Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-10

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis confers with FinMin on high prices

[01] PM Karamanlis confers with FinMin on high prices

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Alogoskoufis said the discussed the high cost of living, as well as the stock market turbulence and the spiralling prices of oil and food internationally, which he explained also impacted inflation and the public, and particularly the lower income brackets.

Alogoskoufis said that, in tandem with initiatives being taken at international level, steps were also being taken in Greece for better control of prices in order to avoid large increases, but also for supporting the lower incomes.

He noted that increases have also been made to the EKAS (benefit for low pensions) and to the OGA (farmers' social security/pension fund) pensions, as well as tax reliefs for the middle incomes, while the newly-established fund for combatting poverty through targeted measures for the low incomes would begin operation in September.

To a question on the late-night abduction of Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) president George Mylonas by unidentified gunmen in Thessaloniki, Alogoskoufis expressed sorrow, and the hope that the Greek Police (ELAS) would quckly locate the abductors and bring the affair to a positive end.

Caption: File photo of prime minister Costas Karamanlis. (ANA-MPA/M. Marogianni)

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article