Lucas Papademos Quotes

The participation of our country in the eurozone is a guarantee for the country's monetary stability. It is a driver of financial prosperity.

Greece is at a crucial crossroads. The choices that are made and the policies that are enforced will have a decisive impact on the wellbeing of Greeks. The way forward will not be easy but the problems can be solved, and will be solved, if there is unity, co-operation and consensus.

My job will not be easy but I am convinced the problems will be solved in a quicker and more efficient way if there is unity and consensus.

I think it's often discussed that leaving the Euro is an option for Greece. I think this is really not an option.

Dealing with Greece's problems will be more difficult if Greece is not a member of the eurozone.

The ECB's interventions in sovereign bond markets should not be perceived or interpreted as a 'freebie' for governments. They are temporary.

Our eurozone partners have made it clear: The choice is between staying in or getting out of the eurozone.

The financial crisis in our country is not a passing storm. Given the size of the problems, our national effort will not be completed in 2012. It will take many years and will require the efforts and insistence of several governments.

More cuts were needed to avoid exiting the eurozone.

Our membership of the euro is a guarantee of monetary stability and creates the right conditions for sustainable growth. Our membership of the euro is the only choice.

I think achieving a higher fiscal stability is also a very important condition for restoring an environment which is conducive to growth...

I am not a politician but I have dedicated the biggest part of my professional life to economic policy both in Greece and Europe.

In the 20 years before Greece end up with the Euro, efforts to improve competitiveness through exchange rate and adjustments resulted only in temporary gains of competitiveness.

And judging what is appropriate or not appropriate for a country, I think it is important in particular in judging what is the appropriate economic policy framework, one should take into account the overall political environment and the institutional framework within which economic policy operates.

Governments cannot assume or expect that the ECB will always facilitate their funding independently of the achievement of their fiscal and other policy objectives.

Greece could default on its debts and even exit currency bloc if it cannot deliver reforms.

I am confident that we can overcome this crisis, provided that we remain united in our effort to address our debt and competitiveness problems. And I think that the Greek people are united; it's important also that the political forces are united in line with the will of the Greek people.

Delays in granting of justice very often reduce the speed with which investment could be undertaken, discouraging investors.

I think the gains to be achieved by a combination of reforms and labor market adjustments are going to be more permanent and will provide a basis for reducing unemployment and improving expert performance and sustaining growth in a way that is more sound and more permanent.

I think the funds that have been pledged at Euro Summit combined with the outcome of the private sector involvement process should be sufficient in order to support financially the Greek economy.

I am personally convinced - and I think the Greek people share this belief in a fundamental way - that we can achieve fiscal consolidation more effectively and we can restore competitiveness in a more fundamental and permanent way within the euro area than outside.

I am convinced that the public, large majority of the Greek people, realize that policies pursued in the past and the market practices have to be changed, in order to improve the prospects of the Greek economy. So there is, I think, strong public support despite the increases in social tensions.

We must all assume out responsibilities to take the country forward.

I think the facts reveal that the European partners have taken extraordinary measures to help Greece address its problems.

The government is determined to continue the process of fiscal consolidation and structural reform in order to secure sound public finances and improve the country's international competitiveness.