Monday, July 16, 2012
European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn, completed in the weekend, a visit to Athens, where he met with several ministers.
On July 12, the Commissioner discussed with Interior Minister Evripidis Stylianidis the modernisation and streamlining of local government authorities, the establishment of social safety-net policy as well as waste management.
Hahn also met with Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructures, Transport and Networks Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, and expressed his commitment to mediate with the European Investment Bank for the release of valuable funds for Greece. Hatzidakis said that the discussion focused on issues of liquidity, stating that he briefed the Commissioner on the course of the 181 priority projects that have been agreed with the EU. He further revealed that a draft agreement on the motorways will have been completed by September and the final decision will be made public by the end of the year.
Earlier, in an interview with Athens- Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), ahead of his visit to Athens, Commissioner Hahn had expressed satisfaction with Greece’s absorption rate of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) funds for the period 2007-2013 (41% compared with the European average of 37.5%).
"For the first time Greece met the goals set," he said adding that the absorption goals for 2010 and 2011 were €3.2 billion and €3.5 billion respectively and were largely met.
