The strategic nature of Greece–Germany relations and the prospect of German investments in Greece were highlighted during a meeting in Berlin between Greece’s Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance, Lars Klingbeil.
Both ministers agreed that current global challenges require the European Union to accelerate economic and financial integration through swift, coordinated steps. A central point in their discussion was the need to move promptly on establishing a Savings and Investment Union, which could unlock substantial European capital and enable the creation of strong European corporate groups.
In the same context, they emphasized promoting mergers, cross-border synergies and corporate partnerships—aligned with proposals by Mario Draghi—with the aim of building “European champions” and strengthening the EU’s international competitiveness.
They also examined prospects for boosting investment in Greece. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation and explore new investment initiatives based on Greece’s steady fiscal trajectory, growth momentum and improved credibility. It was noted that Greece has become a magnet for capital thanks to a positive investment climate and opportunities in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, technology, innovation and the digital transition.
Minister Pierrakakis outlined the economy’s path to recovery and its current upgrade, stressing that this progress rests on reforms, fiscal responsibility and a new outward-looking development model. He emphasized that “the revival of the economy is supported by the great sacrifices of the Greek people.”
Special attention was given to Greece’s digital transition, which has acted as a catalyst for change. “Digitization was and remains a lever for growth and transparency,” Pierrakakis said.
Finally, Pierrakakis officially invited Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil to visit Greece to further deepen cooperation.
Pierrakakis: Greece–Germany bilateral relations stronger than ever
“Bilateral relations between Greece and Germany are today stronger than ever,” Minister Pierrakakis said immediately after the meeting. He added that the countries are now able to speak about their own lessons, noting a fundamentally different picture compared with the past.
Discussions focused on the prospect of German investments in Greece and on matters of European interest. Pierrakakis said they covered issues related both to the bilateral relationship—deepening ties on investments and bilateral trade—and to broader European questions. He presented to the German economic team Greece’s overall progress in recent years: the lowest unemployment since 2008, a growth rate well above the European average, rapid debt reduction and primary surpluses. He stressed that this progress follows a very difficult decade for Greece, recalling that at one point discussions centered on whether Greece would remain in the eurozone, but that the situation is now completely different.
Pierrakakis’s post about the meeting
In a social media post about the meeting, Pierrakakis wrote:
“Today in Berlin with Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil we confirmed the strategic character of Greece–Germany relations, discussing the prospect of new cross-border synergies between our countries.
Europe must move quickly and decisively toward economic and financial integration. In this context, the Savings and Investment Union can contribute drastically so we can unleash our full development and productive potential. With the German Vice-Chancellor we share the conviction that barriers in the single market must be removed—barriers that, as Mario Draghi has noted, act like internal tariffs within the EU. Only then can we build real ‘European champions.’”
