“We don't believe that there is an impasse with the Troika. Talks are continuing in a constructive climate. The aim is to complete them by year's end,” said Antonis Samaras after his meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels, on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expressed the view that 2013 will be the last difficult year for Greek commerce, while receiving the annual report of Greek commerce for 2013 from a delegation of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce (ESEE), headed by its president Vasilis Korkidis late on Monday.

Three polls published over the weekend give different views of public opinion with two showing a slight lead for governing New Democracy (ND) party, and the third showing a lead by main opposition SYRIZA, while Golden Dawn (GD) remains in third place.