Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Public Television to broadcast newscast tonight, Thursday

[02] Industrial unions welcome government plan to simplify licensing procedures

[01] Public Television to broadcast newscast tonight, Thursday

He added that there were "very many technical difficulties" in the broadcast, which was expected within the week, not yesterday as reports claimed, and that the next stage would be to begin public radio transmissions.

[02] Industrial unions welcome government plan to simplify licensing procedures

Dimitris Mathios, president of the Federation of Industries in Attica-Piraeus (SVAP), speaking to ANA-MPA said the Federation "supported without any reservations the intervention of the ministry because they are moving in the right direction and composing the positions and proposals made by the Federation towards the same goal. Industrial investments, as any other investment in the country, are now not only an element of growth, but a mechanism of resolving financial and social problems of the country, such as unemployment".

Under the plan, presented by Development minister on Wednesday, an industrial company will need 82 days to receive its environmental approval license, compared with 368 days currently needed. A food industry investment, worth 2.5 million euros, will be burdened with a cost of 37,500 euros instead of a cost of around 63,500 euros currently because of bureaucratic delays.

The plan covers any type of license (installation, operation, set-up, environmental, special license, etc) covering a wide range of activities such as manufacturing, mining, port, environmental infrastructure system, business parks and aquaculture.

The new strategy introduces four new changes:

- A system of compliance statement

- Controls during operation

- Controls to be made by certified agencies and

- A central electronic management system for information and part of licensing procedures.

Hatzidakis said that the plan will be put into consultation with all interested parties and noted that the state has issued a total of 60 different presidential or ministerial decrees without managing to simplify the licensing system so far. "It is like saying to investors that we don't want you," Hatzidakis said.

He added that the ministry, in cooperation with the World Bank, commissioned a study to analyze the problem. The report, on the licensing procedures to be merged or banned, is expected to be released in October.

"Our aim is not to move from bureaucracy to dismantling, but to simplify things; that's why we want to present a legislation on the new framework by the end of the year," Hatzidakis said, adding that system will be operational by the end of 2014.

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