Long days and nights of nerve-wrecking negotiations lie behind us. The Greek crisis of recent weeks has preoccupied not only our political leaders but also each and every European citizen, living with the uncertainty as to whether or not the crisis would end with a positive outcome. I would like to express my gratitude to all who have committed themselves to pursuing the European integration project. Despite the unfavourable portents, all parties involved – the officials of the European institutions, the heads of state and government in the Eurozone and the Finance ministers – have not abandoned the pursuit of a common European solution. It deserves to be recognised that this successful outcome is the work of specific individuals whose personal commitment merits acknowledgement.

The negotiations were tough, really tough. The stakes were very high for all those involved. There were grounds enough for engaging in a blame game. What is more important, however, is that we now look forward and think together about a common solution. The work ahead is daunting and can only be undertaken by Greece with the support of its European partners. The vast majority of Greeks want to stay in the EU and in the Eurozone. Moreover, the other member states too want to keep Greece in the EU. That the solution represents a classic European compromise is evidenced by the fact that in all EU countries the agreement was both welcomed and contested. All have a vested interest in an improvement in Greece’s economic circumstances and that the common European endeavour move ahead. It is thus essential that all Europeans concentrate on the common tasks and goals ; it is vital that they work on achieving them together.

The most urgent task is the restoration of the trust lost in recent months. In order for any further steps to be taken not only towards achieving economic and financial consolidation, but also for co-operation within Europe on other policy matters, states and governments must be able to trust one another. The classic prejudices and clichés which characterise discourse between European peoples, heightened as they have been by the overheated atmosphere of recent months, must be deconstructed and overcome. It is essential that all parties take steps to restore confidence and re-create a calmer climate in Europe, exploring a more constructive, common approach into the future.

The Church has always followed the process of European unification with benevolent interest. With this in mind, I would like to express how happy I am that a European solution was reached by the heads of state and government and that neither the wider EU nor the Eurozone risks collapse. And yet numerous questions remain. Is the package of solutions proposed viable? Can Greece stand on its own two feet again after meeting the requirements imposed? How do we keep the needs of the poor and the dis-advantaged within our sights? I would like to encourage all European citizens to commit themselves to achieving success as a common enterprise. There are enormous challenges requiring a long-term strategy, and they can be met only by courageous and creative solutions. Up until now no serious attempt has been made to tackle the structural causes of the crisis.  It has to be said, there is even more to be done: reduction of unemployment among the young, a common concern for refugees, the pursuit of peace in Europe (e.g. in Ukraine) and in our immediate neighbourhood (e.g. Near- and Middle-East).

It is vital that we learn lessons from the events of recent weeks and that we draw conclusions from the crisis. The EU alone cannot tackle the wide range of issues which fall within the responsibilities of the heads of state and government. The EU member states have got to do more work on the bases of our economic and monetary union, while Europe needs a stronger political co-ordination in the areas of economic, financial and social policy. A new approach to economic and financial co-operation in the EU is essential to any return to a success free of the perpetually returning threat of a currency crisis or social conflict.

The project of European integration and unity has brought its peoples peace, security and prosperity. These successes need to be protected and to be shared by all. Europe is a project of reconciliation, not of division. What is now required is that all Europeans come together so that we can carry this European project forward hand in hand.’  It is more than just a question of the Euro.  It is a matter of re-kindling the European idea by setting new goals, by fresh commitment. The targets set at the moment the European Union was founded are far from being met.  As Christians we commit ourselves to co-operating in making this project a reality, and we do so with profound conviction.

Viele Tage und vor allem Nächte mit nervenaufreibenden Verhandlungen liegen hinter uns. Die Griechenlandkrise hat in den letzten Wochen nicht nur die Politik, sondern alle Europäer beschäftigt, ohne zu wissen, ob es am Ende zu einer positiven Lösung kommen wird. Ich danke allen, die sich für einen Erfolg für das europäische Einigungsprojekt engagiert haben. Trotz aller Widrigkeiten haben sich die Verantwortlichen – die Vertreter der Europäischen Institutionen, die Staats- und Regierungschefs der Eurozone und die Finanzminister – nicht davon abbringen lassen, für eine gemeinsame europäische Lösung zu streiten. Deshalb gilt ihnen ein besonderer Dank, denn letzten Endes sind es immer konkrete Personen, die sich auch persönlich für eine solche Lösung aufreiben.

Die Verhandlungen waren hart, sehr hart. Aber es stand für alle Beteiligten auch sehr viel auf dem Spiel. Sicherlich gäbe es mehr als genug Grund, nach den Schuldigen für die verfahrene Situation zu fragen. Aber noch viel wichtiger ist es jetzt, nach vorne zu blicken und sich wieder auf das Gemeinsame zu besinnen. Denn die Arbeiten, die jetzt zu erledigen sind, sind immens und können auch von Griechenland nur mit der Unterstützung der europäischen Partner geleistet werden. Das griechische Volk will mehrheitlich in der Europäischen Union und der Eurozone bleiben. Ebenso wollen auch die anderen Mitgliedstaaten Griechenland in der Gemeinschaft behalten. Dass es in allen europäischen Ländern sowohl Zustimmung als auch Widerstände zur Einigung vom Montagmorgen gibt, zeigt, dass die Lösung ein klassischer europäischer Kompromiss ist. Alle haben ein Interesse daran, dass es mit Griechenland rasch wirtschaftlich aufwärts geht und dass die europäische Einigung voranschreitet. Deshalb müssen sich jetzt alle Europäer auf die gemeinsamen Aufgaben und Ziele konzentrieren und gemeinsam daran arbeiten.

Eine wichtige Voraussetzung dafür ist es, verlorengegangenes Vertrauen wiederherzustellen. Für die weiteren Schritte der wirtschaftlichen und finanziellen Konsolidierung, aber auch für die europäische Zusammenarbeit in anderen Fragen, müssen sich die Staaten und Regierungen gegenseitig vertrauen. Auch Vorurteile und Klischees zwischen den Völkern, die sich in der aufgeheizten Stimmung eher noch verstärkt haben, müssen abgebaut und überwunden werden. Deshalb sind von allen Seiten vertrauensbildende Maßnahmen erforderlich, um das Klima in Europa wieder zu beruhigen und einen konstruktiven gemeinsamen Weg in die Zukunft zu finden.

Die Kirche hat die Europäische Einigung stets mit Wohlwollen begleitet. Insofern begrüße ich nachdrücklich, dass es zwischen den Staats- und Regierungschefs zu einer europäischen Lösung gekommen ist und dass Europa und die Eurozone nicht auseinanderfallen. Es müssen jedoch noch zahlreiche Fragen beantwortet werden: Ist das jetzt gefundene Paket auch tragfähig? Kommt Griechenland mit den vereinbarten Maßnahmen wieder auf die Beine? Wie bleiben die Armen und Schwachen im Blick? Ich ermutige alle Europäer, sich für den gemeinsamen Erfolg weiter zu engagieren. Für die großen und langfristigen Herausforderungen bedarf es mutige und kreative Lösungen. Denn bislang ist die Beseitigung der strukturellen Ursachen für die Krise noch nicht hinreichend in Angriff genommen worden. Und vieles andere bleibt zu tun: die Bekämpfung der Jugendarbeitslosigkeit, die gemeinsame Sorge um die Flüchtlinge, der Einsatz für den Frieden in Europa (z.B. der Ukraine) und in seiner Nachbarschaft (z.B. der Nahe und Mittlere Osten).

Deshalb ist es erforderlich, aus den Geschehnissen der vergangenen Wochen zu lernen und Konsequenzen aus der Krise zu ziehen. Allzu viele Nachtschichten der Staats- und Regierungschefs mit dieser Dramatik kann sich die Europäische Union kaum leisten. Die Mitgliedstaaten der EU müssen an den Grundlagen der Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion arbeiten, denn Europa braucht eine stärkere politische Koordination in der Wirtschafts-, Währungs- und Sozialpolitik. Damit die EU langfristig wieder auf einem guten gemeinsamen Weg in die Zukunft gehen kann und es nicht immer wieder zu Währungskrisen und sozialen Verwerfungen kommt, ist eine Reform der wirtschafts- und währungspolitischen Zusammenarbeit in der EU erforderlich.

Die Europäische Einigung hat den europäischen Völkern Frieden, Sicherheit und Wohlstand gebracht. Diese Erfolge müssen gesichert und für alle zugänglich werden. Europa ist ein Projekt der Versöhnung, nicht der Spaltung. Deshalb müssen nun alle Europäer aufeinander zugehen, damit wir Europa gemeinsam weiter voranbringen. Es geht um mehr als den Euro. Es geht um eine wirkliche Erneuerung der europäischen Idee mit neuen Zielen, neuem Engagement. Die Aufgaben der Gründungszeit der Europäischen Union sind noch lange nicht erledigt. Als Christen werden wir an diesem Projekt aus Überzeugung weiter mitarbeiten.

We publish the text of the message sent, on 9 July, by the Synod of the Catholic Bishops in Greece to the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Dear Gentlemen,

We the Synod of Catholic Bishops in Greece, empathize with the people of our country that continues to live under adverse and non-decent conditions in recent years.

It is not our job to impute liability for those circumstances. To us, as a Church, belongs the duty to stand by the people who suffer. But we fail to do so! Naturally, the financial crisis has not exempted the Church.

We are joining our voices with the voice of Pope Francis, who through the Press Office of the Holy See said on July 1, 2015: “The Holy Father wishes to convey his closeness to all the Greek people, with a special thought for the many families gravely beset by such a complex and keenly felt human and social crisis. The dignity of the human person must remain at the centre of any political and technical debate, as well as in the taking of responsible decisions”.

We are also uniting our voice with the voice of the Catholic Bishops of France, who stated on the 7th of July, 2015, among others: “Every country is bound to fulfil the need for a management that is strict and responsible but that is also fair towards its citizens, especially the weaker and the poorer ones. But the political leaders of the Eu are also bound to make sure the member states support each other by letting each country offer its support and lay favourable conditions for a fair, responsible management”.

We ask the Institutions of the European Union and the IMF to continue showing understanding and, with concrete actions, to stand closer to a people that have contributed so much to Europe, but are now living under conditions that do not honor our country nor the European Union.

We ask that they show responsibility and true solidarity with all their good will, two pillars of democracy, on which rests the present and the future of the European Union.

We hope that the leaders of Europe and the Eurozone will remain united and, without violating the spirit of the Laws of the Institutions they represent, in cooperation with the IMF, will make the necessary transcendence, so that the citizens of the currently weak, in financial terms, member State, be justified, since vast majority of the Greek people believe that belong in the European Union and their currency is the euro.

+ Franghiskos Papamanolis, President, Bishop Emeritus of Syros-Thira-Crete

+ Nikolaos Printezis, Secretary, Archbishop of Naxos-Tinos

Pubblichiamo il messaggio che il Sinodo dei Vescovi cattolici di Grecia ha inviato il 9 luglio alla Commissione Europea, alla Banca Centrale Europea e al Fondo Monetario Internazionale.

Egregi Signori,

Noi, Sinodo dei vescovi cattolici di Grecia, comprendiamo a fondo la gente del nostro Paese che continua a vivere in condizioni avverse e non dignitose in questi ultimi anni.

Non è nostro compito attribuire la responsabilità di tali circostanze. A noi, come Chiesa, appartiene il compito di stare accanto al popolo che soffre. Ma non riusciamo a farlo! Naturalmente, la crisi finanziaria non ha risparmiato la Chiesa.

Uniamo le nostre voci alla voce di Papa Francesco, che attraverso la Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, ha detto il 1 ° luglio 2015: “Il Santo Padre vuole trasmettere la sua vicinanza a tutto il popolo greco, con un pensiero speciale per le molte famiglie gravemente afflitte da una crisi umana e sociale così complessa e così profondamente sentita. La dignità della persona umana deve rimanere al centro di ogni dibattito politico e tecnico, come pure nell’assunzione di decisioni responsabili”.

Uniamo la nostra voce anche alla voce dei Vescovi di Francia, che, tra gli altri, hanno dichiarato il 7 luglio 2015: “Ogni Paese è tenuto a soddisfare la necessità di una gestione che sia rigorosa e responsabile, ma che sia anche equa nei confronti dei suoi cittadini, in particolare dei più deboli e dei più poveri. Ma i leader politici della Ue sono pure tenuti ad assicurarsi che gli Stati membri si sostengano a vicenda lasciando che ogni paese offra il suo sostegno e crei condizioni favorevoli per una gestione equa e responsabile”.

Chiediamo alle istituzioni dell’Unione europea e al Fondo monetario internazionale di continuare a mostrare comprensione e, con azioni concrete, di stare più vicini a un popolo che tanto ha contribuito all’Europa, ma sta ora vivendo in condizioni che non fanno onore né al nostro Paese, né all’Unione europea.

Chiediamo che essi mostrino responsabilità e vera solidarietà con tutta la loro buona volontà, due pilastri della democrazia su cui poggia il presente e il futuro dell’Unione europea.

Speriamo che i leader europei e dell’Eurozona rimarranno uniti e, senza violare lo spirito delle leggi delle istituzioni che rappresentano, in collaborazione con il Fondo monetario internazionale, faranno quanto straordinariamente necessario, in modo che i cittadini di questo stato membro al momento debole in termini finanziari, siano giustificati, dal momento che gran parte del popolo greco crede di appartenere all’Unione europea e che la loro moneta è l’euro.

+ Franghiskos Papamanolis, Presidente, Vescovo emerito di Syros-Thira-Crete

+ Nikolaos Printezis, Segretario, Arcivescovo di Naxos-Tinos