Antonis Samaras urges "more and better Europe"

Samaras said that the economy is not just numbers, noting that behind them are people, and underlined that policy against unemployment will have to be boosted, focusing on youth unemployment.

He said that ideology unites Europe, adding that long-standing problems have to be resolved. “Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece are doing much better. Greece is recovering and soon will exit the crisis. All these successes came despite the predictions. Europe is working. We believed in ourselves,” the Greek premier said according to ANA-MPA

Samaras also noted that “the path to a better Europe, with greater cohesion, less red tape and more reforms is being cleared”.
“We must maintain society's hope and safeguard democracy; confront populism and extremism. There should be hope. Populists and extremists threaten European democracy. We will not let them. We will win. The crisis has made Europe wiser and stronger. We are proud of the steps we have made and we will keep up the good work. In the greater region, from the Middle East to Ukraine, there are countries in a state of destabilisation, all of which look to Europe. There are many countries that want membership and none wishing to leave. This is our response to populists and euroskeptics,” he added.

The Greek premier also referred to maritime policy and the need to utilise energy resources , especially the need to protect the sea borders and punish human traffickers, while emphasising that the Greek EU Presidency is successful.

Earlier, Samaras had met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussed developments in Europe and Greece.