Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Pierre Gramegna, at Maximos Mansion.
During the meeting, the effectiveness of the measures that have been put in place to tackle tax evasion in Greece was highlighted, while they stressed the importance of reforms that will bring benefits in the medium to long term, in areas such as the speedy administration of justice and the use of technology in the provision of services to citizens and businesses.
Furthermore, it was noted that since the pandemic Greece has consistently achieved a growth rate that is more than double the European average, has achieved a large reduction in unemployment and has significantly improved the debt-to-GDP ratio.
There was also a first exchange of views on the possible involvement of the ESM in financing European investments and initiatives in areas such as defence, which are becoming necessary due to the geopolitical changes taking place.
At the beginning of their meeting, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Pierre Gramegna had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: It’s a real pleasure that you visit us at a time when we seem to have completely overcome the days when the ESM was actually relevant for Greece, at least given its current design.
So it’s a real pleasure to have you and also discuss how the ESM can possibly evolve and contribute towards our new tasks and our new priorities. So I’m very much looking forward to a discussion.
Pierre Gramegna: Thanks a lot, Prime Minister, for receiving us and the team. Let me start by saying that the main reason I come today to Greece is really not because I am worried about the Greek economy.
It’s because we’re reaching out to quite a few countries because our world is changing. Allies are changing. We have issues of fragmentation and defence on the table. Europe needs to be united, and I think Greece can play a big role in that. That’s the main reason I come.
But there’s a second one that occurred to me when I landed here. I haven’t counted my visits to Greece, but the first time I came to Greece was 50 years ago as a student. Fifty years ago. And the first thing we did at that time, we just went to the Acropolis immediately. That’s what I did this morning.
Because I thought that this is the country, the home of democracy, and we need it more than ever. So I’m glad to be here.
