PM Samaras concluded a two–day official visit to Berlin on November 22-23, where he had a working lunch with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and addressed an economic conference organized by German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Following his meeting with Chancellor Merkel, Samaras reiterated that "Greece will not need a new memorandum or new amounts to cover the fiscal gap of 2014” and that “we will keep to the framework of the agreements already in effect."

He also expressed the government’s conviction to pursue all necessary structural reforms, noting that Greece is entering a recovery phase and has already achieved a budgetary surplus.

On her part, Chancellor Merkel acknowledged that Greece has come a long way, welcomed the Greek primary surplus and predicted a good outcome in the “tough but feasible” negotiating process with the troika.

The two leaders also discussed the project for the establishment of the Greek Institution for Growth, with the support of the German Development Bank KFW, issues of bilateral cooperation and the upcoming Greek EU Presidency.

Addressing an economic conference organized by Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Samaras said that reforms were Greece’s top priorities and that the current focus was to conclude negotiations with the country’s troika within December.

He also added that Greece would not need a new support programme, as the European Union has pledged to take Greek debt relief measures.

See also: Prime Minister’s Office Press Release [in Greek]: Statements of PM Samaras and Chancellor Merkel in Berlin (22.11.2013)