Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Development, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Anna Diamantopoulou was in Berlin on March 22-3 on a two-day visit in order to meet with state officials, think tank and business associations’ representatives.

On March 22, she addressed the Bundestag Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and informed the German assembly of the progress Greece has made in a variety of sectors. She also noted that "Greece is changing, […] and it needs to feel that the peoples of Europe support her in the most ambitious reform ever undertaken."

Speaking at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), on the same day, Diamantopoulou noted that Greece needs to be allowed time to stabilise its economy. During the open discussion that followed, she outlined the "painful but necessary" structural reforms and the efforts being made to increase the attractiveness of the Greek investment environment. On March 23, the minister met with the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and discussed plans and mechanisms for cooperation in sectors such as energy and tourism, along with development prospects offered by marinas.

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