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Tuesday, 26 November 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-04Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras: Those who bet on collapse of revenues have been disprovedPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras criticized the opposition for anticipating the collapse of public revenues and the activation of the contingent mechanism, following data showing an increase in state revenues in September, during a meeting with the government's economic team at Maximos Mansion on Tuesday."It's obvious that all those who bet since July and August on the collapse of public revenues and were celebrating, are now disproved," Tsipras said according to the press release and referred to the steadily decreasing unemployment rate and the exceeded target in public revenues which rose by 812 million euros in September and by 1.4 billion euros in the first nine months of the year. The meeting chaired by Tsipras was attended by Government Vice-President Yiannis Dragasakis, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and Alternate Finance Ministers tryfon Alexiadis and Giorgos Chouliarakis. "Those who invest politically in the failure of the negotiations, they will now have to … find other ways to continue their scaremongering," he added. [02] Europe must now offer specific short-term measures for Greek debt, Moscovici tells MEPsGreece had outdone every other EU member-state for the sheer number of reforms carried out simultaneously and it was now time for Europe and the Eurogroup to do their part, presenting specific short-term measures for Greece's debt, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici told MEPs on Tuesday. This would be legal provided the work on reforms was completed, he said, noting that "we must not be demanding only with Greece."Addressing the European Parliament plenum about Greece's economic prospects, Moscovici said he had a few "comforting facts" to relay, such as a 0.2 pct growth rate in the last quarter and signs that this trend will continue and grow stronger in 2017. The Commissioner also predicted that a forecast for a 0.5 pct primary surplus in 2016 was "achievable." Moscovici said that the first review of Greece's programme was partially concluded in the spring, allowing a political agreement for the disbursement of 8.3 billion euros on May 25. One sub-tranche was disbursed in June while the second will depend on the prompt adoption of a number of prior actions by the end of this week, he said. He noted that the Eurogroup had expressed its satisfaction that Greece was moving in the right direction "and I do the same on behalf of the European Commission." Talking about the future, the Commissioner said this would hinge on a swift conclusion of the second review, within a reasonable time frame. Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the country's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos should bear in mind that a reasonable time frame meant November, he added. According to the Commissioner, the success of the second review was a condition for Greece's recovery and for creating the confidence needed to attract investors. "It would be fortunate if a positive signal a can be given for investments in November," he said. The second review includes the 2017 budget, a framework for the business environment, labour issues and the Privatisation and Investment Fund that is "key to unlocking the Greek economy," Moscovici said. "We can count on the conclusion of the first review very soon but the devil is often in the details," Moscovici pointed out, adding that there had been limited implementation of the agreements in the past. "This time we must have positive implementation and, I repeat, the Commission is always on the side of Greece, against Grexit and in favour of finding solutions," he said. This did not mean that the Commission should be soft with Greece, he warned, adding that the Commission was demanding and expected all the ministries to commit fully to the implementation of the programme. "Some ministries are not progressing as they ought," he added. In the debate that followed Moscovici's speech, several MEPs were unconvinced about the success of the European Commission's policy in Greece and were not especially optimistic about the country's prospects. Among some MEPs there was strong criticism of Greek delays in implementing the agreements. [03] Mitsotakis: Only elections will rid Greece of opportunists who govern the countryNew Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his call for elections on Tuesday saying they are necessary to 'rid the country' of the 'opportunists' that govern it. He was speaking at the first meeting of the party's political committee before the inauguration of ND's new offices on Pireos avenue."Only elections will rid Greece of the obsessive opportunists that govern us. Every day SYRIZA stays in power, Greece weakens, lessens, shrinks. Political change constitutes an urgent and necessary precondition for the country to stand on its feet," Mitsotakis said. "It is necessary to stop the erosion of the institutions and government authoritarianism. Because to hide their failure, they attempt to muzzle and manipulate critical voices, independent authorities, independent institutions and the media." [04] Greek economy to grow sligthly in 2016, IMF reportThe Greek economy will grow slightly this year, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said that the Greek economy will grow by 0.1 pct in 2016, in contrast with a 2017 Greek draft budget envisaging a 0.3 pct recession this year.The Greek economy will grow by 2.8 pct in 2017, up from a 2.7 pct growth rate envisaged in the Greek budget. The IMF, however, predicted a decline in the unemployment rate to 23.3 pct this year and to 21.5 pct in 2017, higher from budget forecasts of 21.5 pct and 20.4 pct, respectively. The inflation rate will remain in negative territory this year (-0.1 pct), recovering to 0.6 pct in 2017 and to 1.8 pct in 2021. The 2017 draft budget envisages an inflation rate of 0.4 pct this year and 0.8 pct in 2017. The country's current account balance will be balanced in 2016 and 2017 the IMF said, adding that this balance will be maintained until 2021. Delia Velculescu, the IMF's representative in the quartet of the country's creditors, presenting the IMF's report on September 23 had said that economic growth prospects in Greece remained weak and remained subject to high downward risks, while unemployment was expected to remain at double digit rates until the middle of the century. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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