ATHENS – Finance Minister Christos Staikouras spoke about “great, complex and supranational challenges ahead of us”, in his statements after a meeting with the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager.

According to the minister, the cost of energy has skyrocketed and inflation in Europe has exceeded all expectations, affecting all citizens, inevitably meaning that any achievements are overshadowed and the positive outlook is undermined.

According to Staikouras, no European member-state can deal with this new crisis effectively on its own, and this requires European, drastic and decisive political solutions. These solutions will be for the present and for the future of Europe, they will incorporate the lessons of old and new experiences and they will prove that Europe recognises and responds to the needs of the times, guided by the common goal of democracy, development, social cohesion and prosperity.

The minister also noted that the contribution of the Vice President of the Commission to the effective support of the Greek economy during the outbreak of the pandemic was significant, as the Provisional Framework of the European Commission for state aid measures had been a valuable tool and a guide for Greece’s efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis. Under this, he added, the Greek authorities have already introduced about 70 measures of state aid, with a total budget of over 22 billion euros.

“Measures implemented successfully have kept society and the economy upright, and laid the foundations for a dynamic restart that has been accomplished,” he pointed out.

He also said that “on our part, we look forward to and work for the continuation of this close and constructive cooperation at a European level, for a common and drastic response to the new threats that lie ahead.”