On January 23, Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Kostis Hatzidakis concluded a two-day official visit to Brussels, where he held talks with four members of the European Commission: Vice-President and Competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, Vice-President in charge of Transport, Siim Kallas, Michel Barnier, responsible for Internal Market and Services and Johannes Hahn, in charge of Regional Policy. 

At his meetings, Hatzidakis discussed the issue of resuming works on four major motorway projects in Greece.

His talks with Commissioner Hahn focused on the best ways EU funds can contribute to the recovery of the Greek economy. After their meeting, the two officials held a joint press briefing, broadcast live on satellite channel EbS+, on Greece’s absorption of EU structural and cohesion funds.

Hatzidakis stressed the importance of motorway projects for the country’s economic recovery and the creation of jobs, underlining the government’s determination to meet the targets  agreed on with the European Commission.On his part, Hahn, expressed appreciation for Greece’s progress in EU funds absorption, by which, he said, he was deeply impressed.

He added that final assessment concerning the direction of priority projects will take place in April. In February, Commissioner Hahn is to visit the Peloponnese and Western Greece, as part of his tour of all 13 regions of the country to ensure the effective use of EU Regional Funds.

Europa: Live EC/Greece press briefing [VIDEO] & Opening Remarks by Commissioner Hahn; Development Ministry: Press Conference Transcript (in Greek)