The Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Avramopoulos, representing the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso concluded today the works of the 6th European Summit of Regions and cities, organised in Athens on March 7 and 8, 2014, by the Committee of the Regions and the Greek Region of Attica.
Among the participants at the Summit were also the President of the Committee of the Regions Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, members of the Committee of the Regions, delegates of national, regional and local authorities, representatives of organisations and experts of EU Institutions.
In his speech, Mr. Avramopoulos expressed the conviction that the Committee of the Regions can play a very important role to growth, progress as well as to the elimination of the European economy malaise, and he wished that “suspicion and disbelief will not prevail within our new large country, Europe”.
He characterised as one of the biggest accomplishments of the Greek Presidency the “Athens Declaration” which will “indicate a new beginning and I wish that it won’t be long until all citizens of Europe will live the vision of those who created the European Union in practice, without competition, without returning to the past”.
He underlined the key role that the citizens have, through their instruments of expression, such as their cities and regions, he highlighted the power that their initiatives may have at the heart of great procedures actually taking place, and he warned on the dangers lurking in Europe, in view of the European Parliament elections.
“Europe’s vision today is tumbling due to the economic crisis and it is threatened by the return to mentalities and perceptions that belong to the previous century, by the bulge of nationalism and extremism. Let us wish that the new European Parliament that will emerge will be more democratic and more European. The Committee of the Regions plays a special role in culture, progress, Europe’s unity, democracy, stability and growth”, the Minister of National Defence underlined, concluding his speech.
The Speech by the Minister of National Defence
«President Barroso, mister President of the Committee of the Regions, local governors, mayors, dear friends,
You might wonder why a Minister of Defence is attending such a meeting. The 20 years celebrated this year by the Committee of the Regions coincide with the 20 years since I was elected Mayor of Athens and, as older colleagues might remember, I was one of the most active members of the Committee of the Regions, always believing in the role and the importance of cities and regions, as far as the building of European edifice is concerned.
The “Athens declaration” signed here today in the historic capital of Europe has a special significance because it coincides with this difficult period of time our new homeland, Europe goes through.
The financial crisis tests us and brings forward deficiencies and structural weaknesses of the European edifice.
Over the last years, the governors of the regions, local governors, mayors gave struggled hard to be able to contribute to the integration of the European architecture. And they did this under especially difficult circumstances, fighting, bringing citizens closer to the European vision. But in most cases, unfortunately, it was suspicion that prevailed among Europe’s institutions.
I heard President Barroso’s speech before and I felt that he must have the local governance spirit in him, because he spoke like a representative of European regions and cities would speak.
But it is necessary to take steps forward and our time is hard.
I believe that the Committee of the Regions can play a very significant role in growth, progress, combating the deficiencies of the European economy.
Because until now, it is not the regions or cities that failed. It is the states themselves, which suffer from inflexibility and could not realise that Europe is built only if its citizens want to build it. And citizens are represented by their cities and regions.
The country that hosts us today has gone through many historical developments. One of them in ancient times had to do with cities-states which however developed a civilisation and finally united and created a great nation.
It is the same thing that happens now in Europe. The vision of those people, which paved the way to the European integration, was formed under the experience of the World War II.
And it has been recorded in history as the biggest and greatest global achievement after such a difficult adventure. Citizens of Europe unite their forces, their vision and come forward with a common purpose, to form a new environment of progress, growth, civilisation, an oasis of security, stability and peace.
The financial crisis tests the institutions, it tests Europe. And today, every country for its own different reasons gives the fight of growth and progress.
What must not prevail now in our new homeland, Europe, are competition, suspicion and distrust. We must realise that from the southernmost to the northernmost, from the westernmost to the easternmost parts of Europe great processes are conducted and citizens participate in them through their main representative institutions which are cities and regions.
Today, I attend this conference not so much as the Deputy Leader of the New Democracy party and Minister of National Defence, but rather as an old colleague of yours, and I would like, first of all, to convey the cordial and warm greeting of the Greek Prime Minister, who would be present, but, as you may know, he was exhausted during his last trip and had to remain at home.
We all wish him a quick recovery from the bottom of our hearts.
But also in my other property, my permanent property, as mayor. Because once a mayor, always a mayor. And I say this, because when I go out in the streets of Athens, spontaneously people who see me in their everyday lives don’t call me Minister. They call me mayor. And it maybe the greatest honour a public person can have.
I would say one more thing. Whoever aspires to serve their countries, as well as our big country, Europe, should have had a period of experience in regions or cities in their lives. When time comes, they will certainly be better statesmen.
They will feel the citizens are closer to them and they will not allow any vacuums among representative institutions of all levels. Whether it is about Parliament, Commission or even lower level European institutions, they will not allow any vacuums to be created among them which will prevent thoughts, ideas and initiatives from free circulation.
Fifteen years ago, an initiative was taken which bore the signature of the city of Athens and was entitled as “Diplomacy of cities”. It became an official programme of the United Nations and it proved that where states could not agree, cities and regions could.
Consequently, the conclusion is quite wider than it was for the question for growth and progress. Citizens are needed for a democracy to be deepened and widened, and they are represented by regions and cities.
You have a great power and you must use it not only to handle everyday issues, but to achieve growth and progress as well, by taking initiatives which serve peace and stability.
With these thoughts, I truly believe that a big step is taken today which will be recorded in history and maybe it is one of the biggest achievements of the Greek Presidency in this semester. “Athens declaration” which will mark a new beginning and I wish the day will soon come when every European institution, every citizen will live the vision of those who created Europe in action, without any competitions, without any returns to the past. Because this vision is wobbled today. It is wobbled by the financial crisis, it is also wobbled and threatened by the reappearance of last century’s mentalities and aspects, by the rise of nationalism and extremism. You may see it in many parts of Europe.
Let’s wish the European Parliament which will derive from the elections to be deeper, more democratic and more European. In this process the Committee of the Regions and the Cities has a special role. To the benefit of culture, progress, unity of Europe, democracy, stability and growth.
I wish the best of success for your work and I want you to know that you are always accompanied by the love and thought of all those who preceded you in the Committee of the Regions. Because we are all tied by strong solidarity bonds which resist time, just as Europe’s dreams resist it.
Thank you very much».