The European University Institute is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral teaching and research institute established by European Union member states to contribute to cultural and scientific development in economics, social sciences, history and law, from a European perspective. Nearly a hundred EUI researchers express their solidarity with the Greek people supporting a ‘NO’ vote in Sunday’s referendum through the letter below:
We, researchers of the European University Institute, feel the urge and the duty to express our full-hearted solidarity with the Greek people, who, for five years now, have been suffering the dramatic consequences of the austerity policies imposed by the Troika, and how are now struggling for the right to decide upon their own future.
We defend the right of the Greek people to freely express its will, and we support a ‘NO’ vote in Sunday’s referendum in Greece.
It is well known by now that the bailout programs and austerity measures have led the country into a deep recession, shrinking the economy, hugely increasing unemployment, and causing 3 million people to fall into poverty. Following the irresponsible suggestions of extremist ideologues, banks have been saved and the burden of adjustment has been shoved onto the shoulders of the people. After five years of austerity, Greece is sinking even deeper into debt than it was at the start of the crisis in 2010, notwithstanding the enormous sacrifices made by its people. The failure of austerity policies in resolving the Greek crisis has to be acknowledged, and a new path for the future has to be chosen.
The new austerity measures that the Greek government was urged to sign do not constitute sensible fiscal or economic policy but rather a form of blackmail, by Eurozone governments and the ECB, to undermine the will of a sovereign people. Greek citizens are being forced to accept policies that they know to be wrong, under the threat that the EU would turn its back on them. This constitutes a betrayal of the founding principles of the European Union.
The choice, in Sunday’s referendum, is neither about the euro nor about the Greek government. It is a choice between austerity and democracy in the whole of the European Union. A choice between fear and hope. As researchers in economics, social sciences and the humanities, we have to stand with democracy and to defend the right to hope of the European peoples. The European Union can be saved only if it becomes a space of solidarity and progress, rather than one of punishment and subjugation. What is at stake is the future of the whole continent, and we cannot look the other way.
As researchers, committed to knowledge and public interest, we have to take a stand. We can no longer contribute to the reproduction of policies and mentalities of fear. We cannot accept the widening of inequality and the deepening of irrationality as common sense within the EU. We know that the perpetuation of austerity policies will only cause further suffering to the Greek people and thwart any possibility of an economic recovery. We defend the opportunity given to the Greek people to decide on its own future, and we offer our full solidarity and active cooperation to with them in these difficult moments.
We hope that the ‘NO’ vote in Sunday’s referendum will be a step towards the construction of a new Europe -- one based on democracy, social justice and human rights.
SIGNATURES:
1 Adams Zoe Louise
2 Aitchison Guy
3 Alaattinoglu Daniela
4 Albanese Matteo
5 Alcalde Javier
6 Alonso Francisco
7 Altiparmakis Argyrios
8 Andry Aurélie
9 Antoniou Myrssini
10 Arigho-Stiles Olivia
11 Atak Kivanc
12 Bartolini Laura
13 Béal Margot
14 Benfante Fillipo
15 Bosi Lorenzo
16 Brais Alvarez Pereira
17 Breki Stella
18 Bruinsma Jelle
19 Buhin Anita
20 Calossi Enrico
21 Cappelli Gabriele
22 Castelli Pietro
23 Chironi Daniela
24 Chng NaiRui
25 Cini Lorenzo
26 Dalachanis Angelos
27 Daly Angela
28 Davis Donagh
29 De Bock Jozefien
30 Della Porta Donatella
31 Drapalova Eliska
32 Efthimiou Dimitrios
33 Eleftheriadis Konstantinos
34 Felicetti Andrea
35 Fernandes Tiago
36 Fernández Joseba
37 Froio Caterina
38 Gilardin Remi
39 Gilbert Rosa
40 Giordani Tommaso
41 Haberstroh Charlotte
42 Hall Bogumilla
43 Hancox Emily
44 Hannah Elsisi
45 Hansson John-Erik
46 HergadenMalte
47 Insset Morris Ola
48 Jensen Helge Hiram
49 JohanneKuebler
50 Kandyla Anna
51 Kouki Hara
52 Krüger Alexander Lukas
53 Lacey Joseph
54 Landais Guillaume
55 Lappa Daphne
56 Leal Hugo
57 Lorenzini Jasmine
58 Malamidis Haris
59 Marchetti Sabrina
60 Markatos Kimon
61 Marketou Afroditi-Ioanna
62 Matos Tiago Manuel
63 Mattoni Alice
64 Mazzamauro Alfredo
65 McDonagh Patrick James
66 McGeehan Nicholas
67 Mchugh Liam
68 Michel Elie
69 Morisi Davide
70 Nyhan Emma
71 Ó HaisíDonal
72 Oikonomakis Leonidas
73 Reinisch Dieter
74 Richardson Noelle
75 Rone Julia
76 Roos Jerome
77 Ruiz Soler Javier
78 Schulz Jan
79 SemihÇelik
80 Serra Coelho Miguel
81 Souvlis George
82 Stasi Maria Luisa
83 Stefanovski Ivan
84 Subirats Ribas Anna
85 Suzan Meryem Rosita
86 Vianello Ilaria
87 Vidal Guillem
88 Vidales Felipe
89 Vogiatzoglou Markos
90 Wagner Florian
91 Weisskircher Manès
92 Xanthopoulou-DimitriadouParthena
93 YounisMusab
94 Zamponi Lorenzo
95 Zhuravlev Oleg
96 Zver Uros