Browse through our Interesting Nodes of Newsletters & Journals on Hellenic Issues Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-07-10

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Friday, 10 July 2015 Issue No: 4996

CONTENTS

  • [01] Government very close to deal with creditors, ANEL leader tells 'Real FM' radio
  • [02] ANEL leader Kammenos: Greek proposal to be submitted in a few hours
  • [03] Gov't spokesman: We believe we will have positive signs at the Eurogroup
  • [04] Greece to send its proposals on Thursday
  • [05] SYRIZA MPs, Political Secretariat joint meeting on Friday to approve Greek proposals
  • [06] Tusk urges both Greece and creditors to bring 'realistic proposals' for reforms and debt
  • [07] Schinas: Athens must send credible proposals for deal to be possible
  • [08] IMF's Blanchard: Greece's agreement with its lenders demands tough decisions from both sides
  • [09] IMF right about Greek debt but 'haircut' not possible under EU rules, Schaeuble says
  • [10] Greece must remain in Europe and eurozone, Greek President and PASOK leader agree
  • [11] Two New Democracy MPs discuss Greek crisis with EU's Juncker
  • [12] Economy minister says Greek proposals will be appproved by SYRIZA
  • [13] Productive Reconstruction Min: We want an agreement that will respect the people's dignity
  • [14] Negotiation and agreement are 'exclusive responsibility' of the government, ND says
  • [15] ND leader: Greece must close a viable and just agreement
  • [16] ANEL spokeswoman says main opposition is trying to sabotage negotiations
  • [17] Potami leader Theodorakis to meet with Jean Claude Juncker on Friday
  • [18] Greek economy will be hard hit by recent events, IMF's WEO report says
  • [19] Energy Minister on electricity rates; TAP pipeline
  • [20] All deposits up to 100,000 euros fully guaranteed by the Eurosystem, Katseli says
  • [21] Greece extends bank holiday, cap on cash withdrawals until July 13
  • [22] Athens Stock Exchange to remain closed until July 13
  • [23] Greek unemployment rate eased to 25.6 pct in April
  • [24] Greek inflation rate at -2.2 pct in June
  • [25] Greek's state overdue debt to private sector up in May
  • [26] Greek households average monthly spending down 3.2 pct in 2014
  • [27] Car registrations up 21.7 pct in June
  • [28] Summer sales start on Monday
  • [29] 'A Greek island at the gates of the East' exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
  • [30] 423 undocumented migrants or refugees rescued in the last 24h
  • [31] Mostly fair on Friday
  • [32] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies Politics

  • [01] Government very close to deal with creditors, ANEL leader tells 'Real FM' radio

    The government is very close to a deal with the country's creditors, which may even be finalised within the day, Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos told the radio station 'Real FM' on Thursday.

    Head of the junior party in Greece's coalition government, Kammenos also noted that the various reports concerning the measures in the final agreement "have nothing to do with reality" and insisted that the proposal would include five points that are Greece's "uncrossable lines" in the negotiations.

    Kammenos said the meeting of the political party leaders chaired by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos had agreed that these should be costed and included in a document that "will reflect the Greek position".

    "I say the 'Greek position' because this is the first time in these five years that we have a position that both the government and nearly all the opposition parties, with the exception of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Golden Dawn, have signed," he emphasised.

    According to Kammenos, Greece's partners were not as interested in the cost estimate of each measure as the timeline for its implementation.

    He made it clear that his party ANEL will not accept any proposal for a reduction in defence spending or an increase in VAT for Greek islands. If there was any departure from these points, he added, the agreement would be discussed by the party's MPs again.

    [02] ANEL leader Kammenos: Greek proposal to be submitted in a few hours

    The Greek government has approved the proposals which will be sent to the country's lenders in a few hours, junior coalition partner Independent Greeks' leader Panos Kammenos said on Thursday.

    Speaking to journalists after the end of the meeting Kammenos, who is also National Defence Minister, said the procedure will now move forward. "You know well that [the proposal] has been approved by the political leaders' council, has been approved by the cabinet," he said.

    [03] Gov't spokesman: We believe we will have positive signs at the Eurogroup

    Government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis expressed his optimism on Thursday over an agreement with Greece's partners noting that the government does everything towards this direction.

    Speaking to private ANT1 TV, Sakellaridis said "We believe that we will have positive signs at the Eurogroup and that we proceed to an agreement" adding that if everything goes well maybe the EU Summit on Sunday will not be necessary.

    Referring to the scenarios of a secret plan for the return to the drachma, Sakellaridis clarified that there is no such plan and that the government is trying to reach an agreement. "The reason we are at this point is the institutions' stance that demanded more and more. The recourse to the referendum was not useless" said the government's spokesman noting that it helped in the negotiations.

    "The week before the referendum we had IMF's report that the Greek debt is not sustainable" he stated underlining that "it is extremely important the uncertainty to stop. If the debt issue is solved it will be very important for the Greek economy".

    Asked if the government has thought what it would do in case something occurs at the last moment, Sakellaridis said "We are in deliberations with top officials, institutions and country leaders in order the way to open and to reach an agreement".

    Concluding, Sakellaridis apologised to the citizens for the inconvenience and for the trouble with the banks and thanked them for their calmness and their sobriety.

    [04] Greece to send its proposals on Thursday

    The Greek proposals based on the Greek government's text which was tabled last week to the Eurogroup will be sent within the day.

    Regarding the loan the Greek government will request, a government source said that this will be defined by the financing needs for the next three years which are linked with the macroeconomic forecasts and with the State revenues.

    Moreover, a government source called inaccurate the articles that specify the number of the three-year programme measures.

    [05] SYRIZA MPs, Political Secretariat joint meeting on Friday to approve Greek proposals

    A joint meeting of ruling SYRIZA's Parliamentary group and the party's Political Secretariat will be held on Friday morning. The meeting will hold a discussion on whether to approve the package of proposals sent by the Greek government to the country's creditors in order to reach an agreement for further financial assistance to Greece.

    There will not be a meeting of the party's MPs on Friday evening, as reported earlier.

    A further meeting of SYRIZA's Central Committee is needed to complete party processes for approving the deal, with Saturday considered the most likely day for this to take place.

    [06] Tusk urges both Greece and creditors to bring 'realistic proposals' for reforms and debt

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Spinthourakis)

    European Council President Donald Tusk on Thursday said that he had contacted Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the telephone and hoped to receive "concrete and realistic proposals" from Athens within the day. Tusk was speaking at a press conference in Luxembourg, during an official visit to mark the start of Luxembourg's six-month presidency of the European Union.

    Tusk also put pressure on Greece's creditors, however, saying that if Athens came through, a parallel proposal will also be needed from the creditors.

    If Greece provides a realistic proposal, then "it will need to be matched by an equally realistic proposal on debt sustainability by the creditors".

    "Only then will we have a win-win situation. Otherwise we will continue the lethargic dance that we have been dancing for the last five months," Tusk added.

    He stressed that the EU side was ready to do everything necessary to support the fiscal stability of the euro zone.

    The European Council president concluded by saying that the assistance extended to Greece could not be used to follow a mistaken economic philosophy that he said was the "main source of the crisis".

    "Europe's help to Greece must be accompanied by the old Roman saying, 'Magnum vectigal est parsimonia' (thrift is a great revenue)," he added.

    [07] Schinas: Athens must send credible proposals for deal to be possible

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ C. Vasilaki)

    There are three stages that must be concluded in order for an agreement with Greece to be made possible, one of which is that Athens send credible proposals within the day, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Thursday.

    He said the first, submitting a request for financial assistance to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) was carried out promptly by the Greek side on Wednesday. The second stage was the ESM's referral of this request to the European Commission, with instructions to assess whether the three elements required for an ESM loan are satisfied - namely whether the crisis constitutes a danger for the eurozone's stability, Greece's financing needs and the sustainability of Greece's debt.

    Schinas said the report by three institutions involved must be ready for the Eurogroup on Saturday.

    The third stage will be for Athens to send credible proposals for reforms within the day so that they can be assessed by the institutions before the Eurogroup meeting.

    Asked whether Athens will receive technical assistance from Commission experts in order to draft its proposals, he stressed that "ownership" of the measures will be exclusively Greek but the Commission's staff will be available to answer questions.

    Regarding debt relief, Schinas repeated the position expressed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that an agreement on reforms took precedence and that discussion on the debt might begin in October.

    Community sources, however, noted that an agreement will depend on the stance of the more "austerian" member-states in the Eurogroup, who again appear divided, not just on the quality of the Greek proposals. The disagreements are centred on the issue of the debt, with the IMF insisting that this must be settled, and on collective labour bargaining - an issue that the IMF has also raised insistently but is opposed by both the EU and Europeans.

    [08] IMF's Blanchard: Greece's agreement with its lenders demands tough decisions from both sides

    An agreement between Greece and its lenders will require tough decisions from both sides, the outgoing chief economist of the IMF Olivier Blanchard said on Thursday during a press conference in Washington.

    He said the Greek crisis so far "has not led to a contagion as in the case of Lehman Brothers."

    He noted that a deal demands actions on both the fiscal and structural field, while on the side there should be a clear funding plan and debt relief.

    Blanchard rejected the possibility of the fund accepting an extension for the repayment of Greece's loan obligations, saying that many IMF member-states are poorer than Greece but they've never received similar concessions.

    "To the degree that there are arrears, this too has consequences. We cannot just extend them without a programme," he added.

    [09] IMF right about Greek debt but 'haircut' not possible under EU rules, Schaeuble says

    BERLIN (ANA-MPA/ F. Karaviti)

    Greece must present a specific plan of prior actions in order to secure its partners' support, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday, expressing doubts whether these can be carried out by Sunday.

    He admitted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was right to say that Greece's debt was not sustainable without a "haircut" but ruled out this possibility on the grounds that it violates EU rules.

    "If Greece wants to restore trust, then it must carry out reforms," Schaeuble told a Bundesbank conference in Frankfurt, where his French counterpart Michel Sapin was also speaking, adding that Athens had "done nothing".

    Regarding the capital controls imposed in Greece, he said it was unknown when these will be lifted, adding that it could be some time. "We cannot transfer the risk of a government to a community," he said, stressing that banking risks must be isolated from the main dangers.

    "Already since 2012 we went further than the IMF...the margins we have due to the restructuring or reprofiling of the debt are very small and in the next few days we will discuss whether there is still such an option. But I am more cautious on this than Michel Sapin," he said.

    However, he did say that new Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos was "more conventional than his predecessor" and that in his first meeting, he told Tsakalotos to "just do it!" and press ahead with reforms.

    [10] Greece must remain in Europe and eurozone, Greek President and PASOK leader agree

    Meeting opposition PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata on Thursday, President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed his conviction that Greece will remain in Europe and the eurozone.

    He also praised Gennimata's active role at this critical time, saying it was a credit to both her and PASOK's history, especially the key role she played in helping Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras craft a consensus at a recent meeting of Greek political party leaders.

    "I say this again and again, but Greece remaining in Europe and the eurozone is a one-way road," Pavlopoulos stressed, adding that the political forces with a European orientation were overcoming their differences in order to rise to the occasion.

    Gennimata briefed the president on the contacts she had at the European Socialists' summit that she attended, before the recent EU summit meeting in Brussels, noting that the socialists had already adopted initiatives to support Greece and keep the country in the eurozone.

    She particularly emphasised the support from the head of the social-democrats group in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella, but also warm support from French officials, including French President Francois Hollande.

    In statements as she left the presidential mansion, Gennimata said the prime minister and the government must act within the double mandate they were given, saying no to a rupture with Greece's EU partners and Grexit and 'yes' to an agreement, to Europe and the euro.

    "As I had the opportunity to stress to the prime minister during our phone conversation yesterday, it is vital for Greece that the Greek delegation should not leave Saturday's Eurogroup unless there is an agreement."

    [11] Two New Democracy MPs discuss Greek crisis with EU's Juncker

    BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni)

    The Greek parliament has the sufficient majority to back a deal with the country's lenders, two main opposition MPs told European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday.

    During their meeting in Brussels, Dora Bakoyianni and Kostis Hatzidakis told Juncker that New Democracy backs Greece's participation in the Eurozone and Europe.

    "We conveyed the message of New Democracy president Vangelis Meimarakis that the party is deeply European which supported the country's prospect in Europe and the Eurozone and confirms that this effort will continue," Bakoyiannis said and added "this parliament has the majority to back a deal. I hope and I wish this agreement really takes place and the proposals of the Greek government are such that will lead to a resolution of the problem, so that the people don't pay for the amateurisms, obsessions and egos."

    Hatzidakis said the two MPs told Juncker that "the sacrifices of the Greek people in the last five years must not in any way be wasted and that Greece's success will be Europe's success."

    [12] Economy minister says Greek proposals will be appproved by SYRIZA

    Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Minister George Stathakis expressed confidence on Thursday that the proposal which will be submitted by the Greek government to the country's lenders in the next few hours will be approved by main coalition partner SYRIZA.

    "Of course it will pass, everything is being discussed," Stathakis told journalists as he exited Maximos Mansion, following a cabinet meeting.

    Parliament President Zoi Konstantopoulou has also arrived at the prime minister's office.

    [13] Productive Reconstruction Min: We want an agreement that will respect the people's dignity

    "Greece seeks to reach an agreement with the institutions immediately, but we want an agreement that will respect the country and the people's dignity and that will open windows for a way out from the crisis. We do not want to add a third memorandum of harsh austerity, suffering and deprivation to the two previous ones without offering a prospect to the country" noted Productive Reconstruction, Energy and Environment Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis in his address on Thursday to a congress for the energy.

    "Greek people's 'no' will not turn into a humiliating 'yes' to new memorandum crematoriums" stressed Lafazanis adding that "we know that at this point all choices are difficult. The worst, the most humiliating and unbearable is an agreement of surrender, looting and subordination of the people and the country. This selection is something we will never do not only because it will bring more suffering to the Greek people but because it is a selection without tomorrow and perspective".

    The minister also said that no nation in a period of peace has gone through so many ordeals or was the recipient of so many blackmails and ultimatums from its so-called partners as the Greeks in the last five years.

    [14] Negotiation and agreement are 'exclusive responsibility' of the government, ND says

    The government is exclusively responsible for the negotiations and the final agreement that is signed with Greece's creditors, main opposition New Democracy spokesman Costas Karagounis stressed on Thursday.

    "This is, in any case, confirmed by the joint announcement of the political party leaders," Karagounis pointed out, adding that ND was waiting to see the agreement first.

    "Until now, we have seen cultivated optimism succeeded by disappointment many times," he said.

    At the same time, the spokesman said that the national consensus was happening "officially and responsibly."

    "Responsibly means without meaningless insinuations and pettiness, of the kind that the immoderate government partner is prone to," Karagounis clarified. If the prime minister wanted an agreement - which is something ND hopes for, he should first get the ministers that openly repudiate an agreement "in line," he added.

    [15] ND leader: Greece must close a viable and just agreement

    Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Evangelos Meimarakis stated on Thursday that his party wants briefing always inside the institutional framework. He noted that Greece must reach a viable and just agreement with its partners in order to remain in the hard core of Europe adding that this is the mandate that has today SYRIZA's leader and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

    Meimarakis made the statements after his meeting with President of Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

    [16] ANEL spokeswoman says main opposition is trying to sabotage negotiations

    Independent Greeks accused main opposition leader Vangelis Meimarakis on Thursday of attempting to sabotage the ongoing negotiations between Greece and its lenders.

    "It would be nationally beneficial if the transitional president of New Democracy to avoid the well-known tactic of his predecessor, who consciously torpedoed the hard negotiating stance of the current government, siding completely with the demands of the country's creditors," party spokeswoman Marina Chrysoveloni said.

    [17] Potami leader Theodorakis to meet with Jean Claude Juncker on Friday

    Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis will meet on Friday at 11.30 a.m (Athens time) in Brussels with European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker.

    Financial News

    [18] Greek economy will be hard hit by recent events, IMF's WEO report says

    Economic activity in Greece will be dealt a severe blow by recent events in the country, which led to an extended bank holiday and capital controls, according to an International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook report presented in Washington on Thursday.

    The IMF's chief economist Olivier Blanchard said forecasts for global growth had been revised downward since April, to 3.3 pct instead of 3.5 pct, but were unchanged for 2016.

    In Greece, the IMF said that the referendum and bank holiday, combined with increased uncertainty and the nature of future support for the country from the international community, had led to a significant increase in spreads for Greek state bonds, especially for short-term bonds.

    Outside the country, the impact of the crisis appeared to be limited and the reactions of financial markets were muted, restricted to a moderate increase in the prices of state bonds considered a safe haven, the report said. It noted that the turmoil in Greece had not so far led to any significant 'contagion' for other sovereigns but warned that this possibility could not be fully discounted and calling for "prompt measures" for the management of such risks if they arose.

    Prospects for recovery within the euro area appeared good, according to the IMF, with rising domestic demand and inflation. Greece was an exception since the developments underway were expected to exact a heavy toll on economic activity compared with initial forecasts, which had predicted growth rates of 2.9 pct this year. The IMF did not offer any estimate of the expected impact, however.

    [19] Energy Minister on electricity rates; TAP pipeline

    The TAP pipeline is not offering enough benefits to Greece, Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said on Thursday, adding that the tax rate on the consortium building the project was 4.0 pct.

    "We cannot say that a pipeline passes through, companies are making profit and nothing is left, or very little are left for the country," the minister said. "Of course, it is important a geopolitical upgrade from the pipelines but it is reasonable to have financial support particularly in this crisis period," Lafazanis said, adding that negotiations were currently underway with the consortium "which are difficult since contracts have been signed" but he noted that perseverance with reasonable demands could offer something positive. Negotiations are focusing on prices offered to farmers as compensation for the use of land to build the pipeline, while both the state and local societies wanted more benefits.

    Lafazanis said that a Russian natural gas pipeline project would be different since the Greek state would have a 50 pct equity stake with more revenues and more favourable natural gas prices.

    He noted that cooperation with Cyprus in the hydrocarbon research field was vital because of difficulties in drawing sea borders because of the irrational and unacceptable demands by Turkey. Developing interconnections between Greece and Turkey could help improve a climate between the two countries while the Russian factor could also provide additional help since the pipeline will pass through both countries. Lafazanis said that the pipeline project would help to establish peace, good relations and the elimination of Turkey's irrational demands.

    The Greek minister noted that the government's strategy was to reduce electricity energy prices lifting some burden from both enterprises and households.

    He said that the government was open to private investments for the exploitation of lignite and the construction of lignite electricity power units, although he stressed that PPC would also participate in these tenders.

    Lafazanis said the government was continuing with international tenders for research and exploitation of hydrocarbon in 20 sea regions in the Ionian Sea and south Cretan Sea and that bids were expected to be submitted by July 14. "We expect something positive from these tenders," he noted.

    The Greek minister said that a "South European Corridor" would transfer 47 billion cubic metres of Russian natural gas annually through Turkey and Greece to Europe. The investment has a budget of 2.0 billion euros and will be completed funded with Russian funds. The project will create 20,000 new job positions.

    DEPA's chief executive, Spyros Palaeogiannis, addressing an energy conference, offered reassurances over natural gas supplies in the country and noted that DEPA was in negotiations with its suppliers to agree to a reduction in prices.

    VEB Capital's chief executive Timofey Khryapov said the pipeline project could create more than 20,000 new job positions and said the project was very significant for Greece.

    [20] All deposits up to 100,000 euros fully guaranteed by the Eurosystem, Katseli says

    "The Eurosystem operates from January 1, 2015 under a European community directive which guarantees all bank deposits up to 100,000 euros per depositor for each account", Louka Katseli, president of Hellenic Bank Association said on Thursday.

    Katseli, also chairman of National Bank, in comments made to television, said that supervisory authorities and particularly the European Central Bank and the European Stability Mechanism, "guarantee the stability and solvency of each bank operating in Greece. The same thing happened in previous years, we are constantly under the supervision and control of the ECB".

    Katseli reassured that Greek banks' liquidity is safeguarded and noted that in the case that an agreement was reached with the partners, preparatory work has been done "so that from Tuesday we will be able to offer more bank services and gradually all bank operations to return to normal conditions the soonest possible". She added that whether this process "will take two, or three or little longer is a technical issue". Katseli stressed that "with an agreement, the ECB will begin offering new liquidity to the Greek banking system".

    [21] Greece extends bank holiday, cap on cash withdrawals until July 13

    Greece is extending its bank holiday and the 60-euro cap on cash withdrawals until July 13, according to a new ministerial decision on Wednesday.

    Pensioners without cash cards and the unemployed will also be able to withdraw an extra 120 euros from bank tills. The exception is also valid for pensioners of foreign pension funds.

    [22] Athens Stock Exchange to remain closed until July 13

    The Hellenic Capital Market Commission on Thursday announced that the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) will remain closed until Monday 13 July , in line with the bank holiday. It also announced the following:

    The regulated market and the Multilateral Trading Facility of "EN.A" (Alternative Market) of the Athens Exchange will continue to remain closed

    The Electronic Secondary Market "HDAT" for bonds, of the Bank of Greece will continue to remain closed

    Redemption of mutual funds' units will continue to be suspended

    The clearing of securities traded on the Greek market and the Multilateral Trading Facility "EN.A", effected by the ATHEXClear, will continue to be suspended and

    The cash settlement of securities traded on the Greek markets, effected by the Hellenic Central Securities Depository, will continue to be suspended.

    [23] Greek unemployment rate eased to 25.6 pct in April

    Greek unemployment rate eased to 25.6 pct of the workforce in April, from 25.8 pct in April and 27.0 pct in April last year, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.

    The statistics service, in a report, said that the number of unemployed people totaled 1,216,870 in April, with the unemployment rate among young people remaining at very high levels (53.2 pct) and in the most productive age group of 25-34 years at 32.9 pct.

    The report showed that unemployment grew in three out of seven decentralized regions in April. The number of unemployed people fell by 78,759 in April compared with the same month last year (a decline of 6.1 pct) and by 11,848 compared with March (a decline of 1.0 pct). The number of employed people totaled 3,543,651 in April, up 49,283 from April 2014 (+1.4 pct) and by 16,834 compared with March (+0.5 pct).

    The economically non active population totaled 3,334,628 in April, down 21,089 from April 2014 and down 9,103 from March.

    The unemployment rate among women was 29.8 pct in April, from 24.2 pct in April 2014, while among men the unemployment rate was 22.2 pct and 24.2 pct, respectively.

    The unemployment rate in the 15-24 age group fell to 53.2 pct in April from 55.4 pct last year, in the 25-34 age group it fell to 32.9 pct from 35.4 pct, in the 35-44 age group it fell to 22 pct from 23.9 pct, in the 45-54 age group it rose to 21.2 pct from 20.4 pct, in the 55-64 age group it was unchanged at 17.8 pct and in the 65-74 age group it fell to 11.1 pct from 12.4 pct.

    Epirus-Western Macedonia (26.4 pct from 28.5 pct) recorded the highest unemployment rate among the country's regions, followed by Thessaly-Central Greece (26.4 pct from 25.9 pct), Attica (26.4 pct from 28.6 pct), Peloponnese-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (26.1 pct from 25.9 pct), Macedonia-Thrace (25.8 pct from 28.2 pct), Crete (24.2 pct from 23.7 pct) and Aegean (21.6 pct from 23.4 pct).

    [24] Greek inflation rate at -2.2 pct in June

    The Greek economy remained in a deflation trend in June, with the consumer price index falling by 2.2 pct, after a 2.1 pct fall in May and an 1.1 pct decline in June 2014, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.

    The statistics service, in a report, recorded monthly price increases in dairy-eggs (0.7 pct), fresh fruit (16.5 pct), cigarettes (0.9 pct), petrol (0.8 pct), air travel fares (21.5 pct) and hotels (3.1 pct), while on the other hand, price declines were recorded in fresh vegetables (13 pct), house rent (0.6 pct), natural gas (3.4 pct), pharmaceutical products (3.1 pct) and healthcare (0.6 pct).

    On an annual basis, price increases were recorded in fresh vegetables (6.0 pct), fresh fruit (2.9 pct), olive oil (11.5 pct), dried fruit and nuts (11.3 pct), coffee (5.0 pct), cigarettes (3.8 pct), electricity (2.0 pct), combined transport (10.6 pct), air travel fares (8.9 pct) and hotels (4.5 pct), while price declines were recorded in bread (1.4 pct), dairy-eggs (0.6 pct), sugar (10.5 pct), meat (0.6 pct), clothing/footwear (3.6 pct), furniture (2.5 pct), pharmaceuticals (1.6 pct), petrol (7.5 pct), theater tickets (16.3 pct) and car insurance (12.4 pct).

    The statistics service attributed the -2.2 pct annual change in the consumer price index in June to a 3.6 pct decline in clothing/footwear, a 7.1 pct fall in housing prices, a 2.2 pct decline in durable goods, an 1.3 pct fall in health prices, a 3.1 pct decline in transport, an 1.7 pct fall in leisure, a 3.1 pct decline in education, a 0.6 pct fall in hotel/restaurant prices, a 4.7 pct decline in other goods and services.

    On the other hand, prices grew by 1.0 pct in food/beverage, by 2.5 pct in alcohol/tobacco.

    The consumer price index rose 0.6 pct in June from May, after a 0.6 pct increase recorded in the same period last year. Greece's harmonized inflation rate was -1.1 pct in June, from -1.4 pct in May.

    [25] Greek's state overdue debt to private sector up in May

    The Greek state's overdue debt to the private sector grew to 4.307 billion euros at the end of May, from 4.131 billion a month earlier, official data showed on Thursday.

    A report on the general government's figures said that overdue debt by social insurance organizations totaled 2.232 billion euros in May (2.165 billion in April), while state hospitals' debt grew to 1.023 billion euros from 949 million euros, respectively. The state budget's debt to the private sector totaled 525 million euros in May (478 mln in April), while local governments' debt eased to 293 million from 303 million euros over the same periods, respectively. Pending tax returns grew further to 734 million euros in May from 692 million in April.

    [26] Greek households average monthly spending down 3.2 pct in 2014

    Average monthly spending by Greek households fell by 3.2 pct in 2014 from the previous year to 1,460.52 euros, while poverty threatened around 20.6 pct of the population, a report by Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.

    The report also showed that spending by the richest 20 pct of the Greek population was 5.7 times more than spending by the poorest 20 pct of the population. A 20.5 pct of household spending was on food in 2014, followed by housing (13.4 pct) and transport (12.7 pct), with education spending at 3.5 pct.

    Greek households cut monthly spending on cigarettes (9.0 pct), cheese (5.7 pct), pasta (1.8 pct), olive oil (1.5 pct), bread (1.1 pct) and meat (0.2 pct), while raised monthly spending on yogurt (3.8 pct), milk (1.1 pct), vegetables (0.8 pct), fish (0.8 pct) and dried fruit and nuts (0.3 pct).

    Greek households also reduced their monthly spending on the purchase of natural gas, liquid fuel, propane gas and electricity (21.3 pct, 19.7 pct, 3.9 pct and 1.3 pct, respectively).

    [27] Car registrations up 21.7 pct in June

    Car registrations grew 21.7 pct in June, totaling 12,751 vehicles (new or used ones), form 10,475 units in June last year (the increase in passenger cars was 221 pct). Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a report released on Thursday, said that car registrations were up 46.3 pct in June 2014.

    In the January-June period car registrations totaled 66,422 vehicles, up 27 pct from the same period last year (in passenger cars the increase was 26.9 pct). Car registrations were up 28.5 pct in the first half of 2014.

    Motorcycle registrations grew 5.8 pct in June to 4,851 units, after a 26.9 pct increase recorded in June 2014. In the January-June period, motorcycle registrations totaled 19,472, up 14.7 pct from the same period in 2014.

    [28] Summer sales start on Monday

    The summer sales will start on Monday 13 July and will end on Monday 31 August, it was announced on Thursday.

    According to the legislation the stores can (optionally) open the first Sunday (July 19) from the start of the sales period.

    General News

    [29] 'A Greek island at the gates of the East' exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

    The special importance of the island of Rhodes as a gateway to the East is the theme of an exhibition to be inaugurated on Friday at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes.

    The exhibition "Rhodes: A Greek island at the gates of the East. 15th-5th century BC" is part of an exhibition put on at the Louvre from November 2014 until February 2015, which included finds from several European museums that originated from excavations on Rhodes.

    According to a culture minsitry's announcement, the wealth and the variety of the artifacts, many of them imported from the Cyprus, Syria and the Near East but mostly from eastern Greek cities, were indicative of the island's role in transferring elements of the great civilisations of the East to the Greek civilisation.

    The exhibition will run until November 15.

    [30] 423 undocumented migrants or refugees rescued in the last 24h

    Greek Coast Guard rescued 423 undocumented migrants in the last 24 hours in 12 incidents near or on the eastern Aegean islands.

    Weather forecast

    [31] Mostly fair on Friday

    Clouds and northerly winds are forecast for Friday. Wind velocity will reach 5 on the Beaufort scale. Partly cloudy in the northern and the western parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 20C-36C. Clouds in the eastern parts with temperatures between 18C-35C. Mostly fair over the islands, 21C-32C. Scattered clouds in Athens, 22C-35C. Partly cloudy in Thessaloniki, 20C-32C.

    [32] The Thursday edition of Athens' dailies

    at a glance

    AVGHI: Supreme law is the people's right.

    DIMOKRATIA: Shiver down the spine

    EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Indications for agreement with high price.

    ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Three-year memorandum on the table

    ESTIA: Eurozone shows the exit door.

    ETHNOS: Formula with IMF... observer

    IMERISSIA: The third memorandum

    KATHIMERINI: Mr. Tsipras to face up to his responsibilities.

    NAFTEMPORIKI: 12 bln euro measures.

    RIZOSPASTIS: People will pay the bill either with new memorandum or with bankruptcy.

    TA NEA: Agreement will close earlier

    TO PONTIKI: Never on Sunday

    36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 210 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 210 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS


    Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    ana2html v2.01 run on Friday, 10 July 2015 - 19:03:04 UTC