“It is a scandal that the European Union acts like this with Greece in the European Year against Poverty and social Exclusion”, underlined Lothar Bisky today during the debate on the results of the European Summit, in the extraordinary plenary session, in Brussels.  

The solution proposed by the EU to the current crisis was criticized by all left wing parties in the European Parliament. According to the MEP’s, the agreement achieved it is not more than the result of a bilateral discussion and dialogue between Paris and Berlin, and it doesn’t reflect by any chance the solidarity that must prevail between member states. Moreover, it enhances the problems and the limits of the European treaties and the economic European strategies.

The loan conceded to Greece will not help the country, but hinder it - was often repeated by the different left political groups. The EU should impose lower interest rates as the only manner to help the Greek government.

The Greek MEP Nikos Chountis afirmed that "with the recent Council decision, the IMF has become policeman of the Eurozone and social groups, illegally, and in contravention of all EU treaties. The EL deputy considers that th smaller countries and the weakest economies will suffer with the decision and the pressure "countries as Spain and Portugal are taking measures against working people, driving up unemployment and poverty without providing any way out of this crisis. Social dumping has become the only instrument of competition in the EU."

“We have the highest unemployment rate since 1990 (10%) with many youngsters included, but the council hasn’t reached an agreement to promote social cohesion and fight the poverty, it only postponed the urgency of taking serious measures”, pointed out Bisky.