Greece is being transformed in a normal country, exemplarya country of stability that records tourism recordand this is the new branding that we must maintain, said the Vice President of the European Commission for the Promotion of the European Lifestyle Margaritis Schoinas at the event organized in Zappeion by the Office of the European Parliament and the Delegation of the European Commission in Greece on the occasion of Europe Day and the proclamation of 2022 as the European Year of Youth.
The Vice President speaking to an audience of young diplomats, students, teachers and students called for a calm and moderate speech against the voices of populism, of the deniers and conspiracy theorists, who have been denied the unity and effectiveness with which the European Union has faced and continues to face the great challenges of the economic crisis, the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine.
Asked about immigration problem that Greece faced in Evros and whether it will be protected in the future, Mr. Schinas expressed his great satisfaction for the fact that the EU as a whole and the leaders of its three institutions came to the fore by setting up a firewall and the Greek Armed Forces, in the face of this hybrid threat. I am proud, said the Vice President, that in all three cases where we had similar phenomena, in Evros, Ceuta and Belarus, we treated them as the EU united and effectively.
Speaking of them refugees from Ukrainesaid the EU gave a humanitarian visa providing accommodation, work and carewhile emphasizing that exploiting these people in areas such as tourism and health can be an opportunity, “a boost to the competitiveness of the European economy».
Asked about employment opportunities opened by the green transition, replied that all national recovery plans focus on green and digital adaptation. He even noted that 300,000 ‘digital workers’ missing from market as well as engineers with the right skills for the green transition. However, there are resources and the necessary investments will be made in these skills, he added.
The war in Ukraine is, according to Mr. Schoinas, an occasion to move to green growth even faster.
For digital transition pointed out, however, that it will be “not with unbridled competition, but with the terms and values of the European Union». We will not leave algorithms in the hands of engineers and free technology platforms to lead us indiscriminately in which products we will buy or which is the best service. It is an issue that Europe has put on the table and it has replied that it will proceed on its own terms, an issue that the US has also put on the table and said it will do nothing and an issue that China has not discussed at all.
Referring to new generationsaid that she is the one who suffered most of all from the pandemic and the EU is preparing a barrage of initiatives to “compensate” it, such as the more than doubling of Erasmus funds which for the next 7 years will be 25 billion euros, as well as one new program to be announced in the coming days for disadvantaged young people in order for them to participate in the knowledge, training and experience of mobility.
Mr. Schoinas seemed optimistic about reversal of brain drain saying that it is the generation that wants to return, the generation that has taken advantage of the mobility opportunities to settle within the EU and hoards knowledge and experience that it will bring back. Already in Northern Greece, said the vice president, there is a return on investment opportunities, such as Pfizer and Cisco.
Although the measurements say that unemployment is falling and exports are increasing in Greece, this trend must become sustainable, he added. He acknowledged that there were difficulties in the raw materials and energy war, but expressed optimism that European leaders at the May 30 summit would find a solution again.
The embassies of the Member States of the European Union and bodies such as Erasmus, Creative Europe, OAED, Civis, GSEE Labor Institute, EPISEY, European Information Centers (Europe Direct) provided information on study opportunities, in Zappeion. , volunteering and learning foreign languages. Co-financed European programs were also presented.
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