Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] The implementation of the agreement isn't an easy task, PM Tsipras says

[02] Program review can take place within framework, says government

[03] Greek student seriously injured in Spain's bus accident

[04] All EU pillars are in question, Bloco de Esquerda's spokeswoman Matias tells ANA-MPA

[01] The implementation of the agreement isn't an easy task, PM Tsipras says

"We now have to climb an uphill, because the implementation of the agreement will not be an easy task. However, if we did not have the agreement, we would have to face a domino of unilateral actions. Therefore, this European solution is important," the prime minister noted and stressed the need of its immediate implementation and coordination in order to be efficient. That is the reason why he established a special government body which he will chair, as he said.

He also referred to two conditions that need to be met so that the agreement is successful.

On his part, the European Commissioner estimated that the quick implementation of the agreement will improve the situation and estimated that Greece is moving rapidly.

[02] Program review can take place within framework, says government

The government and the institutions are close to an agreement on tax issues and pension reforms, as they said, while differences remain on bad loans.

It is estimated that the tax free threshold will not fall below 9,000 euros, the program review will be completed soon and the differences between the institutions and the IMF are clear.

On the refugee issue, they stressed the need to reduce flows from Turkey and therefore there should be contacts at official level and perhaps the European Union, as the latest agreement is between Turkey and the EU.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to upgrade the Ministry for Migration Policy.

[03] Greek student seriously injured in Spain's bus accident

The student is in critical condition at the hospital of Vall d'Hebron.

At least 13 people have been killed after a bus carrying foreign students crashed on a Spanish motorway between the cities of Barcelona and Valencia.

Most of the 57 people on board the bus were students on the Erasmus programme.

[04] All EU pillars are in question, Bloco de Esquerda's spokeswoman Matias tells ANA-MPA

Matias participated in the conference "Alliance Against Austerity - for Democracy in Europe" organized by Poulantzas Institute and SYRIZA, in Athens, on March 18-20.

"There is not one of those pillars that is not iquestioned. I believe that the only alternative is the development of a movement that will change the balance of forces. This means that the each country's policy should change, it means to conquer power, and at this period of time the correlations of power in each country are uneven. That is why I believe it is extremely important to change these power correlations at a national level before trying to change things at a European level."

She also acknowledged that the European south is changing. "It is not by accident that these changes started from the south of Europe, because these countries and these people were mostly affected by the austerity policies and had the largest social impact - poverty, unemployment," she stressed.

The full interview of Marisa Matias to George-Byron Davos is available in Greek at ANA-MPA's website.

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