Venizelos in Italy, meets with premier and foreign minister

The main issue of the talks were the respective Greek and Italian presidencies in 2014, the cooperation in the energy sector with the construction of TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) natural gas pipeline, the declaration

of a broader European region of the Adriatic and the Ionian and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the ministers of the Greek and the Italian governments.

“Our two presidencies will focus on the Mediterrenean, security, culture, energy and the safeguarding of the our borders,” noted Venizelos.

Responding to an ANA-MPA question after the conclusion of his meeting with Bonino, Venizelos said, “We are ready to discuss openly and in a friendly manner and to negotiate with the new German government, on a secure foundation of institutional equality of eurozone and EU member-states. Our common goal is for the European Union to adopt a new growth model, because it is vital for Greece, as it can’t bear any more cutbacks and austerity measures”.

Moreover, Venizelos clarified that “we are ready for radical and infrastructural changes, but we can’t accept the theory that calls for growth without credits, development without job positions, because growth means liquidity, job opportunities and protection of the social cohesion”.

On her part, Bonino noted that “the fiscal discipline is the tool, not the goal. It is possibly a means for growth but not an end in itself. We did not discuss the German elections but only the decisions of June’s European Summit on the unemployment, which are, of course, a field of action with clear targets for both our presidencies in 2014″.

According to Italian Foreign Minister “the policies on the promotion of employment, of small and medium-sized enterprises and of the industrial sector must become our immediate priorities”.

In his meeting with Letta, Venizelos referred to the so-called ‘democratic deficit’ in the EU, to the exteme-right in Europe and to the crisis management in the eurozone and its social consequences.

“The Mediterrenean is not a political choice, but a common geographical and historical fate. We must accept our common European and Mediterrenean fate. It consists of a stable base of our common will to promote a different European dimension, with a new discussion on how to face the crisis and with emphasis on growth and on the creation of job openings,” noted Venizelos during his joint press conference with Bonino.

Venizelos is as of this writing meeting with Italian Minister responsible for European issues Enzo Moavero Milanesi.

Source: AMNA