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France should lead way on EU reform: Greek PM

Greece's new PM Alexis Tsipras said he wants France to lead the way in bringing about political change in Europe after meeting the French President François Hollande in Paris on Wednesday.

France should lead way on EU reform: Greek PM
Alexis Tsipras says he wants France to play a key role in reforming the EU. Photo: Martin Bureau/AFP

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called on France to play a key role in helping Europe return to growth, following a meeting with President Francois Hollande in Paris on Wednesday.

"We need a new accord in Europe for the return of growth and social cohesion, and in this effort we certainly need France playing a role of guarantor, a protagonist for this political change," said Tsipras.

The premier is on a whistle-stop tour of Europe to drum up support for his newly elected anti-austerity government's plans to renegotiate Greek debt.

His government has received a relatively sympathetic hearing in France, which has also pushed back against austerity demands from Brussels.

"France is a force for stability in Europe, and I think the stability of the European Union requires a change of policy — a determined turn towards growth," said Tsipras.

"I am certain that our partners want to listen to us and I am equally certain that we can work together to overcome the crisis in Greece and at the same time help Europe overcome its own crisis."

"We are not a threat to Europe."

Hollande said it was right for Greece to work closely with France, which he described as a "specialist in reform" — despite criticism from some parts of Europe that his government has done little to revamp its own struggling economy.

"We reminded Prime Minister Tsipras… that we are available to share our experience and expertise on certain reforms that Greece wishes to carry out, including fiscal reform, on which we are specialists," said Hollande

In the meantime, Hollande said the priority was more open discussions among Europe's leaders.

"This dialogue should take place in transparency and calm, and with a willingness to find a solution."

ANGELA MERKEL

German war crime payments debated in Greece

Greece's parliament on Wednesday began a debate on a resolution to demand the payment of German war crime reparations, an issue long disputed by Berlin.

German war crime payments debated in Greece
Angela Merkel and Alexis Tsipras in Greece in January. Photo: DPA

“These demands are always active. They were never set aside by Greece,” parliament chairman Nikos Voutsis told reporters this week.

The chamber is expected to approve later Wednesday, with cross-party support, a resolution calling on the government of Premier Alexis Tsipras “to take all the necessary diplomatic and legal steps to claim and fully satisfy all the demands of the Greek state stemming from World War I and World War II”.

A parliamentary committee last year determined that Germany owes Greece at least €270 billion for World War I damages and looting, atrocities and a forced loan during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

Reclaiming war reparations has been a campaign pledge by Tsipras since 2015. He faces multiple electoral challenges this year, with his party trailing in polls.

'Historical responsibility'

During a visit to Greece in January, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country “recognised its historical responsibility.”

SEE ALSO: Merkel says Germany recognizes responsibility for Nazi war crimes in Greece

“We recognize our historical responsibility. We know how much suffering we, as Germany in the time of Nazism, have brought to Greece,” she said.

In 2014, ex-president Joachim Gauck had also sought public forgiveness in the name of Germany from relatives of those murdered by the Nazis in the mountains of northern Greece.

But when it comes to actual payments, the German government has always insisted that the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments.

Germany's government spokesman Steffen Seibert reiterated Wednesday that “the reparation issue is judicially and politically settled”. 

He said Berlin is doing “everything it can so Greece and Germany maintain good relations as friends and partners”. 

During the Greek economic crisis, there was further tension in Athens over draconian EU austerity and bailout terms seen to be imposed by Berlin hardliners.

Relations have improved over the last three years after Tsipras' government endorsed conditions linked to satisfying its creditors.

Tsipras and Merkel also worked closely on finding common ground on migration and Balkans security.

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