Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime Minister in Budapest

[02] Samaras to attend EPP meeting in Brussels

[03] OECD review calls for more green taxes in Greece

[04] Government dismisses rumours of cabinet reshuffle

[05] Rich archaeological findings in Logas region

[06] President urges plan for old airport

[07] PPC employees on strike

[08] Eurogroup on Greece

[09] ASE opening: Decline

[01] Prime Minister in Budapest

The Greek prime minister and his Hungarian counterpart will participate and will be the main speakers at the "Forum on the handling of the Economic Crisis".

Papandreou, in his capacity as Socialist International (SI) president, will be taking part in an event of the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party and will be having a meeting with the head of the party's candidates (candidate for prime minister) in the Hungarian general elections on April 11, Atila Mesterhazi.

[02] Samaras to attend EPP meeting in Brussels

An ND announcement said that the meeting will be chaired by EPP president Wilfried Martens and include several key members of European governments, such as French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble and Italy's finance minister Julio Tremonti.

The main topic under discussion will be the problems created by the economic crisis in Europe and ways in which Europe can emerge from the crisis in the fastest and safest way.

[03] OECD review calls for more green taxes in Greece

Gurria made the recommendation while presenting the OECD environmental performance review for Greece in 2000-2009, stressing that the country should make action on the environment a part of its economic recovery plan. He said that he would push for such a policy during his meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, in spite of Greece's currently high government debt.

The OECD chief suggested that revenue from higher fuel tax should be directed to providing financial relief to the poorer sections of the population. He noted that taxes on fuel had been reduced relative to the overall cost, while road tolls were not fully aligned with inflation and vehicle taxes did not reflect vehicle fuel efficiency to a satisfactory degree.

Another point raised by Gurria was the need to introduce protection of biodiversity into agriculture and other economic activities.

[04] Government dismisses rumours of cabinet reshuffle

"There is an express and categorical government denial that there is any issue of a reshuffle," he told reporters, while stressing that there was no ministry that was failing to 'perform'.

"The government is working hard, the number of formal and informal government meetings that are taking place daily shows that there is no comparison with the amount of work done under the New Democracy government," he added.

ANA-MPA/The spokesman confirmed, however, that the government expected its members to "toe the line" over certain issues and not express dissent.

"Everyone can express their own views in some way but when there is a government decision on certain matters, then we must all fall into line with that decision," he said.

Petalotis also took the opportunity to reply to main opposition ND leader Antonis Samaras over his reference to an alleged "PASOK system" the previous day.

[05] Rich archaeological findings in Logas region

The archaeological site spans an area of more than 455 stremma and this year's excavations focused on Bronze Age and Neolithic Period findings that include, among others, 81 pottery items, 24 clay statuettes and tools.

The findings will be presented at the 23rd Scientific Meeting on the Archaeological Work in Macedonia and Thrace to be held at Thessaloniki Aristotle University (AUTH).

[06] President urges plan for old airport

Greeting Birbili, the president pledged his backing and urged her to proceed with plans to make use of the old Athens airport site in the southeastern Athens suburb of Elliniko, which successive governments since 2004 have promised to turn into a massive metropolitan park.

The environment minister is due to unveil a comprehensive environmental plan for Athens in the coming week that will include plans for the old airport.

[07] PPC employees on strike

The union, GENOP-DEH, is vociferously objecting to recent pay cuts affecting PPC's workforce and a projected decrease of 10 percent of the state's funding towards the utility's insurance fund.

Meanwhile, the civil servants' union ADEDY has decided to follow up this Tuesday's rally with further protests the following week, on Tuesday March 23. The ADEDY Executive Committee announced that an evening rally will be held on that day and has also decided further strike action on a date that will be announced shortly.

[08] Eurogroup on Greece

Juncker appeared optimistic saying that after the important measures taken by Greek authorities aiming at reducing the country's deficit, markets will calm down and interest rates for Greek loans will gradually decrease. If this does not happen, he added, then a commitment underatakn by EU leaders on February 11 regarding an aid to Greece will be activated.

Juncker added that such aid will be through bilateral loans by euro zone member states.

Statement by eurozone finance ministers

"The eurogroup reaffirmed the commitment by euro area member states to take determined and coordinated action, if needed."

"The objective would not be to provide financing at average euro area interest rates, but to safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole."

"The proposals ... would provide strong incentives to return to markets as soon as possible."

"The eurogroup underlines that the Greek authorities have not asked for financial support."

[09] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Raw Materials, up 1.18 percent; and Telecoms, up 1.08 percent.

The biggest losses were in Chemicals, down 1.53 percent; and Travel and Recreation, down 0.54 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.10 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.47 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.27 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 27 were up, 31 were down, and 33 were unchanged.

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