“Greece-Germany bilateral relations are stronger today than ever before,” was the message conveyed during the meeting between Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, held in a warm atmosphere in Berlin. The discussion confirmed the strategic nature of Greece-Germany relations and highlighted the shared conviction that Europe must move decisively forward. Both ministers agreed that international challenges require the European Union to accelerate, through swift and coordinated actions, the deepening of economic and financial integration.
A central point was the urgent need to advance the Savings and Investment Union, which could unlock significant European capital and enable the creation of strong European corporate partnerships. In the same context, the importance of promoting mergers, cross-border synergies and corporate alliances was emphasized, in line with Mario Draghi’s proposals, aimed at building “European champions” and strengthening the EU’s international competitiveness.
Pierrakakis-Klingbeil meeting: Investment enhancement prospects in Greece
The discussion also examined prospects for strengthening investments in Greece. Both sides agreed to intensify their cooperation and explore the scope for new investment initiatives, based on the country’s stable fiscal trajectory, development momentum and credibility. It was noted that Greece has become a capital attraction hub, thanks to the positive investment climate and prospects in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Pierrakakis presented the economy’s path to recovery and today’s upgrade, emphasizing that this progress was based on reforms, fiscal responsibility and a new, outward-looking development model. He stressed that “the economy’s renaissance is based on the great sacrifices of the Greek people.”
Special reference was made to the country’s digital transformation, which served as a catalyst for change. “Digitization was and remains a lever for development and transparency,” Pierrakakis noted characteristically.
Finally, Pierrakakis extended an official invitation to Klingbeil to visit Greece for further deepening of their cooperation.
Pierrakakis: We deepen our relationship with Germany and invest in a unified and stronger Europe
Full statement by Pierrakakis:
“Greece-Germany bilateral relations are stronger today than ever before. We had the opportunity to confirm this in the meeting we had with Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister, Mr. Lars Klingbeil.
We discussed issues concerning both our bilateral relationship, deepening relations regarding investments, bilateral trade, as well as broader European issues. I naturally had the opportunity to present to the German economic staff the overall progress achieved in Greece in recent years.
We have the lowest unemployment since 2008, a growth rate considerably higher than the European average, rapid debt reduction, primary surpluses. This entire trajectory follows a very difficult decade for Greece. Let me remind you that 10 years ago we were discussing whether Greece would remain in the eurozone. Now the situation is completely different. Very often we come here to Berlin to talk about our own lessons, about how Greece managed to progress in recent years.
Digital transformation has played a catalytic role in this equation. It is one of the issues that very intensely concern and interest the German federal government. I will shortly have the opportunity to meet with the German Minister of Digital Policy to discuss exactly these lessons. And of course this is something that has helped both Greek productivity and Greek economic development. So all these constitute a broader Greek economic strategy.
We naturally discussed our common views on how we should deepen the European common market. The Savings and Investment Union is both a German and Greek objective. Removing obstacles that exist between EU member states is something that concerns us all to achieve even greater growth rates overall on the European continent.
In Greece we had this past week a development in this field, the acquisition of the Athens Stock Exchange by Euronext. Chancellor Merz very recently spoke about a unified European stock exchange. This is a vision we share and we proved it just last week by integrating our country into a broader capital market, into a broader liquidity pool so that Greek companies can benefit from this.
Together, Greece and Germany, we deepen our bilateral relationship and jointly invest in a Europe that functions even more and even faster for the benefit of all of us.”
