Samaras and Finnish premier pledge to deepen bilateral cooperation

Samaras stressed that a fundamental principle of the Greek EU presidency is to bring the EU and its institutions closer to European citizens. The premier said that he exchanged views with Katainen on matters relating to employment and social cohesion and emphasised that Greece is struggling daily for the conclusion of the European banking union, if possible before the European elections.

"With Finland, we are united by the fact that this country also went through a difficult trial like our own and had to subject itself to painful sacrifices that paid off and it soon emerged as a model for development," the prime minister said, stressing that the Finnish understand the difficulties that Greece is going through.

At the same time, he pointed out that Finland remains among Greece's most demanding EU partners. "They set strict terms and for this reason I spoke with the Finnish prime minister about Greece's progress and fiscal adjustment, where we achieved a major primary surplus, and the structural reforms," he said. He noted that Greece's overall progress was not only reflected by the elimination of the "twin deficits" and the reduction of spreads but also because after six years of recession we are this year returning to growth.

Another issue that was discussed at the meeting were developments in Ukraine, Samaras said and commented that "we condemn violence and support efforts for a sustainable solution."

Katainen also referred to the two countries' shared experiences with economic crisis, saying that these had given rise to a frienship. "We have both found ourselves in the same positions and we have similar ideas about the economy and the future of Europe," he stressed.