I assured Prime Minister Samaras of the Commission's support in the run-up to and during the Greek Presidency, in what will be the fifth time that Greece takes this very important leadership position. The Greek presidency will play an important role in ensuring that key legislative files are taken forward in the Council in the first crucial six months of 2014.
On the economy now: I want to say that I very much support Greece's efforts in implementing the financial assistance programme. Prime Minister Samaras has once again assured me of his clear commitment to see it through. The Commission continues to believe that this is essential to secure Greece's future growth and jobs, and it is already giving positive results. But further work is needed to consolidate these gains. The economic situation is still fragile and this is not the time to take our hands off the wheel but to roll up our sleeves.
Fiscal consolidation, of course, is necessary. Full implementation of the programme is essential on this point in order to support the return of confidence and for the sake of growth and job creation. Stepping up the pace of structural reform is also crucial. More work needs to be done to reform the tax system; this is not only about increasing revenues but ensuring social fairness.
This kind of an economic transformation takes time and you know that in the short term it and can be painful, extremely difficult, from a political point of view, and socially quite challenging. I want to assure the Greek people that the Commission continues to stand by you and we will do so also in the future.
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