Mariano Rajoy says "countries need stability, not policy shifts or uncertainty"

Office of the Prime Minister of Greece, Athens (Greece)

After describing Antoni Samaras as "a reliable partner and a true leader", President of the Government Rajoy highlighted the numerous ties between Spain and Greece. "In Greece we see not only a lifelong friend but also the origins of our very own civilisation", he said. In his opinion, the two countries "have gone through some difficult and painful reforms", but they were "essential" for putting the two economies on a sure footing and for "ensuring that growth and prosperity return in a reliable and lasting fashion".

Mariano Rajoy stressed that all these reforms "are producing results" because Greece and Spain are currently "two of the countries with the highest growth rates in the Eurozone". For that reason, the President of the Government is convinced that, "provided we do not lower our guard", provided we persist with the same policies and reforms, "we will be in a position to put our economies back on the path of sustained, stable growth and we will guarantee a future of prosperity and well-being".

The President of the Government insisted on defending these policies and did not wish to talk about other political parties. He did go on to add, however, that "promising the impossible is something that makes absolutely no sense and, moreover, generates enormous frustration".

As we emerge from the crisis, we need stability, certainty and confidence

Pool MoncloaThe President of the Government insisted that "now we are finally leaving this crisis behind, we need stability, not instability. We need certainty and confidence, not uncertainty and mistrust".

He explained that "our future lies in Europe", and the Euro "is not a project to be taken lightly". Forming part of the single currency, he said, "requires constructive commitments and not unilateralism or confrontation".

Mariano Rajoy was firm in his statement that a strong and stable Europe "needs stable Member States, with democratically-elected governments that respect their commitments and contribute to the unity and recovery of our continent".

Clear commitment to European integration

The President of the Government said the European integration project is the "most vitally important" project for both Greece and Spain because, "to a great extent, our futures" depends on it. After admitting that this project "has seen some difficult times in recent years" due to the tough economic and financial crisis, Mariano Rajoy recalled that the European Union "has enabled Europe to experience the longest period of peace and prosperity in its history".

The President of the Government believes that the strength of the European project lies in that "it has always been and continues to be a political project in the purest sense of the term". Mariano Rajoy said that political momentum is "what enabled us to respond to the crisis during these difficult times with more integration, with reforms and not with splits; with solidarity and not with isolation".

Jihadi terrorism, illegal immigration and the Juncker Plan

Mariano Rajoy explained that he discussed three topics with his Greek counterpart: the common response needed from the EU to the Jihadi terrorism threat; the challenge for Greece and Spain as external borders of the European Union against illegal immigration; and "the opportunities to be found in the Juncker Plan for boosting growth in Europe and the next stages of reform in the economic and monetary union".

As regards these issues, Mariano Rajoy stressed that Greece and Spain agree "on the diagnosis and the direction in which we need to travel together with our European partners".

Agreement with the PSOE and early elections in Catalonia

Mariano Rajoy described the willingness from the PSOE to reach an agreement on the fight against terrorism as a positive step. He said it would be "foolish" for the two main parties in Spain not to reach an agreement because "the fight against terrorism requires unity, national and international cooperation, and a set of ongoing reforms to adapt to new events as they emerge and new forms of terrorism". Mariano Rajoy also announced some of the measures being worked on to combat Jihadi terrorism.

Pool MoncloaAs regards potential early elections in Catalonia, Mariano Rajoy said he does not believe such action would be "the best or the most positive" move, although he insisted that he is not in a position to take that decision. He explained it is a matter of setting priorities and "the priority today throughout Europe and in Spain, naturally, is to combat the economic crisis". He added that the economic situation is improving in Spain and "Catalonia is not detached from that general improvement".

During his time in Greece and accompanied by the Prime Minister of Greece, Mariano Rajoy visited the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Before returning to Spain, the President of the Government had lunch with Antoni Samaras.