Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-08-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Alternate FinMin releases data on H1 fiscal targets achievement

[02] Trucks loaded with Greek fruits destined for Russia return to Greece

[01] Alternate FinMin releases data on H1 fiscal targets achievement

According to the data on State Budget entities, the actual primary expenditures and the change in unpaid obligations in the first half are lower compared to the target that has been set by 819 million euros (or 3.5 percent); the performance is better compared to the first quarter.

According to the data for the 57 General government legal entities with budget over 10 million euros, the overall results are very close to the target; the majority of entities show a below 10 percent deviation from the target or have a positive deviation, while in certain cases there is an above 10 percent deviation compared to the targets that have been set.

Staikouras pointed out that "as regards public expenditures, management has become more controlled and discipline has been promoted and as a result the performance of fiscal policy interventions corresponds to initial estimates. In particular, since the beginning of 2013, a mechanism - as part of specific fiscal rules and practices - has been put into effect to monitor on a monthly basis the annual budgets of general government entities, which include General Government legal entities whose budget execution is monitored by the General Accounting Office." "It is clear, however, that in cases of diversions there is an urgent need for the legal entities' administrations to take all the necessary measures to adapt, during the course of the year, their finances to their targets' limitations and align with the wider effort that takes place for fiscal consolidation, adjustment and discipline," Staikouras added.

[02] Trucks loaded with Greek fruits destined for Russia return to Greece

"Some 70 trucks, each with about 20 tons of capacity, destined for Russia departed from Veria customs office in the last few days," Christos Giannakakis, head of the Imathia association of agricultural co-operatives told ANA-MPA on Monday. "One of them came back two days ago and another two that went only as far as Romania returned yesterday. It is easier for trucks that have not crossed the EU borders to return home," he added.

Most problems have been reported with shipments that have reached the Russian borders as a result of custom procedures for the re-import of fruits to the EU, as well as, long distances.

Some of those shipments "have been on the road for about 10 days –whatever that may mean for a sensitive product which for a large part of the journey is carried on rather bumpy roads. We expect those trucks to start coming back tomorrow," he said.

Exporters from the northern Greek regions of Imathia, Pella, Kozani and Florina on Monday afternoon will hold a meeting to coordinate their actions and demands and discuss the Russian embargo impact, the producers' compensation, as well as, the withdrawal, the drawing up of an inventory and the destruction of the fruits.

Their conclusions and decisions were to be submitted to Rural Development Minister Giorgos Karasmanis during a meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday at 14.00. According to Giannakakis, the meeting has been postponed and has not so far been rescheduled.

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