Letta to "N": Greece was Eurozone's first real test; things moving in right direction

Βy Vassilis Kostoulas
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Greece is the Eurozone's first real test, and efforts to deal with the Greek crisis have not yet finished, although things are moving in the right direction, according to former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, who spoke to "N" regarding Europe's continuing "Greek saga".

At the same time, the center-right politician expressed a view that the looming specter of Brexit and the Trump administration's policies work in favor of the European Union's cohesion, under the condition, as he said, that European leaders take "bold decisions soon, within the coming year."

He also appeared reassuring over the prospects of the Italian economy and its impact on the rest of the Eurozone, while at the same time warning against the "political fragmentation" of Italy following next spring's general election.

Moreover, Letta said he is following developments revolving around Greece's center-left politics, saying that he believes the country's special characteristics allows the Greek center left to influence Europe's perception of social democracy and the left in Europe.

Asked about the fact that Greece is still the only Eurozone member that is more-or-less excluded from a full return to sovereign markets, as well as what he sees as a the "key" to implementing genuine structural reforms in the east Mediterranean country, Letta said:

"I think the Greece issue was truly the major challenge for the Eurozone. It was the way the euro showed if it could work or not. And today the euro is able to surpass major obstacles and the deepest downturns of crises, due to a great degree to the mechanism with which Greece must cooperate with the institutions; the way it must implement reforms and work with its partners".

He added that the task has not ended, but is moving towards the right direction.