Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens pleased with EU deal over Union's 2007-13 budget

[01] Athens pleased with EU deal over Union's 2007-13 budget

"Many more parties were challenging for a slice of a smaller pie," was amongst Karamanlis' first statements to reporters after the EU Summit. He also referred to the expectedly tough negotiations that preceded the agreement over the 25-member bloc's 2007-2013 budget, saying that Athens worked hard to ensure that nary a euro was lost for the east Mediterranean country.

Karamanlis cited a figure of 20.1 billion euros in cohesion support for the country during the period.

Regarding the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) -- an issue of major importance to Athens because of the farm subsidies funneled into the country's provinces -- the Greek prime minister reiterated that no changes will be made before 2013.

"... We had stated from the beginning that we would not accept a revision of CAP before 2013, and that we would insist on what had been agreed to during the Brussels summit of 2002. We persisted on this point. Put simply, CAP will remain as is until 2013. Discussions and preparations for what follows will take place, but only up to that point," the premier said.

Turning to Greece, Karamanlis said increased absorption of EU funds and continued development are the keys to the future, saying high growth rates in the country -- amongst the highest in the 'euro zone' -- have disproved Cassandras that predicted a slackening of GDP growth after the 2004 Olympics.

Caption: Greek PM Costas Karamanlis, foreground, addresses reporters after the successful conclusion of a two-day European Union summit in Brussels. Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, left, sits next to the premier. ANA / M. Marogianni.

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