Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] New bill on corruption to introduce severe penalties

[02] First pilot 'smart' trolley stop inaugurated

[03] Smooth operation of markets

[01] New bill on corruption to introduce severe penalties

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Papaligouras explained that, under the provisions of the bill, the crime of bribery in the private sector will be punished under the provisions of the penal legislation, whereas as under current law only bribery in the public sector is punished under the said provisions.

He also said that the bill instituted stricter penalties for MPs and members of municipal and prefectural councils.

In addition, "offer (implying money, gifts, goods or services in exchange) for the exercise of influence" will also be instituted for the first time as a penal offence, while responsibilities are introduced also for legal entities committing offences of bibery, offer for the exercise of influence, or money laundering, the minister explained.

Further, accounting offences will be punished with imprisonment and fines, he said. With respect to MPs and members of prefectural and municipal councils, active and passive bribery will carry stricter punishment, namely with imprisonment of 1-5 years and a fine, instead of the current punishment of imprisonment of up to two years, the justice minister continued.

Papaligouras said that, in essence, these are rulings taken by the Council of Europe in 1998, noting that a legislation drafting committee had been set up, chaired by Areios Paghos (Greek Supreme Court) president Margarities -- who was also the chief judge at the 'November 17' terrorist organisation trial, to draft the bill.

To a press comment that there has been a delay in advancing such measures, Papaligouras said that the justice ministry has a series of legislative initiatives ongoing, and several bills were still pending discussion in parliament. He added that the bill on supervision of the judicial functionaries also prospectively dealth with corruption matters.

The justice minister further rejected criticism on the appearance of the defendants in the case of the attempted extortion of the MEVGAL dairy industry in handcuffs, noting that the procedure was standard in the public order ministry regulations, which were duly applied. He said the "the essence of the case is that there was a problem regarding competition, a problem of moral order, and that the reaction was immediate".

[02] First pilot 'smart' trolley stop inaugurated

The installation of the "smart" stops is in continuation of the efforts to upgrade public transport, aimed at better service and, mainly, providing quality services to commuters.

Six smart stops are being inaugurated in the wider Athens-Pireaus region, with differening characteristics.

As of Wednesday, the smart stops in Ano Kypseli and Klafthmonos Square are in operation, while in early October the remaining four trolley stops will be in operation at Plastira Square, Syntagma Square, Agia Triada (Piraeus), and the trolley stop outside the ISAP train's terminal station in Piraeus.

The 'smart' stops pave the way for smart commuting, as passengers will have access to immediate information on the number of the commuter line, thename of the line in both Greek and English, anticipated arrival time (with one-minute precision), while informational messages sent by the ILPAP (trolley service) Management Centre will also appear on electronic bulletin boards.

The technical characteristics of the smart stops allow smooth operation, as the messages on the electronic bulletin boards are fully visible in the sunlight, special sensors regulate the brightness of the screens in conjunction with the outside lighting, the optical degree of the bulletin boards is 120 degrees horizontally and 60 degrees vertically, and other technical aspects.

Some smart stops will have two-sided screens (in front of and behind the stop), while others will have one-sided screens, while the messages on the board will vary from 1-4 lines of print.

Also, the messages on the electronic boards are clearly visible from a distance of 35 metres.

[03] Smooth operation of markets

Speaking to reporters, on the sidelines of an event to mark the Commerce Day in the country, the Greek minister urged for efforts to promote a "low prices-higher quality" view and underlined that enterprises in the commerce sector would be included in a Fourth Community Support Framework programme.

Addressing the event, Development Deputy Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said efforts were made to overcome "ancient" regulations and noted that the ministry was pursuing intensive inspections in domestic markets. Papathanasiou said the ministry also planned changes in a regulatory framework on the terms and preconditions to creating and operating super markets and department stores in the country.

D. Armenakis, president of the National Confederation of Greek Commerce, said its members were "100 percent opposite to the operation of cartels in the market" and stressed that such methods undermined development. Armenakis said a properly organised consumer movement could help effectively in efforts to combat such phenomena in the country.

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