The first signs of recovery of the Greek economy are already visible, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said yesterday, addressing the 1st National Development Conference on the utilization of EU funds in the period 2014-2020, budgeted at € 36 billion.Samaras said that 2013 is a turning point that will lead to growth; that the results of measures and policies adopted will begin to be visible in the next quarter, with tangible effects on the market by the end of the year.

In this respect, the PM pointed out that in February, for the first time in many years, a positive balance between hirings and layoffs was recorded, which as he said was a significant sign of recovery.

The conference, jointly organized by the Development Ministry and the European Commission, was also attended by EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn who stressed that investments must be channeled to modern technologies of waste management energy, tourism, and culture. "The sun and sea are not enough," he noted, adding that "money should be given to projects that will change Greece."

Primeminister.GR: PM’ Speech at the Development Conference (in Greek)