EU Parliament's biggest Group Chair Daul to EuroFora : Support for Cannes' formula on Greece

*Strasbourg (after Cannes)/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The President of EU Parliament's strongest Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul, replying to an "EuroFora" question, indirectly but clearly supported for Greece the alternative, compromise "Formula" that we had discussed in Cannes with a French President Sarkozy's Counsellor, at a crucial moment, at the eve of the "G-20" Summit of Heads of State/Government, before Sarkozy evokes it in a word, and, one day later, it becomes explicitly the official stance of the main Opposition party in Greece, that of "New Democracy" headed by former Foreign Minister and MEP, Antonis Samaras, given largely winner in all Polls during the last Months, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Cannes).

It's, astonishingly, on the basis of this compromise Formula of Cannes, that an interim Government of National Unity was agreed in Greece, due to officialy endorse the Financial aspects of the Loan decided by the 26-27 EU Summit in Brussels, and lead to National Elections on the 19th of February 2012, while, on the contrary, the Economic Policy Plan with concrete Measures needed for the Country to really become able to meet its Financial obligations up to the Numbers and in the Time Deadlines highlighted by the EU Brussels' deal, was reportedly left to be definitively decided, mainly for a new Government, with a fresh Popular mandate.

+ Meanwhile, - "any Proposals can be discussed, if they meet the two basic Conditions of 50% "Haircut" and the Country's Debt's Reduction down to 120% of GDP", as reportedly said these days to negotiators a Senior Official representing a big private Bank from France. (BNP-Paribas).

- Thus, raising  "a delicate Question on Greece", "EuroFora" asked Daul whether, in his view, "once the (overall Financial) Agreement made at the 26-27 October EU Summit in Brussels will be definitively endorsed, if everything goes well, since the Majority of (Political) Parties (in Greece) agree now on that point, as it is well known,  afterwards, for the Future, is there a hope for the Accompagnying Program,.... to be well (examined and) thought this time, in order to really succeed ?"

- Naturally, (and according to the above-mentioned "Cannes" alternative compromise, which obviously distinguishes between 2 diferend aspects and moments of the overall EU action on Greece : Loans and Economic policies needed in order to honor is debts), that Program of concrete Measures "will concern the implementation of Economic Reforms, which are (needed) precisely in order to succesfully meet now those Numbers (of the overall Financial agreement) in practice", "EuroFora" also observed, in our question.

+ I.e. "if it's necessary to make certain Reforms, f.ex. in the Public Sector, for civil servants, etc., to fully advance resolutely forward", we added, as far as it concerns the obviously Indispensable Change in the Greek State-controlled sector, where Thousands of couterproductive cushy-job holders and/or abusive political lackeys have been notoriously hired by Past clientelist and/or Nepotist former Governments, mainly of PASOK, particularly since the 1980ies, accumulating a constantly growing Debt.

 - "But, eventually, if possible, without affecting (adversely) too much the Productive sector (of the Economy), so that the State becomes able to have enough (Tax) Revenues in order to pay the Debt", "EuroFora" went on to stress, clearly pointing at a Vital Need also frequently highlighted, mainly by the No 1 opposition party "New Democracy", as a "sine qua non" Condition for the agreement on the current, Interim Government of National Unity, due to prepare Elections soon.

[ These logical Economic Facts became even more obvious recently, when EU Experts observed that, despite PASOK's previous Plan to heavily Tax private Production and restrict even Poor People's Ecoomies; while practically leaving intact a notoriously too heavy Public Sector, full of counter-productive cushy job holders and/or  anusive political lackeys, massively hired by former PASOK Governments in the Past, mainly during the 1980ies, inevitaby resulted recently in ... "more Recession than scheduled", and, therefore, in less Tax Revenues for the State !...

At the same time, EU Experts have just observed that, despite PASOK's heavy restrictions against Production and Poor People's economies, which notoriously provoked heavier than expected Recession, added to Popular Revolts, nevertheless, curiously, "the Public Sector's Expenses remained Too High" !...          

Thus, it became now  obvious that any Real Solution needs to pass through a serious Structural Change    in the Greek State's Public sector, (i.e. by putting, at last, an end to the accumulation of too many counter-productive cushy-job holders and/or abusive political lackeys appointed by former clientelist and/or nepotist Governments in the Past, manly since the 1980Ies, paticularly by PASOK). But, in real practice, this coudn't be done by a simple "interim" Government, largely controlled by PASOK (wih 34 Ministers  !). Only a brand New Government, based on a  Fresh , Democratic Mandate by Elections, together with a popular "Anti-Corruption" Movement, able to provide both Political and Legal support, while, at the same time, joining Economic Efficiency with Justice. ]       

 

=> So, could this be better done, "in one way or another, with this, or with anOther Government, which may follow Soon ?", "EuroFora" concluded in our Question to Daul, obviously referring to the Agreement concluded between the 2 Biggest Political Parties in Greece, (PASOK and New Democracy, to which was added also a smaller party LAOS), to prepare Elections for a New Government in the middle of February 2012.
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 - "On Greece : Naturally we (EU) want to help Greece. This currently is on its way", started to reply to "EuroFora" from the outset the Head of EU Parliament's biggest Group of MEPs, apparently, already  agreeing that the Economic Program with concrete Measures obviously is a separate and distinct piece from the rest of the overall EU structure, on the condition that it fits.

+ "We have put (EU) Experts, who are EU Civil Servants, who are (currently) in the process of making an Analysis of what is needed to be set up in order to save Greece, I'd say, from the top", Daul went on to add, making even more Clear the Fact that the Program of Economic Policy Measures needed in Greece, hasn't been at all decided yet, not even described in the Financial overall Agreement brokered back in the 26-27 October EU Summit, but, on the contrary, it ..."is (currently) in the Process of making", (etc).

- "We (EU) shall put all necessary means, together with the Greeks, so that everything goes well", said also Daul, expressing a positive Will to act Efficiently this time, "during the next Years", as he added, probably indicating that the above mentioned Process is expected to durate so long, that at least the Main Decisions woud practically have to be taken by the EU "together" with a New Greek Government, which could be based on a Fresh, Democratic Popular Mandate, f.ex. in the scheduled February 2002 Elections, (Comp. supra)...
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+ Meanwhile, Daul also stressed, earlier, "concerning Greece, (that) ...I'm very glad that the Papademos' Government is setting up this National Unity, (because) I think that it's the Best way to face the necessary Reforms in Greece, if we have Democrats and proEuropeans United together", obviously considering it comparable to other countries.

- Moreover, "(EU) Solidarity goes through such Reforms, and I don't think that we could have an €uroZone of various Speeds", the President of  the biggest Group of MEPs in EU Parliament declared on this occasion, as far as related General issues are concerned.

- "I have always supported, and I will always support for Greece to stay inside (€uroZone), and establish Rapidly the (currently debated €uroZone) Governance also vis a vis Greece, so that it will be able to manage their country and solve their problems", Daul added.

- "The European Governance is a CDU proposal (of the German Governing party). I think that we are in front of a major U-turn in Europe's History !", the French Top MEP observed, speaking of the Annual, 2011 German ChristianDemocrats' conference, a few Days earlier.

 - "I'm very close to (the German) Chancellor Merkel, that I admire very much, and, in particular, the advance that she has made during the last Year, (when several German groups wanted to return back to the Mark, particularly that "controler" of Stuttgart, who are rather Anti-Europans in fact), and, when I see all that Unity that was achieved in Germany, and those Decisions taken to support €uro, as well as what the (Governing Party of ChristianDemocrats) CDU decided this week, without entering into details, f.ex. whether EU Commission's President should be Directly Elected (by EU Citizens), etc. , the will to support EU Integration, is a very Strong Signal which was debated and decided by the CDU".

- "I've already said, and I repeat, that the Solution to the (Global) Crisis is more Europe, so that I entirely support what CDU proposed.  I have a Rendez-vous Next Week  with the (German) Chancellor (Angie Merkel),  in order to advance discussions to Strengthen Europe in the middle of this (Global) Crisis."

=> But "we can't wait to change EU Treaty in order to settle this (Global) Crisis. I don't say that we won't, probably, need to modify it somehow. However, f.ex. in an Association, we have a Statute., but when Rapid Decisions are needed, there are also Internal Rules, which can be more easily adapted. Afterwards, we naturally can change the Treaty, with  National Parliaments having a say, etc.

>> - "And I'm sure that this European Governance must go ahead in the direction of a more advanced Democratisation", i.e. closer to EU Citizens. Daul went on to add, (making a point of obviously particular interest to "EuroFora")..

+ In parallel, "I said to EU Commission's President (Barroso) not to hesitate to bring in front of the (EU) Court of Justice any Head of State/Government who might not respect his/her obligations, ... If we have to continue working together", .. - Because, "I'm always moved when I receive  in my office particularly. Greek Citizens whose small Retirement benefits are being reduced, small Salaries are being cut, because we (i.e. some EU Heads of State/Government of the Past : Comp. "EuroFora"s analysis on the 1999/2000 Politico-Financial "Deal" concerning Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, in exchange of Greece's earlier than normal entry in €urozone, even before making necessary Reforms, mainly on too many counter-productive cushy-job holders, abusive political lackey's etc., hired by PASOK's nepotism since he 1980ies) have not done what we ought to do" in the Past. "Politicians have all a Responsibility", Daul stressed.

- Both those 2 Concluding key points made by Daul : "move towards more Democratisation", and really raise issues of political "Responsibilities" for what really happened in Past Errors which provoked today's problems, obviously, at least in Greece's concrete case, fit better with Democratic Elections soon enough, as officially scheduled, (Comp. Supra).