Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] European left parties on public education

[02] FinMin meets with French counterpart, investors

[01] European left parties on public education

Talks focused on an exchange of experiences and proposals, as well as coordination of the action of the communist and left parties in the field of education.

Speaking to reporters, Papariga noted the large weakenessses existing in Greece with respect to school programmes, and more particularly with respect to the teaching of language. She also great problems in public education, stressing that thousands of children abandoned school each year without having completed the basic 12-year education.

Papariga further referred to the dialogue taking place in Greece over the schoolbooks, saying that there were certain post-modern and theological interpretations of history which do not give the children the opportunity to perceive the real history.

On the c elebrations taking place in Europe to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU's founding Treaty of Rome, Papariga said that the European Union had brought good luch chiefly to industrialists, shipowners and the big interests.

As for the peoples, she continued, everything gained in these last 50 years had been gained through struggles and mobilisations, and were not given to them by the EU. that was why the KKE continued to believe that the correct path for the peoples was that of insubordination to Brussels' dictates.

[02] FinMin meets with French counterpart, investors

"We had an excellent discussion," Alogoskoufis said after the meeting, noting that he and Breton "know each other well, as we meet at least once a month, during the Eurogroup sessions, in Brussels".

Breton said they reviewed relations between the two countries, "and we are very satisfied that the French companies consider that the Greek economy is so strong that it presents opportunities for investments".

"Some French companies have already made investments in Greece," Breton stressed, adding that "there are, however, many more opportunities that can be taken advantage of by both sides, and for Greek companies to invest in France," he said.

Breton told reporters that he stressed to Alogoskoufis that he was impressed "by the fast recovery of the Greek economy", adding that "we, as members of the Eurogroup, support his policy, which is going precisely in the right direction...And this is good for Greece".

Alogoskoufis stressed that "the relations between France and Greece, from a political aspect but also from an economic aspect, are very strong".

He added that apart from bilateral political relations, "which have always been exceptional", bilateral relations "are also very close in the economic field".

He noted that there have been very significant investments by French firms in Greece over the last three years, adding that "our commercial ties are very strong, and the French economy is doing very well due to the efforts of Mr. Breton, who has done a very good job in bringing France's deficit below the 3 percent ceiling and taking his country out of the excessive deficit procedure".

Today, he added, the French economy has recovered and has a very strong growth.

To a question concerning Credit Agricole, which acquired a 71.97 percent controlling majority stake in Athens-quoted Emporiki Bank of Greece S.A. in August, Alogoskoufis said that the French company has stressed that Greece is a very hospitable place for investments, adding that "this plays an important role in convicing more French companies to invest in our country, and this is very significant".

"Many French companies lately have invested in Greece. Take, for example, last year's denationalisation of Emporiki Bank, in which Credit Agricole invested more than 2 billion euros...There is also very great interest in the sector of retail sails as well, and also in the sector of construction and of the major projects being carried out in Greece, in which French firms are also involved. And our commercial ties are also very close," Alogoskoufis said.

The Greek minister further said that he outlined to Breton the role played by Greece in Southeastern Europe, impressing upon him the fact that Greece was no longer an isolated economy, but operating in the framework of a wider region.

After the meeting with Breton, Alogoskoufis attended a lunch with institutional investors at a central Paris hotel.

He explained to reporters that the institutional investors were mainly representatives of major banks who "invest in securities, either in issues by the Greek state or stocks in Greece" and, before the luncheon, said that "we will speak to them about the economic developments and the denationalisations programme".

Alogoskoufis was also due to take part later in an event with senior officials of major French enterprises, whom he would brief on the investment opportunities in Greece.

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