Social partners’ agreements in Greece must be respected says PES President

07/02/2012

The Party of European Socialists (PES) President Sergei Stanishev has called on the international Troika, currently negotiating with the Greek Government to respect social partnership agreements. He said that; “the International troika ignoring, or worse, ripping up, social partnership agreements sends a disastrous signal. These agreements, reached in trying times, are delicate compromises, but much more importantly they are a European fundamental right”. He added that “The PES wants to send a message to the Troika, and to the Greek people, that we believe that social partnership agreements must be respected".

In the midst of trade union strikes and social protests, incumbent Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos faces debt talks with the Troika representatives. On the table is an austerity agreement on further budget, wage and job cuts that will sink Greece deeper in the crisis. Former Prime Minister and Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou has already expressed his concern on these short-sighted solutions, which rip up the recent agreements reached by the Greek social partners. Concerns are growing about the compatibility with the European Charter for Fundamental Rights.

PES General Secretary Philip Cordery also said that; “we need to get Greece out of this vicious circle. We need to answer the mounting pressure of the conservative leaders with concrete measures that foster employment, public and private investment and the most basic rights. Above all, the Troika must respect the social partner’s agreements. This is not only about coming out of the crisis: it is about coming out together, all of us, with stronger and deeper democratic values”.

For further information please contact Brian Synnott on +32 474 98 96 75 (brian.synnott@pes.org)