European Commissioner Johannes Hahn: Improvement in Greece is noticeable

European Commissioner for Regional Development Johannes Hahn describes the improvement of the situation in Greece as noticeable in an interview on Austrian Public Radio a few days after his visit to Greece.

The Austrian politician used the example of the growth of tourism to prove his allegations. He mentioned the EU funds that have been given saying that although a lot of money has been allocated, they are not absorbed to the extent he would have liked.

He added there are micro-loans the EU can disburse, which are intended for persons who want to become self-employed with their own business and to this end one needs some optimism, which he said he saw in Greece.

Hahn avoided answering the question whether "the prerequisite measures might be too much for the Greeks," noting that he is confident that all sides will find the right balance and that Greeks, officials and the population itself, have recognized the need to change their behavior.

He appeared equally cautious to the questions for the need of a new deletion to the Greek debt and for the role played by the upcoming German elections in September. He merely pointed out that the German elections affect not only Greece, but the European political scene in general and in his opinion not all affections are by definition a bad influence.