German FM visits Greece

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier starts a two-day visit in Athens on Thursday.

Steinmeier is expected to meet his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos, after which the two will hold a joint press conference.

The German minister welcomed the Greek progress in the implementation of the necessary austerity measures, adding that Greece still had a long way ahead of recovery from the crisis, but underlined that Germany would continue its support for Greece.

Greece officially took over the rotational Presidency of the Council of the EU, on Wednesday.