Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-04-27

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] EU Commission formally asks Greece to change 'primary shareholder' law

[02] U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state to visit Ankara, Athens and Nicosia

[03] PM visits Traffic Management centre in view of Easter exodus

[01] EU Commission formally asks Greece to change 'primary shareholder' law

An EU Commission spokesman, speaking to reporters, reminded that the Commission's reaction against Greek legislation was not something new as it referred to an older legislation, while he stressed there was no issue of non-compatibility of the Greek Constitution with Community law.

More analytically, a Commission announcement said that "Following a letter of formal notice sent to Greece on 23 March 2005 and the reply from the Greek national authorities received on 7 April, the European Commission has decided to formally request Greece to change its law 3310/2005 which prevents companies ?interconnected? with Greek mass media businesses from participating in procedures for the award of public contracts. The Commission considers that this law breaches the Community directives on public procurement and the principal of equal treatment of the participants, as well as the exercise of almost all the fundamental freedoms acknowledged by the EC Treaty. The Commission's request takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion', the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. In the absence of a satisfactory response within three weeks, the Commission may refer Greece to the European Court of Justice".

EU public procurement law aims to ensure that all European companies have a fair chance to bid for public contracts. Open and transparent tendering procedures mean more competition, stronger safeguards against corruption, better service and value for money for taxpayers and, ultimately, a more competitive Europe. EU public procurement markets are worth over â¬1 500 billion, more than 16% of total EU GDP. The existing EU public procurement Directives have increased cross-border competition in procurement markets and reduced by around 30% the prices paid by public authorities for goods and services, according to a European Commission working document

Law 3310/2005 implementing Article 14(9) of the Greek Constitution prevents companies interconnected with Greek mass media businesses from participating in public procurement proceedings. The Commission considers that this is contrary to secondary Community law (the Directives on public procurement), in that it lays down exclusion criteria that are not provided for in the Directives, and does not respect the equal treatment of participants. It is also contrary to primary Community law (the EC Treaty), in that it lays down measures that impede, or render less attractive, the exercise of almost all the fundamental freedoms acknowledged by the EC Treaty.

Given that the law in question is already producing its effects, the Commission has given the Greek Government three weeks to reply and reserves the right to ask the Court, if it brings the matter before it to lay down the requisite interim measures, i.e.d the suspension of the application of law 3310/2005 .

The Commission said it was prepared to work together with the Greek authorities and to examine proposed solutions. Francois Le Bail, a spokeswoman for the Commission president , speaking to reporters said the EU executive wanted Greece to amend its primary shareholder law.

[02] U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state to visit Ankara, Athens and Nicosia

The spokesman avoided characterising Kennedy's tour as a new initiative, but described it as a "continuation of existing efforts."

Replying to a relevant question, Ereli said that Kennedy, who is reponsible for the Cyprus issue, "will leave on May 1 to travel to Ankara, Athens, Nicosia, Brussels and London," adding that the purpose of her tour is to "consult with the sides on the way with which we shall proceed with regard to a solution to the issue of Cyprus, as well as on bilateral issues."

Ereli reiterated the position of the U.S. that "the Annan plan provides the best method for a solution to the issue of Cyprus" and pointed out that the U.S. continues to encourage both sides to support the plan.

[03] PM visits Traffic Management centre in view of Easter exodus

This was the prime minister's first visit to the newly-established traffic control centre, set up for the Athens Olympics last summer.

In statements after the visit, he stressed that the new service was equipped with the latest technical resources and monitored traffic on a 24-hour basis, helping both to regulate its flow but also to provide immediate assistance to accident victims and quick solutions to problems.

"With this new service, the establishment of a national highway traffic police and improvements at problem spots on the road network through the construction of modern motorways, the State is trying to fulfil its obligation to offer the safest possible environment for drivers and travellers.

"But I must also stress that all citizens must be aware of their own personal responsibility, and meet their own obligations. We are all aware of the rules for a safe trip, we know what we must do and what we must avoid. I therefore think that it would be good for this year, in view of the upcoming exodus for Easter, if we set ourselves a target: no more lost lives on the tarmac. Happy Easter to all," Karamanlis said.

After the visit, Voulgarakis drove up to the Afidnes toll post to monitor the start of the Easter exodus and wish traffic police a happy Easter. He also launched a campaign begun on Wednesday by the Greek traffic police, handing out leaflets containing Easter wishes, maps of the 14 sections of the national highway with the highest accident rate and advice to drivers for the avoidance of accidents, as well as a CD with Greek folk music

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