The meeting between Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has concluded with the two officials exchanging pleasantries and committing to closer bilateral relations.

The position of Greece against any new horizontal measures and additional taxes was at the focus of what prime minister Antonis Samaras told German chancellor Angela Merkel, in a 20 minute meeting they had on the sidelines of the European Popular Party congress.

Undertaking of "joint action with Italy" is particularly important was the message sent by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday, from Italy, the in view of the two countries' successive EU presidencies in 2014, so that "Europe changes" course.