Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras visits Chios and Leros

[02] New Democracy MP attacked at central Athens

[03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos on European Border and Coast Guard Agency

[04] Hellenic Petroleum eyes new markets; examines cooperation with PPC

[01] PM Tsipras visits Chios and Leros

Tsipras will be accompanied by Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas. They are expected to arrive at Chios, at 14.00. The prime minister will then leave for Brussels in order to participate in the European Council summit.

On Thursday morning, he will meet with the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and then he will participate in the meeting of the EU member states with Turkey.

The government's position is that Greece meets its obligations and that these should be met by the EU, Turkey and third countries in terms of the readmission agreements.

Regarding the identification and relocation centres on the islands, Tsipras has explained that it was neither the government nor the EU that chose them, but the reality itself and the geography. "Greece has requested, among others, infrastructure by the European authorities and other countries for the increased needs, but its demand has not been met," he said.

[02] New Democracy MP attacked at central Athens

The deputy was hit in the head after a gang wearing hoods entered the restaurant. Economou was transferred to Erythos Stavros hospital.

New Democracy's interim leader Yiannis Plakiotakis visited him at the hospital and condemned the attack.

The deputy was released from the hospital on Wednesday morning.

[03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos on European Border and Coast Guard Agency

Avramopoulos presented the two main targets of the proposal that is the strengthening of the member states in the so called frontline and the safeguarding of the principle of freedom of movement for all citizens of the Schengen zone.

"You will agree with me, that nothing can happen to a member state without its consent, neither can anyone oblige it to cooperate with a third country if the same does not desire to do so. This is clear from the legislative proposal we submitted," Avramopoulos said noting that "without genuine solidarity no member state can face alone the current challenges, let alone, the largest ones that will undoubtedly arise in the future."

Regarding Greece, according to the Commissioner, "the prospective Agency will substantially strengthen its capacity to prevent crises like this and manage the borders which coincide legally with European ones."

[04] Hellenic Petroleum eyes new markets; examines cooperation with PPC

Hellenic Petroleum CEO Grigoris Stergioulis underlined in an event on Tuesday that the company is planning to enter new energy markets, adding that according to estimates the liquid fuel will only be used for long distance transport in ten years, while new energy resources such as electricity and possibly hydrogen will dominate urban transportation. This implies changes in the structure of the retail network, namely petrol stations, that should be redesigned in order to meet the new needs.

In relation to the prospects of cooperation with PPC, Hellenic Petroleum officials stressed that according to the memorandum, PPC's market share should be limited to 50 percent by 2020. They added that the best option for PPC in order to compensate for these losses would be to proceed with partnerships in energy production, the construction of new units together or create joint-ventures in which each side will contribute with its production capacity.

Hellenic Petroleum operate in the production of electricity and retail supply through Elpedison, a joint venture with Italy's Edison.

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