Thursday, February 21, 2013
French President François Hollande paid a one-day visit to Greece on February 19 and was received by the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at the Maximos Mansion.
At a press conference following their meeting, Hollande expressed France’s solidarity, support and confidence towards the Greek government’s efforts to overcome the repercussions of recession and austerity.
He also stressed that he came to Greece as the leader of a country that wishes to keep Greece in the Eurozone for reasons of financial stability. He acknowledged that no country has been through such an ordeal because of the reforms needed, yet "Greece should be given every possibility and chance to achieve her goals."
Hollande emphasised that his visit aims to jumpstart French companies' interest to invest in Greece, promising that France will participate in tenders for Greek state assets privatisations. He also thanked Greece for her support towards France in the Mali operations. On his part, Samaras alluded to the historic ties between the two peoples and briefed the French president on the significant progress Greece has made in curbing the deficit and promoting structural changes.
He nevertheless drew attention to the heavy price that Greek people are paying and their sacrifices, making special reference to "the nightmarish 60% youth unemployment rate." He finally thanked the French president for visiting the country, ''which underlines that Europe is again turning to Greece with trust and solidarity."
Both Samaras and Hollande said support for Greek efforts to exit the crisis involves transferring French know-how to coordinate the public sector, particularly in concluding the Greek land registry and overhauling public healthcare. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of capital investments in energy, construction, transport and defence, whereas Samaras presented the government’s plans for a series of state companies and assets’ privatizations. Hollande was also received by President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, and briefly met with PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos and DIMAR leader Fotis Kouvelis. PrimeMinister.Gr: Joint statements at the press conference (in Greek)
- Greek-French Business Forum
French President Hollande and Prime Minister Samaras attended a business forum in the presence of 120 French and 57 Greek businesspeople. During the event, an agreement for the establishment of a Greek-French Business Council was signed between the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and the French MEDEF, as well as a tourism cooperation agreement.
Hollande strongly encouraged French businessmen to invest in Greece and its privatization programme, while Samaras noted the new chapter in the two countries’ history that has opened with the establishment of the Greek-French Business Council.
