Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-04-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] EIB can help private companies get financed, EU Commissioner Katainen says

[02] President Pavlopoulos receives French parliament MPs

[03] Greek gov't will implement July's agreement; nothing more, nothing less, says Gerovassili

[01] EIB can help private companies get financed, EU Commissioner Katainen says

"We are here to help you. It is very important that you, as legislators, carry this message to private investors," Katainen underlined in the Greek parliament.

"Our delegation can help financing private sector in Greece. It is not necessary for someone to go to Brussels or Luxembourg. The European Fund for Strategic Investments can help private investors in Greece. It is a risk financing tool and a good vehicle to finance businesses. They need to be informed that they can request funds without the approval of the Greek government," he said.

Presenting his plan for growth, the EU vice president emphasized on the creation of new jobs, and spoke of the four basic steps to be taken to promote growth in our country:

- Contacts with the Greek banks in order to get to know how they can use the investments strategic fund to strengthen the Greek economy.

- Gathering ideas from businesses on investment needs and organizing an investment platform to proceed with the funding from the European Fund.

- A campaign on how to "exploit" the European Investment Bank office.

- Re-opening of the Greek Investment Fund, which could be a good vehicle to channel investments.

The most crucial discussion is the discussion on investments and growth, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday while receiving the European Committee Vice President Jyrki Katainen.

"After years of discussions on measures and austerity, it is time we spoke for growth, investments and employment," Tsipras said.

The Greek prime minister explained that the primary surplus target of 3.5 percent of GDP in 2018 will be reached provided there is growth momentum.

Katainen, who is also European Commissioner for Employment, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said that the European Committee holds discussions with the private sector in order to find the suitable financing tools for its support adding that they also hold discussions with the Greek banks to persuade them to finance businesses and particularly small and medium size enterprises (SMEs).

[02] President Pavlopoulos receives French parliament MPs

"Greece will rise to the challenge as it has already done despite the huge problems we are facing as a country," he stated. "We behave to the refugees as we should to behave to a human being and always based on the principles of the European culture and the European democracy," said Pavlopoulos.

Addressing the French deputies, he urged them to focus on the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement on the refugees crisis.

Referring to Greece's commitments, he stressed the need for the relocation system to work properly, the immediate revision of the Dublin's agreement and the immediate establishment of the European Coastal and Border Guard with respect to each country's sovereignty.

[03] Greek gov't will implement July's agreement; nothing more, nothing less, says Gerovassili

"All macroeconomic and fiscal figures reflect the progress of the Greek economy since July 2015, much better than all predictions. The economic figures are expected to be confirmed by EUROSTAT in the following days. We expect the conclusion of the agreement at technical level before the Eurogroup based on the Greek side's proposals," she said and announced that "in the following days two very important reforms will be tabled in the Greek parliament's committees that bear the stamp of the government's policy on insurance and taxation."

On the disagreement of the institutions on the primary surplus target in 2018 as well as the necessary debt restructuring, Gerovassili said, "we reiterate that July's agreement is clear, first the review and then the discussion and agreement on the debt."

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