The Greek government's priorities in the following weeks aiming at the rebirth of the ailing debt-ridden national economy and a Greek initiative for the issue of a euro-bond, were the main topics on the agenda.
"If European Union will remain in the current "hermaphrodite" situation, pressure by markets will continue and Europe will suffer from nationalisms and exchanging blame," warned Papandreou, expressing hope that there is space for maneuvers and compromise among European partners on the future of financial governance in EU.
The issue of a euro-bond is promoted as an example of such a compromise by Athens. Papandreou launched the initiative to collect at least one million signatures throughout Europe in favor of the issue of a euro-bond after December's EU summit.
EU partners, such as Germany and France, do not welcome the idea, but according to the Lisbon Treaty if one million European citizens raise an issue, the EU Commission is obliged to prepare a draft bill on this issue.
In regards to the efforts to address the Greek debt crisis on the national level, Papandreou focused on the liberalization of more than 150 so-called closed professions and markets for early 2011.
"We will overcome our weaknesses and solve our own problems," stressed the Greek Premier, arguing that the opening up of closed professions will be will reduce bureaucracy and boost competitiveness.
The relevant draft bill is expected to be tabled in the Greek parliament for vote by February, but the plan has caused strong reactions by labor unions which warn with more strikes and protests this year.
Greece has been hit with a wave of demonstrations over austerity measures and structural reforms introduced to put the economy in order, since the 2009 budget deficit reached 15.4 percent of GDP.
Athens pledged to slash it to less that three percent by 2014 and return to growth in order to secure a multi-billion euro aid package by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last spring, avoiding default. But a part of Greek society still resists change.
Three months after the ratification of a bill which opened up the freight trucks market in Greece, owners of state-licensed trucks threatened a new round of protests on Monday over unsolved pension and security rights issues. Twice in 2010 truckers held week-long protests, paralyzing the local economy.
In the mean time, public mass transport services employees continued work stoppages on Monday and plan more for January 5 over a plan to restructure the debt-ridden sector, which is one more top priority for the Greek government this year.
In late January the EU-IMF auditors are expected back in Athens for a regular check on the course of the implementation of the Greek Stability and Growth program and Athens should show more concrete progress on the structural reforms front.
Based on the auditors evaluation report Greece will receive the fourth tranche of aid in March.
Source: Xinhua
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