Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-12-03
CONTENTS
[01] PM addresses Euro Socialists in Warsaw
[01] PM addresses Euro Socialists in Warsaw
(ANA-MPA) -- Greek Prime Minister and Socialist International (SI)
President George Papandreou emphasised from Warsaw on Thursday that
"the socialists are proposing and new effective tools for handling the
European crisis."
He was addressing the Party of European Socialists (PES) council taking
place in Warsaw on Thursday and Friday, days before EU leaders convene
to discuss a permanent crisis-resolution mechanism for the Eurozone.
Papandreou stressed that "conservatives speak of an austerity policy,
we refer to a policy of responsibility," while defining the main lines
for "the future and prospects of modern socialdemocracy."
"The conservatives saw the crisis as a golden opportunity to weaken the
social state, to reduce the labour rights that were achieved after
tough struggles. It is our responsibility to safeguard them at all
cost. We must help the millions of unemployed young Europeans who live
in poverty," the Greek premier noted, adding that "rescuing banks at
the expense of the poorer citizens is not only not viable economically,
it is socially and morally unacceptable."
Referring to the Greek welfare state, he said a rationalisation must
take place for state expenditures to be cut wherever necessary. "We
must respect the money of the taxpayers," he said but noted that major
expenditures in Greece were not for the poor. They serve special
interests.
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