Greece: EPP Group calls for a programme with strict conditions

“A great deal of time has been wasted over the past five months. The slight growth that was being seen in Greece has been turned around. Greek banks, which were in a solid position, are facing increasing difficulties. The Tsipras government is going to run Greece into the ground,” said Manfred Weber, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, today, as MEPs hold a debate in preparation of the European Summit of 25 and 26 June.

“It is the Greek government, not the Greek people, that are responsible however. The EPP Group wants Greece to stay in the Eurozone. We are calling for a programme that will make this possible, to give the Greek people hope for a better future. But the Greek government needs to bear in mind that conditions are essential: European solidarity can only come with Greek responsibility,” Mr Weber said.

On migration, the Chairman of the largest political group in the European Parliament stressed that we need to make sure that “the right protection is guaranteed while avoiding abuse".

“Providing protection to Syrian refugees is our duty,” he said, underlining however that “people who do not have a proper legal reason to seek asylum in Europe should be kept out of Europe. We also fully support the Commission's proposal for more solidarity between Member States.”