SPEECH/11/778
José Manuel Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission
Statement by President Barroso
following his meeting with Lucas
Papademos, Prime Minister of Greece
Press point
Brussels, 21 November 2011
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
I'm very pleased to welcome Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to the European
Commission today. Prime Minister, your visit to Brussels so soon after taking office
sends a strong message of your commitment to working closely with the European
Commission.
I want to congratulate you very sincerely on your election by the Parliament as
Prime Minister of Greece. I know it requires courage to assume this kind of
responsibility at this very difficult moment in your country.
The agreement to form a national unity government backed by a broad political
consensus is a vital signal of the need for political stability in Greece at this crucial
time. The situation is extremely serious, more so perhaps than at any point in the
last eighteen months. Political determination and resolve are more important than
ever to enable Greece to stay the course towards economic reform and renewal.
There are two essential objectives for the coming months. Firstly, a second
programme of financial assistance to Greece for the next three years must be
concluded by the end of this year. Secondly, the voluntary bond exchange with
private sector investors should take place as planned at the beginning of 2012.
The immediate task is to take the necessary steps for the sixth disbursement to be
released as soon as possible. It is also crucial that the new government sends a
clear signal that it will not waver from setting its debt on a steady downward path.
The statements made by the Prime Minister on this in the last few days have been
extremely important. Fiscal consolidation should go hand in hand with the structural
reforms needed to transform Greece's growth potential and generate new jobs.
I have assured the Prime Minister that we are doing everything in our power to help
him and to help Greece. We have mobilised resources, though our Task Force for
Greece, like never before. The Task Force is working well with the Greek
authorities. Horst Reichenbach joined our meeting today and outlined the
comprehensive roadmap of technical assistance that is needed in priority areas
such as tax administration and administrative reform.
I know these are extremely difficult times for many Greek citizens. I do not
underestimate the pain that the necessary cuts in public spending are causing. But
sometimes in life we have to take difficult decisions. The alternatives are certainly
much worse. I do hope and trust that the Greek people will support this transitional
government and understand why these hard choices are needed.
I want to say on my own behalf and on behalf of the European Commission, also on
behalf of Vice-President Rehn who was today in our meeting with Prime Minister
Papademos, that we will put the best of our resources to support the Greek
Government and the Greek efforts, but for that, of course, a condition is necessary
– that Greece wants to help itself; that Greece promotes the real broad national
consensus. The situation demands this national consensus and I have said it
several times before - that in these times, that are so exceptional, some exceptional
solutions have to be found and that I fully trust the determination of the Greek
people in building that national consensus.
Once again I would like to congratulate you, Prime Minister, on your appointment. I
know that Mr Papademos has taken on what might be described as a Herculean
task, but I know that with his expertise and credibility he has the ability to make it
possible, of course counting on the support of the Greek people.
I thank you.
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