Alogoskoufis: Greece committed to reaching deficit target in 2006
Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis on Wednesday reiterated the government's commitment to reduce the country's fiscal deficit below 3.0 percent of GDP this year. Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg, the Greek minister said: "We had a very good cooperation with Eurogroup's head. We discussed all issues scheduled for Eurogroup's agenda in the next six months and mainly evaluation of reform programmes and stability and growth programmes by Eurozone member states". "I analyzed all initiatives taken by the Greek government to cut its deficit and reforms in the framework of a Lisbon Strategy and I reiterated our commitment that with our 2006 budget the deficit will fall below 3.0 percent of GDP this year, allowing Greece to move out of an excessive deficit procedure".
