Core Viewpoint - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis supports cross-border bank consolidation in Europe and welcomes UniCredit's investment in Alpha Bank, indicating a favorable stance towards such transactions to enhance the banking union [1][2]. Group 1: Government and Regulatory Perspective - Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of creating scale in the banking union and expressed openness to transactions like UniCredit's stake in Alpha Bank, which is approximately 26% valued at €2.1 billion [2]. - The Greek government has been proactive in returning bailed-out lenders to private ownership and has welcomed foreign investments, contrasting with the more cautious approaches of Germany and Italy regarding similar transactions [3][5]. - Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras echoed the sentiment for more cross-border transactions, highlighting a pro-European view that supports the implementation of banking and capital markets union [4]. Group 2: Market Developments - The Greek financial sector is recovering from a past debt crisis, regaining investment-grade ratings, which has facilitated the divestment from major lenders and attracted foreign investments [4][6]. - Greek banks are expanding internationally, with Eurobank acquiring Hellenic Bank in Cyprus and Alpha Bank pursuing Astrobank, indicating a trend of Greek banks seeking growth opportunities abroad [6]. Group 3: Economic Indicators - Mitsotakis noted that Greece has been achieving significant primary surpluses and anticipates a real surplus for the current year, which is a cornerstone of the government's economic policy [7].