affairs with the pandemic, the Greek government showed resolve in responding to multiple crises – not just against the ‘invisible enemy’, but also the provocative actions of our neighbour. And I assure you that it will do the same if migration flows increase – a scenario we are already prepared for. Greece is standing firmly on its own feet and responding to challenges promptly and dynamically. But whatever happens, as an active member of the European family, we will have the practical support of our partners and their interventions if the need arises. And this is because European as well as Greek vital interests are at stake. And if the Union learned anything from the coronavirus crisis, it is that it will have to respond jointly to the next migration crisis as well. Because this is a collective problem.
JOURNALIST: What is the Foreign Ministry’s plan for the day after the crisis? (Boosting the economy, rebooting diplomatic contacts, responding to Turkey, the migration issue, etc.)
M. VARVITSIOTIS: For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the day after has already come. We are preparing to launch our diplomatic contacts whenever feasible. Our priorities include bolstering the economy’s openness, which is a key condition for achieving our goal of explosive growth in 2021. We are working on the European level to reboot tourism. We are working together to create new protocols for opening air transport soon and safely. A ‘closed’ Europe benefits no one. We can’t respond to the recession with closed borders. The recession is already here, and the indicators are expected to worsen in the coming months. The Commission’s outlook for the European economies is unfavourable. The response has to be immediate, strong and flexible. The pandemic is certainly changing the debate on the future of Europe. A Europe that – through the lessons learned from the pandemic – can come out stronger and more united to meet its citizens’ aspirations. In the shaping of the new European agenda, Greece – which came out a ‘winner’ in the health battle against the ‘invisible enemy’, as acknowledged throughout Europe and the world – is being called upon to play a new, leading role. And this is what we can and will do!
May 10, 2020