ATHENS, Greece, Sept. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Government of Greece released the following in advance of the European Union Summit today in Bratislava, Slovakia:

To deal with the issues of Brexit, increasing Euroscepticism, a refugee crisis and a continuing erosion of economic conditions, the Government of Greece suggests the EU should adopt:

  • A legally binding European standard of social rights based on that which had been announced by president Juncker's State of the Union address last year.
  • An increase in government investment, prioritized in EU countries with higher unemployment.  Specifically, through two exemptions to the Stability and Growth Pact:
    • Exempting from the budget deficit and national debt calculations the national contributions in investment plans which are co-funded by the EFSI and the Structural and Cohesion funds
    • Exempting expenditures used in the refugee crisis from the national part of the public expenditure programs.
  • A doubling of the EFSI funds (European Fund for Strategic Investment),  giving a priority to investments in countries with high level of unemployment
  • The creation of a "European plan for Youth," by expanding programs such as the Erasmus Pro program.
  • The introduction of a Common and Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) and decisive action against tax evasion by joining forces to eliminate tax havens.
  • To strengthen the Banking Union through the implementation of the European Depositor Insurance Scheme

With regard to the refugee issue, 'Not in my back yard' positions by many EU members mean Europe at large is failing to effectively deal with the crisis. This inactivity fuels extreme right political positions and Euroscepticism. It is essential that the resettlement and relocation procedure be sped up. Greece reminds that every member state has an obligation to deal effectively with this common challenge.

For more information, please contact:

Dimitris Karamanis , PM's General Secretary Office

Email

+30 6982 959260 

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SOURCE Government of Greece

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