Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-02-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM continues his round of meetings with ministers

[02] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

[03] Farmers hold key meeting on future of mobilisations

[04] Too early to reach any conclusions for tax revenue

[05] Tourism minister on visit to Serbia

[01] PM continues his round of meetings with ministers

At 10:00 a.m Samaras will meet with Shipping Ministry officials; at 1:00 p.m with Education Ministry officials; and at 5:30 p.m. he will meet with Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis.

The meetings' purpose is to review each ministry's work over the last few months and to set priorities that will help the government be most effective. It will also give an opportunity to the premier to resolve any new issues that come up, wherever necessary.

[02] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

AVGHI: "Decapitation with new haircut"

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: "Reserve labour in public sector illegal"

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Solidarity contributions have vanished"

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "French business in energy, water resources and works"

ESTIA: "The economy's psychology"

ETHNOS: "Pension for 160,000 without age retirement limit"

IMERISSIA: "Messages of support -European Commission, Europarliament agreement opens window for the eurobond"

KATHIMERINI: "European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn puts a halt to immediate layoffs"

LOGOS: "Farmers to make final decision"

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Strong French presence on the course to recovery"

RIZOSPASTIS: "Workers, farmers: One voice, one fist"

TA NEA: "Vague landscape over layoffs in public sector"

VRADYNI: "Rural land plots: How to avoid taxes for them"

6 DAYS: "State properties along the coast from Piraeus to Sounio a gift to the troika (EC, ECB,IMF)"

[03] Farmers hold key meeting on future of mobilisations

Farmers will also be meeting at 12 noon on Thursday at the Nikaia interchange roadblock to decide on the future of their mobilisations. The farmers have maintained roadblocks at intersections in northern roads for the past month.

[04] Too early to reach any conclusions for tax revenue

Speaking in Parliament, Staikouras said that regular budget revenues will be 3.0 billion euros less from last year, because of the frontloaded nature of the adjustment programe.

"We expect that income taxes will be 15.6 pct less from last year, while transaction tax will be 8.8 pct down and VAT will be 9.0 pct lower," the minister said, adding that: "Based on these data and with a 200 million euros shortfall in tax revenue recorded in January, it is extremely difficult for someone to say how things will turn out".amna

"The efficiency of measures will have to be constantly evaluated. In any case, the incomes leg needed attention because of a limited tax-paying ability of Greek society, while more intense efforts were needed in tax collecting and inspection mechanisms," he said.

Responding to a question by DIMAR deputy Dimitris Anagnostakis, Staikouras reiterated that January figures showed a primary surplus of around 400 million euros, from a primary deficit of 33 million euros last year. Net budget revenue totaled 4.418 billion euros, down 9.4 pct from January 2012, although he stressed that January figures were only 19 million euros less compared with the monthly target. He attributed this negative development to lower VAT revenues, lower car circulation duties and lower indirect tax proceeds in January.amna

Staikouras underlined that 2012 results created some optimism for the coming year. "After we reach our goals, we will gain some liberty to improve policies and measures unfair for the society and with little economic results," he said.

[05] Tourism minister on visit to Serbia

Kefaloyianni is carrying out a two-day visit to the Serbian capital as of Wednesday, in the framework of which she will also be attending the inauguration of the 35th International Belgrade Tourist Exhibition on Thursday and will be visiting the Greek pavillion.

An extensive discussion took place during Kefaloyianni's meeting with Petkovic on issues concerning cooperation between the two countries in the sector of tourism. Speaking to AMNA, Kefaloyianni said "my meeting with Mr. Petkovic took place in an extremely good climate. We are interested in the sector of tourism in attracting even more Serbian visitors, as well as examining the possibilities of joint investments in the tourist sector". She also reminded that despite the small decrease in tourismn from Serbia, about 660,000 visited Greece in 2012.amna

Kefaloyianni visited and was given a guided tour on Wednesday afternoon of the "Nebojsa" tower, where Greek revolutionary Rigas Fereos was put to death. The tower was renovated with Greek state funds and is currently functioning as a museum exhibition location.

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