Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras made a surprising announcement in the French newspaper Le Monde, saying that his country is ready to put up for sale several uninhabited islands. The intention seems normal given that the government is trying to find new revenue in its effort to pull the Greek economy out of bankruptcy, but underlines the desperate situation of Greece, especially considering that sovereignty is a taboo in this country.
Interestingly enough, German lawmakers have been suggesting Athens to sell the uninhabited islands for the past two years, writes Business Insider. In 2010, two members of parliament told German newspaper Bild that “Greeks must sell stakes in state companies and other assets such as, for example, unpopulated islands”.
When the suggestion was made, the Prime Minister of Greece at that time, George Papandreou, was talking to Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, about the economic situation of the country. Deputy Foreign Minister hastened to declare that Athens did not consider such a plan.
After The Guardian published an article alleging that the Greek government actually started to put up for sale the islands in June 2010 to get the money, the cabinet sent a spokesman to deny the information. A private island was, indeed, for sale, “but it was sitting on the market for a long time,” said a representative of the government in Athens.
The suggestion that Greece should consider selling some islands “due to the inability of the state to develop infrastructure and defend the islands” is incorrect and offensive. Therefore, Greece has not received a “bailout” from the EU, but a loan that it will repay in full. Two years later, it seems that Athens is back on the suggestion and again refuses the “bailout” term.
There are 6,000 islands and islets in the Greek archipelago, of which only 227 are inhabited, according to the Greek National Tourism Organization.
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