The European Commission laid out today a series of priority actions necessary for Greece to return to growth and to enable the creation of jobs.

ALDE Group President Guy Verhofstadt said: "The Commission's strategy paper for Greece puts flesh on the bones of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed as part of the second adjustment programme. ALDE has been stressing the need for a comprehensive plan for Greece that combines root and branch structural reform of the public sector with practical help for businesses."

"The resources that have been poured into Greece to cover its debts have been enormous but we also need a major financial commitment to support growth and investment. ALDE have called for a Growth Enhancement Fund, worth some €30bn and funded from proceeds from privatisation, EU structural funds and the EIB.  This fund will mobilise private investments by co-financing or even micro-financing private entrepreneurship in Greece and help restore confidence". 

Another key element for ALDE is the reorganisation of the public administration and by referring to the Commission's proposal on this topic ALDE MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (FDP, Germany) continued: "What is proposed does not tackle the core problem of clientilism related to Greek public administration. There is a need to fundamentally depoliticise the Geek civil service and create a new mentality by setting provisions that promote and reward productivity and merit rather than party political affiliation. To achieve this goal, EU institutional assistance must include the training and development of Greek civil servants, what ALDE refers to as the Iolaos Plan".  

ALDE MEP Theodoros Skylakakis (Democratic Alliance, Greece) said: "Unfortunately the Commission's efforts, though well-intended, do not result in anything substantially new on Greece. This Communication shows that there has not been any serious effort by the two governing parties to negotiate and improve the funding of the Greek private sector and attract investments. The Democratic Alliance will continue promoting 'Greece 2020' plan in cooperation with ALDE because Greece cannot return to growth whilst 1 million people are unemployed and the economy continues to suffer from a chronic lack of investment. Greece needs bold solutions to the grave problems it is currently experiencing".

President Verhofstadt also asked the Commission President for further explanations on the decision of the Greek parliament to grant €29 million to the established political parties in advance of the election whilst the Memorandum of Understanding for Greece's second bailout calls expressly for a reduction in election-related expenditure. "Greek political parties should start setting a good example right now and not be dipping their hands one last time into the honey pot."

The MoU lays down the "reduction in the central government's operational expenditure, and election-related spending, by at least EUR 370 million (compared to the 2012 budget), of which at least EUR 100 million in military-related operational expenditure, and at least EUR 70 million in electoral spending."