Samaras: The deal is closed - A million Greeks will be aided with 500 million euros

Announcing the agreement with the troika after 6 months of negotiations Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that more than 500 million euros will be given immediately to one million Greeks.

Samaras explained that part of the excess surplus agreed with the troika will be distributed under income and assets criteria "to those who need it most and in uniform personnel with a salary under 1,500 euros."

Samaras announced further reduction of the insurance contributions from July 1st in order to reduce labour costs. "For every 100 euros employers will pay 89 euros and employees 94. The reduction will certainly relieve businesses and especially SMEs. "

The Greek premier said that 20 million euros will be disbursed directly to support the homeless, that in a few days he will announce a new package to support the nouveau poor and that during the year an additional 1 billion euros will be disbursed to repay state debts to private individuals bringing the total repayment amount at 2.8 billion euros.

"Not only do we not need, nor will there be additional measures, and a portion of the surplus will be given to repay the debt as was agreed," he added.

Referring to the structural measures, Samaras talked about developmental changes that will release the economy and enhance competitiveness. "These are changes that should have been done long ago. The effort continues, we will become a new Greece. Today we make a new beginning with hope because the results are tangible for the Greeks."

Talking about the criticizers in and out of Greece he said: "The lengthy negotiations are completed with success. When others were questioning the achievements of the economy the government kept the country in the eurozone and is now pulling it out of the crisis. We had promised to achieve a primary surplus so the country would not depend on loans and we managed it, we promised to share some of the surplus and we are doing it."

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said: "We finished a difficult negotiation. In the afternoon we will announce the staff level agreement. I thank the Prime Minister for his support in all these months of difficult negotiations. During all this time we improved the Greek economy and achieved a lot."