Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Debt and primary surpluses the 'thorny' issues between IMF and institutions

[02] Today is a historic day for the European Union, Commissioner Avramopoulos says

[03] IGB pipeline project attracts strong business interest

[04] Greek unemployment rate eased to 23.2 pct in July

[05] Innovative device offers food and water to stray animals

[06] Foreign diplomats to visit Chios in an effort to boost extroversion and local businesses

[01] Debt and primary surpluses the 'thorny' issues between IMF and institutions

They same sources underlined that the contingent mechanism can't be implemented in 2017 based on the primary surpluses of 2016 as according to recent data, the primary surpluses are so high that can't fall below 0.5 percent.

[02] Today is a historic day for the European Union, Commissioner Avramopoulos says

"It is a symbol of a Europe that can be effective and united. It is a symbol of a Europe that can address with determination and in cooperation with its neighbouring countries the challenges of the migration crisis and the threats to its security," he underlined and added: "It is a symbol of the common responsibility to protect our common EU borders. It is a symbol of our determination to continue to move freely, without internal borders."

[03] IGB pipeline project attracts strong business interest

The event was part of the second phase of the pipeline's market test, which includes the submission of binding bids by companies interested in using the pipeline and secure their desired capacity in it. During this stage, four more companies submitted bids additionally to the other nine that had participated in the first phase in April.

"The diversification of the sources and routes of energy supply is a key priority for the Bulgarian government and is important for at least two reasons: Because it means security of energy supplies, not only for Bulgaria but also for the wider region of SE Europe. Secondly, because it means competition and viability," Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said. Petkova said the bidding phase has not been completed adding that the Bulgarian and Greek natural gas network administrators are currently devising rules so that these companies can participate in the second phase by meeting all the requirements for transparency and equitable participation.

The construction of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB Pipeline) will strengthen energy security in Greece and Bulgaria, Energy Minister Panos Skourletis said.

[04] Greek unemployment rate eased to 23.2 pct in July

The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that the number of unemployed people totaled 1,120,843 in July and noted that despite a persisting very high unemployment rate among young people, unemployment continued rising in the 55-64 age group as companies dismissed older workers and replaced them with younger ones with lower wages.

The number of unemployed people fell by 76,727 in July compared with the same month last year, a decline of 6.4 pct and by 5,395 compared with June 206, a decline of 0.5 pct. The number of employed people totaled 3,703,828, up 80,663 compared with July 2015 (an increase of 2.2 pct) and up by 14,617 compared with June 2016 (an increase of 0.4 pct).

The economically non active part of the population totaled 3,220,780, down 1.3 pct from July 2015 and down 0.4 pct from June 2016. The unemployment rate among women was 27.9 pct in July from 28.8 pct in 2015, while among men it was 19.4 pct from 21.7 pct, respectively.

The unemployment rate among young people, aged 15-24 was 42.7 pct in July from 48.6 pct in July 2015, in the 25-34 age group it fell to 29.5 pct from 31.6 pct, in the 35-44 age group it eased to 20.1 pct from 22.1 pct, in the 45-54 age group it fell to 19.1 pct from 19.9 pct, in the 55-64 age group it rose to 18.6 pct from 17 pct and in the 65-74 age group it fell to 12 pct from 13.2 pct.

[05] Innovative device offers food and water to stray animals

The initiative belongs to the municipality of Volos which in cooperation with animal welfare associations will install a second device in the city in the following days.

"According to the pilot programme, the plan provides for the installation of 15 devices in different parts of Volos in order to meet the needs of as many as possible stray animals; a matter that constitutes a huge social problem," the mayor of Volos Achilleas Beos said.

The device is energy-independent and operates with a small photovoltaic system. A portion of food for pets and water is released when a plastic bottle is placed in a special holder attached to the device.

The cost of the programme is totally covered by the municipality of Volos.

[06] Foreign diplomats to visit Chios in an effort to boost extroversion and local businesses

The programme aims at the promotion of Greece, the municipalities and regions in the global market and the strengthening of the local economies' extroversion as well as the promotion of productive activities based on the development of the local competitive advantages.

Representatives of Poland, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Ireland, Argentina, Tunisia, USA, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa, China, Filippines, Indonesia, Morocco, Egypt, Kazakstan, Croatia, Slovakia, Canada, Slovenia, Peru , Hungary and Turkey will participate in the diplomatic delegation.

Enterprise Greece president Christos Staikos said: "In the framework of our agency's strategy to boost extroversion, we took the initiative to bring together 26 foreign diplomats with the view to promoting investing opportunities and the island's exports potential."

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