Ο Α. Τσίπρας στην Ολομέλεια του ΕΚ

Top (from left): Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker, Alexis Tsipras, Manfred Weber. Middle: Gianni Pittella, Ryszard Legutko, Guy Verhofstadt, Gabriele Zimmer . Bottom: Rebecca Harms, Nigel Farage, Marine Le Pen, Eleftherios Synadinos

Greece and the best way to resolve the ongoing crisis were hotly debated in plenary on 8 July in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. While some MEPs criticised him for his lack of concrete proposals, others praised him while some urged him to take his country out of the eurozone. The debate also took into account the conclusions of the recent European Council on 25-26 June and the euro summit on 7 July.

In his concluding remarks Α.Tsipras said: "We saw today a fruitful debate with contrasting views, highly political but not in the form of state against state. The European Parliament has to play a more active role." The Greek Prime Minister said that contrary to some MEPs' accusations, Greece had indeed come up with proposals for reforms and clamped down hard on tax evasion. "Proposals include a strong commitment to achieve fiscal objectives. However, we have a sovereign right to decide to increase taxation on profit-making businesses and not on pensions," he said. Tsipras pointed out that Germany was on the receiving side of the greatest possible solidarity in 1953 when 60% of its debt was written off. Citing his respect for European laws, he concluded by quoting Sophocles: "There are times when the greatest law of all human laws is justice for human beings."

J.C.Juncker said "It was a mistake to leave the negotiation table. If we hadn't broken off, we would have come to an agreement." The Commission President added: “I always stood up against cuts in pension levels that would have affected the poorest. We have to describe things as they really took place behind these closes doors."

D.Tusk stressed that time was running out: “Today we need unity, not because unity is a beautiful idea, but because it is indispensable in order to take concrete decisions. Without unity on Greece we wake up in four days in a different Europe. This is really and truly the final wake-up call for Greece but also for us. Our last chance.”

www.europarl.europa.eu 08/07/2015 - 15:19