UK and Germany comprise 25% of the Greek tourist market and we can not afford to lose them, says the president of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies.

In less than four years, over two hundred bank branches have closed in Greece and about four thousand employees have been dismissed, according to data for the period 2008-2011. The cut in bank branches came naturally with the deepening crisis and recession.

Half of the deputies disaffiliated with PASOK and New Democracy have joined other parties. A surprisingly large percentage of approval was received by the new Independent Greeks party. The extreme right-wing Golden Dawn is gaining power.

Rising unemployment has forced institutions to work together; for many years, chaos has been preventing the programmes from stimulating employment.