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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-03-24Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Crucial EU summit opens ThursdayA crucial two-day EU summit opens in Brussels on Thursday afternoon, chaired by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, focusing on the economy, growth and jobs.The 27 EU heads of state and government will also take stock of the situation in Libya and the EU's southern neighborhood and discuss assistance to bring relief to the affected population in Japan. The leaders are due to agree on a comprehensive package of measures to safeguard financial stability and to promote sustainable growth and employment. This includes final approval of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), a new fund which in 2013 will replace the present temporary one to support eurozone countries in the event of major economic difficulties. The European Council is also expected to adopt the Pact for the euro, which will strengthen economic policy coordination with the aim of improving competitiveness. As regards international issues, the summit will discuss the latest developments in Libya and, more generally, in the EU's southern neighbourhood. It will also consider the situation in Japan and the lessons to be learned in the field of nuclear safety. According to the invitation letter sent by Rompuy to the EU heads of state and government, the leaders will begin the meeting on Thursday afternoon by addressing the economic part of the agenda. "As an important step in the new framework of the European semester, we should give guidance for national economic policies with a view to implementing our Europe 2020 Strategy. The objective is also for the European Council to adopt the comprehensive package of measures that should allow us to turn the corner of the financial crisis and continue our path towards sustainable economic growth and employment. Much work has been invested into this package over the last weeks in different fora and I am therefore confident that we will be able to finalise it rapidly on Thursday afternoon," the letter said. As for the traditional working dinner of the EU leaders on Thursday evening, the leaders will begin by "taking stock of the events unfolding in Libya and the Southern neighbourhood". "We should agree on first concrete steps to bring rapid support to the countries of the region and ensure that the orientations we set on 11 March are implemented as swiftly as possible. Regarding Japan, it will of course be of crucial importance for our meeting to stress our determination to support our Japanese friends as they strive to overcome the challenges they face. We should also draw the lessons of these events, notably in terms of nuclear safety," Rompuy continued. According to the itinerary set out in the European Council chief's letter, on Friday morning, the EU leaders "will go through and approve our draft conclusions". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [02] Exhibition marking anniversary of 1821 revolutionAn exhibition of historical documents and works of art related to the 1821 revolution, marking the 190th anniversary of the March 25, 1821 launching of the Greek struggle for independence from Ottoman rule, was inaugurated on Wednesday by foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas.The exhibition is hosted on the ground floor of the foreign ministry premises at 1 Akademias street in downtown Athens. "Our devotion to the country remains undiminished," Droutsas said in his inauguration address. He also thanked the foreign ministry staff "who are carrying out their duty conscientiously in all of Greece's diplomatic and consular missions all over the world", as well as for their "successful handlings in difficult situations they were called on for recently in Egypt, Libya and Japan". Droutsas further underlined the significant international ramifications of the 1821 revolution, as it "shook up the conservative establishments that oppressed the peoples of the European continent, gradually stirred the progressive spirits all over the world, and inspired the ideal of liberty to the other peoples of the Balkans". Photo: ANA-MPA/A. Beltes More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [03] ANA-MPA work stoppagesWork stoppages have been called at the ANA-MPA on Thursday by the Union of Athens Journalists (ESIEA) and the Union of Athens Media Employees (EPIEA).The three work stoppages are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 2:00-5:00 p.m., and from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Thursday. The work stoppages are in protest of a second 10 percent salary cut decided for ANA-MPA staff, and attempts to classify the national news agency as a "DEKO" (public utilities and organisations). More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [04] ASE opening: RiseEquity prices were rising at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index up 1.26 percent, standing at 1,608.35 points at 12:30 pm, and turnover at 23.385 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Financial Services, up 3.33 percent; Raw Materials, up 2.20 percent; and Health, up 2.12 percent. The biggest losses were in Chemicals, down 0.38 percent; , Oil & Gas, down 0.31 percent; and Food & Beverage, down 0.08 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.42 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.58 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.68 percent. Of the stocks traded, 55 were up, 25 were down, and 23 were unchanged. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form [05] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "631 million euros from the EU for reorganisation of public sector being lost". AVGHI: "Government giving everything to the banks". AVRIANI: "State lending to banks to purchase unwanted Greek treasury bills that foreign rating firms have classified as 'junk'." ELEFTHEROS: "George (PM Papandreou) to ministers: Don't fear the booing, the yoghurts and the parades". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Hiring of 'ghost' consultant illegal". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "22 percent unemployment sinking the social security funds". ESTIA: "State revenues collection 'waterloo'." ETHNOS: "Upsets for pupils, students, professors". IMERISSIA: "8 privatisations on track - The first 'package' for collection of 15 billion euros". KATHIMERINI: "Uncertainty in EU due to Portugal - Collapse of Portuguese government after parliament's failure to pass austerity package". LOGOS: "Sweeping energy bill". NAFTEMPORIKI: "Upset in Portugal, which alters the balances". NIKI: "Closures of businesses that do not pay their contributions to the social security funds". PARASKEVI+13 (weekly): "Karamanlis: Papandreou will call early general elections in the autumn". PONTIKI (weekly): "The 'game' with the denationalisations". RIZOSPASTIS: "New murderous plans by NATO - Ground forces, too, in Libya". TA NEA: "Retirement superannuity: Who will receive it and when". VRADYNI: "Retirement superannuity at risk in public sector". More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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