Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-05-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM briefed by European, Greek Ombudsmen

[01] PM briefed by European, Greek Ombudsmen

Diamandouros told reporters after the meeting that there were specific rights emanating from European citizenship, adding that he would also brief the political party leaders and the ministers on those rights.

After talks earlier with interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Diamandouros said they agreed to follow-up their meeting so as to ensure a broader discussion and briefing of the public administration and the judicial authorities.

The EU Ombudsman added that he would visit Greece again, with the purpose of making it clear that the European law comprised an inalienable part of internal lawful order.

"Consequently, we discussed how the European Ombudsman and the Greek Ombudsman can contribute in that direction," he added.

Asked whether the "monopoly" in specific professions should be 'broken', Diamandouros said this matter had not been discussed, adding that he does not interfere in matters concerning policy or policy decisions.

To a question, however, on whether the citizens have the right to acquire access to professions that are 'closed', Diamdouros replied: "I consider that they should have that right, but this is a matter of policy decisions that the government must make and the parliament decide".

Kaminis, in turn, said that the Greek Ombudsman defends the rights of the Greeks vis-a-vis Greek public administration, whereas the European Ombudsman defends the rights of the European citizens, and therefore the rights of the citizens vis-a-vis the EU bodies.

Replying to a relevant question, Kaminis said that the social security funds, with the introduction of informatics, have improved, while regarding the issue of pensions, in which he said there had been large delays in the past, the situation appeared to have improved.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of prime minister Costas Karamanlis

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