Greece experienced a significant boost in entrepreneurship in 2024, with new business registrations rising by 18.3%, totaling 132,507 companies, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
Tag: economic recovery
Piraeus Financial Holdings (BOPr.AT), one of Greece’s four largest banks, has entered exclusive negotiations with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners (CVC.AS) to acquire a 70% stake in Ethniki Insurance.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis faces growing public dissatisfaction as economic hardships persist despite progress in national financial indicators. A *Handelsblatt* report highlights that real incomes remain 23.7% lower than pre-crisis levels, with inflation, high energy costs, and stagnant wages fueling frustration. While New Democracy leads in polls, its shrinking margin and declining approval rates pose significant challenges to Mitsotakis’ leadership.
Greece has surprised Europe with its remarkable economic recovery, transforming from a debt-stricken nation to a model of fiscal stability within a decade. Once synonymous with financial turmoil, Greece is now outpacing Germany in economic growth and projecting a 3% budget surplus by year-end. While investor confidence soars, rising rents and inflation continue to strain ordinary citizens, highlighting the uneven impact of the country’s comeback.
In a CNN interview, PM Mitsotakis calls for a comprehensive review of the Draghi Report and discusses the complexities of the Thessaloniki Metro project amid ancient artifact discoveries.
Greece plans to raise €11 billion from bond markets in 2025 to address rising financing needs, nearly doubling its net borrowing from 2024. The increased activity follows recent upgrades from rating agencies and reflects growing investor confidence in the country’s fiscal stability. The funds will support the state budget deficit, Recovery Fund loans, and public debt servicing, as outlined in the Budget Introductory Report presented by Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.
Greece will repay €5 billion in eurozone bailout loans by 2025, continuing its early repayment efforts as the economy recovers from its debt crisis. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also criticised the wide energy price disparities within the EU, calling the current market framework “unacceptable” and urging the creation of a bloc-wide energy regulator.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s strides in artificial intelligence at the Future Unfold conference in Athens, emphasising the country’s shift from follower to leader in state-citizen communication. He also discussed Greece’s economic recovery, investment growth, and the importance of strengthening its strategic partnership with the United States, while urging the EU to enhance defence spending for greater strategic autonomy.
In 2023, the EU reached a historic low in unemployment, with the overall rate for individuals aged 15-74 dropping to 6.1%. However, Greece faced higher-than-average challenges, recording the highest long-term unemployment rate in the EU at 6.2%, as well as a notable youth unemployment rate of 9.8%. While countries like Denmark and Czechia saw much lower unemployment levels, Greece continues to struggle with integrating young people and long-term jobless individuals into the workforce.
Eurostat’s latest report reveals that Greece’s average adjusted annual salary remains one of the lowest in the European Union, standing at €17,000 for 2023, just ahead of Hungary and far below the EU average of €37,900. Despite positive economic indicators, such as GDP growth, many Greek citizens continue to struggle with living costs, particularly in cities like Athens, where salaries barely cover basic expenses. With wages in countries like Luxembourg, Denmark, and Ireland far outpacing Greece, the salary gap in Europe continues to widen, leaving many in Greece questioning the effectiveness of economic recovery policies.
Athens, Greece – Greece is experiencing a significant resurgence of talent as its “Brain Gain”…
During a meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the unresolved matter of World War II reparations with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, amidst ongoing dialogue about economic recovery and strengthened relations between Greece and Germany.
The German newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Greece has made significant progress in reducing public debt, with the government planning an early €8 billion repayment to creditors this December. Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis announced that this payment aims to further decrease the debt ratio, which has fallen from 209% of GDP in 2020 to 163.9% in 2023. Forecasts from the IMF and credit rating agency Scope suggest that Greece’s public debt could drop to 139.4% and 132.8% of GDP, respectively, by 2029.
During a speech at the National Gallery, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underscored the government’s focus on transforming the economy through increased investments and industrial growth. He asserted that Greece is on a clear path to recovery, consistently generating primary surpluses and reducing public debt at one of the fastest rates in Europe. Mitsotakis also noted improvements in public revenues and a restructured banking sector aimed at supporting economic financing.
The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) has reported a significant decline in Greece’s unemployment rate, which fell to 9.5% in August 2024. This marks a decrease from 11.4% in August 2023 and a slight dip from 9.9% in July 2024. The number of employed individuals rose to 4,252,488, an increase of 2.5% compared to the previous year, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by 16.9%. The report also highlights improvements in gender disparities, with the unemployment rate for women dropping to 11.6% from 15.1% a year earlier.
Greece’s bank bailout fund, the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF), will begin selling a stake…
Greece’s unemployment rate has fallen below 10% for the first time since 2009, according to ELSTAT’s labor force survey for the second quarter of 2024. The Ministry of Labour attributes this milestone to successful government policies, with Minister Niki Kerameus emphasizing continued efforts to boost employment for women, youth, people with disabilities, and retirees.
Greece is set to finalise its post-crisis bank privatisations by early October with the sale of its remaining stake in the National Bank of Greece (NBG), according to sources. The Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF), which still holds 18.4% of NBG, plans to sell 10-13% of this stake. The move signals a recovery for Greece’s banking sector, which had been heavily supported during the debt crisis.
The European Commission’s latest report on the rule of law in Greece has received high praise from government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, who highlighted the findings as a strong rebuttal to misinformation about Greece. The report commends Greece’s judicial reforms, anti-corruption efforts, media transparency, and strategic use of economic recovery programmes, validating the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, efficiency, and democracy.
In a significant development for Greece’s economic recovery, the European Commission has approved the disbursement…