Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsakalotos: Valletta agreement will lead to solution before summer

[02] Steinmeier: Important for Europe to provide real answers to people's problems

[03] Mitsotakis expresses solidarity with Swedish people after attack in Stockholm

[01] Tsakalotos: Valletta agreement will lead to solution before summer

Tsakalotos reported that the same optimism that a solution on Greece will be found before the summer was also shared by European Stability Mechanism (ESM) chief Klaus Regling, Benoit Coeure of the European Central Bank (ECB), European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici and Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

Outlining aspects of the agreement reached in Valletta, the finance minister explained that there would be review of the country's fiscal course after 2018 once the Greek programme had ended in the August of that year. On the basis of this, there will be a decision on whether Greece remains on track to meet its targets and whether the measures scheduled for 2020 have to be moved forward to 2019. He stressed, however, that once the programme ends Greece will be a country that has exited the memorandum programmes and is without supervision, in the same way as Ireland and Portugal.

Regarding the primary surplus targets after 2018, Tsakalotos cited the reply given by Dijsselbloem and noted that the priority now was the return of the institutions to Athens to conclude a staff-level agreement on Greece. This will be followed by a discussion on the medium-term targets for primary surpluses that Tsakalotos described as "the other side of the coin" for making specific the medium-term measures for relieving Greece's debt.

He also made it clear that the package of measures agreed in principle on Friday - both the positive measures and the fiscal reforms - will only be implemented after the measures for Greek debt and the fiscal course after 2018 have been made specific.

Tsakalotos then expressed support for Dijsselbloem and confidence in his presidency of the Eurogroup, saying that the issue arising after the Dutch finance minister's statements to a German newspaper "should be considered over."

"Mr. Dijsselbloem said that it had not been his intention to insult anyone, he was open and explained that he used the wrong words and had not intended to say that," Tsakalotos said. None of the other finance ministers had taken the floor on this issue after Dijsselbloem's made this statement, he pointed out, indicating that they all respected the fact that Dijsselbloem had openly admitted his mistake.

The minister explained that both the restrictive measures and the positive measures will be legislated over the coming weeks. As regards, the positive package (3.6 billion euros), this will refer to social policy for 2019, changes in Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax (ENFIA) and tax income for 2020. On the negative measures, he made it clear that they will be activated only in the case that the measures on debt are implemented.

Regarding labour issues, Tsakalotos stressed that the Greek positions on mass layoffs were accepted, as well as on allowing lockouts, while collective agreements will be restored in September 2018.

The finance minister noted that Friday's agreement was the result of a compromise and, as all compromises, will contain both elements that satisfied but also elements that did not satisfy the Greek side and especially the Greek people.

The deal reached in Valletta called for positive measures amounting to 1 pct of GDP to be implemented in 2019 and further 1 pct of GDP in 2020, at the same time as cuts to pensions amounting to 1 pct of GDP in 2019 and tax reforms amounting to 1 pct of GDP in 2020. He noted that the positive measures will be implemented if Greece meets fiscal targets.

The positive measures in 2019 will amount to 1.8 billion euros and chiefly concern spending to alleviate child poverty, housing problems, youth employment issues and action compatible with government policies for growth, contributions to pensioners for medicines and an investment package. The measures in 2020 would focus on tax breaks, such as the ENFIA property tax and income tax, seeking to offset the austerity measures and create the foundation for a social state in Greece, Tsakalotos added.

Regarding labour issues, the minister said that collective bargaining will be restored in September 2018, with the principle of extension and 'best' settlement.

[02] Steinmeier: Important for Europe to provide real answers to people's problems

The remaining 27 member-states should strive to keep Europe united as "what we considered self-evident may not be so self-evident", he said.

Steinmeier is on a two-day visit to the Greek capital to open the international contemporary art exhibition, documenta14, following an invitation by Pavlopoulos.

One way of overcoming people's indifference for politics is by finding answers to problems which have not been answered yet, he said, noting there is much more activity and discussion in the EU today than 2-3 years ago.

"It's important to provide real answers on questions that have not been answered yet. There are issues of domestic and external security. People are ready for consultations and we have to provide answers on migration, growth and employment," he continued. "The limited consultations between us are no longer enough. We have to provide real solutions to problems and answers that our people so far haven't heard from us," he added.

Commenting on the migration crisis, Steinmeier said the large waves of migration have had consequences on Greece and created additional challenges.

"The answer to all these issues should not just be controlling the EU's external borders but a different asylum policy […] we'll stand on Greece's side on migration," he said, adding that Europe must give credit to Greece for the weight it has shouldered.

On the economic crisis, the German president said the completion of the review must not monopolize Greek-German relations adding he's pleased with today's news of a deal between the Greek government and its creditors. "I hope there will be a comprehensive conclusion of the review to end uncertainty," he said.

Commenting on documenta14, which will be inaugurated tonight by the two presidents, Steinmeier said he doesn't know what he will see but he expects "a fresh impetus and different view of our relations".

Welcoming the German president to the Presidential Mansion, Pavlopoulos said his visit takes place at a crucial time for the EU and the Eurozone.

"I want to assure you that Greece will overcome the crisis and will remain in the EU and Eurozone. Greece is doing so with the great sacrifices of its people. I believe that Greece's sacrifices should be taken into account. Greece will meet in full its obligations provided that its partners do the same," he said and hailed Eurogroup's decision to approve the return of the institutions to Greece.

Commenting on developments in Syria, he said Europe's mission is to ensure peace and to help end the war, especially in Syria. "The end of the war is not only a question of geo-strategic objectives, but also about the consolidation of peace and humanity," he said."Europe must respond to the barbaric terrorism of Jihadists as befits those who commit crimes against humanity."

On migration, Pavlopoulos said it must be handled with humanism and solidarity. "There can be no European peoples with phobias towards refugees," he said, adding that Europe has to defend people's basic rights.

"We're ready to cooperate with all our partners and Germany for a strong Europe, refuting those who rushed to leave Europe believing that it cannot reach its final goal," he continued, noting that Greece so dedicated to its European orientation that it incorporates its national issues into a European framework.

He then cited the Lausanne Treaty, saying it defines EU borders and questioning it will not be tolerated. Greece wants to support Turkey's European path but this hinges on the full respect of international and European law.

PM Tsipras receives German President at Maximos Mansion

Following the press conference, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also received the German President at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, greeting him as a politician that is fighting for Europe's unity and a good friend of Greece. He noted that art and culture were a bridge that could help unite the Greek and German people, overcoming the recent years' disruption in Greek-German relations.

Steinmeier, on his part, referred to a need to once again 'start talking positively about Europe and not consider that Europe is responsible for everything," especially in the wake of Brexit.

[03] Mitsotakis expresses solidarity with Swedish people after attack in Stockholm

"Horrible news from Stockholm today. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. We stand by the Swedish people," he tweeted.

In a separate tweet on developments in Syria, he said there should be "no tolerance for those who murder children" with chemical weapons. "The horror causes a justified reaction," he said.

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