The European Union Committee of the Regions (CoR) held its 6th biennial European Summit of Regions and Cities - "European Recovery, Local Solutions" - in Athens on March 7 - 8, held at the Megaron International Conference Centre in Athens, ahead of the Spring European Council and just a few months before the elections to the European Parliament.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso acknowledged that Greeks have been asked to make a lot of sacrifices, but the most difficult period is behind.

"Greece has a primary surplus this year for the first time in sixty years, and the surplus will be even bigger in 2015," he said. "We had to deal first with deficits and banks, because we got our lesson that growth with debt is not sustainable. I am convinced that the future of Europe and Greece will be good," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos reiterated the priorities of the Hellenic presidency, which include growth, job creation, confronting the safeguarding of social cohesion, confronting the problem of unemployment and the brutal rates of youth unemployment. As regards economic growth, he said that the biggest problem for Europe is the deep inequalities in the cost of money, the high loan interest rates and the increased energy cost. He emphasized that the real economy will have to operate based on certain fundamental preconditions topped by the precondition that the unfair discussion on negative stereotypes will stop allowing the country to utilize the EU financing tools.

Greek News Agenda: 6th biennial European Summit of Regions and Cities