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We have reasons to be optimistic for Greece, Costello says

We have reasons to be optimistic for Greece, Costello says

Greece has for the first time completed its obligations promptly, it has entered a positive course and we have reasons to be optimistic, European Commission representative Declan Costello said on Tuesday, addressing an American-Hellenic Conference in Athens.

There is a positive course that allows us to hope for a successful completion of the programme. It is important that Greek authorities implemented prior actions ahead of the next scheduled Eurogroup meeting in January, he said.

The EU official stressed that the driving force of growth will be confidence "and particularly for citizens and investors to see there is prospect of successfully completing the programme." He underlined the need for timely implementation of prior actions to complete a third review, thus paving the way for the next stage of debt relief talks that will ensure fully sustainability, along with the form of support to be offered to Greece after the end of the programme.