In a revealing interview with powergame.gr, on the sidelines of the Economist conference, former Italian Prime Minister and fervent supporter of European integration, Enrico Letta, sent multiple messages directed at both Brussels and national governments. He made special reference to Greece, which he characterized as a country exemplifying resilience, noting that it “pulled back from the abyss” of crisis. While acknowledging the significant reduction in unemployment, he emphasizes that the country continues to face serious challenges, such as high energy costs and pressure from migration.
Letta also warns about the consequences of fragmenting European markets, which, as he says, both the US and China are ready to exploit, while he sees Trump’s potential re-election as an opportunity for Europe to accelerate its convergence. He further emphasizes that increased defense spending will remain without impact if not accompanied by integration of production in this sector.
Specifically, he told Zorzet Zolota and powergame.gr: “I believe that Greece’s achievements over the past decade are simply extraordinary. It pulled back from the abyss. Going forward, Greece needs to compete with other member states on equal terms. I will focus on the energy costs in Greece which are not competitive because they are very high compared to the rest of Europe. Energy market union is necessary to bridge this gap. In Scandinavia, the cost is ten times lower. Greece and Italy are also on the front line of the migration crisis. All these are problems that can be solved through the EU.”
Read more at powergame.gr
