?Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) meets with Pierre Moscovici, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 16, 2019. Greece is now returning to normality, Pierre Moscovici said here on Wednesday after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
ATHENS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Greece is now returning to normality, visiting European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said here Wednesday after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Moscovici gave a vote of confidence to the Greek economy and the efforts of the Greek people during the years of crisis, but stressed that there is still a lot to be done.
"Greece is capable of developing, creating new jobs and taking social measures for the Greek people who have suffered so much during the crisis. We hope to make with you, the Greek government and the Greek people, a full success story, because the Greeks deserve it obviously," Moscovici said in remarks broadcast by Greek national broadcaster ERT.
Concerning the Prespes agreement, which resolved the long-standing Macedonia naming dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Moscovici called it a "historic achievement" of great strategic importance for both countries.
The commissioner is visiting Athens after an invitation from the French-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on the background of the critical vote of confidence to the Greek government in parliament on Wednesday evening.
Next week, the commissioner will also arrive in Athens, for the second report of the enhanced post-memorandum evaluation, after the country's exit from the bailout programs.
"I am very confident that the next days the Greek parliament will secure the stability of the country because we are in a very significant time. We are in the path of growth," Tsipras said, expressing his optimism about the future.
