Αντώνης Σαμαράς ... Στη Σύνοδο του Ευρωπαϊκού Λαϊκού Κόμματος, ζήτησα μέτρα που θα σταματήσουν την κατρακύλα. Γιατί αλλιώς η Ελλάδα δεν μπορεί να βγει από την κρίση. Ούτε να πιάσει τους στόχους της.

Ο Πρόεδρος της Νέας Δημοκρατίας κ. Αντώνης Σαμαράς στο περιθώριο της Συνόδου Κορυφής του ΕΛΚ είχε, σήμερα, κατ' ιδίαν συναντήσεις με τον Πρόεδρο του Eurogroup και πρωθυπουργό του Λουξεμβούργου κ. Ζαν Κλοντ Γιουνκέρ, τον Πρόεδρο της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής κ. Ζοζέ Εμμανουέλ Μπαρόζο, τον Πρόεδρο του ΕΛΚ κ. Βίλφριντ Μάρτενς, τον πρωθυπουργό της Ιρλανδίας κ. Έντα Κένι και τον πρωθυπουργό της Πορτογαλίας κ. Πέδρο Κοέλιο.

Αμέσως μετά τη λήξη της Συνόδου Κορυφής του ΕΛΚ, ο Πρόεδρος της Νέας Δημοκρατίας έκανε την ακόλουθη δήλωση:

«Οι στιγμές είναι κρίσιμες και για την Ελλάδα και για όλη την Ευρώπη.

Στη Σύνοδο του Ευρωπαϊκού Λαϊκού Κόμματος, ζήτησα μέτρα που θα σταματήσουν την κατρακύλα. Γιατί αλλιώς η Ελλάδα δεν μπορεί να βγει από την κρίση. Ούτε να πιάσει τους στόχους της.

Ζήτησα, λοιπόν, πέρα από την προσπάθεια για δημοσιονομική προσαρμογή, αναθεώρηση και τροποποιήσεις των πολιτικών που δεν δούλεψαν. Για να σταματήσει η ύφεση. Για να μειωθεί η ανεργία. Για να δοθεί ελπίδα στους συμπολίτες μας -που μέσα σε δυο χρόνια- τα έχασαν όλα.

Για πρώτη φορά, το ΕΛΚ αναγνώρισε, σήμερα, την ανάγκη να συμπληρωθούν οι εφαρμοζόμενες πολιτικές με μέτρα που να ενισχύουν άμεσα τις επενδύσεις, άμεσα την ανάπτυξη και άμεσα τη δημιουργία θέσεων εργασίας.

Ταυτόχρονα ζήτησα μέτρα που θα βοηθήσουν την ανάπτυξη, όπως τα ομόλογα για έργα υποδομής, τη στήριξη των ανέργων με πρόσθετα κοινοτικά κονδύλια, τη στήριξη της ρευστότητας, την πιο ενεργή εμπλοκή της Ευρωπαϊκής Τράπεζας Επενδύσεων για τη στήριξη της πραγματικής οικονομίας, τη δημιουργία ευρωπαϊκού μηχανισμού για την εγγύηση των καταθέσεων, ώστε να σταματήσει η αιμορραγία των καταθέσεων από τον ευρωπαϊκό νότο στο βορρά.

Τώρα, σταδιακά, όλη η Ευρώπη συγκλίνει σε αυτό που επιμέναμε εδώ και δύο χρόνια  ότι, πέρα απ’ όλα τα άλλα, χρειάζεται Ανάπτυξη για να βγούμε από την κρίση.

Και τώρα που η Ευρώπη αλλάζει, δεν πρέπει να βρεθεί η Ελλάδα εκτός Ευρώπης.

Γι αυτό και δυναμώνει στην Ελλάδα η δημιουργία ενός Πατριωτικού Ευρωπαϊκού Μετώπου.

Για να μην καταστραφούν όσα κερδίσαμε τόσα χρόνια.

Είμαστε ένας λαός που αντέχουμε στα δύσκολα. Είμαστε ένα έθνος που ξέρει να σηκώνεται στα πόδια του. Να παλεύει και να αναγεννάται.

Το Μέτωπο ευθύνης είναι η μόνη εγγύηση. Γι αυτό και προχωράμε με ευρωπαϊκή αλληλεγγύη, με ενότητα, με σταθερότητα, με σχέδιο και  -πάνω απ’ όλα-  με πίστη στις δυνάμεις μας!».

Σήμερα το πρωί ο Πρόεδρος της Νέας Δημοκρατίας είχε συνάντηση με τον πρωθυπουργό της Ιταλίας κ. Μάριο Μόντι.

Επισυνάπτονται τα συμπεράσματα της Συνόδου Κορυφής του ΕΛΚ

EPP Summit Declaration

The Heads of State and Government and Party Leaders of the European People’s Party emphasise the need for a balanced approach to overcome the recent economic situation in Europe and restore confidence in our economy.

The Euro is one of the most evident expressions of European integration. The Single Currency has an economic, a social and a political dimension. In economic terms, the benefits for citizens, businesses and the European economy prevail over the costs by far. The financial and economic crisis has dramatically increased unemployment, especially among young people, and inequalities in opportunity and income. Although the crisis was triggered by events in the United States, its root cause was massive economic imbalances in the world economy as well as within the Eurozone. The problems were aggravated by a lack of innovation and competitiveness, excessive public and private debt, overconsumption, and unethical speculation in the financial and real estate sector. Europe must ensure fiscal policy sustainability and address structural obstacles to growth. Failing to do so, our economies will stagnate in the face of poor growth prospects and lack of fiscal policy credibility. Therefore, we profoundly disagree with the proposals of the Socialists to create unsustainable, short-term growth by increased public spending, refusing to present credible measures for fiscal consolidation. This is an irresponsible and populist approach, which will lead us deeper into the crisis.

The membership in a monetary union brings our economies even closer together. This leads to opportunities for progress, but it also implies additional responsibilities. The growing interdependence of our economies obliges us to adjust our model of economic governance at European and national level. We have made significant steps in this direction with the European Semester, the Euro Plus Pact, the Six Pack and the Fiscal Pact. This provides Europe with a framework which tackles the main causes of the past crisis and prevents future disequilibria.

The Fiscal Pact rightly addresses the excessive debt levels of Member States. High levels of debt create economic and financial vulnerabilities. Excessive public debt levels place unreasonable burdens on future generations, and are, therefore, unacceptable for us as decision makers. For all these reasons, debt levels need to be reduced on a time scale, within the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact, that makes it possible for the respective countries to have a clear perspective for growth and the return to job creation in order to attack high unemployment levels that represent a danger for social cohesion and ultimately endanger the initial goal of public debt reduction. Regaining the confidence of citizens and businesses into European economic policy is a necessary precondition for getting Europe back on a sustainable growth path.

Restoring confidence and trust requires that rules in place are respected, and commitments made are fulfilled. We are fully committed to the swift ratification and implementation of the Fiscal Pact. Well-designed national budgetary frameworks contribute to the effectiveness and credibility of fiscal policy.

As we have proposed by the EPP Summit Declarations of Helsinki and Marseille, we will address the remaining challenges for sustainable development. The solutions we have been proposing are linked to the main causes of the crises, i.e. unsustainable fiscal policy and a loss of competitiveness. We believe fiscal consolidation can and must be implemented in a growth-friendly manner that mitigates structural problems.

Improved competitiveness leads to economic growth and creates jobs. To continue to achieve this in all Member States, structural reforms are needed at multiple levels. These include labour market reforms to increase productivity and labour force participation; adaptation of taxation systems to

reduce distortions and make them more employment-friendly; reforms that foster entrepreneurship and innovation; reforms of public administration to tackle bureaucracy and increase reliability; privatizations to increase economic efficiency. The fundamentals of our economies need to be improved in the first instance. Investments are only sustainable, if made in healthy structures.  Consequently, structural reforms are a generator of growth. Consolidation measures must have acceptable effects on the distribution of income. Core public services must be safeguarded. Maintaining social cohesion is a priority.

Cohesion policy shall serve the purpose of improving the competitiveness of the less competitive countries and regions. We should improve present and future cohesion policy funding, as a key EU instrument for growth. This shall apply for the present and upcoming multi-annual financial framework. We favour the introduction of project bonds to finance cross-border infrastructure projects.

We shall act to remove the obstacles to the functioning of the EU's Single Market, and by reducing the administrative burden of regulation especially for SMEs. Creating the Digital Single Market is a priority for us, since it can be a driver for competitiveness and economic growth, providing highly-qualified jobs. When introduced, the EU patent would significantly reduce costs and thereby boost innovation. We also promote the internal market in energy, as a source for lower prices for consumers through higher competition while at the same time creating a truly European energy network that is the precondition for increasing the share of renewable energies, as an indispensible component towards a green economy.

A well-functioning and transparent financial single market is a prerequisite for sustainable growth. We support a reform of the banking and financial system which sees banks returning to their primary function, which is serving the real economy, stimulating entrepreneurship and economic development. We strongly urge that all decisions made at the level of the Euro area must not create additional risks to the banking system and the real economy in Member States outside the single currency area. We promote the taxation of financial activities in accordance to the risks taken and favour a European approach to bank resolution and deposit guarantee schemes. A solid and reliable banking system is key to our prosperity.

We shall further improve the effectiveness of the European Investment Bank, which is also relevant in the context of managing the current credit situation in Europe. Additionally, the EIB’s expertise shall be better used to enable businesses to get access to credit.

We promote the strengthening of free trade and the swift conclusion of free trade agreements with other countries or economic regions. Consequently, our economy can also benefit from economic growth in other parts of the world. Easing access to global markets is a source of growth for our economies.

In relation to Greece that is faced with an economic and social crisis of an unprecedented magnitude, we declare our respect for the sacrifices that the Greek people have been through over the last two years and we acknowledge the progress made in a number of areas. We support the efforts of Nea Demokratia and its President, Antonis Samaras, to elaborate an integrated policy mix aiming to eliminate the deficit while restoring growth and confidence in the Greek economy. We are prepared to consider possible ways to strengthen investment, growth and employment complementing the necessary reform measures and respecting the commitments of the pursued programme.

The EPP Heads of State and Government are committed to reaching an agreement on further steps towards completing the EU economic strategy by the meeting of the European Council on 28th-29th June 2012, and call on other Members of the European Council to adopt a similarly constructive attitude.