Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-07-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] ATCs' protest delays flights

[02] Fear of petrol shortages

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] ATCs' protest delays flights

The strike was called by the union in protest against pension reform plans and a halt to new recruitment.

According to data from Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (AIA), delays of more than one hour have affected 42 departures between midnight and 9:00 a.m. Monday.

Delays of up to four hours were reported in some flights on Sunday.

Infrastructure, Networks and Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas is due to hold a press conference on Monday morning to answer questions on both a truck owners' strike and the "work-to-rule" protest by air traffic controllers. Both groups are protesting against draft bills recently unveiled by his ministry.

[02] Fear of petrol shortages

The queues continued on Monday, with even longer lines, as the truckers began an indefinite strike in protest against a draft bill to open up the road freight market, including that of fuel, that is currently served only by licenced vehicles.

It is expected to cause serious shortages of goods on the market, while the first problems were apparent on Sunday as huge lines formed outside petrol stations, with motorists trying to stock up on petrol before they depart for their summer holidays.

Coming at the peak of the tourist season, the strike is a heavy blow to struggling tourist enterprises, which have so far seen their turnover reduced compared to last year's levels and had pinned their hopes on the July-August period to raise their sales.

The strike may even affect ferry lines, since truck owners have said they will not make an exception for ships.

Apart from fuel, shortages in basic consumer goods may also start to appear in the coming week.

Infrastructure, Networks and Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas is due to hold a press conference on Monday morning to answer questions on both the truck owners' strike and a "work-to-rule" protest by air traffic controllers that is expected to cause flight delays. Both groups are protesting against draft bills recently unveiled by his ministry.

The owners of state-licensed road freight vehicles moved planned strike action originally scheduled to start on August 27 forward to midnight Sunday, after the government announced planned legislation to open up the currently closed road freight market.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Thousands of bogus disabled - The government has finally admitted it and is beginning checks".

APOGEVMATINI: "Hospitals and DEKO (public utilities and organizations) in the troika inspectors' vise - Troika inspectors begin work again today".

AVRIANI: "Government-guilds head-on collision - They're killing what is left of the economy".

CHORA: "Blatant blackmail for PPC - Either you sell off 40 percent or you don't get the 3rd tranche (of the EU-IMF loan) - Troika and IMF gradually filling in the picture of the occupied banana republic".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "New objective values of real estate set fire to 12 taxes".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Troika begins inspection in 10 critical sectors - 'Interrogation' for six ministers".

ESTIA: "The negative image can change after the self-degradation of the recent months".

ETHNOS: "Express retirement - Guide for the fictitious years in all the funds".

IMERISSIA: "The markets will judge the stress tests' results - Everything open for the banks".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "The GDP revision plans being examined".

TA NEA: "Schools: New hirings halved, while 10,000 teachers retiring".

VRADYNI: "Troika of new measures - Economy and banks to be put through the sieve".

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