Interview of the MEP of the NEA DIMOKRATIA

It is already 43 years since Greece joined the European Union, then the EEC. A decision that divided public opinion and was the subject of a subsequent debate on whether we should stay in or out of it. On the occasion of this year’s European elections, we discussed with the MEP of the New Democracy, Mr. Manolis Kefalogiannis, what the EU has to offer its citizens today and what the benefits are for Greece. In an interview with grtraveller, Mr. Kefalogiannis talks about the path towards European integration, the need for a unified foreign policy and defence, and reveals his vision for the future of the EU.

What does the European Union have to offer to its citizens and how do you intend to strengthen this offer as an MEP?

Today, 43 years later, Constantine Karamanlis and his historic strategic choice for the accession of our country to the European Union has been fully vindicated. At a time when the populists of the time were shouting slogans “EEC and NATO are the same union”. Just as Konstantinos Karamanlis’ saying that the political benefits of our accession will be far greater than the economic ones has been vindicated. Which is certainly not negligible.

‘ in the next period will flow into the country more than 60 billion

from the Community Support Framework and the Recovery Fund ‘

From the Common Agricultural Policy alone, Greek farmers and livestock farmers have reaped over 130 billion euros over the years, while for the new period the inflows will be over 19 billion euros, which means that our country, our producers will get the same amount as in the previous period. While in the next period over 60 billion will flow into the country from the Community Support Framework and the Recovery Fund. The European Parliament negotiates with the European Commission and the European Council. And 80% of the legislation passed in the Greek Parliament are Community directives and regulations. That is why I think it is very important for MEPs to be in touch with the societies. To give a voice to European societies. That is why I was and am in favour of the cross in the European elections. This is unfortunately not the case in many Member States. As a result, the MEPs of these countries are unfortunately cut off from society. They have lost touch with it. They have become “luxury civil servants” Yet the European Parliament remains the most democratic institution in the Union. Its decisions have a direct or indirect impact on the daily lives of citizens.

How close do you think we are to European integration and what does this mean in practice for the economy, politics and security of the European Union?

The European Union will remain an economic giant and a political dwarf as long as it does not take steps towards European integration. The European Union was built, thanks to the vision of the founding fathers, on the ashes of two World Wars. And indeed it has given us 80 years of peace, democracy and prosperity. But even today it remains an economic union, not a political one. It will have to move forward with rapid steps. To finally have a common voice, a common foreign policy, a common defence and security. A common army to protect the common European borders. So that it can have a voice and a role in very serious geopolitical developments. Today in our neighbourhood we are living two wars. The second invasion of Europe, Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, after Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus and the conflict in the Middle East. The European Union must proceed immediately to its completion. Otherwise, we will all fall short of the mark.

Ten years ago, you crossed the threshold of the European Parliament. What actions and initiatives of yours, as an MEP, have had a positive impact on the European Union and Greece in particular?

Of course, in a few lines I could not present the work of an entire decade. I will briefly mention some initiatives and interventions to show that in Europe we are not walkers but in Europe we are leaders. With amendments that I had the honour of tabling and which were voted through by the European Parliament’s plenary. We condemned and called for the immediate cancellation of the illegal memorandum of understanding that denies the sovereign rights, the right to an Exclusive Economic Zone, of our islands and contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has been signed and ratified by over 150 countries, which makes it customary law, i.e. it is fully applicable even by the few countries that have not signed and ratified it. The Law of the Sea which clearly states in Article 121 that economically viable islands have the same right to an EEZ as mainland areas.

We established the International Treaty of Lausanne, a treaty that gave us 100 years of peace, a European acquis. A treaty that clearly defines the Greek minority in Istanbul, Imbros and Tenedos as a Greek National Minority and the Muslim minority in Thrace as a religious minority. For the protection of the fundamental rights of the Greek National Minority in Albania, which is directly linked to the property issue of the Greek National Minority in the Municipality of Himarra and the accusations of illegal expropriations by the Albanian authorities. Thus, a clear and loud message was sent from Brussels, that the methods of the Albanian authorities against the Greek Minority will not be tolerated, neither by the Greek Government nor by the European Parliament and that the European path for Albania passes through the observance of the rule of law and the respect of human rights of all its citizens. We contributed to the release of the two Greek officers who were illegally detained in Adrianople prison. In fact, as chairman of the EU-Turkey Committee, I was the only European official to visit them in prison with special permission from the Turkish authorities. I have had the honour of being rapporteur for 7 committees of the European Parliament on the Fair Transition Fund. The first Green Deal legislation. This concerns mainly the areas affected by de-lignification, such as Western Macedonia and Megalopolis. A piece of legislation that aims to move towards an environmental Europe without leaving any citizen behind.

What is your vision for the future of the European Union and how will you contribute to its realisation if you are re-elected?

The European Union in the coming years must deal with the big problems. The most important of which is the demographic issue. Europe, Greece is aging. Suffice it to mention that last year in Greece we had 130,000 deaths and 75,000 births. And 20% of the births were to people who were not born in Greece. The second top issue is the issue of European integration and especially the issue of common defence, of the Euroarmy, which will guard the common European borders. Two big issues on which we need to focus.