|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-19
CONTENTS
[01] FinMin on 2009 budget
[01] FinMin on 2009 budget
Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis, speaking in
Parliament on Friday during the discussion on the 2009 state budget,
said that the 2009 budget is being prepared in the middle of an
unprecedented crisis, with the European Commission itself revising its
predictions twice.
The minister further said that the repercussions are serious for the
Greek economy as well, but they would have been even more serious if it
had not been for the structural reforms that the government is
implementing.
Alogoskoufis pointed out that the international economic crisis is
affecting Greece, but less than other European countries, since the
monetary adjustment in 2004 and the structural reforms that followed
have shielded the Greek economy to the extent that "the Commission
officially predicts a much better course for it in the next year."
He went on to say that "in conditions of uncertainty, such as the
current ones, what is of importance is not so much the stability of
predictions but the stability of targets and of policies."
Lastly, Alogoskoufis stressed that "the target is difficult. I wish,
however, to make it clear that Greece will continue to pursue monetary
discipline. This is a clear message in every direction."
|
