Statement by Prime Minister George A. Papandreou

Brussels, 10 December 2009

European Council - Statement by Prime Minister George A. Papandreou

"I’d like to say that the new Greek government is very well aware of its responsibilities to revamp the Greek economy, to modernise the public sector, to fight chronic problems such as corruption and clientelism, to make sure that we have a sound, viable economy, with a budget which is going to be reduced, a deficit which is going to be reduced.

We are ready to make very strong, important changes, to put our country into a new era of development and use our competitive advantages, which will bring us into a sound green economy and a viable economy, at a time when we are all talking about the environmental problems.

So we are absolutely determined, and I believe we have the strong backing of the European Union in the necessary changes we’ll be making in favour of the Greek people and of course in favour of our common family."