The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-05-27

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Austria

Austria

Official Name: Republic of Austria (Republik Γsterreich)

Head of state: President Heinz Fischer

EU accession: January 1st, 1995

EU elections date: June 7

Population: 8.327.200

Area: 83.860 km².

Population density: 97,9.

Capital: Vienne

Three largest cities: Graz, Linz, Salzburg.

Currency: β¬.

Number of current MEPs: 18.

Number of MEPs to be elected: 17.

GDP per capital: 31.600.

Life expectancy: Men: 76,4 - Women: 82,1.

News item: 21948

[02] Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)

Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)

Official Name: Kingdom of Belgium

Head of state: King Albert II

EU accession: March 25th, 1957

EU elections date: June 7

Population: 10.660.800

Area: 30.510 km².

Population density: 342,2.

Capital: Brussels

Three largest cities: Antwerp, Gent, Charleroi

Currency: β¬.

Number of current MEPs: 24.

Number of MEPs to be elected: 22.

GDP per capital: 29.700.

Life expectancy: Men: 75,9 - Women: 81,7.

News item: 21949

[03] Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Official Name: Republic of Bulgaria (Republika Bulgaria)

Head of state: President Georgi Parvanov

EU accession: 1/1/2007 January 1st, 2007

EU elections date: June 7

Population: 7.605.100.

Area: 110.910 km²..

Population density: 70,1.

Capital: Sofia

Three largest cities: Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas

Currency: lev

Number of current MEPs: 18

Number of MEPs to be elected: 17.

GDP per capital: 9.500

Life expectancy: Men: 68,9 - Women: 76

News item: 21969

[04] Alavanos on Emigration: Simplification of Procedures on Residence Permit

Alavanos said that he realizes "the sensitivity and the challenge a big part of emigrants felt when their religious book, the Koran was insulted and added that there must be respect to other peoples' religious beliefs". All religious communities must tolerate and must be able to co exist with people of deferent religious.

Mr. Alavanos stated that the police officer who triggered with this action the riots must be punished. In addition the police department must be trained and be more sensitized about religion differentiation and extra measures have to be taken to places like Athens city center and Agios Panteleimonas areas that are often turned into centers for riots.

Alavanos discussed a series of important issues like the procedures of emigrants' legal stay in Greece, the safeguard of their working and insurance rights, the attribution of Greek citizenship to immigrants' children born in Greece, the attribution of residence permit of indefinite duration to all children and youth born or to be born in Greece or having attended the Greek education system, and the amendment of the EU legislation, so, as Alavanos stressed "a big part of emigrants and refuges who wish to move to other countries, like Greece, that are not EU frontiers to be able to do so. That way, problems will not pile up in certain countries like Greece".

SYN president Alexis Tsipras stressed that emigrants must be attributed the residence permit and enter the social web. As per the risen criminality recorded lately, Tsipras said that Greece and the EU must adopt new policies and undertake co ordinate actions with emigrants' communities. The Greek society should also stop incriminate emigrants but should focus on emigrants' contribution to the progress of the Greek society. It should focus on emigrants themselves who fight for a better life and have good intentions.

News item: 22861

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