EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy came, saw and didn’t conquered.*** How could he? He is and could never be somebody with a vision like Julius Caesar. Rompuy is just the president of a institutionalized united Europe currently in big economic troubles – call it: €uro crisis and huge debts! While in Athens and in a joint press conference with Greek PM George Papandreou, Rompuy said nice and comforting things like “The sacrifices of the citizens are very big”, “Europe stands by your side”. At the same time he warned us that the austerity will last 10 years – as much as Ulysses needed to return to Ithaca: “It may take time — like Ulysses going home –, but you will get there,” he said.
After the meeting with Greek President and Prime Minister he took the plane for Cyprus. However for those who missed his live transmitted statement, he left his speech to Greek internet users hungry for psychological support. Before going to the airport Van Rompuy delivered a speech at the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) with title: “Greece and Europe: building a better future in difficult times”.
In a speech in Athens today the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy expressed his confidence, based on his experience as former Prime Minister in a debt-stricken country, that Greece would come stronger out of the current difficulties:
“My message today to the Greek people is simple and straightforward: the reforms that are being
implemented by this Government are necessary to make Greece more competitive, more modern
and better able to grow faster and create more jobs. It may take time — like Ulysses going home –,
but you will get there.”
President Van Rompuy also underlined the balance in the European Union between solidarity and
individual responsibility in safeguarding the common European good, be it the single currency, the
internal market or a common border.
The Speech: “It is a great pleasure to speak here in Athens and to say a few words on current………. Your are not alone. We are in this work all together. Greece and Europe, Europe and Greece: même combat — same fight.”
Read the full speech here – it’s full 5 pages. AVE!
*** “Veni, Vidi, Vici” Latin: “I came, I saw, I conquered” is a famous Latin sentence reportedly written by Julius Caesar in 47 BC as a comment on his short war with Pharnaces II of Pontusin the city of Zela (currently known as Zile, in Turkey).
