Raichenbach for Greece: Partially impressive progress, especially in health sector

Speaking to the German monthly economic survey Capital, Taskforce chief Horst Raichenbach presents a fairly positive image of Greece and the Greek government.

The image Raichenbach outlines is quite different compared to the previous period, as the writers of the article observe. Capital says that after intense criticism on Athens for the delays in reforms, the European Commission is now reviewing its assessment of the reformist policy in Greece.

Raichenbach commends the work of Samaras’ government saying it is prepared to implement the technical assistance it is being offered and that the readiness for cooperation it demonstrates in many areas is higher than expected.

He admits that structural reforms take time, but adds that progress in Greece is partly "impressive", mainly in the area of health and stresses the need for further reforms, such as the modernization of public administration.

Georgiadis’ statements

The multi-page article to be published today, Thursday, for which the magazine's editors took a long trip to Greece, hosts also an interview with Adonis Georgiadis.

The Health Minister defends the Germans against the criticism they receive in Greece saying "conspiracy theories that the Germans want to turn us into a colony are nonsense."

Maybe there were reactions to the planning and implementation of reforms, as he says, "but in the meantime, even employees who vote for far left parties understand that the Taskforce people want to help them."