The meeting between prime minister Antonis Samaras and government vice president Evangelos Venizelos, ended late Thursday evening, with discussion focusing on the fate of the Skaramanga shipyards and the course of the EU's National Strategic Reference Framework funds.

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.

A policy blueprint being drawn up by governing partners New Democracy and PASOK sets out a joint stance ahead of the anticipated return to Athens by troika officials who are expected to press for further budget cuts.