European solidarity ‘à la carte’

“People say solidarity, solidarity, but then nothing happens… because solidarity is not à la carte… If this is your idea of Europe, you can keep it. Either there’s solidarity or don’t waste our time.”

You might think these bold statements were uttered by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras or his finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.

But no, it was Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his Italian colleague Matteo Renzi, rebuking their European partners.

The cause of their concern was not the plight of Greek pensioners or unemployed youths, but the influx of migrants crossing the Mediterranean on rickety boats. Rightly so, Muscat and Renzi demand EU solidarity because Malta and Italy (even Greece) need a helping hand to cope with the thousands of migrants who make a dangerous crossing on rickety boats.

However, it seems that solidarity only works one way for Muscat, Renzi and most of their EU partners. This is not only evident in the EU’s reluctance in agreeing on a long-term plan to guarantee the safe entry of migrants and relocation programmes but also in the EU’s shameful refusal to grant Greece a lifeline. 

Only a small fraction of the total €240 billion bailout Greece received found its way into the government’s coffers to reform the country’s crippled economy and welfare system

The EU’s stubborn refusal to give Greece some breathing space by agreeing to some kind of debt relief confirms that the EU is held hostage by global capitalism, undemocratic institutions such as the IMF and greedy corporations whose powers exceed that of sovereign states.

This is biggest test for European unity since the bloc’s expansion and sadly it seems that EU leaders are not willing to make any concessions and salvage what remains of the values the bloc was founded on; respect for human dignity, democracy, solidarity, equality, liberty and mutual respect.

German chancellor Angela Merkel is right in stressing that responsibility and solidarity “go hand in hand”, but the Troika’s formula has clearly failed and the creditors have divested themselves from both responsibility and solidarity.

In Malta, both Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil are understandably concerned over the repayment of the €177 million loaned out to Greece. However, both failed to ask any questions on the conditions imposed on the Greek government when the bailouts were approved in Parliament over the past five years.

Secret documents published by the Guardian yesterday show that the creditors themselves are well aware (and they have been for a long time) that the medicine administered to Greece only made Europe’s sick man sicker. The Troika is aware that even if Greece restructures its debt and reaches its budget surplus targets the country will remain in depression for years on end.

This is biggest test for European unity since the bloc’s expansion and sadly it seems that EU leaders are not willing to make any concessions and salvage what remains of the values the bloc was founded on; respect for human dignity, democracy, solidarity, equality, liberty and mutual respect

Moreover, EU leaders and the Troika conveniently put the blame on the patient. For instance, most of the €177 million Malta loaned to Greece went to private-sector creditors, including German and French banks.

Only a small fraction of the total €240 billion bailout Greece received found its way into the government’s coffers to reform the country’s crippled economy and welfare system.

Successive Greek governments have overspent; corruption and tax evasion is institutionalised; and large sectors of society lived beyond their means. But nobody deserves the brutal punishment imposed on the Greeks.

If the Greeks reject austerity, Merkel and co will shift the blame on the left-wing Syriza government. And over the past few days, Tsipras did not make many new friends inside the corridors of power.

By first flirting with Putin and then calling a referendum, he upped the ante and antagonised his European partners even further. But his government – elected in January – surely cannot be blamed for the economic mess the country is in.

Tsipras is hoping his gamble pays off and strengthens his hand in negotiations with the creditors. Staying in the single currency will be a never-ending agony for the Greeks, but while an exit will be excruciatingly painful too, at least they will have the opportunity to strengthen the nation’s sovereignty, reform its structures and shape a future which best suits their interests and that of future generations (and not the interests of the Troika.)

If this comes at the cost of European unity, the blame must be shouldered by EU leaders who obstinately refuse to make concessions and who put short-term national interests before European solidarity.

This is not about money. Germany and the institutions believe they can overrule the Greek people's sovreignity and pick governments at will. The matter at stake is power and it has caused a humanitarian crisis.

People my age are committing suicide because they cannot swallow the indignation and humiliation of having to depend on their parents’ pensions to survive. Since 2011, the total number of suicides in Greece increased by over 35%. Around 60% of young people are unemployed. Half the pensioners are living below the poverty line. People lucky enough to have a job have seen their wages plummet by up to 70%.

The deafening silence on the imminent humanitarian crisis coming from European capitals reminds me of ‘those Washington bullets again’.