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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-05-05
CONTENTS
[01] Social security and tax reform bills secure pensions, protects the
weak, say gov't sources
[02] Greek public debt sustainability to be discussed at Eurogroup
[03] Nearly 1,700 returned to native countries from Greece in April,
police report
[01] Social security and tax reform bills secure pensions, protects the
weak, say gov't sources
The government has managed to conclude negotiations with Greece's lenders
based on the targets agreed last July and is a legislative proposal that
is in direct contrast to the deals promoted by the previous ND-PASOK
government, government sources said on Thursday, ahead of a vote in
parliament on the bills over the weekend.
"The government achieved the conclusion of the negotiations with the
institutions on the targets of the agreement signed last July, with a
reform that fully secures pensions, protects the weak, distributes tax
and social security contribution burdens in a fairer and proportional
way and ensures the sustainability of the social security system,"
the sources said.
They also added this reform is the opposite of those brought forward by
the coalition government of New Democracy and PASOK which took for granted
a horizontal cut of pensions, a zero-deficit clause for supplementary
pensions, the abolition of the tax-free ceiling and the burdening –
once more – of the weaker tax payers who shouldered the huge weight
of the economic crisis these past years.
[02] Greek public debt sustainability to be discussed at Eurogroup
The sustainability of Greece's public debt is expected to be discussed
for the first time at a Eurogroup level on May 9.
According to the main points of the agenda, the Eurogroup will hold
an emergency meeting on Monday in Brussels to discuss the progress of
Greece's macroeconomic adjustment program.
Discussions will focus on the comprehensive package of policy reforms and
the sustainability of Greece's public debt. "Both issues must be discussed
in order to conclude the first program review and disburse further
financial aid to Greece," according to the statement of the Eurogroup.
[03] Nearly 1,700 returned to native countries from Greece in April,
police report
A total of 1,694 third-country nationals were deported or returned to
their native country from all areas of Greece in April under operational
planning to combat irregular migration, the Hellenic Police (ELAS)
announced on Thursday. These were based either on return and deportation
orders for illegal entry into Greece, the voluntary repatriation
programmes operated by the International Organisation for Migration or
the forced returns and voluntary departures overseen by ELAS services.
The greatest number of returns were to Albania (852), followed by
Pakistan (157), Morocco (107), Iran (61), Georgia (51), Afghanistan
(45) and Bangladesh (29). A total of 6,427 third-country nationals have
been returned to their country of origin since the start of the year,
ELAS said.
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