The European Union has promised not to abandon Greece in its time of crisis. So the Greeks are cautiously optimistic. But rigorous savings measures will be needed. For the first time, civil servants will be tightening their belts.Up till now, civil servants in Greece led a privileged life. They received a 13th and 14th month’s salary every year, numerous perks, and were hardly overworked. No wonder one out of seven Greeks works for the state. And only now has the hiring of new civil servants stopped. Because It has now become clear that the public sector, which also suffers from corruption, has to be scaled back. Tough times for civil servants: salaries have been cut and the 14th month’s salary abolished altogether!