Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-11-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM says new budget one of consistency, reliability, effectiveness and prospects

[01] PM says new budget one of consistency, reliability, effectiveness and prospects

Karamanlis added that this budget as well expresses the strategy of mild fiscal restructuring and the continuous strengthening of the country's development impetus.

He added that the budget utilises the results of the changes and reforms being promoted by the government and goes along with the development of its reformist strategy.

"The budget for 2007 is a guarantee for new considerable results regarding the strengthening of the economy, development, social cohesion. It constitutes proof of responsibility. It is the implementation of a reliable policy," he said.

The prime minister noted that the directions on which the state budget moves lead with "safe and firm steps to an increase in the product produced and to the safeguarding of increasing social dividends," adding that they lead to a society that produces, progress and acquires greater cohesion.

"We have chosen this path and we all have responsibilities and obligations on this path. We are not entitled to undermine the considerable steps of our economy for temporary impressions. We are not entitled to mortgage the future of our country for partisan expediencies. The results of our policy so far prove the Cassandras wrong and certify that we are on the right path," the prime minister added.

Karamanlis mentioned that the continuation of fiscal restructuring and adjustment, the easing of the public debt, the improvement of competitiveness and the strengthening of the economy's extroversion are the basic goals of the budget.

He also stressed that the goals include supporting the developent process and the spreading of development all over the country and to all the sectors of the economy, improving the income of the financially weaker and strengthening social cohesion, increasing employment and decreasing unemployment further.

The prime minister referred to tax reform, with the increase in the tax-free limit to 12,000 euros and the gradual decrease of tax rates, as well as to the implementation of basic commitments of the government which, as he said, aim at strengthening social cohesion.

The prime minister further underlined the increase in the pensions of the Farmers Insurance Fund (OGA) that will increase from 227 euros to 280 a month in 2007 and to 330 from the beginning of 2008.

Lastly, he spoke of the increase in minimum unemployment benefits from 311 to 367 a month in 2007, while they will be increasing further in 2008 so as to reach 55 percent of the main salary and daily wage.

The main points of the budget and its philosophy were analysed by Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis during the cabinet meeting.

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