After a meeting with Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho at Maximos Mansion on Tuesday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras underlined that Eurozone countries must join forces to boost development.

Mr. Samaras noted that both he and his Portuguese counterpart agree that there is a need for greater consensus within Europe. Most specifically, he stressed that “the steps for European integration, for the fiscal and banking union, show that the demand for a better and stronger Europe is not just a motto, but a demand which is being realized. The composition of the European Commission under Mr. Juncker indicates that steps are being taken to better address the current problems. The Draghi move shows determination to hit the recession and we applaud it.”

The Prime Minister said that “in the last two years, Europe has taken steps that were previously unthinkable,” and that both Greece and Portugal, like Europe, are on a good track. “We discussed with Mr. Coelho the crisis in Ukraine and the deterioration in Syria. Europe must remain united and adopt policies of stability and security. In order to be able to have a positive influence, it should be united and emerge even more united from the crises,” Mr. Samaras underlined.

Responding to journalists’ questions, Mr. Samaras said that Greece lags significantly in competitiveness and has a high debt. “We managed to have primary surpluses, exit successfully to the markets, put an end to the increase of the debt and enter recovery,” he noted, adding that this recovery should be visible in the current year.

“Also, we improved our position in competitiveness and hope to further improve our performance. We want to reach the top places of competitiveness internationally. Soon, we will certify the sustainability of the debt without the need for new memoranda and new loans, relieving the Greek people from the burden of unemployment and the pressure of taxation. We achieved all these goals gradually and firmly, with confidence in the country’s place in Europe and the world,” Mr. Samaras said.

“I believe that if a country wants to stay alive in this competitive global environment, it must make structural changes. Moreover, Greece suffered, mainly during the first program, more than it should. The international organizations have agreed that the multipliers used were not accurate and caused an even greater depression,” he added, pledging that Greece will follow Portugal and Ireland, it will go to the markets and will stand on its feet.