JOURNALIST’S INTRODUCTION: Greece’s Foreign Minister says that this is the moment when his country’s reputation can be restored. Dimitris Avramopoulos says that the country’s next priority is to deliver growth, especially for the younger generation. I spoke to the Minister earlier today, here in London, ahead of a meeting with William Hague that he was having, and I asked him his take on the health of Greece’s economy.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It’s on the track again. After one year, we can say that we have put the Greek economy first on the track again. We have taken all necessary measures. It is true to say that the Greek people have gone through many, many sacrifices, but we have started delivering. All commitments undertaken by the Greek government one year ago are in the course of being accomplished.
We have started restructuring our administration, which was one of the main sources of the economic crisis in Greece. We have reduced our deficit. Our budget for the first time will have a primary surplus.
We move ahead. We encourage investments to come to Greece. We create a more friendly and hospitable investments environment. We hit bureaucracy. Dramatic changes, deep reforms, and structural reforms that will change in some years from now the image of Greece and the functioning of the system.
JOURNALIST: Nevertheless, would you say that, obviously what’s happened in Greece the last three years, and other countries reaction towards the crisis in Greece, has strained Greece’s relations with its EU neighbours?
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: First of all, as far as other countries are concerned, I must tell you that there are no similarities between the economic crisis in Greece and in other countries in southern Europe but also in central Europe. We know where the system suffers. That’s why I told you before that we have decided to change everything in Greece. The crisis provided us, first of all, with a clear image of the reality. And it has put us in front of our responsibilities, so that we proceed to all these deep structural reforms, because our administration was the weak link in our economy, as well.
JOURNALIST: And the legacy of all that cutting in the public sector is now unemployment standing at nearly a quarter of the population – over sixty percent for the young people.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: This is true
JOURNALIST: Where is this leading the country?
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I can tell you it concerns us very much. Because we must bring back Greece on the track of growth. This is the answer – in order to produce more jobs, and this is one of the main priorities of the Greek EU Presidency, as from January 1st of next year.
So this is our big priority. I believe that by the end of the year, because we have a long way to run until the end of the first phase in getting out of crisis, we shall extend this incentive. First, strong messages that a more auspicious and optimistic investment landscape has been created in Greece, especially for young people. This is our priority and we believe that we are going to do it.
JOURNALIST: So how exactly are you going to do that? Because at the moment there don’t seem to be many companies investing in Greece. You need to stimulate the private sector to mop up these people.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: You know, Nina, one of the big problems of Greece in the past had to do with the bureaucratic obstacles. Now the decision is made. Before, it was the red tape. Now it is the red carpet. Everything has changed in Greece.
A new fast-track law has passed from the Parliament. As I said before, we create a friendly and hospitable environment for business. We travel all around the world, from the Far East to the United States and Europe. Everywhere. We invite everybody to invest in Greece. And this is the moment. Everything is changing there, and the answer is very, very positive.
June 6, 2013