PM Samaras: 'It’s now Europe’s turn to make a move' - meeting in Brussels on Tuesday

"The first phase of the process towards growth has finished with the ratification of the budget and the omnibus bill. We are now expecting Europe to make its own move. We have done all we had to do. I am certain that this is a very positive development… the question is now how much money we will be receiving to fund the recapitalisation of banks and paying off state debts to businesses," Samaras said referring to negotiations on the disbursement of the 31.5-billion-euro tranche from Greece’s bailout loan.

He added that it was ‘shameful’ to see so many businesses closing down owing to unpaid state debts.

The prolonged meeting was attended by Minister of State Dimitris Stamatis, Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Environment Minister Evangelos Livieratos, Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloyianni, Shipping Minister Costis Mousouroulis, Agricultural Development Minister Athanassios Tsaftaris, alternate ministers and deputy ministers from all the ministries.

"We must be very coordinated in order to be able to turn a page and to fight bureaucracy, and for things to move quickly,” the prime minister said, referring to the topic of the meeting that lasted six hours. He said that "the way public administration has been functioning is giving rise even to conflicts among ministries… but what we want is joint action, not rivalry, and I believe that Greece has the dynamic to achieve growth and create new jobs.”

Samaras said the issues that ministries have set as priorities were discussed in detail and in ten days’ time there will be a new meeting at the Development ministry, at which the issues discussed in Monday's agenda must have been resolved, including the arrangement of households' debts.

On the question of foreign investments, the prime minister said that "Greece has both a vision and plan for its rennaissance and the future of its people. The attraction of foreign investments and the creation of the modern Greek production development model has already begun".

Focusing on the meeting that took place, he said discussion centered on the country’s growth potential, adding that "the target is one: to enter a new era called recovery-growth".

“This is the only way to give a smile and optimism to the Greeks again and for young people in Greece to find jobs - and this is the most important of all," Samaras concluded.

Samaras in Brussels on Tuesday;
meeting with Barroso, Rompuy

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is to visit Brussels on Tuesday in order to attend an event organised by the Friends of Cohesion Group to discuss the 2014-2020 National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), along with other European prime ministers.
The event is being held under the auspices of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who is due to meet Samaras when he visits the Belgian capital on Tuesday.

The Greek premier has asked for a revision of sums earmarked for Greece based on the country's 2008-2009 economic figures so as to take into account the massive recession that has hit the country since that time.
While in Brussels and in addition to his meeting with Barroso at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Samaras will also hold talks with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, discussing the latest developments in the EU debt crisis, issues concerning Greece and the disbursement of the next tranche of bailout loans worth 31.5 billion euro.