BRUSSELS — When European leaders agreed last summer on a "growth compact" designed to pump more than two hundred billion dollars into the euro zone economy, it was hailed as modern-day Marshall Plan. Seven months on, however, the money's still not moving and neither is the economy.

ATHENS — Straddled with mammoth debts, Greece has begun one of the biggest fire-sales in history — Greek-style. Everything from police and tax agency headquarters in Athens to some of the most beautiful beaches on earth are now open for investment at bargain basement prices, as the government struggles to raise capital.