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The President of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce Vassilis Korkidis declared himself explicitly against the plans of the Prime Minister George Papandreou to reform the cabinet of the socialist government, especially in key ministries. The President of the Greek Bank Union and Chairman of the National Bank of Greece Vassilios Rapanos officially admitted: “Banks have no money.” These are the most important news of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the representatives of business circles in the country.

According to Korkidis, changes in government now can only further delay reforms in Greece. The businessman opposed the changes in the government, arguing that government efforts should be aimed at improving competitiveness, productivity and exports rather than to internal reorganizations. Crucial to finding a way out of the severe economic and social crisis now are the Ministry of Finance of George Papakonstantinou, the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping of Louke Katseli, the Ministry of Employment and Social Security and Finance of Andreas Loverdos, for some of which Papandreou planned reshuffle.
 
Another problem that became evident after the meeting between the government and the social partners was the acknowledgement of the President of the Greek Bank Union Vassilios Rapanos, who is also president of the National Bank of Greece, that the liquidity of the banking system is exhausted and the banks can not meet the needs of local business. The President of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce Korkidis expressed the call of producers and traders in the country the government to support the employment and social security programs through EU funds. It became clear after the meeting that a proposal was made to introduce emergency measures to facilitate repayment of small and medium enterprises to social security and pension funds, banks and other financial institutions, while normal funding of the market is restored.

The President of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants Dimitris Asimakopoulos said that the government will have to stop the storm recession, because it threatens the future not only of local businesses but also of the entire Greek society. During the meeting Asimakopoulos proposed the Prime Minister George Papandreou to review the repayment period of the government deficit. According to the memorandum for financial aid signed in this year’s spring, Greece will receive from the IMF, the ECB and the European Commission € 110 billion in stages within three years. At the same time, the Mediterranean country took the obligation to strictly reform its economic policy so as to reduce the government deficit of approximately 13% of GDP at the end of 2009 to 3% of GDP in 2013. According to the President of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants, Greece needs more than three years to achieve this goal and to develop and absorb in parallel new capital sources for the market and to invest in the economic growth of the country.   

Тhe Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY) reacted most dramatically. Its members declared themselves against the memorandum for financial aid and the antisocial in their words policy of the socialist government of PASOK. They stated they will boycott the upcoming International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki next week. The President of the Confederation Spiros Papaspiros said that the policy of George Papandreou, in alliance with the International Monetary Fund, only increases unemployment and poverty. According to Papaspiros, this policy takes the country back to the barbarism of the previous century and while profits of financial strengths increase the state sinks into deeper recession. The President of General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) Giannis Panagopoulos did not support the government policy, adding that the organization he is in charge of will not accept the increase in the average VAT from 11% to 15%, not to speak of 23%. Both unions stated they would protest against the government policy in Thessaloniki on September10, during the Thessaloniki Trade Fair.

The Prime Minister George Papandreou as well as other government officials like the Minister of Finance George Papakonstantinou, the Minister of Employment and Social Security Andreas Loverdos, the Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Louke Katseli, the Interior Minister Yannis Ragousis, the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Tina Birbili attended the meeting. Neither the presented ministers nor the Prime Minister gave a statement to journalists after the meeting. The Prime Minister George Papandreou noted in a press release circulated in the middle of the day the results of the policy his government leads and the importance of the government decisions, which significantly reduced the risks of Greece’s failure.