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.

Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who ushered the country into the European Union's single currency in 2001, died on Sunday aged 88 at his summer house in the Peloponnese. “With sadness and respect,

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

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.

Greece's former premier Costas Simitis has been credited with laying the foundations for the country to enter the eurozone. He was 88 years old.