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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-19Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Alogoskoufis: Incomes will improve as of 2007Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis reiterated over the weekend that Greek citizens will be able to see positive results of the government's policy in their own income from 2007 onwards.He added that all taxpayers will be pleased as of 2007, particularly ones with medium-level incomes, while lower-income classes and pensioners will be given all of the increases that ruling New Democracy party promised before the March 2004 elections. Alogoskoufis' comments were published in an interview carried by the Sunday edition of the Athens daily "Kathimerini". The economy minister criticised the "Cassandras" of the main opposition PASOK party, as he said, for the "unfavourable predictions" they made ahead of an ECOFIN meeting. The minister said both the European Commission and ECOFIN accept Greece's Stability and Development Programme, which notes that "as of 2007 onwards we can begin the gradual implementation of the second phase of tax reform, which concerns private individuals, particularly wage earners." Alogoskoufis also referred to an increase in farmers' pensions and supplementary pension allowances in two installments, "as promised before the elections." Alogoskoufis also expressed his conviction that "the major projects will forge ahead this year." He admitted that there were major delays, which he attributed to "PASOK not preparing projects for the next day." The minister noted, however, that pending issues concerning the institutional and administrative framework of the 3rd Community Support Framework have been resolved, with the greatest possible benefit for the public sector "so that the major projects that the country needs can forge ahead from now on." Finally, he said he considers the contribution of joint ventures between the public and private sector to be significant, as they will "lead to the more effective implementation of infrastructures and the provision of better services to citizens at a lower fiscal cost." Caption: Greek Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis, second left, is shown greeting Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who is also the president of the Eurogroup, in Brussels last week on the sidelines of the group's meeting. Others, from left to right, are German Finance Minister Peer Steinbruck, Luxembourg's Minister of Sports Jennot Krecke and EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia. ANA-MPA/ STR. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] Event honors late Nobel laureate ElytisNobel-prize winning writer Odysseus Elytis was honored during an event in Athens on Saturday evening that coincided with the 10-year anniversary of his death. The event, entitled "It is still early", was organised by the culture ministry and held at the Benaki Museum.The poet won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1979. Caption: A file photo of Elytis (pen-name of Odysseus Alepoudhelis). ANA-MPA photo. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [03] Tsitouridis: 'Time for SEB to make sacrifices'Labour Minister Savvas Tsitouridis on Sunday commented directly on a set of recent proposals by the president of the industrialists' federation (SEB) Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, who among others, called for a more elastic labour regime for younger and newly hired employees in tandem with compensation-free lay-offs -- proposals reminiscent of a closely watched government initiative in France.Tsitouridis' comments were the latest in a sharp reaction by several government ministers to the comments by the large employers' group president. The minister said Kyriakopoulos' proposals were "quite distant" from the government's policy, whereas he backed the institution of collective bargaining agreements, another issue at the forefront of an employers-unions standoff following bank managements' refusal to negotiate a sector-wide agreement with the bank employees' union (OTOE). In an even more direct tone, the newly appointed minister said Kyriakopoulos' proposal reminds him of one prior to the 2004 elections by main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, adding that "now is the time for SEB to make sacrifices". Additionally, the minister echoed a previous government promise by stating that no reforms or changes will be attempted vis-a-vis the rights of individuals with a "mature number" of social security contributing years. Tsitouridis' comments were carried in an interview published in the Sunday edition of the Athens daily "Apogevmatini". ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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