Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Europe a buffer against crisis

[01] PM: Europe a buffer against crisis

"The crisis points out to European citizens how much more serious the repercussions would be for the economies of their countries if these were outside the EU," Karamanlis said. He urged European young people to always be actively involved in public affairs and come out ahead of developments, stressing that New Democracy's dream was Greece's participation in a democratic and united Europe.

Referring to the economic crisis in general, Karamanlis forecast that this would be unpredictable both in terms of its depth and duration, noting that it was not only the job of governments to deal with the problems but also the social partners in every country, who needed to adopt a responsible attitude.

Karamanlis underlined that coping with the repercussions would require strong reflexes and social sensitivity:

"It requires policies for the classes that are worst affected, but without placing fiscal balance in jeopardy," he said.

While the months ahead would be difficult, past experience has shown that great crises played a decisive role in bringing out historic progress, Karamanlis added, calling on European governments to use their pooled experience and take decisions.

He also stressed the need for a collective answer by the EU to the economic crisis, describing it as a challenge whose repercussions could be contained through coordinated action within the EU, which was would thus be able to "convert the international challenge into a European opportunity".

The premier also focused on the government's latest plans for reforming state education in Greece, saying it was a key axis of its policy and sought to set up an educational system that would meet the needs of tomorrow's labour markets.

"We are creating the school of the future, improving the quality of tertiary education and beginning dialogue on the exam system and the reform of lyceums (Greek upper highschool)," Karamanlis said.

The premier was critical, however, of the government's political opponents in Greece, accusing them of using the economic crisis to further petty party political goals in view of the upcoming European elections, creating a climate of pessimism and uncertainty.

"Some people are irresponsibly investing in the problems. Our goal is to meet the problems head on," he emphasised.

The meeting of EPP youth groups was organised in Athens by ruling ND's own youth party ONNED.

Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis speaking at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation on Saturday, during the presentation of plans for the new National Opera and National Library to be built with a donation from the foundation in Faliro. (ANA-MPA - A. Beltes)

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