Schulz pledges to make troika more accountable, Samaras hails EU unity
Social cohesion is the core issue currently faced by Greek society said European Parliament head Martin Schulz in a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras held in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Greece has suffered a bigger loss in terms of standard of living terms than any other country since World War II, noted Schulz.
The head of the EU Parliament also stated that MEPs would work toward making the troika more accountable for its actions and added that members of its troika inquiry are due to visit Athens at the end of January.
Samaras apoke of “more and better Europe”, a phrase he had already used in his address to the European Parliament plenary session earlier in the day.
“Through the crisis Europe managed to stick together, face its weaknesses and overcome them,” Samaras said.
Growth and employment were the key issues of the EU’s rotating Greek presidency, said the Greek Prime Minister, who also spoke about the humanitarian crisis caused by illegal immigration. Europe, he said, should tackle the root of the problem, the organized crime network which is behind immigrants paying large sums of money to flee troubled zones.
On the subject of Greece, Samaras noted that the country had achieved a primary surplus earlier than expected.
“Greece has suffered, remains injured, but is standing on its feet today,” the Greek premier said.
