Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday redirected his plane to the earthquake-stricken island of Cephalonia, where he will spend the night, instead of returning to Athens as planned.

Samaras and Barroso both sought to strike an upbeat note at an official ceremony for Greece’s assumption of the European Union’s Presidency emphasizing the country’s progress and playing down the fragility of Samaras’s government.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stressed in his New Year's message to the Greek people that "we have passed through the difficulties and avoided the worst; 2014 will be a year of recovery and hope".