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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-02-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] EC spokeswoman stresses need to have programme review concluded as soon as possibleBRUSSELS (ANA/Ch.Vassilaki) - European Commission spokeswoman responsible for Economic Affairs Annika Breidthardt on Tuesday stressed the need to have the programme review concluded as soon as possible.The European Commission takes into account the outcome of yesterday's IMF discussion on article 4. Our priority right now is to have the programme review concluded as soon as possible and we are working hard with the Greek authorities and the other partners to make this happen," said Breidthardt during a press briefing in Brussels, avoiding, however, to give a precise timetable. Asked on whether the IMF's participation in the Greek programme is necessary, she reiterated that the ESM regulation provides for cooperation with the Fund "wherever possible", however, the IMF confirmed last December its commitment to recommend to its Executive Council the need for a third programme with Greece. Finally, as regards the disagreements within the IMF Executive Board during yesterday's debate, she noted that the Commission continues to believe that the agreements implemented by Greece under the programme are "ambitious and credible". [02] Amendment legislating for free school meals tabled in ParliamentAn amendment legislating for the "School Meals" programme was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, as part of a government drive to combat child poverty and food insecurity in school children. The programme also aims to promote child welfare through a social policy of free school meals for primary school children.The amendment provides that the programme will be implemented within three months of the law's publication in the government gazette, with contracts awarded directly, without a tender process. According to the introductory report, the need to meet the immediate and urgent dietary needs of children in the current school year makes it impossible to keep to the deadlines foreseen under current legislation for open and closed processes for public tenders. The cost of the programme is estimated to at 875,000 euros for the first three months, covering 10,000 students with approximately 2.5 euros per meal for 35 school days. According to a Greek statistical authority (ELSTAT) survey on household income and living standards in 2015, the risk of poverty among children aged 0-17 years is 26.6 pct, up by 1.1 percentage point from the previous year. The number of children living in households that are below the poverty line, meanwhile, is 34.5 pct. [03] Greek banks, Bank of Greece discuss NPLsHellenic Bank Association board and Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras discussed issues related with a more efficient management of non-performing loans by Greek banks and initiatives to lower the extremely higher level of NPLs which puts a break to the funding of the Greek economy and the return of the banking sector back to normality, during a meeting on Monday.HBA, in an announcement, said that bank boards also had the opportunity to exchange view with the central banker and executives of the Bank of Greece and to be informed by Mr. Stournaras over the basic directions of forthcoming changes in the wider regulatory framework. The meeting also focused on the course of the Greek banking system and the Greek economy in general. The meeting was part of a round of contacts made by Hellenic Bank Association board with government officials, supervisory authorities, politicians and business agencies, in and outside Greece, focusing on resolving the sector's problems and help restoring normality in the banking sector. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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