Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-05-23

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Samaras calls for measures to stop economic slide

[02] PASOK leader in Brussels for PES summit

[01] Samaras calls for measures to stop economic slide

Samaras spoke at a European People's Party's (EPP) conference, and ahead of an informal EU summit.amna

"I requested, therefore, apart from the effort for fiscal adjustment, a revision and amendments of policies that did not perform; for the recession to stop; for unemployment the decrease; for hope to be given to our fellow countrymen, who lost everything in two years."

"...At the same time I called for measures that will help growth, such as bonds for infrastructure projects, support for the unemployed, with additional EU funds, support for liquidity, the more active involvement of the European Investment Bank for the support of the real economy, creation of a European apparatus for the guaranteeing of investments, so that the bloodletting of deposits from the European south to the north will stop," Samaras also told reporters.

"Now, gradually, all of Europe is converging on what we were insisting on over the past two years that, apart of all the rest, growth is necessary for us to exit from the crisis," Samaras noted, adding that "and now that Europe is changing, Greece must not find itself outside Europe."

The EPP conference made explicit reference to Greece in its final conclusions.

"In relation to Greece that is faced with an economic and social crisis of an unprecedented magnitude, we declare our respect for the sacrifices that the Greek people have been through over the last two years and we acknowledge the progress made in a number of areas. We support the efforts of Nea Demokratia and its President, Antonis Samaras, to elaborate an integrated policy mix aiming to eliminate the deficit while restoring growth and confidence in the Greek economy. We are prepared to consider possible ways to strengthen investment, growth and employment complementing the necessary reform measures and respecting the commitments of the pursued programme," the conclusions statement said. amna

According to reports, EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, during an intervention at the EPP's conference, stated that for a counntry of the euro to denounce the reforms is not merely a mistake, but a lie. www.amna.gr

Samaras held separate metings on the sidelines of the EPP summit with Eurogroup President and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President Jose Emmanuel Barroso, EPP President Wilfried Martens, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Coelho.

The ND leader will be meeting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Thursday morning.amna

[02] PASOK leader in Brussels for PES summit

Venizelos, who is in Brussels for the summit meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES), emphasised that Greece is being met with an environment of solidarity while there is agreement on the need to stimulate economic growth. amna

Addressing SPD leader Gabriel, the PASOK leader asked him, in the presence of reporters, what he thought of Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras, after their meeting on Tuesday in Berlin.

In response, the SPD leader said talks were tough and the leader of PASOK underlined that his statements (the SPD leader) were harsh but correct. www.amna.gr

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