“
Striking a balance between fiscal stability
policies and growth policies (pursuant to the
provisions of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy) is
the touchstone of the effort towards achieving the
necessary cohesion among the economies of the
EU and, consequently, among European soci-
eties, which is an integral part of the further deep-
ening of the EU, the number two priority of the
Greek presidency”, as pointed out by certain
sources.
Greece seeks to balance the fiscal consolidation
timetable, through the implementation of an
enhanced and realistic Compact for Growth and
Jobs, and believes that the European Investment
Bank can play a major role in this, by financing
investment in SMEs, infrastructure, energy and
the climate.
It is also stressed that a first, albeit not sufficient,
step towards the right direction was taken at the
European Council of June 2013, which decided to
Trade with Greece
78
Greece Faces the
Challenge of the
New NSRF
Fighting unemployment
and enhancing social
cohesion by achieving
sustainable growth is the
number one target of the
Greek Presidency of the
Council of the EU,
according to a decision of
the Greek cabinet, which
approved the priorities
for the first half of 2014.
By Kostas Voutsadakis
