A message for more cross-border mergers and acquisitions throughout Europe in order to remain competitive, the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis addresses, in an interview he granted from Washington to the international agency Reuters.

Europe needs a change in mindset to secure more cross-border mergers and acquisitions and Greece could be at the center of some of them, the minister said, adding that “there is a huge opportunity cost of not doing so, which must be taken into account in every policy-making decision in the Union.”

On the occasion of this discussion, Mr. Pierrakakis expressed the government’s support for the proposal for the acquisition of the Greek Stock Exchange by Euronext. “The agreement will offer the Athens Stock Exchange, as well as the Greek economy, access to a much wider pool of liquidity.”

Referring to the need for further mergers and acquisitions, the minister emphasized that “there are many interesting companies in Greece that need to develop further synergies, either by acquiring companies in Europe and internationally, or vice versa.” An indicative example, he said, is the infrastructure sector.

Answering a question from the agency about the end of the Recovery Fund in 2026, Mr. Pierrakakis clarified that the Fund’s projects will have secondary productive effects (spillover effects) that will continue for years. He added that private investment is also a driving force and as he said: “the biggest challenge from now on is how to further increase investment.”

In the context of the interview, the minister referred to the country’s prospects, underlining that Greece expects a higher growth rate in 2026, surpassing the major economies of Europe.