Greek banks will be able to place approximately 7 to 8 billion euros in the bond market from March when according to all indications the ceiling set by the European Central Bank on Greek banks' purchases of Greek state long term bonds will be lifted.

Real economic convergence is important for the cohesion of a monetary union, the outgoing President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi said on Tuesday evening, speaking in Athens.

Outgoing European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi was honored by the Academy of Athens for his role in rescuing the European economic and monetary union and for his response and actions in dealing with the debt crisis in the Eurozone.