Greeks bid farewell on Thursday to former prime minister Costas Simitis, a law professor and reformist, who died last week at the age of 88 and was praised for steering Greece into the European Union's single currency in 2001.

Mr. Simitis imposed financial measures to prepare for Greece’s entry into the eurozone and laid the groundwork for the Olympic Games’ return to Athens.

Costas Simitis, former prime minister of Greece credited as the architect of the country’s joining the common European currency, the euro, died Jan. 5 at a hospital in Corinth. He was 88. State TV ERT announced the death but did not provide further details.

Costas Simitis, former prime minister of Greece and the architect of the country’s joining the common European currency, the euro, has died at 88, state TV ERT reports.

The funeral for the former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will be held on Thursday, 9 January, at 12pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

Costas Simitis, the reformist prime minister whose governments oversaw Greece's eurozone entry, helped Cyprus join the EU and planned for the Athens 2004 Olympics, died Sunday at the age of 88.

During his tenure, Simitis managed a period of economic reform, steering the country through changes and stabilizing the Greek economy.

Simitis' funeral will be carried out with the honours of a serving Prime Minister. Among the most important successes of his eight-year term were Greece joining the eurozone, as well as his effort in pushing for Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Costas Simitis, former Greek Prime Minister and key figure in modernizing Greece, has passed away at 88. His leadership saw Greece's entry into the eurozone, Cyprus's accession to the EU, and significant infrastructure projects.