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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-05
CONTENTS
[01] First 1,500 children refugees to start school on Oct�ber 10
[02] Fast-track civil aviation legislation, a prior action, heading for
vote before Monday
[01] First 1,500 children refugees to start school on Oct�ber 10
The first 1,500 children refugees will start school on October 10 in
six camps and 20 schools around Greece, the Education ministry announced
on Wednesday.
"The education of the children of refugees forms part of the country's
international obligations for welfare and the right to education, of the
national law and the feelings of hospitality, solidarity and love the
Greek people towards refugees and their children," Education Minister
Nikos Filis said.
Starting next week, schools will operate in two camps in Athens, two in
Thessaloniki, one in Epirus and one in Evia, while another 20 schools
around Greece will offer places for children. The ministry said more
refugee children will enter the education system once their vaccination
is completed.
[02] Fast-track civil aviation legislation, a prior action, heading for
vote before Monday
The draft bill on "Formation of a Civil Aviation Authority, Restructuring
of the Civil Aviation Service and other regulations" managed to pass the
committee stage in Parliament on Wednesday and will now be put before
the consideration of the plenum. The legislation is among the prior
actions that Greece must implement before Monday's Eurogroup meeting,
so that it can receive the next sub-tranche of loans. It was tabled in
Parliament using fast-track procedures and debate before a Parliamentary
Committee on Wednesday.
The government came under a barrage of criticism for tabling the
legislation using fast-track procedures but the bill was passed in
principle by New Democracy, the Democratic Alliance, Union of Centrists
and Potami party. Votes in favour were cast by the ruling coalition
parties SYRIZA and Independent Greeks (ANEL), while the Communist Party
of Greece (KKE) and far-right Golden Dawn. The draft bill may secure
a broader consensus in the vote before the plenum, however, since the
opposition parties have yet to decide their final stance.
Presenting the proposed legislation, Infrastructure, Transport and
Networks Minister Christos Spirtzis said he was "proud of the bill" and
would have no reason to use fast-track procedures, barring the fact that
it must be passed into law before the Eurogroup meeting on Monday. He
said the reason it had not been tabled in Parliament earlier was that
the negotiations with the institutions had not concluded.
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