EU integration destroyed Greece economy: Academic
Press TV has interviewed Stavros Mavroudeas, a professor of political economy at the University of Macedonia, and Richard Ashworth, a member of European Parliament from Brussels, to discuss the ongoing talks between Greece and European creditors over Athens’ debt deal.
Mavroudeas says Greece has already paid a very high price for its integration with the European Union, because its accession into the EU has not been productive for majority of the Greeks.
The professor maintains that a lot of Greek workers have lost their benefits after the integration, as the structure of economy in Greece became non-competitive and turned into an importer of Western products.
The reduction of economy by nearly 26 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has destroyed the welfare system in the country, he says, adding that the trade union law imposed on Greece is a “scam.”
Pointing to the situation of the Greek people, he argues, the condition of welfare in Greece is very poor in terms of European standards and the Greeks are suffering from a monetary crisis.
For his part, Ashworth believes Greece has experienced poor decisions, bad governance, corruption and wholesale tax avoidance. He adds if the Greeks want to benefit from being a member of the European Union, they should take responsibility, pay their taxes, reform trade laws and recognize social policies which are in harmony with the rest of the EU member states.
ABN/GHN
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