Compensation by the Commission to relatives of thousands of Greeks who committed suicide as a result of austerity measures imposed on Greece by the Troika under the memoranda
| 4 February 2015 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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According to a study compiled by Greek and American scientists and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ Open), the suicide rate in Greece rose by at least 1/3 as a result of the austerity measures imposed by the Troika and the Greek Government in June 2011 under the memoranda.
The study is entitled ‘The impact of economic austerity and prosperity events on suicide in Greece: a 30-year interrupted time-series analysis’. It sets out monthly suicide statistics for Greece from 1983 to 2012 and notes that the number of suicides rose by an average of 35.7% in the months after June 2011, compared to the average of previous months.
It is clear beyond doubt from the above study that the radical increase in suicides committed in Greece was caused by the austerity measures imposed under the memoranda.
In view of the above, will the Commission say, as a member of the Troika:
| 1. | Does it intend to persist with the austerity policy imposed on Greece under the memoranda? |
| 2. | What measures does it intend to take to compensate the relatives of thousands of my Greek compatriots who committed suicide as a result of the austerity policy imposed by the Troika under the memoranda? |
Source: European Parliament
Answer given by Mr Moscovici on behalf of the Commission
The economic adjustment programme was a direct consequence of the extreme imbalances accumulated in the Greek economy in the years up to 2010. These led Greece to unsustainable deficits, peaking at more than 15% of GDP in 2010, with the loss of market access, and a real risk of default. The financial assistance and related economic programme allowed for a more gradual adjustment than would otherwise have been the case.
The European Commission has always emphasised the need for a strong social dimension in the programme and promoted a number of measures to support the most vulnerable. The measures include, for example, better targeting of the unemployment benefits, introduction of universal health coverage, public works scheme and a pilot Guaranteed Minimum Income scheme, developed by the Greek authorities in cooperation with the World Bank, to be rolled out to the whole country in 2015.
The Commission is committed to supporting Greece to continue to implement the ongoing reform process to achieve economic and social prosperity, while minimising the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable.
Source: European Parliament
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