Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM confers with Commission chief ahead of Summit

[02] Samaras: 'I will defend Greece's interests' at EPP

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM confers with Commission chief ahead of Summit

The two men discussed the issues that will be dealt with at the two-day EU Summit that opens Thursday in Brussels.

Earlier, Barroso reiterated that the increasingly urgent issue of the Greek debt crisis must be discussed on Thursday at the EU Summit, in comments to the European Parliament.

He added that it was inconceivable that the issue will not be discussed, even if it is not on the Summit agenda.

Additionally, he again said an instrument should be established to coordinate assistance within the euro area if a member-state deems this necessary.

"It is now appropriate to create, within the euro area, an instrument for coordinated action, which could be used to provide assistance to Greece in case of need," Barroso said, adding: "The framework for coordinated action should be understood as a safety-net to be used only in the case that all other means to avoid a crisis have been exhausted, including first and foremost exhausting the scope for policy action at the domestic level.

"By supporting Greece we not only help Greece, but the stability of the euro zone as a whole," he stressed.

[02] Samaras: 'I will defend Greece's interests' at EPP

"The state of the Greek economy is difficult and I do not wish to cover for the mistakes of the past," Samaras said. He added that the measures taken by the government are counter-productive and socially unfair and pointed out that he would not allow the adoption of other measures that would harm the psychology of the market and would create additional social problems.

The ND leader further said that the ND government had promoted a bill on the vote of overseas Greeks which, however, is not being forwarded by the present government.

Samaras concluded his address by stressing that Greece would not go bankrupt.

Samaras arrived in the Belgian capital on Wednesday to attend a European People's Party (EPP) Summit meeting, invited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be the keynote speaker at the session, focusing on the problems faced by Greece, while presenting proposals that will lead the country out of the crisis within the framework of the eurozone.

ND spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos said Samaras is determined to utilise all available means in his possession to persuade Berlin to consent to finding an appropriate solution for Greece within the framework of the eurozone.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The EU Summit in Brussels, the Greek economy, and changes to the social security and taxation systems were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Thursday.

AVGHI: "The IMF (International Monetary Fund) a fuse for Greece and Europe - Merkel and Sarkozy advancing 'salvation plan' for Greece via IMF at today's (Thursday's) Summit".

KATHIMERINI: "Europe in nervous breakdown - The role of the IMF in supporting Greece divides the Europeans - Portugal (sovereign debt rating) downgraded (by Fitch ratings agency)".

LOGOS: "The social security 'bomb' will explode immediately after Easter (celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church on April 4 this year) - Big upheavals in pensions".

NIKI: "We seek a 'clear' European solution - Scenarios of 'controlled bankruptcy' as Greece wages a battle for survival".

PONTIKI: "They're 'saving' us without paying - IMF on the horizon".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Full abolition of rights in labor relations - Social Security - EU Summit".

TO VIMA: "Source of wealth documentation for first home, too - Tougher requirements for real estate holdings of over 200 sq. meters".

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