Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-04-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM to banks: Mobilise resources to spur economy

[02] Greece-Frontex cooperation memorandum signed

[03] Commissioner: After the sacrifices, growth

[01] PM to banks: Mobilise resources to spur economy

The banks, he said, have the obligation of playing an active role and assuming their responsibilities, and to act quickly, mobilise available resources and finance businesses, "and the decisive prerequisite in all this is the recapitalisation of the banks".

Papademos explained that the reforms and measures contained in the programme being applied will not have immediate yield and are not expected to directly impact economic activity but will occur in the long-term and conversely, in the short-term, they will deepen recession, with adverse effects on the labour market and entrepreneurship.

He noted that thousands of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) have gone out of business in the past two years, stressing that this course of destruction of the SMEs must be reversed and employment must be boosted. "If the banks want capital reinforcement, they must finance the SMEs. If the SMEs want bank credits, they must safeguard employment and create new jobs".

[02] Greece-Frontex cooperation memorandum signed

Greek citizen protection minister Mihalis Chryssohoidis, greeting Frontex executive director Ilkka Laitinen and Finnish interior minister Paivi Rasanen, who were on a two-day visit to Greece, praised "this important initiative".

He said the Memorandum will further boost the surveillance of the Greek borders that are also Europe's external borders. "The ministry's goal is a parallel expansion of the surveillance systems along the entire Greek-Turkish frontier," he said.

The Memorandum provides for Greece's participation in the electronic information exchange pilot platform of the European external border surveillance system (EUROSUR), which is designed to support the Member States in their efforts to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the European Union by improving their situational awareness at their external borders and increasing the reaction capability of their information and border control authorities.

Rasanen noted the substantial progress and positive results that Greece has presented in dealing with illegal migration and repatriation of illegal immigrants, adding that Greece is shouldering a heavy burden in the management of borders and migration flows.

[03] Commissioner: After the sacrifices, growth

European Commission vice-president and commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani voiced strong support for Greece, addressing a conference on "Growth in Greece: SMEs and Entrepreneurship in the 'Europe 2020' Strategy" organised in Athens on Friday by the European Commission.

He said that Greece is not alone, and that after the period of sacrifices will come growth. "We cannot imagine Europe without Greece, the euro without Greece. Everyone in Europe is Greek. I am here to reaffirm the support for the Greek people and the Greek government and to thank the Greek people for the sacrifices they are making," Tajani said.

As for what needs to be done, the Commissioner stressed the need to solve issues of access to financing, to place emphasis on growth, tourism and boosting exports and research and innovation.

He further proposed the evolution of the European Central Bank (ECB) along the model of the US central bank, the FED, and also the introduction of new rules for the Rating Agencies.

At a press conference later, to a question on the upcoming general elections, Tajani said that "the Greeks are free to choose the political leadership they prefer. Democracy is always sovereign, and the EU is steadfastly at Greece's side to assist its course to an exit from the crisis.

"I have great confidence in Greece that it will come out of the crisis. Greece is in Europe and we want Greece to stay in Europe. At this phase Greece is not alone, however we do not interfere in its internal politics".

To a press question, Tajani said he is personally in favour of the creation of a United Europe along the model of the USA, with a single currency, a single policy, single economic policy and a European Central Bank modeled on the FED.

On the Lisbon strategy, Tajani admitted that the targets were not achieved but added that they could be attained by 2020 with an updating of the plan.

On reduction of the labour cost, he said that Greece must make and is indeed making sacrifices, as other countries are also obliged to make, adding that these sacrifices were and are necessary. He clarified, however, that reduction of the labour cost does not mean only salary cuts, but also reduction of the production costs and employer contributions, and other elements.

Tajani further emphasised the fact that representatives of the European industry were in Greece on Friday to discuss cooperation prospects while, on the sectors in which the growth discussion should focus, he particularly singled out tourism and agrotourism, noting that growth of those sectors will bring collaborations in other branches as well.

The target, he added, is to especially boost the SMEs in the tourism sector, noting that emphasis should be placed on facilitating the tourist flow from Russia and China.

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