Greek crisis: A new approach

(Vatican Radio) Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told the European Parliament on Wednesday that he would deliver sweeping reform proposals this week to secure a bailout funding deal that can keep Greece in the euro zone. Mr Tsipras said he was determined to fix years of bad government as well as reverse the increasing inequalities caused by five years of creditor-imposed austerity. He also said, The Greek people "stood up and were counted - we have to listen to what they said." 

Listen to Lydia O'Kane's interview with the Secretary General of Caritas Europa, Jorge Nuño Mayer 

Euro zone members have given Greece until the end of the week to come up with a proposal for reforms in return for loans that will keep the country afloat

As Europe holds its breath over Greece’s financial woes, there are serious concerns over the human cost of austerity measures in the country.

New Approach

In an opinion article, the Secretary General of Caritas Europa, Jorge Nuño Mayer said a “new approach is needed now regarding Greece and the European project. He said, “I can’t hide my double feeling of strong opportunity and deep concern about Greece and the whole European project. The latter has never been so much at risk to fail as it is now, and at the same time it has never been at a more incredible moment to be reshaped and include a more humane and societal dimension.”

Speaking to Lydia O’Kane, Mr Nuño Mayer explained that most politicians and media in Europe presented it as a win-lose game, adding that “now the people of Greece they have expressed that they don’t want to continue in a certain way”.  EU politicians, he says are realizing that “they have to listen to the people, we (the politicians) didn’t expect this result but maybe we should listen more to the people. It means that there is in fact an opportunity to change the approach”, because up until now the approach has been an economic one.

Austerity

The Secretary General underlines the fact that austerity in Greece has not worked according to reports published by Caritas Europa. “Austerity has not solved the problem it wanted to solve, it has not created growth, it has not created employment, it has created more poverty, more inequality.”

Asked about the impact a worsening Greek situation could have on other European nations emerging from economic crises, he said, this would by a concern the moment the European Union abandons Greece.