Samaras’ pursuits in the Summit

Yesterday Samaras attended the meeting of leaders of the European People's Party in Bucharest. For this morning, he is scheduled to meet with Angela Merkel. Although it is likely that decisions for Greece will be postponed for the November Summit, Samaras will insist on the need that they come earlier if there is the basic agreement of the Troika on the fiscal adjustment program. The Prime Minister claimed that Greece is in a prolonged recession, has made significant progress but is at its limits, and there is a risk of political instability in the country. Of course, there is always the possibility that Greece will be included in a comprehensive response to the debt crisis of the Eurozone with a new debt haircut that will change the funding facts so far. Samaras, however, would first prefer to get the disbursement of 31.5 billion euros to ensure the recapitalization of banks and give liquidity to the economy.

 

In yesterday's speech to the leaders of the European People's Party, he said that Greece has broken several records in the last two years. "I owe a duty to my country to overthrow things and to have a Greek return. I consider it my duty to Europe to make the Greek success story a European success story." He emphasized competitiveness, saying that "we cannot survive if we do not regain our competitiveness. We cannot move forward towards completion if we do not become more competitive." He argued that if Europe wants to cope with the modern challenges, it should accelerate its integration and enhance its growth potential.

 

Samaras assured his audience that Greece is changing and from a "symbol of a failed political system, it is becoming a symbol of a spectacular return. " He added that "in Greece we achieved some Guinness records:: We applied the stricter austerity ever, deficit cutting measures at 25% of the GDP within three years. We went through more than five consecutive years of recession with a total loss of 22% of the GDP. We instituted hundreds of structural changes adopted and implemented over the last two years, mainly in recent months. Yet there is a lot to be done to bring Greece to the top of European competitiveness and make it a model of a democratic society with a modern economy." Once again he focused on recovery, growth and the need to maintain social cohesion. "People are certainly suffering, but they must retain their hope. Without hope comes social unrest that feeds extremism and chaos."