Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos’ was interviewed yesterday on France 24 with journalist Christophe Robeet. Asked about the outlook of the Greek economy, Venizelos said that the primary surplus achieved was "the first point towards the verification of the viability of the Greek public debt," stressing that and the sustainability of public debt was a prerequisite for the next step toward the markets.

He also added that "in terms of net present value, the Greek public debt is more sustainable than other debts in other countries of our European Union," a view also echoed by Klaus Regling, the managing director of the European stability mechanism.

Referring to the Greek EU Presidency, Venizelos said that "the European priority is to present, first of all, a new more attractive European narrative for the future" and "on the national level, (…) take the first step towards the official verification of the fiscal adjustment and the sustainability of the public debt, and also revive the national hope for the future.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos’ was also interviewed in the French daily Le Figaro, with journalist Philippe Gélie on 15 January 2014. Venizelos highlighted that "Greece can fulfill its obligations" and added that "If the Eurozone is prepared to offer a haircut of the debt, we accept that solution. But we are realists." With regard to the Greek EU Presidency, Venizelos said that "During these six months, we want to effect Greece’s change of course towards the status of a regular EU member state."