κ.κ. ΑΝΤΩΝΗ ΣΑΜΑΡΑ, Pierre Moscovici και Γκίκα Χαρδούβελη συνάντηση και επακολουθούμενες δηλώσεις

ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ

ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΥ

 Δευτέρα, 15 Δεκεμβρίου 2014

Ο Πρωθυπουργός κ. Αντώνης Σαμαράς συναντήθηκε σήμερα στο Μέγαρο Μαξίμου με τον Επίτροπο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, αρμόδιο για τις Οικονομικές και τις Δημοσιονομικές Υποθέσεις, τη Φορολογία και τα Τελωνεία, κ. Pierre Moscovici, παρουσία του υπουργού Οικονομικών κ. Γκίκα Χαρδούβελη. Μετά το πέρας της συνάντησης, έγιναν οι ακόλουθες δηλώσεις:

«Δημοσιογράφος: What is the purpose of your visit?

Moscovici: As I promised when I was in the hearing to become Commissioner, I said that my first visit would be to Greece. And it is true that it is my first official visit after 40 days in office, because Europe is very attached to the integrity of the Euro zone and to the presence of Greece in the Euro zone and to the success in the Greek program of reform. And considering that, what I must say first and I talked about that with the Prime Minister, is that obviously there was huge progress made by Greece those last years and lost months. Nobody can deny it. And the Commission acknowledges that progress and is very impressed by the efforts required as well by the government but also by the Greek people. And we are very conscious, I am personally very conscious of that. It is my fourth visit in Greece since 2012, which proves my attachment to the country and also my dedication to the case.

But you know, if you consider now the situation, there is a need for structural reforms. It is not only for Greece, it is for all countries in the Euro zone.  All of them are making those structural reforms. What for? In order to have a modernized economy, to have a competitive economy, to be capable to perform and thus to create growth and jobs. Nobody can get out of that. And belonging to the Euro zone is also a matter of obligations. And the idea of contemplating the possibility not to reimburse a huge debt is suicidal. It is not possible. It would mean default. And that we tried to avoid for years. I remember my first visit in September 2012, as economic and Finance Minister of France, I said that at this time. So saying that, what can we say? We can say that there are huge progresses, that large part of the effort has been made, the largest part of the effort. I know what it represents for the Greek people but it is bearing fruit when you look at the growth figures, when you look at the unemployment figures. It was necessary and it is necessary in order to have a stronger economy.

As a Commissioner of course, I am advocating for more reforms in order to move from the present program which has been extended for two months to another kind of relationship between the Union and Greece, which would be- and the Prime Minister agreed on that- an enhanced condition credit line (ECCL). What I hope is during those two months we are going to work together in order to complete the program, to complete the review, to end with it, to move to another kind of relationship between us in order to give also another future for the relation between Greece and the European Commission, the whole Europe.

Δημοσιογράφος: In case the Greek government, the Greek parliament will not manage to elect the new President of Democracy, therefore go to elections, would you think that it would be a problem of the Greek economy?

Moscovici: I am not interfering at all in the Greek politics. That is not my field. There is Democracy here in Greece. There is not “a” Democracy. Greece invented Democracy and the Greek people always know how to deal with Democracy. They can even have some new inventions but this is not my point. I am not in “the what if” situation. I am here to meet the legitimate government of this country. I met Prime Minister Samaras, had the occasion to talk with him many-many times the last days and so with Gkikas. We met also in the Euro group. What I am here for is to say, first to salute the progress made by Greece. Second to advocate for structural reform. Third to prepare a review in order to get out of this program and to move to another relationship between us which can be at the same time cooperation, reforms but also surveillance must be lighter, I am very conscious of that, as well as ECCL and true, why not precautionary program with the IMF. That’ s what we are working on. We are working on something which is clean to get out of this program. It needs efforts from Greece. AS I said I am here as a friend but also firm on that principle. That’s absolutely needed but, well, let’ s work together.

Δημοσιογράφος: Do you think that the danger of “Grexit” is out of the picture?

Moscovici: I think there has been such a job made by the Greek authority, such efforts made by the Greek people that so many things have been done, which are successful- although they have been painful- that they are bearing fruit now. It would be a pity not to go on. And now what we need is to close the preview, to close that program which has been extended for two months, to move to another kind of relationship between us, which would be more in harmony and I am persuaded that if we stay nearby each other, we can do it easily. Easily. We can do it.

Χαρδούβελης: Όπως είδατε, δε μιλήσαμε καθόλου, καθόλου για τα πολιτικά. Η επίσκεψη του κ. Moscovici είχε να κάνει με τη νέα σχέση που δημιουργείται ανάμεσα στην Ελλάδα και την Ευρωζώνη με τη νέα χρονιά και μετά το review αυτό. Μιλήσαμε για το τι χρειάζεται, για τις διαρθρωτικές μεταρρυθμίσεις, ότι πρέπει να συνεχιστούν. Του ανέφερα ότι το προηγούμενο πρόγραμμα που είχε η Ελλάδα ξεκίνησε τις μεταρρυθμίσεις. Έχουμε κάνει τα περισσότερα αλλά για να συνεχιστούν οι μεταρρυθμίσεις, θα πρέπει και ο κόσμος να τις θέλει. Ο ίδιος ο κόσμος να επιβάλλει την πειθαρχία στους πολιτικούς. Και θα το κάνει όταν αντιληφθεί ότι οι μεταρρυθμίσεις ωφελούν την οικονομία, ωφελούν και την τσέπη του, τα παιδιά του μπορούν να βρουν δουλειά, κλπ κλπ. Άρα, είναι σημαντικό, λοιπόν, το 2015 να συνεχίσουμε αυτό που ξεκινήσαμε, να είναι μια καλή χρονιά. Μιλήσαμε για την οικονομία, τα εισοδήματα θα ανεβαίνουν, η ανεργία θα πέφτει. Από την πλευρά του, φυσικά η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση μας έχει στηρίξει και την ευχαριστούμε. Στο τελευταίο Eurogroup ήταν ιδιαίτερα υποστηρικτική στις θέσεις τις Ελληνικές. Βέβαια είναι και σταθερή σε αυτό που θέλει από εμάς η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Θέλει και εμείς να είμαστε συνεπείς στις υποσχέσεις μας. Και όταν είμαστε συνεπείς και αυτοί θα βοηθήσουν, θα βάλουν κι αυτοί πλάτη. Αλλά φυσικά είναι δική μας δουλειά το τι θα κάνουμε στη Χώρα μας, το πώς θα φτιάξουμε τους θεσμούς και πως θα φτιάξουμε μια νέα Ελλάδα. Το έχουμε ανάγκη και το έχουμε και υποχρέωση απέναντι και στα παιδιά μας.

Δημοσιογράφος: Μιλήσατε για το λαό και τη βούληση του λαού. Αυτό δεν είναι πολιτικό προαπαιτούμενο για τη συνέχιση του κυβερνητικού σχεδιασμού;

Χαρδούβελης: Δε μιλήσαμε για την Προεδρική εκλογή. Ο κ. Moscovici δεν θέλει να αναμειχθεί σε αυτό το ζήτημα. Μιλήσαμε πιο γενικά για το τι πρέπει να κάνει η Χώρα και ποια θα είναι η σχέση της Χώρας με την Ευρωζώνη.

Moscovici: My visit here is about Europe and the relationship between Greece and Europe. And how to consolidate the progress made and to move to a newly kind of relationship. And now, I think that I have got to visit the metro and it’ s very important program, which is co-financed by Europe. I think that’ s another face of Europe, which is maybe not yet enough presented here, that Europe is co-financing, that Europe is there for projects, Europe is there for investments and we will re-enforce that with the investment plan that is now on the table after Mr. Juncker’ s pr