Stathakis at L'ECHO: 'We'll follow our pledges to the letter'

"We have a common will to turn a page for the people and the country and a change of direction is necessary for the entire European family," the minister was quotes as saying.

Asked whether the government has made more concessions than it would have wanted to reach a first agreement with the EU, Stathakis said: "After we took power, we faced a mined field, set up by the most conservative powers in the EU and the outgoing [Antonis] Samaras government. We had to face very tight deadlines and a real liquidity problem. We managed, however, to reach an agreement and win time and space."

He said while there were several criticisms for the deal, both within the party and abroad, opinion polls show the government remains very popular and that 73 pct of the people approve the deal.

Questioned on the most important challenges the government is facing, the minister said "the immediate challenges concern the reforms we will implement: establishing a tax system, fighting corruption and creating an operational Public Administration."