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Tuesday, 26 November 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-12Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] ND leader Mitsotakis: The past takes revengeNew Democracy(ND)leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis sternly attacked the government over Eurogroup's agreement, addressing the Greek parliament on Wednesday.The main opposition leader called the negotiation "the Waterloo of a pathetic government and the proof that the past takes revenge" he said adding that "the government attempted to present the negotiation as a triumph when some referred to the end of austerity". [02] Greek banks present proposals on out-of-court compromise planGreek banks expressed concerns over the efficiency of a new draft law -currently debated in Parliament- aimed to offer out-of-court compromise solutions between creditors and debtors. Nikos Karamouzis, president of Hellenic Bank Association, speaking in a parliamentary commission on Tuesday noted that Greek systemic banks have pledged to the European Banking Authority to reduce their non-performing loans by 40 billion euros by December 31, 2019, or 38 pct of total NPLs."It is a difficult goal. But a goal that could be achieved, on preconditions, particularly if economic conditions and growth prospects improved in the country," Karamouzis said, while he underlined that according to 2016 figures, NPLs totaled around 74 billion euros -based on the tight definition of non-performing loans- and around 100 billion based on a wider definition, a "record rate for Greece and Europe". He noted that Greek banks will be subject to strict stress tests in early 2018 based on 2017 figures and stressed that banks must not only prevent creation of new NPLs but to significantly reduce them. Hellenic Bank Association tabled a memorandum presenting its positions on the draft legislation and underlined that the new law must exclusively refer to corporate debt. "There are several banking products available to address individual debts. The new law must focus on safeguarding entrepreneurship," Karamouzis said. The new legislation must also set a ceiling of 50,000 euros and not 20,000 as a minimum debt level for "practical, operating and efficiency reasons". He added that was a reasonable fear that the system could be excessively burdened by tens of thousands of debtors seeking to benefit from the new legislation. "I fear that banks will not be able to manage all these requests," he noted. The Association also called for the abolition of the need of judicial ratification of the process. "We are fully opposed to any judicial interference in the process of debt restructuring," Karamouzis said. He also called for the immediate launch of an electronic application system to avoid additional bureaucracy. "We have the oppportunity to efficiently manage accumulated non-performing loans during the crisis to relieve the economy and thousands of borrowers seeking a new start, to have a second opportunity in their business life," the president of the Association said, but added that if the Association's remarks were ignored in the final drafting of the legislation, the out-of-court compromise law will not be effective and will soon have to be replaced or amended.[03] Revenues to museums and archaeological sites up in 2016Visitors and revenues in Greek museums posted a 32.1 percent and 31.3 percent rise respectively in December 2016 compared to the same month in 2015, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said on Wednesday.The number of free admission visitors in November increased by 23.2 percent. Visitors to archaeological sites posted a 28.7 percent rise and revenues increased by 59.9 percent in December compared to the same month in 2015. Free admission tickets posted a 12 percent increase. In the period January-December 2016 visitors to Greek museums rose by 1.6 percent, revenues increased by 8.6 percent and free admission tickets increased by 34.5 percent. In the same period the number of visitors to archaeological sites fell by 7.3 percent however, revenues posted a 67 percent increase. Free admission tickets increased by 22.3 percent. [04] 68 migrants and refugees arrived on Lesvos and Chios in the last 24h46 migrants and refugees arrived on the island of Lesvos and 22 on the island of Chios in the last 24 hours. No arrivals were reported on the island of Samos.According to police figures, on Wednesday 8,534 persons that have sought for asylum and their request has been not examined yet remained stranded on the northern Aegean islands. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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