Residents of the Greek island of Crete complained about the rising cost of living due to inflation after the coronavirus pandemic and EU anti-Russian sanctions.
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“The rise in the cost of living in the EU is breaking one record after another every day. I am 67 years old and I don’t remember such a period in the past when everyday life was expensive,” said Manolis, a pensioner who lives on a Greek island.
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According to him, inflation has an extremely negative impact on his daily life, since now “the cost of living is three times more expensive than a year ago.” Manolis also stressed the importance of Russia as a major economic partner for many European countries, including Greece, which exported fruits and also hosted hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists every summer.
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“Now all this is gone because of the sanctions. I am sure that many, unfortunately, because of this EU decision will lose their jobs,” he concluded.
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According to farmer Stelios, 47, farming in Greece is becoming more difficult every day, as there is a shortage of fertilizers on the market, and prices for them have risen significantly.
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“I also have livestock. It is extremely difficult for me to buy feed for sheep and goats, and sometimes I just don’t have it, so I leave them to graze in the field,” the farmer added and called on the Greek government and the EU to support citizens more.
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Asked about the EU’s response to the energy and financial crisis, 37-year-old motor show owner Evangelia lamented that Brussels could do more to support small and medium-sized businesses.