The new President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, pays an “informal” visit to Athens today and he will have a meeting and a working lunch with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

This is Juncker’s second visit to Athens since his election as president of the European Commission while negotiations with the Troika are in progress. Therefore, the Greek government perceives this visit as a symbolic gesture to support Greece’s positions.

The government team believes that Greece can count on Mr. Juncker’s support in the negotiations with the Troika and believes that his visit sends a message within the country and abroad that the Greek government has allies, despite the difficult political situation.

The developments in Europe as well as the progress of the Greek programme and Greece’s debt sustainability are expected to dominate the meeting. The Greek Prime Minister depends on Mr. Juncker’s support so as Troika’s evaluation would be concluded as quickly as possible with positive results in order to proceed to the next steps.