Angela Merkel paid her last visit to our country in the capacity of the Chancellor of Germany, which, in addition to being highly symbolic, also had many messages.
The admission on her part that she demanded a lot from the Greeks during the crisis period was a last act of accountability and self-criticism for what happened during the period of the memoranda.
Angela Merkel was the voice of reason in Berlin and the EU, sometimes unfair but also decisive in the crucial moments, the Prime Minister said, in the economic and institutional test but also the loneliness of Greece at that time, the President of the Republic mentioned
One of the features of her visit is that Mrs. Merkel stayed in Athens last night. It is common, as German journalists report, for all trips to Europe to go the same day and not overnight. The German chancellor, however, in this case arrived in Athens last night and went directly to the Prime Minister’s house in Lycabettus, where Mr. Mitsotakis hosted a private dinner in her honor. Overlooking the magnificent Acropolis and shortly before Mrs. Merkel handed over the baton to Germany, they had the opportunity to review Greek-German relations and analyze the possibilities of future cooperation. As Mr. Mitsotakis often says, they have an honest relationship with Mrs. Merkel. They disagree and where they disagree they tell each other both privately and publicly and this was evident in some parts of the press conference.
Angela Merkel’s last visit to Athens as Chancellor of Germany was accompanied by self-criticism and an account of Greek-German relations, which were turbulent at the time of the memoranda, as revealed in the joint press conference with the Prime Minister after their meeting at the Maximos Palace.
The “nails” on the part of the Prime Minister were not missing both for the attitude of Germany during the economic crisis, but also now with what is happening with Turkey. In the face of Europe, he mainly showed the German attitude, which many times prevented sanctions, while there was also a channel of communication with the other side. At the same time, Athens sent its messages to the next chancellor, who all indicate that it will be Mr. Soltz, that he will have two important issues in front of him: One is the Greek-Turkish relations and how he will walk in it. the sector and the other is the economy with Mr. Mitsotakis opening the issue of the stability pact with a strong wording.
Analytically some of the statements Mitsotaki – Merkel:
MERKEL: The most difficult phase was the stability of the euro and I have said many times that I personally was fully aware of how much we asked for and how many challenges, for the people in Greece, the issue of the euro was connected. But in the end we managed to find a common path,
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: You yourself bravely admitted that you asked for a lot from the Greeks during the hours when they were experiencing the storm of their financial crisis.
Fortunately, neither blind European austerity nor cheap national slogans endured.
ANGELA MERKEL: Now, on the issue of the stabilization of the euro – and I have always been in favor of Greece remaining in the euro – this of course means that we must be at comparable levels in terms of the efficiency of our economic system, otherwise we will not be able to maintain cohesion. of the common currency. And of course I knew that I demanded a lot from the Greeks.
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: Angela Merkel has been the voice of reason and stability in Berlin and the EU Unfair at times, but decisive in the marginal moments that it was raised, such as in 2015 when it denied its expulsion of Greece from Europe to its top ministers.
Leaving the helm of Germany after 16 years, the iron lady of Germany with her visit to Athens closes an important chapter of her tenure in a Greece that is now financially strong.
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: Today’s Greece is very, very different from the one you met in the last 10 years. It is no longer a hotbed of crisis and deficit but a modern European state moving forward with dynamic growth, reducing unemployment and planning for a better tomorrow.
ANGELA MERKEL: One can learn a lot and be taught from Greece and from each other
Angela Merkel and Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed a message of common progress for the design of a stronger Europe, whose discussions also focused on the economy with the restoration of the Stability Pact from 2023 and the Recovery Fund, which will allow Greece to invest. .
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: Austerity may not be the answer to everything you have said.
ANGELA MERKEL: The flexibility of the Stability Pact so far is not so small. The problem was that in good times there was not so good financial management and so in difficult times we did not have the financial means. But we also showed with the Recovery Fund that we have found a way, without implying that this will continue in perpetuity. I do not mean that.
However, I believe that in the coming years, and I am convinced of that, we will have to work on our capacity in terms of innovation.
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: In my view it is a given that interventions will be made in the very strict formal rules of the Stability Pact in the future. This does not mean, however, that we will forget what fiscal discipline means.
… What we need and the chancellor is right is more resources for investment…
A special and meaningful farewell in German in Goethe’s words, was reserved by the Prime Minister to the politician who marked Europe and Greece as few.
KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS: And in your new course do not forget the words of Goethe. Of all the peoples, the Greeks dream the dream of life in the most beautiful way
Her contribution in preventing the scenarios about Grexit and the financial whip in Greece during the 10-year economic crisis, were also at the center of Angela Merkel’s talks with the President of the Republic.
KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU: There were, of course, moments of difficulty and tension. The economic crisis faced by many European countries mainly put Greece in a difficult position, which was called to pay a heavy price. It was an unprecedented situation both on a real and institutional level. And Greece felt, we often felt justifiably alone
ANGELA MERKEL : You mentioned our relations, which experienced some ups and downs, but which are based on very solid foundations and which will lead us to the future.
The Chancellor’s Confessional mood for the Greek economic crisis had been evident since the morning in her discussion with young people.
ANGELA MERKEL : You are also this generation, which went through a very difficult decade. A decade that changed a lot of things. And you know, I, as the Federal Chancellor, am the one who actually pressured this society, the Greek one, because I demanded a lot.
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