ECONOMY

Energy at the focus of Samaras-Venizelos talks Thursday

Energy will be at the focus of talks Thursday between Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partner Evangelos Venizelos ahead of a visit by European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger on Friday.

Thursday’s meeting, which will be attended by Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis and Environment and Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis, is expected to examine delays in privatizing Greece’s energy companies.

Samaras and Venizelos, who is deputy prime minister as well as foreign minister, are also expected to discuss outstanding issues in troika talks in light of the prime minister’s visit to Brussels on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso hailed Greece’s reform efforts and insisted on the need for the country’s EU peers to show solidarity, and not just discipline, as Greek government officials seek to reach an agreement with foreign auditors.

Troika officials are not due to return to Athens until after next Monday’s scheduled Eurogroup summit.

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