The Greek Ministry of Finance has presented optimistic forecasts in the present difficult times with the draft budget for 2012. The deficit is expected to drop to 5.4% of GDP or € 11.43 billion, the recession will reach only 2.8%.

I am walking across Europe with no means in order to express my dissatisfaction with the economic crisis, says Olivier Piezonka for GRReporter.

Charles Dallara expects 70% - 80% private sector involvement in the debt reduction programme. Greece hopes to implement the programme in full.

Legal sources say that the law allows "big fish" owing large amounts of unpaid taxes to escape almost unscathed.

The largest French bank has been represented in Greece since 1981, but will withdraw because of the questionable liquidity and solvency of the Greek banking system.