Contact us T +32 (0)2 626 07 20 | info@europeangreens.eu

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr

Donate

  • Login to your account
  • User account
  • About Us
    • Organisation
    • People
    • Networks and Working Groups
    • Guidelines
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Get involved
    • Climate Action
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
    • Green Talking Heads
    • European Ideas Lab
    • The Green Screen
    • Local Councillors' Network
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
Home
  • About Us
  • Our Positions
  • Get involved
  • Member Parties
  • News
  • Events
  • Positions
    • Foreign and Security Policy
    • Europe and Democracy
    • Climate and Energy
    • Economy and Jobs
    • Human Rights and Migration
    • Social Justice and Health
    • Environment and Food
  • Resolutions
  • Policy Papers
  • Manifesto

Resolution on the situation in Greece

Share
Share on FacebookShare on Twittershare on Linked Inshare on Google Plusshare via email

Adopted at the Istanbul Council, 7-9 November 2014

On the Situation in Greece

 

Background – Motivation  

The Greek Greens bring concerning issues around the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), to the attention of the European Greens through this resolution, submitted for the Autumn Council meeting in Istanbul. The Greek Greens express also their concern about the choices of the Greek Government in several issues that put in serious risk the ability of the country to overcome the crisis

The Greek Greens are concerned about Greek government initiatives to sell public goods at reduced rates that don’t take into account either the constitution or the international environmental conventions and will only benefit private enterprise at the expense of Greek citizens. HRADF, which the Greek government has stated was set up to help stabilise the Greek economy, is tasked with the development and/or sale of buildings, shares, antiquities, water and energy resources, ports, roads, natural areas, forests, beaches, etc. Any funds generated are to be used solely to repay public debt. However, total sales generated by HRADF up to this point are roughly €4.9bn below targets. In 2013-2014, it declared losses of more than €400,000. 

HRDAF's work is contrary to constitutional and international conventions, and more precisely: the Art.8 of the International Convention of Rio on Biological Diversity, the Art.5.6 of the International Convention for the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats in Europe, the Art.3 of the International Convention on the conservation of migratory birds wildlife, the Art.3 and 6 of Directive 92/43 / EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and finally the Art.2, 3 and 4 of Directive 2009/147 / EC on the conservation of wild birds (4).

The Greek Greens highlight the sale of the area around Attica in Athens to Lamda Developments as a particularly troubling, yet typical example of HRADF's approach. 6,000,000 square meters with 4km sea-frontage has been sold for €75 per square meter, when more typical property prices in the area are €500-800 per square meter. The government itself paid €1,500 per square meter in the same municipality last year. The contract doesn't stipulate any planning limitations. Of further concern is that competition rules were changed by HRDAF after other companies withdrew. Rather than the state getting 30% of all net profits, the state will now only get 30% of profits exceeding 15%. The state has also committed to paying all associated infrastructure costs.

The privatisation of electricity production recently is also of immediate concern. It will only add 11GW of lignite production, ignoring and undermining the perspective for an alternative energy Plan. 30% of the PCC will be sold based on book value, vastly undervaluing it and escalating energy poverty in Greece. It will also have critical social and environmental consequences.

The Greek Greens highlight that the above cases, along with a reduction of labour costs without lowering living costs and the loss of social rights, are a result of the government and Troika failing to stabilise the Greek economy, and risk destabilising the Eurozone. Tax fraud is still rampant, and rather than addressing it, through consecutive clientelistic tax reforms, the tax burden continues to fall on individuals and SMEs, while the accumulation of wealth is rewarded with even less taxes than before the crisis. The recent property tax is highlighted as an example of particularly unfair taxation (zero tax thresholds, flat tax rate and no prospect for comprehensive wealth taxation).

The Greek Greens are also calling for fair and mutually supportive cooperation between Greece, other EU States, and the European Institutions, while expressing their deep concern about initiatives directed only through government agreements (e.g. the questionnaire sent by the German Interior Minister).


This resolution has two targets:

  1. To inform the European citizens that their support to Greece is managed by a government that breaks the law, and finally is not been used to reform Greek economy.
  2. To inform Greek citizens that European Greens care about them and intent to fight against a political system that provoked the crisis and insists to the same clientelistic policies.

The EGP Council united in Istanbul requests the following

 
1.    The European Greens call for action to question the legitimacy of the actions of the HRADF to:

    • The European court in cooperation with other agencies and NGOs
    • The European Economic and Social Committee as it is the "voice of civil society” in Europe
    • At the Committee of the Regions
    • The European Parliament and the EU Commission

 
2.    Without proper public revenues no sustainable development is possible. The European Greens call upon the Commission to scrutinise the Greek Government, as is agreed in the Memorandum:

    • To propose fair and comprehensive wealth taxation aiming at specific policy targets and internalising social and environmental costs
    • To review unilateral promotion of the privatisation of electricity production and distribution, without the drawing up of an alternative energy plan the adoption of immediate measures for drastic savings and energy self-production in the domestic, agricultural and industrial sector


3.   
The European Greens call upon the Greek government to commit itself to sustainable economic as well as institutional reforms:

    • Aiming for more transparency, citizen’s involvement in decision-making, especially at the regional level and the process of drafting the Operation Plans for the next programming period and
    • Giving emphasis to the economic sustainability of local and regional governments as well as to social programmes


The European Greens are also calling for
more solidarity between Greece, other EU Member States, and the European Institutions, through bottom-up initiatives by the society, the productive and collective entities under the coordination of the loca

Related downloads:
AttachmentSize
PDF icon 4. Adopted Resolution on Situation in Greece - EGP Istanbul Council, 7-9 Nov 2014.pdf525.05 KB

Recent News

Icon:
Co-Chairs Thomas Waitz and Mélanie Vogel
Title:

Our newly elected Co-Chairs Mélanie Vogel and Thomas Waitz share their vision for the future of the European Greens

Post date:
12 July 2022
Body:

Mélanie Vogel and Thomas Waitz speak on the future of the European Green Party, the current political priorities for the Greens, and how they're getting ready for the 2024 elections.

Icon:
Title:

Sustainable agriculture can help tackle a food crisis fuelled by climate shocks and war

Post date:
08 July 2022
Body:

Together, Russia and Ukraine exported more than a quarter of the world's wheat before the war. Now, the war is impacting food security across the globe. As Greens, we believe that food should never be used as a geopolitical weapon – and we should never be in the position for it to be used against us.

Position:
Environment & Food
Icon:
Title:

The end of Roe vs. Wade in the US must push us to defend abortion rights in Europe

Post date:
30 June 2022
Body:

European Greens Co-Chair Mélanie Vogel (France), and Committee Members Mina Jack Tolu (Malta) and Malgorzata Tracz (Poland) speak out on the current state of abortion rights in Europe. Access to safe, legal and free abortion must be guaranteed across Europe and abroad to create a more humane world for all and protect those most marginalised!

More News

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr
Tweet Contents:

🇯🇵 In 1945 the US detonated 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

☢️ Now, @antonioguterres signals nuclear threats from the war in Ukraine and international tensions put us 'one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation'

🕊 Only a nuclear-free world can prevent catastrophe https://t.co/gcjkOIGPvg

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
1 day ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @Melanie_Vogel_: La Chine est une dictature.

Un dictature qui organise le genocide des #Ouighours, menace illégitimement #Taiwan et sa…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
2 days ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @DritanAbazovic: Sto dana. Puno rada i još više rezultata. Tek će da bude. 🇪🇺🇲🇪🇪🇺🇲🇪 https://t.co/mxQt1h4lsD

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
2 days ago

Sign up to our newsletter

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank.

Take charge of your future. Donate Green.

Chip in today to help us build a Greener Europe!

Donate

  • Organisation
    • About
    • History
    • Councils
    • Congresses
    • Finance Advisory Board
    • Amendments Committee
    • Conciliation Panel
  • People
    • Committee
    • Team
    • Vacancies
    • Traineeships
  • Networks and Working Groups
    • Networks
      • Balkan
      • Mediterranean
      • Gender
      • tilt!
      • Queer
      • Local Councillors
      • Seniors
      • Disability
    • Working Groups
      • Foreign and Security Policy
      • Future of Europe
      • Trade
  • Guidelines
    • Charter
    • Statutes
    • Rulebook
    • Finances
    • Privacy Policy
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • The Green Screen
    • Climate Action for the People and the Planet
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
  • Donate
Home

Rue du Taciturne 34

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

T +32 (0) 2 626 07 20

info@europeangreens.eu

© European Greens - With the financial support of the European Parliament. Sole liability remains with the author.

cookies