Greek primary surplus sustainable, Staikouras says

The finance minister stressed that all available figures showed that the government achieved the stabilisation of the country’s international position and its public finances, creating the preconditions to end a protracted recession during the current year. This is the result of huge, unprecedented sacrifices by Greek

society, Staikouras said. “A sustainable growing Greece will be based, from 2014, beyond any memorandum, on a cohesive, realistic strategy that is compatible with European targets,” Staikouras said, adding that the basic axes of this strategy should be:
- Inclusion of the non-transparent part of the economy into the official economy and its taxation.
- Ensuring strict implementation of rules and practices for fiscal management and discipline.
- Creating a fair, efficient and modern state by accelerating administrative reforms.
- Improving the quality of public finances.
- Enhancing the efficiency of social spending to deal with poverty in the country.
- Boosting investments and promoting exports.
- Further strengthening of public debt’s long-term sustainability.
“The truth is that the public debt, for decades, had a very strong rising trend. It is also true that its growth rate is beginning to slow, its average outstanding maturity has been expanded and servicing costs have been markedly reduced. However, despite these positive developments, the issue of a further strengthening of the debt’s long-term sustainability remains open. Realistic solutions and techniques exist. They must be adopted the soonest possible,” Staikouras said, adding that Greece was working systematically to be able to return to international capital markets in the second half of 2014.

source: ΑΜΝΑ