Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM and ministers discuss energy issues, public sector enterprises

[01] PM and ministers discuss energy issues, public sector enterprises

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting on state enterprises, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis expressed his satisfaction over progress in implementing the law and noted that the vast majority of public sector enterprises have concluded collective labour talks.

Pay rises will not exceed 3.0 pct this year and 4.0 pct in 2007, Alogoskoufis said, adding it was a very significant decision and underlined a climate of consensus prevailing in the wider public sector.

This climate is strengthening the country's economy, employment and social cohesion, while it also contributed in the restructuring of public sector enterprises, the Greek minister said.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas also expressed his satisfaction over the implementation of the new legislation adding that industrial peace prevailed in the public sector.

Labour Minister Savvas Tsitouridis said a policy of dialogue has brought very good results, while Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis underlined a climate of consensus.

Sioufas meeting with PM

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Karamanlis, Sioufas announced that companies from Greece, Bulgaria and Russia will meet in Moscow on June 7 to form the international company that will undertake the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline.

Sioufas also said that he briefed Karamanlis on his imminent trip to Finland and the meeting with his Finnish counterpart in view of the major conference to take place on the south Aegean island of Rhodes at the end of September with the participation of 35 government ministers, 25 from the European Union and 10 from the Mediterranean region. The conference will tackle issues concerning the Euro-Mediterranean market to be established in the Mediterranean Basin by 2010.

Sioufas additionally briefed the prime minister on the upcoming EU Energy Ministers Council in Luxembourg on June 7-8 and the Athens forum that will take place at the end of June with the participation of all energy regulators.

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