Breathing space must be given to ailing Greek economy
Ahead of tomorrow’s summit on Greece, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “Tomorrow’s meeting in Brussels is crucial. It is evident that the loans obtained by Greece from other countries, including Malta, should and must be honoured to the full. However, we should be open to giving the Greeks more breathing space in order to be able to pay back their loans without increasing the dimension of the social crisis affecting the whole country”.
European Parliament Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts cautiously welcomed news that the two sides are close to finding an agreement:
“After months of tensions and mutual accusations, there is now hope for a solution between Greece and the other euro area Member States. With the Greek government having made a new proposal, both sides must seize the moment and together draw up a workable, responsible solution at tomorrow’s summit. This is the biggest opportunity yet for finding a solution.
The governments of the other euro area Member States and the European Commission must now uphold their part of the bargain. They must agree to a restructuring of the Greek debt and for example, a lowering of the interest rates. Moreover, the repayments must be linked to Greece’s economic development. They should also launch an investment plan in order to support the Greek economy towards a sustainable recovery and help it withstand the negative repercussions of the budgetary consolidation measures agreed for 2015 and 2016.
In addition to this, the Greek government should, unlike its predecessors, ensure that the state institutions start functioning effectively again. Furthermore, the pension system must be made fairer and all Greek citizens must have a right to receive sickness or unemployment benefit.”
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Id-djun jeħtieġ jitħallsu, imma irid jingħata ftit nifs lill-ekonomija fraġli tal-Greċja
Hekk kif illum se jsir is-summit dwar il-Greċja, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Il-laqgħa tafi Brussell hija kruċjali. Huwa ċar li s-self li rċeviet il-Greċja mingħand pajiżi oħra fosthom Malta, għandu jkun onorat u mħallas kollu. Madanakollu, irridu nkunu lesti li nagħtu lill-Griegi ftit nifs biex ikunu jistgħu iħallsu lura d-djun li għandhom mingħajr ma tkompli tikber il-kriżi li qed taffettwa l-pajjiż kollu”.
Il-co-presidenti tal-Greens/EFA fil-Parlament Ewropew Rebecca Harms u Philippe Lamberts laqgħu b’kawtela l-aħbar li ż-żewġ naħat qegħdin qrib li jilħqu ftehim:
“Wara xhur ta’ tensjoni u akkużi minn kull naħa, issa hemm tama ta’ soluzzjoni bejn il-Greċja u l-istati membri l-oħra taż-żona ewro. Bil-proposta l-ġdida li għamel il-gvern Griek, iż-żewġ naħat jeħtieġ li jaħtfu l-opportunita` biex flimkien ifasslu soluzzjoni responsabbli u li taħdem waqt is-summit ta’ għada. Din hija l-ikbar opportunita`s’issa biex tinstab soluzzjoni.
Il-gvernijiet tal-istati membri taż-żona ewro u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea issa jridu jonoraw il-ftehim min-naħa tagħhom. Jeħtieġ li jappoġġaw ristrutturat tad-dejn Grieg u per eżempju, tnaqqis fir-rati ta’ interess. Barra minn hekk il-ħlasijiet li jsiru jeħtieġ li jkunu marbuta tal-iżvilupp ekonomiku tal-Greċja. Jeħtieġ li jniedu wkoll pjan ta’ investiment biex jgħinu lill-ekonomija Griega tqum fuq saqajha b’mod sostenibbli u biex tkun tista’ tikkumbatti r-riperkussjonijiet negattivi tal-miżuri ta’ konsolidazzjoni imniżżla fil-budget għall-2015 u 2016.
Barra minn hekk, il-gvern Grieg, għandu jassigura, għall-kuntrarju ta’ dawk ta’ qablu, li l-istituzzjonijiet tal-istat jerġgħu jibdew jiffunzjonaw b’mod effettiv. Apparti dan, is-sistema tal-pensjonijiet trid issir iktar ġusta u kull ċittadin Grieg għandu jkollu d-dritt li jirċievi benefiċċji tal-mard u tal-qagħad.”