E. VENIZELOS: What we discussed with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) is our number-one priority and our number-one need: to bolster creative, internationally oriented Greek enterprises, the SMEs.
The EIB collaborates with the Greek banking system, which it considers solvent, strong and ready to help the real economy. These lines of credit will be given to enterprises and reduce funding costs. They will have a beneficial effect on interest rates, because the cost of money is a major problem for us, as is the cost of energy.
We also talked about how the EIB can help the political initiatives of Greece’s upcoming, six-month presidency. There is much we can do together, mainly in the Mediterranean, for the countries of Africa, but, of course, mainly for the countries of interest to us in our southern neighbourhood. Countries that are in crisis but and the same time offer major investment opportunities for Greek enterprises active abroad.
JOURNALIST: And what message are we sending, Mr. President?
E. VENIZELOS: That we are now in the phase of jumpstarting the real economy. We are now truly emerging from the crisis – we are starting to emerge. The wheel will turn, and this will lead us out of the Memorandum at the soonest possible time. We have to become a fully fledged European country again. And we are doing so thanks to the sacrifices of the Greek people.
November 13, 2013