Official dinner at the Bank of Greece in the context of the ECB Governing Council meeting

25/10/2023 - Press Releases

The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, in the context of the ECB Governing Council meeting, which is held at the Bank of Greece, hosted an official dinner in honour of President Christine Lagarde and the members of the ECB Governing Council, in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis who was accompanied by his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki. The dinner was also attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, Alexis Patelis.

In welcoming the official guests, Governor Stournaras said: “It’s been a long time, 15 years, since we last met here. What has happened since then is well known to all of us. It is now part of our shared history. What is important is that we are all now wiser, stronger, closer to each other, better prepared to tackle difficulties, more European.”

Prime Minister Mitsotakis noted: “Today I am delighted, indeed proud, to welcome you and all colleagues here today, to a country on a very different path compared to those times, a country in the process of fundamental economic transformation. Greece is now one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, with increasing employment, falling inequalities and improving public finances.

In recent years we’ve seen a major increase in our economy’s openness and extroversion, a factor crucial for a small open economy to prosper within a monetary union: Greek exports have increased from roughly one fifth of GDP at the beginning of the crisis to about half of GDP today, a level similar to major exporting eurozone economies.

And our exports base is well-diversified, now evenly split between goods and services, with significant diversification among various goods categories. The Greek economy is not a one-trick pony depending just on tourism.”

President Lagarde thanked Governor Stournaras for the warm welcome and hospitality and noted that: “Greece can serve as an inspiration for all of us as we contend with a more volatile world and the many challenges it brings. It is an example of resilience in the face of great challenges. And it is an example of the importance of being part of something bigger – our shared European destiny.”

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank is meeting on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 October 2023 at the Bank of Greece. During the press conference following the meeting President Lagarde, together with ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos and Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras, will explain the decisions on monetary policy.

Video

- The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, welcomes the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde

- Speech of the Governor of Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras

- Quotes from the speech of the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras

- The speech of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

- Quotes from the speech of the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde

Photographs

- The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, welcomes the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki

- The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis

- The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, welcomes the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde

- The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras

- The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis