Murch’s praise for Greece: “Your country has long been able, by its own efforts, to repay its loans early”

Mario Draghi was awarded the “Charlemagne Prize” earlier today, Friday, for his contribution to saving the euro during the eurozone crisis, with his famous phrase “Whatever it takes” and his policies as then head of the European Central Bank. The ceremony, held in Aachen, was addressed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Draghi’s successor as ECB president, Christine Lagarde, and Chancellor Friedrich Murch, who even reserved warm praise for Greece.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mr Draghi’s successor as ECB president, Christine Lagarde, and Chancellor Friedrich Murch, who even reserved warm praise for Greece.

Addressing Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Friedrich Murch referred specifically to Greece’s reforms: “On the occasion of the presence of the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, we can say: this path of reforms has been hard for Greece, for many people in your country, Prime Minister, but it has proved to be the right one. Your country, dear Kyriakos, has long been able to repay the loans that were necessary at the time by its own efforts – and even early. The great efforts were worth it. And we are grateful for this and we congratulate you and all the Greek people for how you have managed it,” the Chancellor said, followed by prolonged applause.

Chancellor Murch referred in his speech to “Super Mario”, who he said had achieved what for others would require “five lives”, and did not fail to include among the “saviours of the euro” Wolfgang Schaeuble, who was pointing “on the one hand to the path of fiscal reassurance and on the other to the path of reforms” for euro member states.

In his speech, Merts also praised Mario Draghi’s proposals for the necessary modernisation of Europe and expressed his belief that Europe has awakened and understood that it can only assert itself through economic and security strength. “Europe aims to become a power that can weather the storms of this new era,” he said, stressing that the European Union must rely on its own economic and military strength. “We must define our own interests with certainty. And we must be ready to commit ourselves to protecting those interests,” he said.