"The economy has stabilized, but reforms must continue - whether the troika of lenders is present or not - because there is no sustainable growth without strong institutions,", Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis said yesterday during his address at a Harvard Business School Club of Greece event in Athens.

The privatization of public assets imposed by the troika lead crisis ridden countries to losses of billions, notes the newspaper Tagesspiegel in a four page tribute.

The European Parliament has condemned Turkey’s “maritime survey” activities in a resolution approved on Nov. 13, saying they encroach on the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and “its sovereign right to explore the natural resources within it.”

The amendments for "red loans" of businesses and professionals and for the exclusion of non-arrears through 100 installments was voted upon through a roll-call vote, in a very heavy atmosphere in Parliament.