President Pavlopoulos meets with EU Commissioner Canete

Pavlopoulos said to the European Commissioner that Greece supports and will continue to support the European policy under his responsibility and made a special reference to three sectors.

The first is the completion of the domestic energy market, the second the reduction of EU energy dependence and the third the protection of the environment and the climate change.

On his part, Canete thanked Pavlopoulos for the warm reception and said that "the Commission is totally aware of Greece's fiscal and economic conditions adding that they will continue to support Greece's efforts for stability".

He underlined that "energy is a sector that can assist Greece because it can bring investments, support growth and employment".

Referring to the renewable energy sources in Greece, he said that there is huge potential "Greece can operate as a very important energy hub due to its strategic position" he said adding that "the European Commission is willing and ready to cooperate with Greece to take advantage of these potentials. The Commission takes a step forward and proposes the establishment of an energy dialogue between the Greek government and the European Commission". The discussion will focus on Greece's development into a regional energy hub for natural gas and electricity matters on the total development of Greece's dynamic in issues of energy and renewable energy sources and finally on the safeguarding of the implementation of European Union's legislation.

Finally, Canete underlined that "we will facilitate the access to funding and this is the role of the Strategic Investments Fund that we have formed in the European Union. I hope that all these will become feasible and with Greece's steps with aim the reforms in the energy sector. We will do whatever possible to support investments, works and employment in the Greek economy".