"Greece’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic is exemplary: with maturity, alliances and confidence," said European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas.
His comments were made during the online 4th Thessaloniki Development Conference on Saturday, organised by the Greek Institute of Research & Development (ELINEKA).
"Everything that in 2018 seemed unbelievable, difficult, and last year in September more feasible, today become key components of the new production model of our country and our city, which with the push of Europe remains on a steady course," he said.
This is because "in Greece there is now a government that believes in reforms and knows how to put them into practice."
"A country facing the pandemic crisis and its aftermath in an exemplary way for its size and infrastructure. With exemplary diplomatic and deterrent power wherever it was needed, at Evros, in the Aegean, in the Southeastern Mediterranean, and with a strong role in the Balkans," Schinas continued.
The EU VP also stressed that the European Commission has made the following a priority for Greece:
- Public administration
- Business environment
- Social cohesion, labor market, education and primary care
- Support for private sector investment, in particular through loans of € 12.6 billion.
"Europe united today has shown that it can overcome even the most difficult crisis. Unfortunately, we lost thousands of our fellow human beings, we were not left unscathed, but like the crises of the past, we will only become stronger when we are united."
"The result of this belief is the European Health Union, at the heart of which is the Vaccine Strategy," Schinas concluded.
*More on GCT: Greece’s COVID-19 woes continue
