PM Karamanlis addresses EPP in Warsaw

   Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis addressed the European Peoples' Party (EPP) conference, ahead of the June euroelections, in Warsaw on Wednesday, stressing the need for shielding the European social model and maintaining the balance between the market and social responsibility.

    The conference was attended by most prime ministers of the European Union member-states, as well as a considerable number of party leaders, both from member-states and EU accession candidate countries.

    Karamanlis referred during his address to the "unprecedented crisis" that is harassing both the European and the global economy, pointing out that the EPP's steadfast position in favour of the "social economy of the market" probably constitutes the only exit from this crisis.

    "We must use the market because it is the best means for producing wealth. In parallel, however, we must ensure the correct distribution of this wealth, so as to curb the negative repercussions of the crisis for the financially weaker classes," the prime minister said, adding that the economic crisis is a challenge for the renewal of the EPP's programme arsenal and the strengthening of the EU member-states' coordination.

    "We must focus our attention on boosting employment, placing special importance on sectors such as green development," Karamanlis noted and pointed at the same time to the need of promoting structural changes in the direction of increasing competitiveness and productivity.

    Referring to the government's policy in Greece, Karamanlis said that an integrated programme is being implemented with targeted activities in sectors such as health and education. When the economic crisis will be over, this programme will allow the return to growth rates based on better foundations, he said.

    The prime ministerb added that the word key is "confidence" and that the EPP has always placed emphasis on the social dimension of the European undertaking and the boosting of economic cohesion and social solidarity.

    Karamanlis underlined, however, that confidence entails sincerity and responsibility and stressed that the parties comprising the EPP have never concealed the truth from the European peoples and, consequently, they do not intend, at this stage, to undermine the longterm prospects of the European economies to appear pleasant for the voters during the short term.

    Lastly, the prime minister underlined that the EPP has contributed to the creation of a united Europe more than any other European political family and expressed confidence that in the upcoming Euroelections the parties comprising it will succeed once again in making it first among the preferences of the European voters.

    Karamanlis had a brief meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk on the sidelines of the EPP conference.