European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici has arrived in Athens for a two-day official visit (15-16.12). Yesterday, he with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis and other key cabinet officials, after which the Commissioner said that Greece's economy "has obviously made great progress in recent years and months" and that no one in the Commission disputed this progress.

Moscovici added further that at the same time, all the countries in the Eurozone needed to carry out structural reforms, not only in Greece but in other eurozone countries, while Greece needs to complete the reforms included in its current programme. "There must be more reforms from the specific programme, which is extended for two months, for a new kind of relationship between the EU and Greece, via the precautionary credit line," he stressed.

He did not elaborate on the details of a likely post-bailout relationship between Greece and its euro partners but noted that, apart from a European credit line currently under discussion, there could also be “a precautionary program with the IMF."

EC Europa News: Pierre Moscovici in Athens [Video]