EU Parliament must have a say on Troika's measures

Othmar Karas MEP: EU Parliament must have a say on Troika's measures /Press conference today, 7 January 2014 @ 12h00

A journey to Portugal has started the first of four missions of the European Parliament to evaluate the work of the Troika. A group of MEPs lead by Parliamen'ts Vice President Othmar Karas is now in Portugal and on Friday and Saturday in Cyprus. "Our first talks show, that the Troika is not a homogeneous entity, but has internal debates about priorities. This shows how urgent it is that Parliament does its job, fulfills its controlling function and puts the questions of transparency and legitimacy on the agenda", Karas said.

"Portugal is now showing signs of economic recovery that will lead the country out of the current crisis. But at different moments, the speech of the Troika leaders differed from their teams of specialists instructions. Portugal was told about flexibility that never occurred. The Portuguese people have endured significant sacrifices and they deserve to be more clearly informed", Karas stressed.

It is not sufficient to say, national Governments are democratically legitimized and that is why we do not need the EU Parliament any more. This would mean turning back the clocks in Europe by decades. Vice President Othmar Karas

Parliament's Vice president insists on the question of the democratic legitimacy of the decisions within the aid programs: " The EU Parliament must co-decide on common decisions. It is not sufficient to say, national Governments are democratically legitimized and that is why we do not need the EU Parliament any more. This would mean turning back the clocks in Europe by decades", Karas said.

MEPs meet with government and opposition representatives, social partners and central bank officials. Amongst others with the former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, the governor of the Portuguese Central BankCarlos Da Silva and Finance Minister Maria Luisa Albuquerque. "We want to get a factual picture of the working and decision procedures around the Troika - not more and not less", said Karas. In Cyprus at the end of this week also talks with the shareholders and depositors of banks are planned. Later, MEPs will travel to Greece and Ireland. A first exchange of views in Parliaments Committee on Economic affairs will take place on 16 January.

Press Conference with Othmar Karas MEP:
Today, 7 January 2014, 12:00 pm (local time),
Office of the European Parliament in Lisbon (Largo Jean Monnet, 1 - 6°, 1269-070 Lisboa)