by
N. Peter Kramer
The study shows a sharp rise in diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and an unheard of 43% increase in the death rate of new-borns in Greece since austerity measures were implemented. The Troika's policies in Greece have triggered a socio-economic crisis that has caused the most devastation this country has seen since the Second World War. But it is still not enough…
Kathimerini, a leading Greek newspaper, let us know this weekend that the Troika is pushing for more: for instance a further lowering of the wages of civil servants and to stop pay rises for Greeks earning the minimum wages. It looks like the recent discussion in the European Parliament about the rigid way of working of the Troika and the often bitter effects on the Greek society hasn’t taken place. MEP’s accused the work done by the Troika didn’t take into account the social impact of the prescribed policy measures. Although it was clear that the Commission, when operating within the Troika framework, was putting in place a macro-economic adjustment programme designed and approved by the Eurogroup, the finance ministers of the 19 memberstates with the Euro as their currency.
It must be disconcerting for many Greek to see the easy way Commission President Barroso offers the Ukraine government more than a billion Euros, just to pay their overdue gasbill. May be the Greeks have to wave a bit more with EU flags…
