Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance announced that Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis met European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union Maria Luís Albuquerque to discuss the economic situation in Europe and Greece, with a focus on the financial sector and the EU agenda to deepen Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union. The ministry highlighted discussion of Greece’s banking system, pointing to rising deposits, increased financing to the real economy and a significant decline in non-performing loans. The meeting also covered European challenges for markets and financial stability, with Pierrakakis reiterating Greece’s support for the Savings and Investments Union and for European Commission initiatives on innovation and digital finance, and referencing assessments that remaining cross-border financial-sector barriers in the EU are equivalent to a 110% tariff. Albuquerque was briefed on the ministry’s capital markets bill and thanked Greece for its support for completing the Banking Union, while also expressing optimism about Greece’s economic prospects.