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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-11-15Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Premier Karamanlis to meet with Pavlopoulos, Zagoritis ThursdayPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis will have successive meetings on Thursday with Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos at 10 am, followed by ruling New Democracy party Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis at 11 am.Meanwhile, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said on Wednesday Prime Minister Karamanlis has received a reply from European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso regarding Greece's request for an additional year in which to absorb funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF), He said Barroso's letter arrived on Tuesday and counter-proposed a series of measures to be recorded in a "memorandum of understanding", which call for a revision of Greek programmes, joint funding by the Commission of uncompleted programmes until the year 2008 and others. According to Barroso, the measures listed would bring a total benefit of some 2.7 billion euros to Greece with respect to its Community contribution, which in general lines would be equivalent to an additional year of implementation of the 3rd CSF, while they will also assist in the speedier absorption during the remaining years until the end of 2008. Revealing the contents of the letter, Roussopoulos urged reporters to address questions regarding proposed project cutbacks and how the surplus will be spent to the finance ministry. He also pointed out that the present government had taken over management of the 3rd CSF in mid-course at a time when absorption rates stood at 21 percent, and that it had raised absorption rates to 48 percent in that time, with constant improvements. [02] Hellenic Seaways launches Greek-built ferryHellenic Seaways on Wednesday launched a new passenger and car ferry that was built at Elefsina Shipyards near Piraeus.The Nisos Hios is a twin vessel to the Nisos Mykonos, which has been plying routes in the Aegean Sea since the summer. The new vessel will begin sailings in June, 2007. Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis and Aegean Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis attended the launch. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |