I am proud of being a Greek of the diaspora.

When I was growing up in the United States and Sweden, I never thought about becoming a politician.

I have always said I will be in politics to serve as best as I can and it will take me wherever it will take me.

Europe is a strong market for the U.S. If it has problems, if there's a lack of consumer confidence, if there's a deeper recession, this will deeply affect jobs in the U.S.

Every leader wants to put his or her imprint on the work that they do, and grow up in specific eras.

The structures in Europe in a globalising economy need to be modernised, need to be more integrated, need to be stronger.

Very often, people will come out and say, 'Greeks aren't doing things, Greeks aren't making changes, there's no reform,' That is hogwash. We have made a huge effort. The Greek people have made a huge effort.