Mitsotakis to Handelsblatt – “Fiscal rules are outdated”

The reform of the rules governing public finances in the Eurozone and the relations with Turkey were at the center of the interview of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the correspondent of the Handelsblatt newspaper Gert Heller in Athens.

When asked about the statements of the new Minister of Finance Christian Lindner about exemplary economic reforms in Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis answered, among other things:

“It is definitely positive that Berlin has followed the changes that have taken place in Greece over the last two years. We have reconciled our finances and implemented real reforms to ensure that we never experience a debt crisis again. I’m glad Mr Lindner recognizes that. It’s important for the dialogue on the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.”

Regarding the reform of fiscal rules in the eurozone, the Greek Prime Minister said: “The rules should be changed, as they are outdated. We need a new framework to ensure fiscal sustainability. I’m the first to ask for this because our debt is still very high. On the other hand, this framework should guarantee that austerity will not be imposed unnecessarily, as a result of which the development that we all all want in the end will be strangled “.

The crisis in Turkey may destabilize the region

Answering a question about a Greek-Turkish rapprochement, Kyriakos Mitsotakis replied: “Ankara should understand that Greece and Cyprus are not blackmailed. It has been threatening us with war since 1995 if we extend our territorial waters to 12 miles, as provided by international law. However, we can not understand this threat. ”

Asked if he would like more support from Berlin on these issues, the Greek prime minister said: “I think Chancellor Merkel has made sincere mediation efforts. But we want the support of Germany. Germany is not a non-partisan, neutral, third country. We belong to the same European family. ”

Finally, referring to the economic crisis that Turkey is experiencing, he stressed: “The fact that Turkey is facing an economic crisis does not satisfy us, as it may destabilize the region.”

At the end of the interview with Handelsblatt, Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message to President Erdogan: “In our relations, we bet on logic. We are not the ones who recall past greatness. “Let’s face the future, not the past.”

Source: Deutsche Welle