Leaders of European Liberals: Lithuania shouldn't pay for Greek social security - Hoofdinhoud
The European Union should strongly demand that Greece undertakes reforms, as Lithuanians cannot be put under the burden of paying for the social security of the nation, the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) says.
"Social security in Lithuania but also in Estonia and Latvia is lower than in Greece … The Estonians and Lithuanians pay for the social security in Greece. This is not sustainable," ALDE president Hans van Baalen told BNS Lithuania.
"Greece has to reform. If it doesn't really reform, it has no place in the currency union. You have common rules, you should abide by common rules,” he stated.
The MEP of the Netherlands urged the West to keep sanctions for Russia, as, in his words, the Baltic States could be the next target if Moscow is not stopped in Ukraine.
"We have to be bold. Putin has violated international law by fighting against Ukraine, by annexing illegally the Crimea. This cannot be accepted. Because if Putin gets his way there, what will he do with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia?”
The van Baalen-led Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe held a meeting of its council in Vilnius on Saturday, as well as a discussion on financing of political parties and transparency of operations. The choice of the venue was initiated by the Liberal Movement of Lithuania.