Davos , Switzerland ( CNN ) -- Despite deep public spending cuts that triggered waves of protests last year , Greece will not default on its debt payment obligations , Prime Minister George Papandreou told CNN . `` This is not on the books ... it 's not on our road map . And this is why we are talking about these other measures , which we think are enough to be able to make things sustainable , '' Papandreou told CNN 's Richard Quest on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos Thursday . `` Obviously ( it will be ) difficult , but we have been doing our work , and we will be successful , '' he said . The economic troubles in Greece last year sparked a wave of sovereign debt woes across Europe , especially hitting Ireland , Spain and Portugal . The value of the euro cratered during the debt crisis and raised lingering questions about the viability of the 17-nation monetary union . A Bloomberg Global Poll released this week at Davos show 59 % of respondents believe that at least one or more euro nation would break from the monetary union by 2016 , and nearly three-quarters polled thought Greece would default on its loans . `` Well , maybe people will believe things , but that 's why we politicians are here , to put things on the right course , '' Papandreou said when asked about the poll . `` And there is the political will of our peoples and the leaders of the European Union ... to make sure that in 2016 and 2020 and on , the euro will exist . '' His comments echoed the sentiment French President Nicolas Sarkozy who in his Davos address Thursday said : `` We will never abandon the euro . Never ! Euro spells Europe , the euro is Europe . Europe has meant 60 years of peace on our continent . We will never abandon that . '' Sarkozy 's spirited defense of the euro underlined how high the stakes have become for the economic evolution of the continent . `` To imagine that we might pull out of that is to ignore the fact that as people who have been at each other 's throats for centuries , we now have one wish , and that is lasting peace , '' Sarkozy said . But European Monetary Union has been challenged as the bailout of Greece thrust the spotlight on the uneven economics among member nations . Besides debt woes in Greece , countries like Ireland and Spain were deeply exposed to the crash of the housing bubble . Meanwhile , the German economy -- the largest in Europe -- enjoyed its fastest expansion in two decades last year and its largest growth in GDP since Germany reunified in 1990 . Concern has grown of an unfair burden placed on larger economies by the problems of smaller economies like Greece . But Papandreou said Greece is well on its way toward reducing its debt . `` We have made very good progress , because we 're on track , and I would say , even , beyond . We have cut the deficit by over 6.5 percent , which is a huge cut , '' Papandreou said . `` We 've changed our pension system , it 's now a viable pension system , one of the most viable in Europe . We 've changed our tax system , it 's transparent , more effective , hitting tax evasion , '' he said . `` But the structural things we 're changing are actually going to bring growth . '' Jean-Claude Trichet , the president of the European Central Bank , told CNN `` this is no time for complacency -- that is absolutely clear . But let me tell you , nevertheless , that the real economy is giving signs that are encouraging . `` The main risk is to practice benign neglect ... as soon as things are going better , to forget that we had to cope with a very , very demanding crisis , '' Trichet said . `` So , we have to draw all the lessons . '' CNN 's Richard Quest , Kevin Voigt and Bryony Jones contributed to this report .
Prime Minister Papandreou : « Nous avons besoin de la solidarité européenne ». `` Obviously ( it will be ) difficult , but we have been doing our work '' A recent survey showed about 75 % of respondents thought Greece would default . Papandreou echoed the French president 's sentiments that the euro wo n't fold .