The former Greek Prime Minister presented his book “European debt crisis” at the University of Manchester and said that the settlement of Greek debt would probably not happen very soon adding that a new debt haircut is seen as unlikely.

Since the negotiations for addressing the imbalances between North and South will start in the fall, Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece must have a say, arguments and participate in this discussion.

As he said, it is assumed that this debate will reveal significant changes in the institutional, political and economic conditions that affect us, since the central question will be how to ensure future convergence and cohesion.

Regarding the European elections, he pointed out the danger of euroscepticism, which seemed to occupy the first place in England but it luckily shows a decreasing trend.

Mr. Simitis referred to countries like Greece where an intense introversion “does not allow the discussion to take more substantial dimensions around the major European dilemmas”.

According to former Greek Prime Minister, it is significant that the political unity and achieving social justice are the less important topics of discussion.

“Millions of unemployed people, the spectacular reduction of incomes, the increase of social inequalities and the dramatic reduction of resources for health services and social welfare was the result of uncontrolled operation of the market and the policy of austerity that followed. So we need a set of rules that will ensure social justice at European level” he added.

Source: www.newmoney.gr