The American – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce launched the two-day 25th Greek Economy Conference on December 1, titled "The Greek Economy at a Turning Point: Setting a national Agenda for Economic Development." The conference generally centers on the political and economic life of the country and acts as an annual summit for senior government and business representatives from Greece and abroad. This year, the pivotal issues concern the fact that despite admirable fiscal adjustments and the large number of reforms Greece has enacted, there is little room for under-performance.

Key issues such as transparent accounting, business financing, combating unemployment, the role of our country in the international scene, constantly evolving geopolitical dynamics, as well as the latest European and global prospects for economic growth and development are being discussed at this gathering.

Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis told the conference that negotiations with the troika remained "tough" but that the Greek side was persisting in a bid to "avert a return to uncertainty." He added that "significant progress" had been made in the negotiations. 

Addressing the same event, Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Athens was not prepared to enforce new painful measures. “The country must not and will not introduce new austerity measures,” Venizelos said. He stressed that Greece must press on with delayed structural reforms but played down the extent of a feared overhaul to the pension system, noting that only “few additions and improvements” were necessary.

Venizelos further said that the aim was for the troika’s review to be completed in time for a Eurogroup summit (8.12) when, Athens had hoped, Greece’s post-bailout prospects would be addressed. He conceded, however, that negotiations could drag on, noting that they would be concluded before scheduled presidential elections in February.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Speech of FM Venizelos at Conference (12.1.2014, in Greek)

The American – Hellenic Chamber of Commerce: The 25th Greek Economy Conference Agenda