The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-09-20

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou Diplomatic Marathon in NY

Prime-minister George Papandreou, who is in the US to promote national issues and attract foreign investments, will have significant contacts in NY. Today Mr. Papandreou is to meet with Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while he will also deliver a speech at the UN Summit Meeting on the growth targets of the new millennium. Next he will visit NY Stock Market and attend a dinner with its president and significant Wall Street factors where he will have the opportunity to present the Greek government's growth and investment program. On Tuesday, the Prime-minister will deliver a speech at an event organized by the NY Economic Club, the most important economic forum in the US.

On Sunday, the Greek Prime-minister met with the UN Secretary General in NY. Their talks focused on Cyprus, Skopje issues as well as the Middle East issue and global warming.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 41044

[02] New Regulation on Successive Insurance

New regulation on successive insurance will be in force from January, 1. Employment Ministry circular says that a person who decides to retire will receive pension from his last insurance sector or the social security fund he paid contributions the longest time. The regulation will favour ones insured in salary earners funds who will receive 8% higher pensions compared to the past system.

On the other hand, if someone selects to retire under the preconditions of the last social security fund but his last fund provided for different retirement age limits as it applies for OAEE, the pension will be significantly lower.

Increase in amount pension applies for ones filing for retirement as of 1/1/2011 and have successive insurance.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 41073

[03] Problems from Truckers Mobilizations Continue

Truck and tanker truck owners intensify mobilizations two days prior to the voting of draft-bill providing for opening of restricted commercial truck transport. A 80 truck convoy, which had parked for several hours along Athinon Av. near Haidari, is about to arrive in Magula. Truck drivers blocked traffic towards Lamia at Metamorphosis while a convoy from Hasia is arriving at Metamorphosi. Truckers will gather at Omonoia at 12:00, on Tuesday and will march to Syntagma Sq. where they will stage a sit in demonstration till Wednesday, day of the draft-bill's voting in the Parliament.

" No to 5-year extension "

The Transport & Infrastructure Ministry is determined to open restricted truck transport , clarifying, however, that a plan to support professionals, who want to work, will be in force as of today. It also assures that it will not allow truck owners to create again serious problems in the market supply.

Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas, in an interview with private radio station Real FM, underlined that he objected to 5-year extension of present status and payment of 35% of present worth of permit to enter into truck transport market. He, however, said the government was examining to allow private trucks to carry out commercial truck transport to avoid problems in market supply.

In an interview with private radio ANT1, Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas among others said: "Competent services could have a plan to deal with escalating mobilizations without frictions. Operation of economy and society should proceed unhampered. Responsibilities would be attributed and strict sanctions imposed to whoever goes beyond the borderline of laws.

Finally, Mr. Reppas said regulations regarding taxi permits would not be implemented before 2011 while terms would be different. He said that structural reforms promoted had been completed years before in other EU member states. Reforms meet needs for the market opening so to operate under competition terms and facilitate professionals to adopt to new reality.

The Union of Northern Greece Exporters, in its announcement, underlines that companies in the transport and logistics sector suffer 5 million euros damage daily due to turck and tanker truck owners mobilizations. Furthermore, it warns that total daily damage from strikes and abstention from work may lead to cut down about 50 job positions a day.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA/ÌPA

News item: 41065

[04] Papakonstantinou-Troika Meeting

Finance Minister George Papakonstantinou is to meet with Troika delegation at noon on Monday. Their talks will center on elements for the drawing of 2011 state budget, acceleration of reforms, combat of tax evasion and shortfall in revenues. Troika places particular weight on present and new state budget as well as the regulation that will transfer 30% of products and services from the 11% VAT scale to 23% VAT scale.

In reference to reforms, the heads of IMF- EU-ECB have requested to be briefed on the draft-bill providing for Hellenic Railway Company(OSE) purging, privatizations, strategic moves in the banking system, means to cover shortfall in revenues, without dissipating the provisional sum in the part of expenditures due to the increased needs for the financing of hospitals, social security funds and local administration.

In the meantime, The Finance Ministry is expected to announce this week a regulation providing for the closing of pending taxation cases for the 2000-2009 decade.

The regulation will also include large businesses except for ones having over 15 million euros annual turn up and ones in the stock market. Reports say the regulation will include due debts' cases mounting to 32 billion euros and pending cases referred to courts that mount up to 30 billion euros.

Math formula to calculate tax sum for each year - said to range from 200 -1000 depending on the accounting books category and tax violations- will be reached during a meeting on Tuesday.

The draft-bill provides for payment of 20% of tax and pay off the rest of the sum in 12 installments. Businesses with confiscated accounting books and ones having issued fake invoices are exempted from the regulation.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - NET - ÁNA/ÌPA

News item: 41047

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article