"Today we feel vindicated, more optimistic but also more determined"
8.12.2018
"Today we feel vindicated, more optimistic but also more determined to continue the difficult work that awaits us," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, addressing the representatives of the productive forces of the country during his speech at the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce in Athens on Tuesday.
"It is not just the economic indicators that certify the passage in the post-Memorandum period, it is the social indicators," he said.
In the economy, data is now very encouraging, as we have returned to growth at rates above 2% and we are constantly gaining momentum.
He continued:
- Investments and exports are rising.
- Unemployment is decreasing. Today it is at 18.9%, 8% below the height of 27% about four years ago.
-The public finances of the country are healthy, in surplus and, above all, seen internationally as reliable.
-Our debt is now viable, guaranteed and on a path of permanent decrease.
-We have implemented over 450 reform actions across the economy.
"Greece - and it is no exaggeration to claim it - is today a new economy and I think this has not been communicated as it should be."
As evidence that Greece is a new economy, he referred to:
-the independence of the tax authorities,
-the overall reform of the pension system,
-the introduction of electronic trading,
-the opening of markets,
-the simplification and acceleration of licencing,
-the overall creation of an investment-friendly climate
-the transparency in public procurement and contracting systems
-the rational redesigning of social programmes,
restoring legality and rights in the labour market, among many other important reforms and changes.
Today, about 3 and a half months after leaving the Memorandums, the Government is moving forward with its own plan to benefit the many, he said.
He pointed out that "the OECD put us in first place for the implementation of radical reforms, and now everyone, international organisations, analysts and European institutions recognize the quality work that has been done over these three and a half years."
"All of this happened alongside the great effort to correct the sweeping consequences of the recession, which pushed a lot of the population to the sidelines and into poverty."
I briefly mention:
- the protection of primary residences,
-the expansion of solidarity benefits,
-the tax breaks,
-the extension of protection to first homes
-the universal access to the health care system,
-the increase of funds for research,
-school meals,
-nurseries
"Our country regained its autonomy and power of initiative in defining its own priorities."
"We are now following our own national development plan and our own progressive reforms to shape new social conditions, this time in favour of the many, all those who put their backs into it so the country would emerge from the crisis."
"Some rushed to say that nothing would change with the end of the Memoranda and today they shoot themselves in the foot and are contradicted every day in Parliament where they are called upon to vote for a series of positive measures such as the cancellation of the extortionary and unnecessary measure of pension cuts, the reduction of social insurance contributions for the self-employed, for new employees, for farmers and researchers, the distribution of a social dividend to our 3.5 million fellow citizens, the reduction of EMFIA for those on a small and middle income, the reduction of the tax rate for companies to 25% by 2022, an increase in the minimum wage and a number of additional measures that will follow, which I announced in the international exhibition of Thessaloniki."
"2019 will be the year of great productive reconstruction for the Greek economy"
The Prime Minister spoke about reforms that have been pending for years and have been the long-standing demands of the productive agencies and that are currently taking place,:
The list of interventions is long, he said, and he restricted his comments to the investment package on property, transport, energy, tourism, research, and infrastructure with domestic and foreign investors.
As examples, he mentioned
- the tourist resort of Atalanti Hills
- the extension of El. Venizelos Airport
- the reconstruction of the airports by Fraport
- the investments in renewable energy sources
- the completion of the sale of ΔΕΣΦΑ
[natural gas transmission system operator Ed ]
- the upcoming exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits
- the gas interconnectors in Macedonia-Thrace and the LNG station in Revythousa, very important projects with a developmental and social footprint, such as the energy interconnection of Attica-Crete and the completion of the Central Greece motorway E65.
"It is no exaggeration for me to tell you that 2019 will be the first year that our country will be out of financial monitoring, it will be the year of major productive reconstruction for the Greek economy." "In one sentence, 2019 will be a year of productive investment for the country. It will be the year of great productive reconstruction for the Greek economy."
“Europe finds itself facing the risk of turning back many decades”
Referring to the upcoming European elections, the Prime Minister stressed in particular that "Europe is at great risk. Of the clock of history turning back many decades."
He stressed that we ought to think about fighting for the essential political project for a new "social contract", "on the basis of a comprehensive and long-term development strategy that will restore labour rights, support human capital and inspire the life plans of young people on this continent, in a globalized, highly competitive and volatile environment."
He spoke of an extremely critical historical juncture, stressing that "it is up to us not to allow any social, economic and political retreat."
He said Greece is on the right side of history and "we are joining our voice with progressive forces and we are leading the way in forming a united front against the politics of endless austerity and against the nationalist voices, which unfortunately are also gaining ground on the European continent."
"Our country now has the safe conditions to quickly cover the lost ground, in a fair and balanced way, with the society as a co-participant, without people being excluded and without special privileges."
"There is now a favourable climate and the atmosphere of renewal for the productive forces of the country to come back centre stage and to shape a better tomorrow for the country."
Referring to the unstable international context within which the country's recovery effort is under way, the Prime Minister stressed that our country, against the backward current of the time, "went forward to an historic agreement with the neighbouring country of FYROM in June in the name question, once again setting the example, as a force for peace, co-operation, understanding and stability."
"Similarly, our attitude to the refugee issue was the practical response of humanism which Greece showed to the xenophobic wave that is poisoning European societies, exercising a political culture which is over and above a politics of solidarity."
Also, "through a multilevel and responsible foreign policy, we are reaffirming our traditional strategic alliances and opening channels of communication and cooperation with other countries such as China, Russia, Egypt, Israel, the Arab Peninsula countries, shaping a pillar of security and stability in the sensitive area of the wider South Eastern Mediterranean."
Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister stressed: "I believe we have honoured the trust of the Greek people and they will acknowledge that we have created better conditions for the country and its course in the future. The gradual improvement of the conditions justifies day-to-day difficult choices. "
"Our vision for the post-Memorandum era is to aim higher, for a Greece of sustainable and equitable growth for the next decade."
"We now know we can, since we have regained our collective self-confidence, we have left behind the defeatism and the voices of the past, the introversion and the procrastination, capitalising on the great potential of the Greek people for a better future."
"It is not just the economic indicators that certify the passage in the post-Memorandum period, it is the social indicators," he said.
In the economy, data is now very encouraging, as we have returned to growth at rates above 2% and we are constantly gaining momentum.
He continued:
- Investments and exports are rising.
- Unemployment is decreasing. Today it is at 18.9%, 8% below the height of 27% about four years ago.
-The public finances of the country are healthy, in surplus and, above all, seen internationally as reliable.
-Our debt is now viable, guaranteed and on a path of permanent decrease.
-We have implemented over 450 reform actions across the economy.
"Greece - and it is no exaggeration to claim it - is today a new economy and I think this has not been communicated as it should be."
As evidence that Greece is a new economy, he referred to:
-the independence of the tax authorities,
-the overall reform of the pension system,
-the introduction of electronic trading,
-the opening of markets,
-the simplification and acceleration of licencing,
-the overall creation of an investment-friendly climate
-the transparency in public procurement and contracting systems
-the rational redesigning of social programmes,
restoring legality and rights in the labour market, among many other important reforms and changes.
Today, about 3 and a half months after leaving the Memorandums, the Government is moving forward with its own plan to benefit the many, he said.
He pointed out that "the OECD put us in first place for the implementation of radical reforms, and now everyone, international organisations, analysts and European institutions recognize the quality work that has been done over these three and a half years."
"All of this happened alongside the great effort to correct the sweeping consequences of the recession, which pushed a lot of the population to the sidelines and into poverty."
I briefly mention:
- the protection of primary residences,
-the expansion of solidarity benefits,
-the tax breaks,
-the extension of protection to first homes
-the universal access to the health care system,
-the increase of funds for research,
-school meals,
-nurseries
"Our country regained its autonomy and power of initiative in defining its own priorities."
"We are now following our own national development plan and our own progressive reforms to shape new social conditions, this time in favour of the many, all those who put their backs into it so the country would emerge from the crisis."
"Some rushed to say that nothing would change with the end of the Memoranda and today they shoot themselves in the foot and are contradicted every day in Parliament where they are called upon to vote for a series of positive measures such as the cancellation of the extortionary and unnecessary measure of pension cuts, the reduction of social insurance contributions for the self-employed, for new employees, for farmers and researchers, the distribution of a social dividend to our 3.5 million fellow citizens, the reduction of EMFIA for those on a small and middle income, the reduction of the tax rate for companies to 25% by 2022, an increase in the minimum wage and a number of additional measures that will follow, which I announced in the international exhibition of Thessaloniki."
"2019 will be the year of great productive reconstruction for the Greek economy"
The Prime Minister spoke about reforms that have been pending for years and have been the long-standing demands of the productive agencies and that are currently taking place,:
The list of interventions is long, he said, and he restricted his comments to the investment package on property, transport, energy, tourism, research, and infrastructure with domestic and foreign investors.
As examples, he mentioned
- the tourist resort of Atalanti Hills
- the extension of El. Venizelos Airport
- the reconstruction of the airports by Fraport
- the investments in renewable energy sources
- the completion of the sale of ΔΕΣΦΑ
[natural gas transmission system operator Ed ]
- the upcoming exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits
- the gas interconnectors in Macedonia-Thrace and the LNG station in Revythousa, very important projects with a developmental and social footprint, such as the energy interconnection of Attica-Crete and the completion of the Central Greece motorway E65.
"It is no exaggeration for me to tell you that 2019 will be the first year that our country will be out of financial monitoring, it will be the year of major productive reconstruction for the Greek economy." "In one sentence, 2019 will be a year of productive investment for the country. It will be the year of great productive reconstruction for the Greek economy."
“Europe finds itself facing the risk of turning back many decades”
Referring to the upcoming European elections, the Prime Minister stressed in particular that "Europe is at great risk. Of the clock of history turning back many decades."
He stressed that we ought to think about fighting for the essential political project for a new "social contract", "on the basis of a comprehensive and long-term development strategy that will restore labour rights, support human capital and inspire the life plans of young people on this continent, in a globalized, highly competitive and volatile environment."
He spoke of an extremely critical historical juncture, stressing that "it is up to us not to allow any social, economic and political retreat."
He said Greece is on the right side of history and "we are joining our voice with progressive forces and we are leading the way in forming a united front against the politics of endless austerity and against the nationalist voices, which unfortunately are also gaining ground on the European continent."
"Our country now has the safe conditions to quickly cover the lost ground, in a fair and balanced way, with the society as a co-participant, without people being excluded and without special privileges."
"There is now a favourable climate and the atmosphere of renewal for the productive forces of the country to come back centre stage and to shape a better tomorrow for the country."
Referring to the unstable international context within which the country's recovery effort is under way, the Prime Minister stressed that our country, against the backward current of the time, "went forward to an historic agreement with the neighbouring country of FYROM in June in the name question, once again setting the example, as a force for peace, co-operation, understanding and stability."
"Similarly, our attitude to the refugee issue was the practical response of humanism which Greece showed to the xenophobic wave that is poisoning European societies, exercising a political culture which is over and above a politics of solidarity."
Also, "through a multilevel and responsible foreign policy, we are reaffirming our traditional strategic alliances and opening channels of communication and cooperation with other countries such as China, Russia, Egypt, Israel, the Arab Peninsula countries, shaping a pillar of security and stability in the sensitive area of the wider South Eastern Mediterranean."
Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister stressed: "I believe we have honoured the trust of the Greek people and they will acknowledge that we have created better conditions for the country and its course in the future. The gradual improvement of the conditions justifies day-to-day difficult choices. "
"Our vision for the post-Memorandum era is to aim higher, for a Greece of sustainable and equitable growth for the next decade."
"We now know we can, since we have regained our collective self-confidence, we have left behind the defeatism and the voices of the past, the introversion and the procrastination, capitalising on the great potential of the Greek people for a better future."
"Through dialogue and cooperation with farmers, we will continue to give the necessary impetus to one of our most important developmental advantages"
"Today, when the country is now free from the nightmare of the Memorandum, our potential for practical support to the rural world is much greater," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on his visit the Kalavrita Agricultural and Dairy Cooperative.
He said, specifically, that in November the Government proceeded "to reduce the social insurance contributions for the main pension of farmers from 18% to 12%. That is, for example, someone who has an income of 10,000€ a year will pay 600€ less in 2019. This is an immediate important step of support.
"We also proceeded to abolish the licence tax for our cooperative farmers.
In support of co-operative farmers and stock breeders, we are promoting the trading of their products through collaborative schemes and discouraging the so-far bulging phenomenon of trading of the great bulk of production outside of cooperative societies."
Continuing, the Prime Minister said that the Government will immediately, by the end of the year, will implement:
- The payment of exceptional aid (De Minimis – small amounts of State aid Ed) to sheep and goat farmers, amounting to 42€ million for farmers in mountainous, less-favoured and island areas. The relevant decision has already been signed by the competent minister and will soon be published. This aid concerns about 40,000-45,000 producers and for each enterprise with 200 sheep and goats the aid will be 1,000€.
- Financial support will be paid before Christmas in areas characterized as having "natural or other special disadvantages" for 2018 applications.
In fact, funding will be increased by 17€ million in order to cover the large number of applications.
Public expenditure, therefore, amounts to 247€ million and is distributed like this: 158€ million for the granting of compensatory aid to mountain areas and 89€ million for non-mountain areas.
PM Tsipras stressed that the government is also organising:
- The new legislative framework for the licensing of livestock buildings which provides for the simplification of procedures and increased transparency with a view to integrating the licensing system for all livestock farms.
- The support of the Greek yoghurt, for which the Ministry of Rural Development, is immediately undertaking the preparation of a case supporting its registration as a Product of Geographical Indication.
- The provision of quantities of cheese products to vulnerable social groups and public institutions. An action that is also sought by the country's livestock associations. In this context, the government's proposal is to examine the possibility of providing feta and graviera through:
(a) free meals in schools
(b) the feeding of migrants
(c) food aid to the most deprived persons through the European Aid to Deprived Persons Fund (TEBA).
"And it our wish that these provisions will come exclusively from agricultural cooperatives that produce dairy products."
"Today we are laying the foundations of the new production model, encouraging new cooperative ventures and strengthening existing ones, that is our priority."
As he said, "Greece can no longer allow its comparative advantages to be degraded in the global competition. Greek agricultural products can not be left to chance. Small producers can not be left prey to the big interests. We can not move forward without a national strategy aimed at strengthening domestic agricultural production."
"Today's government has already made significant strides over the past 3 and a half years, especially in the livestock sector you specialize in," he said to the producers and said:
In 2016 we passed the cooperative law so that existing cooperatives could cope with the crisis and re-establish themselves again on a sound basis but also it favoured the creation of new cooperatives.
In 2017 we legislated for the obligation to pay within 60 days for fresh and fragile products among them dairy products, as well as the Greek label for dairy products and meat.
Since 2016, the Government has already expanded and increased aid - by linking it to production - with animal feed, aiming precisely at strengthening the livestock sector.
It has put in order aid payments and programmes, as well as promoting organic livestock farming.
It has taken steps to improve the quality of controls on fresh milk and the processing of milk and meat. Through the close cooperation of the (Agricultural) Services with the audit powers of other Ministries, this has already proven to be crucial for the effectiveness of controls."
"Today, when the country is now free from the nightmare of the Memorandum, our potential for practical support to the rural world is much greater," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on his visit the Kalavrita Agricultural and Dairy Cooperative.
He said, specifically, that in November the Government proceeded "to reduce the social insurance contributions for the main pension of farmers from 18% to 12%. That is, for example, someone who has an income of 10,000€ a year will pay 600€ less in 2019. This is an immediate important step of support.
"We also proceeded to abolish the licence tax for our cooperative farmers.
In support of co-operative farmers and stock breeders, we are promoting the trading of their products through collaborative schemes and discouraging the so-far bulging phenomenon of trading of the great bulk of production outside of cooperative societies."
Continuing, the Prime Minister said that the Government will immediately, by the end of the year, will implement:
- The payment of exceptional aid (De Minimis – small amounts of State aid Ed) to sheep and goat farmers, amounting to 42€ million for farmers in mountainous, less-favoured and island areas. The relevant decision has already been signed by the competent minister and will soon be published. This aid concerns about 40,000-45,000 producers and for each enterprise with 200 sheep and goats the aid will be 1,000€.
- Financial support will be paid before Christmas in areas characterized as having "natural or other special disadvantages" for 2018 applications.
In fact, funding will be increased by 17€ million in order to cover the large number of applications.
Public expenditure, therefore, amounts to 247€ million and is distributed like this: 158€ million for the granting of compensatory aid to mountain areas and 89€ million for non-mountain areas.
PM Tsipras stressed that the government is also organising:
- The new legislative framework for the licensing of livestock buildings which provides for the simplification of procedures and increased transparency with a view to integrating the licensing system for all livestock farms.
- The support of the Greek yoghurt, for which the Ministry of Rural Development, is immediately undertaking the preparation of a case supporting its registration as a Product of Geographical Indication.
- The provision of quantities of cheese products to vulnerable social groups and public institutions. An action that is also sought by the country's livestock associations. In this context, the government's proposal is to examine the possibility of providing feta and graviera through:
(a) free meals in schools
(b) the feeding of migrants
(c) food aid to the most deprived persons through the European Aid to Deprived Persons Fund (TEBA).
"And it our wish that these provisions will come exclusively from agricultural cooperatives that produce dairy products."
"Today we are laying the foundations of the new production model, encouraging new cooperative ventures and strengthening existing ones, that is our priority."
As he said, "Greece can no longer allow its comparative advantages to be degraded in the global competition. Greek agricultural products can not be left to chance. Small producers can not be left prey to the big interests. We can not move forward without a national strategy aimed at strengthening domestic agricultural production."
"Today's government has already made significant strides over the past 3 and a half years, especially in the livestock sector you specialize in," he said to the producers and said:
In 2016 we passed the cooperative law so that existing cooperatives could cope with the crisis and re-establish themselves again on a sound basis but also it favoured the creation of new cooperatives.
In 2017 we legislated for the obligation to pay within 60 days for fresh and fragile products among them dairy products, as well as the Greek label for dairy products and meat.
Since 2016, the Government has already expanded and increased aid - by linking it to production - with animal feed, aiming precisely at strengthening the livestock sector.
It has put in order aid payments and programmes, as well as promoting organic livestock farming.
It has taken steps to improve the quality of controls on fresh milk and the processing of milk and meat. Through the close cooperation of the (Agricultural) Services with the audit powers of other Ministries, this has already proven to be crucial for the effectiveness of controls."
Manufacturing Continues to expand
Greek factory activity continued to expand in November with momentum strengthening as production and new orders increased at a faster pace with firms adding staff, a survey showed on Monday.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, rose to 54.0 in November from 53.1 in October, indicating the biggest improvement in operating conditions since May. Readings above the 50 mark denote expansion in activity.
“Bucking the trend seen across the euro zone as a whole, [Greek] goods producers registered a stronger rise in output and new orders,” said Sian Jones, IHS Markit economist.
Production increased at the quickest rate in eight months as a result of robust client demand and strong new order volumes.
Manufacturers attributed the increased order flow to stronger domestic demand, linked to increased tourism-related activity.
But new business from abroad grew at a weaker pace.
“Greece’s manufacturing sector was not exempt from the global slowdown in export demand. New business from abroad expanded at the slowest pace in the current 14-month sequence of growth,” Ms. Jones said.
Firms expanded their workforce numbers at the fastest pace in three months in November, with the pace of job creation one of the quickest since data collection began in 1999, the survey showed.
On the price front, input price inflation remained sharp with firms attributing increased cost burdens to higher raw materials and fuel prices. Still, stronger client demand allowed producers to partly pass on higher input costs to clients.
“Firms were encouraged by greater domestic demand to increase output charges during the month following a slight fall in October,” she said.
Greek factory activity continued to expand in November with momentum strengthening as production and new orders increased at a faster pace with firms adding staff, a survey showed on Monday.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, rose to 54.0 in November from 53.1 in October, indicating the biggest improvement in operating conditions since May. Readings above the 50 mark denote expansion in activity.
“Bucking the trend seen across the euro zone as a whole, [Greek] goods producers registered a stronger rise in output and new orders,” said Sian Jones, IHS Markit economist.
Production increased at the quickest rate in eight months as a result of robust client demand and strong new order volumes.
Manufacturers attributed the increased order flow to stronger domestic demand, linked to increased tourism-related activity.
But new business from abroad grew at a weaker pace.
“Greece’s manufacturing sector was not exempt from the global slowdown in export demand. New business from abroad expanded at the slowest pace in the current 14-month sequence of growth,” Ms. Jones said.
Firms expanded their workforce numbers at the fastest pace in three months in November, with the pace of job creation one of the quickest since data collection began in 1999, the survey showed.
On the price front, input price inflation remained sharp with firms attributing increased cost burdens to higher raw materials and fuel prices. Still, stronger client demand allowed producers to partly pass on higher input costs to clients.
“Firms were encouraged by greater domestic demand to increase output charges during the month following a slight fall in October,” she said.
Prespa Agreement
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Sunday moved closer to changing the country’s name to The Republic of North Macedonia. Sixty-seven MP’s in the 120-member Parliament voted in favor of a second required amendment.
The government of Zoran Zaev submitted four proposed revisions to the country’s constitution, per their June agreement with Greece.
In order for the name change to be finalized, two-thirds of FYROM’s Parliament will need to back the constitutional revisions by the end of January.
After the ratification of the Prespa agreement in FYROM’s House, proceedings will start in the Greek parliament. In order for the name change to become official, the Greek parliament must also ratify the agreement.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Sunday moved closer to changing the country’s name to The Republic of North Macedonia. Sixty-seven MP’s in the 120-member Parliament voted in favor of a second required amendment.
The government of Zoran Zaev submitted four proposed revisions to the country’s constitution, per their June agreement with Greece.
In order for the name change to be finalized, two-thirds of FYROM’s Parliament will need to back the constitutional revisions by the end of January.
After the ratification of the Prespa agreement in FYROM’s House, proceedings will start in the Greek parliament. In order for the name change to become official, the Greek parliament must also ratify the agreement.
Parliament Debates the 2019 Budget
1.12.2018
"We are changing the way we operate," said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and stressed that the Government now has a two-pronged policy: "Firstly, we spend up front and secondly, we spend on permanent measures."
"We have two measures that again confirm our own narrative," the Minister said, referring to the non-cutting of pensions and the application of countermeasures.
The amendments voted in plenary concern:
Unified Property Tax
1. Where the total value of the property amounts to less than 60,000€, ENΦΙΑ will be reduced by 30%.
Reduced tax on Small & Medium Sized Enterprises
2. The tax rate on business profits will be reduced from 29% to 25% by 2022. For 2019, the tax rate is reduced by 1% and set at 28%. The benefit to businesses for 2019 will be 142€ million and by 2022 it will exceed 450€ million.
"There are very many small businesses in Greece that will be helped by this. So, it's not just the big companies that will gain,"said Euclid Tsakalotos and said investors now "will know the rules of the game" as they will know the tax regime for the coming years.
The Distribution of a Social Dividend.
3. This amendment stipulated that the criteria for the redistribution of up to 710€ million will be set by ministerial decision. Minister Tsakalotos noted that the criteria (to be published on Monday) would be essentially the same as those of last year.
"Now that we have come out of the programme, we have no need of excessive surpluses… Obviously the target is 3.5%. Within this 3.5% we will also leave a "safety margin", so that there will be no mistake. You always need a margin of safety in these matters." "Everything in force for 2019 will also apply to 2020 and 2021. They are permanent measures that we think will help the economy."
The Opposition tried to downplay the debate. No political leaders, apart from Alexis Tsipras, appeared in Parliament. But their parties have been forced to vote on the positive measures the Government has taken. All three amendments were passed by a very large majority. Only το Ποτάμι /The River voted "present" [ie abstained Ed]]to all, while the KKE [Communist Party] voted against the reduction in business taxation and recorded "present" in the amendment to reduce ENFIA.
In his speech in the debate, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras emphasised:
"Now that the country is raising its head again, it is time to gradually correct the injustices that our inheritance left us with, not just the crisis, but its handling over the catastrophic five-year period 2010-2014."
"We are currently undertaking two very important interventions to alleviate the tax burden on citizens and businesses: the first concerns the reduction of corporate tax rates, the second concerns the reduction of ENFIA."
"We are moving ahead with the implementation of a plan for the economy, we are adopting targets, we have emerged from the Memoranda and we can design a policy of relief for vulnerable social strata. We have already restored social injustice to private sector pay. Today we are tabling the amendment on the social dividend. In line with last year's 710€ million, we are paying a dividend that may be increased.
The social dividend will cover 1.3 million households, approximately 3.5 million beneficiaries. Furthermore, the reduction of ENΦΙΑ for 2018 and a one-percentage point - reduction in business taxation is being voted today.
Addressing the opposition parties, PM Tsipras said: "You are facing your biggest nightmare, we are implementing our commitments made in Thessaloniki." "One by one, you will have to vote for the positive measures you said would not be implemented. We are proceeding with a class signature on behalf of the many."
"We are focused, studied, with a clear class orientation for the many. This class unity refers to the many. You blame us for being partisan, but this partisanship refers to our five million fellow citizens. Your partisanship refers to an elite of the few, the chosen ones and their heirs."
"We are giving a clear signal to businesses to take advantage of the [tax] relief, to make new investment, to engage in new recruitment with decent wages and with full employment and social security rights."
However, he made it clear that these benefits are not guaranteed in the event of a change of government. In October 2019, "on the one side, there will be this effort that is well-thought-out, targeted, prudent, a fiscal space that is not huge, but it is the one that gives relief to the social categories affected and on the other side, the plan of New Democracy, which is concerned only with the elite."
"It is for every citizen, especially the lower and middle classes, the workers, the employed, the unemployed, the small and medium-sized enterprises, to know that what we have secured with great effort and especially the financial space that we have secured and everything that has happened up to now, and that we are legislating and voting on – these things are not yet legally binding.
"Greece will not turn back to the neo-liberal obsessions imposed by the IMF's eight-year Memorandum in our country, and which now Mr. Mitsotakis voluntarily comes to propose to implement if he is elected prime minister."
"We have two measures that again confirm our own narrative," the Minister said, referring to the non-cutting of pensions and the application of countermeasures.
The amendments voted in plenary concern:
Unified Property Tax
1. Where the total value of the property amounts to less than 60,000€, ENΦΙΑ will be reduced by 30%.
Reduced tax on Small & Medium Sized Enterprises
2. The tax rate on business profits will be reduced from 29% to 25% by 2022. For 2019, the tax rate is reduced by 1% and set at 28%. The benefit to businesses for 2019 will be 142€ million and by 2022 it will exceed 450€ million.
"There are very many small businesses in Greece that will be helped by this. So, it's not just the big companies that will gain,"said Euclid Tsakalotos and said investors now "will know the rules of the game" as they will know the tax regime for the coming years.
The Distribution of a Social Dividend.
3. This amendment stipulated that the criteria for the redistribution of up to 710€ million will be set by ministerial decision. Minister Tsakalotos noted that the criteria (to be published on Monday) would be essentially the same as those of last year.
"Now that we have come out of the programme, we have no need of excessive surpluses… Obviously the target is 3.5%. Within this 3.5% we will also leave a "safety margin", so that there will be no mistake. You always need a margin of safety in these matters." "Everything in force for 2019 will also apply to 2020 and 2021. They are permanent measures that we think will help the economy."
The Opposition tried to downplay the debate. No political leaders, apart from Alexis Tsipras, appeared in Parliament. But their parties have been forced to vote on the positive measures the Government has taken. All three amendments were passed by a very large majority. Only το Ποτάμι /The River voted "present" [ie abstained Ed]]to all, while the KKE [Communist Party] voted against the reduction in business taxation and recorded "present" in the amendment to reduce ENFIA.
In his speech in the debate, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras emphasised:
"Now that the country is raising its head again, it is time to gradually correct the injustices that our inheritance left us with, not just the crisis, but its handling over the catastrophic five-year period 2010-2014."
"We are currently undertaking two very important interventions to alleviate the tax burden on citizens and businesses: the first concerns the reduction of corporate tax rates, the second concerns the reduction of ENFIA."
"We are moving ahead with the implementation of a plan for the economy, we are adopting targets, we have emerged from the Memoranda and we can design a policy of relief for vulnerable social strata. We have already restored social injustice to private sector pay. Today we are tabling the amendment on the social dividend. In line with last year's 710€ million, we are paying a dividend that may be increased.
The social dividend will cover 1.3 million households, approximately 3.5 million beneficiaries. Furthermore, the reduction of ENΦΙΑ for 2018 and a one-percentage point - reduction in business taxation is being voted today.
Addressing the opposition parties, PM Tsipras said: "You are facing your biggest nightmare, we are implementing our commitments made in Thessaloniki." "One by one, you will have to vote for the positive measures you said would not be implemented. We are proceeding with a class signature on behalf of the many."
"We are focused, studied, with a clear class orientation for the many. This class unity refers to the many. You blame us for being partisan, but this partisanship refers to our five million fellow citizens. Your partisanship refers to an elite of the few, the chosen ones and their heirs."
"We are giving a clear signal to businesses to take advantage of the [tax] relief, to make new investment, to engage in new recruitment with decent wages and with full employment and social security rights."
However, he made it clear that these benefits are not guaranteed in the event of a change of government. In October 2019, "on the one side, there will be this effort that is well-thought-out, targeted, prudent, a fiscal space that is not huge, but it is the one that gives relief to the social categories affected and on the other side, the plan of New Democracy, which is concerned only with the elite."
"It is for every citizen, especially the lower and middle classes, the workers, the employed, the unemployed, the small and medium-sized enterprises, to know that what we have secured with great effort and especially the financial space that we have secured and everything that has happened up to now, and that we are legislating and voting on – these things are not yet legally binding.
"Greece will not turn back to the neo-liberal obsessions imposed by the IMF's eight-year Memorandum in our country, and which now Mr. Mitsotakis voluntarily comes to propose to implement if he is elected prime minister."
The discussion of the budget for 2019 highlighted the different political parties' perceptions of economic policy.
On Tuesday, Euclid Tsakalotos replied to the New Democracy and its argument that the government had submitted to Parliament a pre-election budget. Mr Tsakalotos accused ND and PASOK of missing financial targets for years, ahead of elections, with measures that only aimed to ensure their stay in power.
"We have class bias in favour of the workers, the unemployed, the self-employed, the middle class that wants to create prosperity without the need for powerful patrons," said Euclid Tsakalotos. As for the New Democracy assessment that the country is not recovering, the Finance Minister said: "If I had cut GDP by 25%, I would be more modest."
"The dirty secret of the system from 1974 to the 2009 crisis is that we began as the poorest of the poorest and the country with the greatest inequalities in Europe in 1974 and we were the same in 2008, despite all the growth. You never built a welfare state. You borrowed and gave hand-outs to win elections. We are taking permanent measures. We are making permanent measures to build a welfare state."
"Did you ever do anything about housing? Do you know what percentage Greece spends on housing relative to all other European countries? Zero amount. Why did you never concern yourselves with building the welfare state.
"You tell us that our proposals are not coherent like yours. Have you read the “Strategy for Growth”? Have you seen the commitments it contains? What priorities it has? Your own strategic plan, where is it? Ours is not an exhibition of ideas. It has specific commitments and you can read these specific commitments."
"Everyone knows what they will get with this government, they know where the expansionary policy is heading in the first year and the second, ie 2020, in 2021 and in 2022."
"But what does everyone know about you? That you will not cut taxes and you will not reduce hospitals and schools and you will not reduce the target for the primary surplus. You would do it all. But how would you do it? Why should we trust you? You are not telling us anything," said Minister Tsakalotos.
"You are responsible for beggaring the country"
The Finance Minister pointed out that in 2014 New Democracy failed to secure access to the financial markets nor did it reach agreement about the debt. "It was not SYRIZA that reached debt of 180% of GDP, resulting in strengthened supervision," said Mr. Tsakalotos, stressing that the budget of 2019 is the first budget, after 8 years, that is expansionary.
"Did we reach debt of 180% of GDP? That is why we have strengthened supervision. I do not believe that you believe that the Europeans believe or that the markets believe or that the Greek people believe that it is us who are responsible for Greece being the most indebted country at 180% of GDP? The answer why there is enhanced supervision and not just oversight is because neither Portugal had New Democracy and PASOK nor did Ireland have ND and PASOK nor did the Cyprus have ND and PASOK."
A Sovereign Government and the functioning of the Republic
"I want to say something very serious about [New Democracy]. It deeply disturbs me that it deeply disturbs you that the EU accepts the policy of a sovereign government. That disturbs me very much… because they do not require the pensions to be cut or because they accept our own mix of measures to some degree. This is a matter of Democracy."
"So, what do you want? Do you want the Commission to strike down the autonomous Greek government, the sovereign Greek government voted in by the people? I really do not understand what you are saying about the nature of our Republic. Do you want Europeans to impose your policy on the Greek government at the time? Do you want to formalize balanced budgets? That is to say, do you want the elections to have no meaning, for us not to have a welfare state and for us to have endless austerity? The Memorandum is your own programme, it seems. You have learned nothing from the rise of the extreme Right, you have no analysis why Salvini comes to power, why Orban comes to power and you continue to say things that created the inequality that feeds this extreme Right that you find in front of you. Maybe we too will find it in front of us, without a change of course."
The Data
Euclid Tsakalotos put forward development-related indicators in response to New Democracy’s claims that Greece is far from normality.
In particular, he showed evidence that:
- Unemployment in August 2018 stood at 18.9% compared to 20.8% in August 2017 and 19.1% in July 2018. Those in work increased by 2.3% compared to August 2017 and 0.7 % compared to July 2018. Unemployed persons declined by 9.6% compared to August 2017 and by 0.9% compared to July 2018. Those who are neither working nor looking for work decreased by 0.9% compared to August 2017 and 0.6% compared to July 2018. According to ERGANI, we have 168,282 new jobs in 2018, which is the best performance since 2001, that is, since data is available.
- Wholesale trade turnover, in the third quarter of 2018, compared with the third quarter of 2017, increased by 12.3%. The seasonally adjusted turnover index for wholesale in the third quarter of 2018, compared with the second quarter, increased by 4.5%.
-Industrial production index. The general industrial production index in September 2018 compared to September 2017 showed an increase of 2%. The average general industrial production index for the period January - September 2018, compared to the corresponding index for the period January - September 2017, has increased by about 1%.
-General turnover index in industry. Turnover in industry in September 2018 compared to September 2017, increased by 14.3%. Turnover in industry in September 2018 compared to the corresponding August 2018 index showed an increase of 2.9%. In the 12 month October 2017 - September 2018 compared to the previous year, it increased by 10.8%.
-Turnover in the retail trade. The general turnover index in August 2018 compared to August 2017 showed an increase of 4.8%. The general volume index in August 2018 compared to August 2017 showed an increase of 3.2%.
Construction activity for January-August 2018. Total construction activity increased by 9.2% in the number of building permits, by 18.3% on surface area and by 16.3% in volume, compared to construction in the corresponding 8 months of the previous year.
"It is at the core of the Left's thought that there is no single way of doing things. What we are asking for is a dialogue on values and economic policies, a dialogue on the relationship between taxation and spending, the relationship between private and public, cooperative ownership. We have never said that there is only one way of doing things. On the contrary, we say that there are significant differences, which must emerge in a political confrontation in the elections, whether they are local or European, or national elections."said Euclid Tsakalotos and underlined that the forthcoming European elections are important because the "Dividing lines will drawn on whether we "go with nationalist or whether we go with supranational solutions" to national problems. "Exactly, now comes the question of whether we will deal with the refugee crisis with humanity or not."
"We have class objectives with working people, with the unemployed, the self-employed and the middle class that wants to create things, “without powerful patrons”. With everyone who wants to have public schools for their children, public hospitals, who wants to strengthen labour rights, we are biased towards them. Now, if you say, we have a partisan objective, because SYRIZA lines up with this world, then we thank you. In fact, because New Democracy does whatever comes to hand, this world understands the dividing lines that exist."
On Tuesday, Euclid Tsakalotos replied to the New Democracy and its argument that the government had submitted to Parliament a pre-election budget. Mr Tsakalotos accused ND and PASOK of missing financial targets for years, ahead of elections, with measures that only aimed to ensure their stay in power.
"We have class bias in favour of the workers, the unemployed, the self-employed, the middle class that wants to create prosperity without the need for powerful patrons," said Euclid Tsakalotos. As for the New Democracy assessment that the country is not recovering, the Finance Minister said: "If I had cut GDP by 25%, I would be more modest."
"The dirty secret of the system from 1974 to the 2009 crisis is that we began as the poorest of the poorest and the country with the greatest inequalities in Europe in 1974 and we were the same in 2008, despite all the growth. You never built a welfare state. You borrowed and gave hand-outs to win elections. We are taking permanent measures. We are making permanent measures to build a welfare state."
"Did you ever do anything about housing? Do you know what percentage Greece spends on housing relative to all other European countries? Zero amount. Why did you never concern yourselves with building the welfare state.
"You tell us that our proposals are not coherent like yours. Have you read the “Strategy for Growth”? Have you seen the commitments it contains? What priorities it has? Your own strategic plan, where is it? Ours is not an exhibition of ideas. It has specific commitments and you can read these specific commitments."
"Everyone knows what they will get with this government, they know where the expansionary policy is heading in the first year and the second, ie 2020, in 2021 and in 2022."
"But what does everyone know about you? That you will not cut taxes and you will not reduce hospitals and schools and you will not reduce the target for the primary surplus. You would do it all. But how would you do it? Why should we trust you? You are not telling us anything," said Minister Tsakalotos.
"You are responsible for beggaring the country"
The Finance Minister pointed out that in 2014 New Democracy failed to secure access to the financial markets nor did it reach agreement about the debt. "It was not SYRIZA that reached debt of 180% of GDP, resulting in strengthened supervision," said Mr. Tsakalotos, stressing that the budget of 2019 is the first budget, after 8 years, that is expansionary.
"Did we reach debt of 180% of GDP? That is why we have strengthened supervision. I do not believe that you believe that the Europeans believe or that the markets believe or that the Greek people believe that it is us who are responsible for Greece being the most indebted country at 180% of GDP? The answer why there is enhanced supervision and not just oversight is because neither Portugal had New Democracy and PASOK nor did Ireland have ND and PASOK nor did the Cyprus have ND and PASOK."
A Sovereign Government and the functioning of the Republic
"I want to say something very serious about [New Democracy]. It deeply disturbs me that it deeply disturbs you that the EU accepts the policy of a sovereign government. That disturbs me very much… because they do not require the pensions to be cut or because they accept our own mix of measures to some degree. This is a matter of Democracy."
"So, what do you want? Do you want the Commission to strike down the autonomous Greek government, the sovereign Greek government voted in by the people? I really do not understand what you are saying about the nature of our Republic. Do you want Europeans to impose your policy on the Greek government at the time? Do you want to formalize balanced budgets? That is to say, do you want the elections to have no meaning, for us not to have a welfare state and for us to have endless austerity? The Memorandum is your own programme, it seems. You have learned nothing from the rise of the extreme Right, you have no analysis why Salvini comes to power, why Orban comes to power and you continue to say things that created the inequality that feeds this extreme Right that you find in front of you. Maybe we too will find it in front of us, without a change of course."
The Data
Euclid Tsakalotos put forward development-related indicators in response to New Democracy’s claims that Greece is far from normality.
In particular, he showed evidence that:
- Unemployment in August 2018 stood at 18.9% compared to 20.8% in August 2017 and 19.1% in July 2018. Those in work increased by 2.3% compared to August 2017 and 0.7 % compared to July 2018. Unemployed persons declined by 9.6% compared to August 2017 and by 0.9% compared to July 2018. Those who are neither working nor looking for work decreased by 0.9% compared to August 2017 and 0.6% compared to July 2018. According to ERGANI, we have 168,282 new jobs in 2018, which is the best performance since 2001, that is, since data is available.
- Wholesale trade turnover, in the third quarter of 2018, compared with the third quarter of 2017, increased by 12.3%. The seasonally adjusted turnover index for wholesale in the third quarter of 2018, compared with the second quarter, increased by 4.5%.
-Industrial production index. The general industrial production index in September 2018 compared to September 2017 showed an increase of 2%. The average general industrial production index for the period January - September 2018, compared to the corresponding index for the period January - September 2017, has increased by about 1%.
-General turnover index in industry. Turnover in industry in September 2018 compared to September 2017, increased by 14.3%. Turnover in industry in September 2018 compared to the corresponding August 2018 index showed an increase of 2.9%. In the 12 month October 2017 - September 2018 compared to the previous year, it increased by 10.8%.
-Turnover in the retail trade. The general turnover index in August 2018 compared to August 2017 showed an increase of 4.8%. The general volume index in August 2018 compared to August 2017 showed an increase of 3.2%.
Construction activity for January-August 2018. Total construction activity increased by 9.2% in the number of building permits, by 18.3% on surface area and by 16.3% in volume, compared to construction in the corresponding 8 months of the previous year.
"It is at the core of the Left's thought that there is no single way of doing things. What we are asking for is a dialogue on values and economic policies, a dialogue on the relationship between taxation and spending, the relationship between private and public, cooperative ownership. We have never said that there is only one way of doing things. On the contrary, we say that there are significant differences, which must emerge in a political confrontation in the elections, whether they are local or European, or national elections."said Euclid Tsakalotos and underlined that the forthcoming European elections are important because the "Dividing lines will drawn on whether we "go with nationalist or whether we go with supranational solutions" to national problems. "Exactly, now comes the question of whether we will deal with the refugee crisis with humanity or not."
"We have class objectives with working people, with the unemployed, the self-employed and the middle class that wants to create things, “without powerful patrons”. With everyone who wants to have public schools for their children, public hospitals, who wants to strengthen labour rights, we are biased towards them. Now, if you say, we have a partisan objective, because SYRIZA lines up with this world, then we thank you. In fact, because New Democracy does whatever comes to hand, this world understands the dividing lines that exist."
The Tragedy in Mati
The tragedy in Mati, which left a deep trama in the country, in all citizens of Greece, has brought to light pathogens, inactions and carelessness over decades, but at the same time also brought to light the danger of climate change and the prospect of social solidarity, Christos Simos stressed, speaking in Vienna at a demonstration of support for the victims of the fire in eastern Attica.
Welcoming the event as an initiative that highlights the deep roots of friendship between the two peoples, Greece and Austria, as well as the importance of the concept of solidarity to tackle the problems, stressed Christos Simos, Secretary General of Information and Communication, referring to the event that the images of the fires this year were not limited to the European South, he pointed out that climate change is no longer a prediction of scientists, but the extreme weather phenomena are now everyday events.
As he pointed out, Mati has brought to light inertia and inadequacies, but at the same time qualities that can open new roads, with the heroism, self-denial and self-sacrifice of the people working in the Fire Brigade and the Police, as well as the self-denial with which the volunteers threw themselves into the battle.
The Secretary-General of Information and Communication, who represented Deputy Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information Lefteris Kretsos, stressed that the Greek government is working intensively, since the first moment, on two levels: The first is about healing the wounds, the provision of every kind of help to all the fire victims, while the second, by definition, long-term, concerns the settlement of urban problems both in Attica and in the rest of Greece.
At the same level, the redrafting of the Civil Protection Service is based on the establishment of a single entity for the management of emergencies that integrates all available national, scientific, operational, administrative and human resources into the framework of its operation.
As Mr. Simos pointed out, this single entity has the ultimate responsibility for the operational coordination of all the actors involved, in all the different phases, not only in the response phase but also in the phases of prevention, interconnection with research and scientific institutes, preparation, and rehabilitation.
Concluding his speech, he pointed out that tackling climate change is not just for a single country. "The rescue of the planet requires immediate action. Europe must take all the initiatives before the situation has become irreversible and, of course, the required solidarity between the member states of the European Union to deal with extraordinary circumstances, must take on institutional status, with all that entails in resources and tools."
Prime Minister Tsipras on Tuesday morning visited the fire-ravaged areas in Mati, accompanied by Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. He participated in a two-hour visit with representatives of the residents’ co-ordination committees, with whom he discussed extensively all the problems they are facing after the wild-fires.In the course of the visit, they discussed the course of the implementation of the package of measures which had been announced since the summer to assist those suffering.
The tragedy in Mati, which left a deep trama in the country, in all citizens of Greece, has brought to light pathogens, inactions and carelessness over decades, but at the same time also brought to light the danger of climate change and the prospect of social solidarity, Christos Simos stressed, speaking in Vienna at a demonstration of support for the victims of the fire in eastern Attica.
Welcoming the event as an initiative that highlights the deep roots of friendship between the two peoples, Greece and Austria, as well as the importance of the concept of solidarity to tackle the problems, stressed Christos Simos, Secretary General of Information and Communication, referring to the event that the images of the fires this year were not limited to the European South, he pointed out that climate change is no longer a prediction of scientists, but the extreme weather phenomena are now everyday events.
As he pointed out, Mati has brought to light inertia and inadequacies, but at the same time qualities that can open new roads, with the heroism, self-denial and self-sacrifice of the people working in the Fire Brigade and the Police, as well as the self-denial with which the volunteers threw themselves into the battle.
The Secretary-General of Information and Communication, who represented Deputy Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information Lefteris Kretsos, stressed that the Greek government is working intensively, since the first moment, on two levels: The first is about healing the wounds, the provision of every kind of help to all the fire victims, while the second, by definition, long-term, concerns the settlement of urban problems both in Attica and in the rest of Greece.
At the same level, the redrafting of the Civil Protection Service is based on the establishment of a single entity for the management of emergencies that integrates all available national, scientific, operational, administrative and human resources into the framework of its operation.
As Mr. Simos pointed out, this single entity has the ultimate responsibility for the operational coordination of all the actors involved, in all the different phases, not only in the response phase but also in the phases of prevention, interconnection with research and scientific institutes, preparation, and rehabilitation.
Concluding his speech, he pointed out that tackling climate change is not just for a single country. "The rescue of the planet requires immediate action. Europe must take all the initiatives before the situation has become irreversible and, of course, the required solidarity between the member states of the European Union to deal with extraordinary circumstances, must take on institutional status, with all that entails in resources and tools."
Prime Minister Tsipras on Tuesday morning visited the fire-ravaged areas in Mati, accompanied by Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. He participated in a two-hour visit with representatives of the residents’ co-ordination committees, with whom he discussed extensively all the problems they are facing after the wild-fires.In the course of the visit, they discussed the course of the implementation of the package of measures which had been announced since the summer to assist those suffering.
Church / State Relations
On Tuesday, Education Minister Costas Gavroglou met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios in Istanbul. He voiced his optimism that the two sides can come to an understanding over the government’s recent proposals to relax church-state ties.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has jurisdiction over Crete, parts of northern Greece and the Dodecanese, has voiced its opposition to the proposed agreement.
Minister Gavroglou described the talks with the Patriarch as “very fruitful”.
He expressed his optimism that the Patriarchate will lift any reservations it has over the proposed measures which foresee removing clerics from the state payroll, jointly developing disputed property and establishing a “religion neutral” state.
Minister Gavroglou’s visit is seen as a continuation of the government’s effort to engage with religious authorities following the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
“Outcry is a Bubble”
Archbishop Ieronymos on Thursday dismissed the outcry among clerics over the tentative agreement he struck with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on church-state relations as a “bubble.”
“I will speak last and when I do speak last you will see that all this noise was a bubble,” he said.
Archbishop Ieronymos has been criticised by some clergy for allegedly acting unilaterally to agree the – albeit tentative – deal with Tsipras which, among others, provides for the removal of priests from the state payroll and their salaries paid by an annual state subsidy instead.
On Tuesday, Education Minister Costas Gavroglou met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios in Istanbul. He voiced his optimism that the two sides can come to an understanding over the government’s recent proposals to relax church-state ties.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has jurisdiction over Crete, parts of northern Greece and the Dodecanese, has voiced its opposition to the proposed agreement.
Minister Gavroglou described the talks with the Patriarch as “very fruitful”.
He expressed his optimism that the Patriarchate will lift any reservations it has over the proposed measures which foresee removing clerics from the state payroll, jointly developing disputed property and establishing a “religion neutral” state.
Minister Gavroglou’s visit is seen as a continuation of the government’s effort to engage with religious authorities following the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
“Outcry is a Bubble”
Archbishop Ieronymos on Thursday dismissed the outcry among clerics over the tentative agreement he struck with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on church-state relations as a “bubble.”
“I will speak last and when I do speak last you will see that all this noise was a bubble,” he said.
Archbishop Ieronymos has been criticised by some clergy for allegedly acting unilaterally to agree the – albeit tentative – deal with Tsipras which, among others, provides for the removal of priests from the state payroll and their salaries paid by an annual state subsidy instead.
Holy Synod :
"Today nothing was approved and nothing was discounted"
24.11.2018
Church / State Relations
The agreement proposed between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos to take Greek priests off the state payroll and resolve the historic property dispute appeared in doubt after the Holy Synod rejected any changes to the way clerics are paid and called for more discussion.
Last Friday's tense session of the Synod underscored the serious objections of a large section of church representatives.
After the meeting, Metropolitan Bishops of the Hierarchy issued a communiqué stating that they will not accept priests being removed from the registry of civil servants. Under the agreement, priests and lay employees will be paid the same salary, but it will be given as an annual grant to the Church for it to disburse. (Priests object to being removed from the state payroll because of fears of losing their status as civil servants.)
The Hierarchy of the Church at its six-hour session resulted in the following agreement:
- to continue dialogue with the State on issues of common interest.
- to assign to the Permanent Holy Synod the setting up of a Special Commi consisting of hierarchs, lawyers, experts and representatives of the clergy study subjects of common interest, the fruit of which will be submitted to the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece for final approval.
- to insist on the existing salary regime for clergy and laymen of the Church of Greece.
The Hierarchy appears open to dialogue on all the points of the joint communiqué reached by PM Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos, except one: The transfer of the clergy payroll from the State to the Church.
Archbishop Ieronymos said that he will do whatever possible to safeguard the amount of the grant that the State will give to the Church to cover the salaries of the clergy and to include this in the revision of the Constitution.
He also said that he has been looking into the issue of the Church’s property and assets for the last 30 years, and clarified that he has cooperated with all the previous prime ministers and presented the minutes of all the briefings to the Holy Synod.
“As head of the Church of Greece I have the obligation and duty to work for the achievement and success of these goals. There is no way for this vision to become reality without people that share it and wish to fight for its fulfillment. So, I warmly invite the Holy Clergy to stand by my side, adopt my concerns, reflect on the people’s expectations and share our common responsibilities. I promise to stand by you, to comfort your difficulties and troubles. I will do whatever possible to upgrade your ministry and secure you and your loved ones,” he said.
Closing his speech, Ieronymos underlined that “despite the sad feelings of the last days, this day is the start of a free Church”.
The press spokesman of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Ierotheos, clarified that except for the decision to set up the Commission to discuss the 15 points of the proposed agreement "today nothing was approved and nothing discounted".
When asked whether the issue of the clergy payroll is on the table as a matter of discussion, Metropolitan Nafpaktou said that all the issues would be put on the table, while stressing that the key is the first point, the continuation of the dialogue with the state. This means, he added, that "we are open to dialogue and this Commission will discuss all issues concerning common points with the State, and of course the issue of the payroll."
Government Response
The Government has sent a clear message: The statute of pay for ecclesiastical officials is in any case the responsibility and decision of the State.
The Government will pass into law all 15 points in the accord agreed between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, said Kostas Gavroglu, Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. Before submitting it to Parliament, the draft law will be brought to the attention of the Special Committee of the Permanent Holy Synod.
He emphasised that the agreement is a take it or leave it deal. Either it will be implemented in its entirety or not at all. The 15th and last point stipulates that nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed.
Minister Gavroglou was optimistic regarding the implementation of the deal, and said that there is time to iron out differences and implement the accord before the next general election.
“We are inaugurating something more with the proposals that we will thresh out. That is the intention of both the Prime Minister and the Archbishop to proceed with a rationalisation of Church-State relations and to determine these relations through dialogue and not clashes,” he said.
“We have all the time until the elections to complete the agreement, but to get to that point certain procedures must be followed. This process is already underway, as was clearly stated by the Prime Minister and the Archbishop after the unanimous decision of the Church hierarchy. That unanimous decision makes clear that the Church wants the discussion to continue.”
“However, an historic agreement such as this requires caution, so as not to be dragged about by the populist tendency of parties that believe that they can make deals with the Church and those who serve it. We do not engage in horse-trading. We reach open and public agreements.”
Archbishop Ieronymos welcomed the Government's announcement. "I am pleased to welcome the Prime Minister's statement on the unanimous decision of the extraordinary Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece and the continuation of the substantive dialogue between the Church and the State on issues of common interest."
"Co-operation, he added," is a further step in deepening our distinct roles, always in the service of the common interests of our people."
Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, during his press briefing, said "In the next period we will prepare the relevant draft law, because our desire is mutual understanding and consensus."
"The Government will exhaust all room for dialogue and consultation with the Church in the context and spirit of the agreement announced in the joint statements of the Prime Minister and the Archbishop, as we believe that a more beneficial framework can not be found."
He said, the Government "is not in a hurry or pressed. It is seeking to resolve an issue that has been pending for 80 years and has the political will, in a frank dialogue, to resolve it." He went on, the Church "must understand that it is not its responsibility to decide on issues that fall under the exclusive competence of the State, such as what needs there are for civil servants."
"The draft agreement provides for the legislative consolidation of the clergy payroll which at present is not legally or institutionally recognized. If the Church does not want the benefit of this step, then it will instead be left exclusively to the State to take the initiative on the decisions."
"In any event, the final decisions on the matter will be taken by the Prime Minister and the Government when the right time comes."
The agreement proposed between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos to take Greek priests off the state payroll and resolve the historic property dispute appeared in doubt after the Holy Synod rejected any changes to the way clerics are paid and called for more discussion.
Last Friday's tense session of the Synod underscored the serious objections of a large section of church representatives.
After the meeting, Metropolitan Bishops of the Hierarchy issued a communiqué stating that they will not accept priests being removed from the registry of civil servants. Under the agreement, priests and lay employees will be paid the same salary, but it will be given as an annual grant to the Church for it to disburse. (Priests object to being removed from the state payroll because of fears of losing their status as civil servants.)
The Hierarchy of the Church at its six-hour session resulted in the following agreement:
- to continue dialogue with the State on issues of common interest.
- to assign to the Permanent Holy Synod the setting up of a Special Commi consisting of hierarchs, lawyers, experts and representatives of the clergy study subjects of common interest, the fruit of which will be submitted to the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece for final approval.
- to insist on the existing salary regime for clergy and laymen of the Church of Greece.
The Hierarchy appears open to dialogue on all the points of the joint communiqué reached by PM Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos, except one: The transfer of the clergy payroll from the State to the Church.
Archbishop Ieronymos said that he will do whatever possible to safeguard the amount of the grant that the State will give to the Church to cover the salaries of the clergy and to include this in the revision of the Constitution.
He also said that he has been looking into the issue of the Church’s property and assets for the last 30 years, and clarified that he has cooperated with all the previous prime ministers and presented the minutes of all the briefings to the Holy Synod.
“As head of the Church of Greece I have the obligation and duty to work for the achievement and success of these goals. There is no way for this vision to become reality without people that share it and wish to fight for its fulfillment. So, I warmly invite the Holy Clergy to stand by my side, adopt my concerns, reflect on the people’s expectations and share our common responsibilities. I promise to stand by you, to comfort your difficulties and troubles. I will do whatever possible to upgrade your ministry and secure you and your loved ones,” he said.
Closing his speech, Ieronymos underlined that “despite the sad feelings of the last days, this day is the start of a free Church”.
The press spokesman of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Ierotheos, clarified that except for the decision to set up the Commission to discuss the 15 points of the proposed agreement "today nothing was approved and nothing discounted".
When asked whether the issue of the clergy payroll is on the table as a matter of discussion, Metropolitan Nafpaktou said that all the issues would be put on the table, while stressing that the key is the first point, the continuation of the dialogue with the state. This means, he added, that "we are open to dialogue and this Commission will discuss all issues concerning common points with the State, and of course the issue of the payroll."
Government Response
The Government has sent a clear message: The statute of pay for ecclesiastical officials is in any case the responsibility and decision of the State.
The Government will pass into law all 15 points in the accord agreed between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, said Kostas Gavroglu, Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. Before submitting it to Parliament, the draft law will be brought to the attention of the Special Committee of the Permanent Holy Synod.
He emphasised that the agreement is a take it or leave it deal. Either it will be implemented in its entirety or not at all. The 15th and last point stipulates that nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed.
Minister Gavroglou was optimistic regarding the implementation of the deal, and said that there is time to iron out differences and implement the accord before the next general election.
“We are inaugurating something more with the proposals that we will thresh out. That is the intention of both the Prime Minister and the Archbishop to proceed with a rationalisation of Church-State relations and to determine these relations through dialogue and not clashes,” he said.
“We have all the time until the elections to complete the agreement, but to get to that point certain procedures must be followed. This process is already underway, as was clearly stated by the Prime Minister and the Archbishop after the unanimous decision of the Church hierarchy. That unanimous decision makes clear that the Church wants the discussion to continue.”
“However, an historic agreement such as this requires caution, so as not to be dragged about by the populist tendency of parties that believe that they can make deals with the Church and those who serve it. We do not engage in horse-trading. We reach open and public agreements.”
Archbishop Ieronymos welcomed the Government's announcement. "I am pleased to welcome the Prime Minister's statement on the unanimous decision of the extraordinary Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece and the continuation of the substantive dialogue between the Church and the State on issues of common interest."
"Co-operation, he added," is a further step in deepening our distinct roles, always in the service of the common interests of our people."
Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, during his press briefing, said "In the next period we will prepare the relevant draft law, because our desire is mutual understanding and consensus."
"The Government will exhaust all room for dialogue and consultation with the Church in the context and spirit of the agreement announced in the joint statements of the Prime Minister and the Archbishop, as we believe that a more beneficial framework can not be found."
He said, the Government "is not in a hurry or pressed. It is seeking to resolve an issue that has been pending for 80 years and has the political will, in a frank dialogue, to resolve it." He went on, the Church "must understand that it is not its responsibility to decide on issues that fall under the exclusive competence of the State, such as what needs there are for civil servants."
"The draft agreement provides for the legislative consolidation of the clergy payroll which at present is not legally or institutionally recognized. If the Church does not want the benefit of this step, then it will instead be left exclusively to the State to take the initiative on the decisions."
"In any event, the final decisions on the matter will be taken by the Prime Minister and the Government when the right time comes."
World Children's Rights Day 20th November
The Prime Minister's statement on the World Children's Rights Day
"The State supports the family and guarantees the rights of all children living and growing up in the country. Not only because it has a moral obligation, but because it ensures the future."
"The decade of the economic crisis has hit the structure of Greek society, exposing its most vulnerable groups to the risk of poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment. From the very first day, the Government unfolded the programme to tackle the humanitarian crisis in order to protect our weakest fellow citizens. Special care has been given to children and adolescents, the future of our homeland, across the range of actions the state can take.
Today, 153,000 school children are fed daily in our schools through the institution of school meals. School meals contribute decisively to reducing child poverty and spreading the culture of collectivity within the school community. We support the family through a series of measures, such as the 6-month special maternity protection permit, and child benefit, which already benefits 900,000 families, or 100,000 more than last year.
With the new law on fostering and adoption, we are creating the conditions to unravel the "grey landscape" of adoption and fostering processes and pave the way for the de-institutionalization of children. We have increased the funds available to create nurseries, spending 236€ million for 127,000 children and expanding free access to children in nurseries for unemployed mothers.
The introduction of a two-year compulsory education, the introduction of a uniform type of full-time kindergarten and elementary school, the inclusion of 8,000 refugees in schools from 2017, the creation of refugee classes and the creation of school units in all detention facilities for the children of prisoners, mean our country is active and pioneering in the implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, deepening and widening their rights.
These policy initiatives have resulted in a significant drop in the school drop-out rate (from 14% in 2008 to 6% in 2017) and a decline - for the first time since the onset of the crisis – in the material deprivation index and the percentage of children at risk of poverty. But we still have a lot to do. For the next period, a series of actions are planned, such as:
-The introduction of dental care services for children (prevention-treatment) by the National Organisation for the Provision of Health Services [ΕΟΠΥΥ], at a cost of 40€ million in 2019, through collaboration with private dentists.
-The development of new public child psychology care centres.
-The removal of financial burdens of families in the area of Special Education, by changing the current system of prepayment by parents and instead submitting expenditures to ΕΟΠΥΥ.
- Upgrading municipal playgrounds and school units through the Philodemos I and II programmes.
- Creating - for the first time in the country - 100 Family Support Centres, within community centers.
-The establishment of the Commissioner's office for any unaccompanied child refugee, with the task of representing children before authorities and agencies, to ensure that their rights are respected and that they grow up in an environment that offers security and prosperity.
Addressing the effects of the crisis on the most vulnerable social group, children, is high in the hierarchy of our priorities - protecting motherhood and the family, changing the adoption system, tackling child poverty and school drop-out rates.
The state guarantees the rights of all children. Not only because it has a moral obligation, but because it ensures the future."
The Prime Minister's statement on the World Children's Rights Day
"The State supports the family and guarantees the rights of all children living and growing up in the country. Not only because it has a moral obligation, but because it ensures the future."
"The decade of the economic crisis has hit the structure of Greek society, exposing its most vulnerable groups to the risk of poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment. From the very first day, the Government unfolded the programme to tackle the humanitarian crisis in order to protect our weakest fellow citizens. Special care has been given to children and adolescents, the future of our homeland, across the range of actions the state can take.
Today, 153,000 school children are fed daily in our schools through the institution of school meals. School meals contribute decisively to reducing child poverty and spreading the culture of collectivity within the school community. We support the family through a series of measures, such as the 6-month special maternity protection permit, and child benefit, which already benefits 900,000 families, or 100,000 more than last year.
With the new law on fostering and adoption, we are creating the conditions to unravel the "grey landscape" of adoption and fostering processes and pave the way for the de-institutionalization of children. We have increased the funds available to create nurseries, spending 236€ million for 127,000 children and expanding free access to children in nurseries for unemployed mothers.
The introduction of a two-year compulsory education, the introduction of a uniform type of full-time kindergarten and elementary school, the inclusion of 8,000 refugees in schools from 2017, the creation of refugee classes and the creation of school units in all detention facilities for the children of prisoners, mean our country is active and pioneering in the implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, deepening and widening their rights.
These policy initiatives have resulted in a significant drop in the school drop-out rate (from 14% in 2008 to 6% in 2017) and a decline - for the first time since the onset of the crisis – in the material deprivation index and the percentage of children at risk of poverty. But we still have a lot to do. For the next period, a series of actions are planned, such as:
-The introduction of dental care services for children (prevention-treatment) by the National Organisation for the Provision of Health Services [ΕΟΠΥΥ], at a cost of 40€ million in 2019, through collaboration with private dentists.
-The development of new public child psychology care centres.
-The removal of financial burdens of families in the area of Special Education, by changing the current system of prepayment by parents and instead submitting expenditures to ΕΟΠΥΥ.
- Upgrading municipal playgrounds and school units through the Philodemos I and II programmes.
- Creating - for the first time in the country - 100 Family Support Centres, within community centers.
-The establishment of the Commissioner's office for any unaccompanied child refugee, with the task of representing children before authorities and agencies, to ensure that their rights are respected and that they grow up in an environment that offers security and prosperity.
Addressing the effects of the crisis on the most vulnerable social group, children, is high in the hierarchy of our priorities - protecting motherhood and the family, changing the adoption system, tackling child poverty and school drop-out rates.
The state guarantees the rights of all children. Not only because it has a moral obligation, but because it ensures the future."
Exports continue upward trend
Exports continued their upward trend in the nine months of 2018, according to a survey by the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association (PSE).
Chairwoman of the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association, Christina Sakellaridis said "The timing is particularly favourable for Greek products on international markets, as was also seen in the forum "Go in Thessaloniki", recently organized by Eurobank in Thessaloniki where 120 Greek companies had the opportunity to discuss with more than 50 foreigners importers from over 20 countries of the world, the majority of which are customers of the 14 member banks of the Trade Club Alliance. The opportunity presented is unique and we should not let it go untapped."
In particular, in the nine months of 2018, according to the analysis of the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association and the Center for Export Research and Studies (KEEM), Based on the most recent data of EL-STAT, exports, including petroleum products, increased by 3.49€ billion or 16.8% and rose to 24.34 billion from 20.85€ billion, while excluding oil, they amounted to 15.88€ billion up from 14.27€ billion, ie they increased by 1.61€ billion or by 11.3%.
Greece's exports to the EU (28), including petroleum products, now account for 52% of total exports. Their share in the first nine months of 2017 amounted to 54%. On the other hand, exports to Third Countries in 2018 rose and now hold a share of total exports of 48% up from 46% in the same period last year.
Imports between January and September 2018 increased by 3.64€ billion or 10%, totalling 40.03€ billion compared to 36.39€ billion in the same period in 2017. Excluding petroleum products, imports increased to 28.25€ billion from 27.41€ billion, or by 845€ million or 3.1%.
As a result, the trade deficit increased by 144€ million in the first nine months of 2018 or by 0.9% to 15.69€ billion from 15.55€ billion in the corresponding period of 2017. Excluding petroleum products, the trade deficit fell to 12.37€ billion from 13.14€ billion, or fell by 769€ million or by 5.9%.
Italy continues to be the most important destination for Greek exports in the first nine months of 2018, while Turkey was in second place after being in the fourth place in the corresponding nine months of last year. Germany came next and then Cyprus, which fell by one place (they were 2nd and 3rd respectively in 2017).
Lebanon moved up one position in the relative rankings to 5th and Bulgaria in 6th position losing one place, while the US and the United Kingdom remained in the 7th and 8th, as they were in January-September 2017.
The top ten of the main destinations were filled by Egypt in 9th position - two positions up compared to the first nine months of 2017 and Spain with a rise of three places (10th from 13th).
As stated in the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association announcement: "Greek exports are showing the road the country has to follow in the post-memorandum period in order to build a sustainable economy that will withstand external shocks. Everyone must realize that investing in exports is a one-way street for Greece and should be supported by every available means.
Since the outbreak of the crisis up to today, Greek exporters continue to impress with their performance, despite the lack of liquidity, capital controls and high taxation."
Exports continued their upward trend in the nine months of 2018, according to a survey by the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association (PSE).
Chairwoman of the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association, Christina Sakellaridis said "The timing is particularly favourable for Greek products on international markets, as was also seen in the forum "Go in Thessaloniki", recently organized by Eurobank in Thessaloniki where 120 Greek companies had the opportunity to discuss with more than 50 foreigners importers from over 20 countries of the world, the majority of which are customers of the 14 member banks of the Trade Club Alliance. The opportunity presented is unique and we should not let it go untapped."
In particular, in the nine months of 2018, according to the analysis of the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association and the Center for Export Research and Studies (KEEM), Based on the most recent data of EL-STAT, exports, including petroleum products, increased by 3.49€ billion or 16.8% and rose to 24.34 billion from 20.85€ billion, while excluding oil, they amounted to 15.88€ billion up from 14.27€ billion, ie they increased by 1.61€ billion or by 11.3%.
Greece's exports to the EU (28), including petroleum products, now account for 52% of total exports. Their share in the first nine months of 2017 amounted to 54%. On the other hand, exports to Third Countries in 2018 rose and now hold a share of total exports of 48% up from 46% in the same period last year.
Imports between January and September 2018 increased by 3.64€ billion or 10%, totalling 40.03€ billion compared to 36.39€ billion in the same period in 2017. Excluding petroleum products, imports increased to 28.25€ billion from 27.41€ billion, or by 845€ million or 3.1%.
As a result, the trade deficit increased by 144€ million in the first nine months of 2018 or by 0.9% to 15.69€ billion from 15.55€ billion in the corresponding period of 2017. Excluding petroleum products, the trade deficit fell to 12.37€ billion from 13.14€ billion, or fell by 769€ million or by 5.9%.
Italy continues to be the most important destination for Greek exports in the first nine months of 2018, while Turkey was in second place after being in the fourth place in the corresponding nine months of last year. Germany came next and then Cyprus, which fell by one place (they were 2nd and 3rd respectively in 2017).
Lebanon moved up one position in the relative rankings to 5th and Bulgaria in 6th position losing one place, while the US and the United Kingdom remained in the 7th and 8th, as they were in January-September 2017.
The top ten of the main destinations were filled by Egypt in 9th position - two positions up compared to the first nine months of 2017 and Spain with a rise of three places (10th from 13th).
As stated in the Pan-Hellenic Exporters' Association announcement: "Greek exports are showing the road the country has to follow in the post-memorandum period in order to build a sustainable economy that will withstand external shocks. Everyone must realize that investing in exports is a one-way street for Greece and should be supported by every available means.
Since the outbreak of the crisis up to today, Greek exporters continue to impress with their performance, despite the lack of liquidity, capital controls and high taxation."
Information and events for UK Nationals living in Greece
21.11.2018
10.30am for 11am start at the Town Hall in Vrysses.
We have to register to get a ticket!!!
Use this link
Thursday 29 November 2018: Apokoronas - Chania, West Crete – please register here via eventbrite
We have to register to get a ticket!!!
Use this link
Thursday 29 November 2018: Apokoronas - Chania, West Crete – please register here via eventbrite
The British Embassy and Consulate Network are holding a series of meetings with UK Nationals across Greece.
“In a continuous effort to reach as many UK Nationals currently living in Greece as possible, we are announcing future events for British expats. During the meetings there will be an update on developments around EU exit followed up by questions and discussion on this and any other matter that concerns them regarding Britain’s departure from the European Union or living in Greece.
Meetings are free and open to all UK Nationals. Please watch this space for further updates on upcoming events. Some of these events may require pre-registration – please check requirements described below.
Upcoming events across Greece: Thursday 29 November 2018: West Crete – details to be announced soon
[We will publish details as soon as we can]
In the meantime, these links may be useful
https://www.facebook.com/ukingreece/
https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-vice-consulate-crete
On 14 November 2018, the UK government published the full legal text of the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union. For the latest official Government Information about Citizens Rights, this link provides a useful summary
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe
“In a continuous effort to reach as many UK Nationals currently living in Greece as possible, we are announcing future events for British expats. During the meetings there will be an update on developments around EU exit followed up by questions and discussion on this and any other matter that concerns them regarding Britain’s departure from the European Union or living in Greece.
Meetings are free and open to all UK Nationals. Please watch this space for further updates on upcoming events. Some of these events may require pre-registration – please check requirements described below.
Upcoming events across Greece: Thursday 29 November 2018: West Crete – details to be announced soon
[We will publish details as soon as we can]
In the meantime, these links may be useful
https://www.facebook.com/ukingreece/
https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-vice-consulate-crete
On 14 November 2018, the UK government published the full legal text of the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union. For the latest official Government Information about Citizens Rights, this link provides a useful summary
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe
"It is time for the Greek parliament to take groundbreaking initiatives and rise to meet the expectations and demands of citizens."
17.11.2018
On Wednesday, speaking from the podium of Parliament at the first meeting on the revision of the Constitution, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said:
"Today is the time for the Greek parliament to to go beyond petty party political interests and tactics, to seek consensus where it is feasible to seek it. We risk losing another 10 years. I call on the leaders of all political parties not to raise the issue of party discipline in the process that begins today. Let the MPs vote freely."
"It is time for the Greek parliament to take groundbreaking initiatives and rise to meet the expectations and demands of citizens."
The Prime Minister stressed that for the problems that have been identified "there are of course political responsibilities. Responses that have been searched for and continue to be sought. Responsibilities that have been assigned and will continue to be assigned".
Referring to SYRIZA's proposals, Alexis Tsipras highlighted the anti-neoliberal choices proposed and the emphasis on the presence of the people as agents as opposed to the aristocratic perception of power.
"I know very well that there are many who do not trust the people’s judgement. They consider the popular majority to be ignorant. They have the opinion that the people are easily mislead. That they only make mistakes. In a nutshell, there are several aristocrats among us." "So, to paraphrase Rosa Luxemburg, "I prefer the mistakes of the people, rather than the infallibility of their representatives."
The old system of power was political choice
Analyzing the past and how to re-build the old political system, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "the organizational deformity of the state was not the result of the supposedly weak governments of the post-dictatorship political landscape [μεταπολίτευσης]. Nor of course has it to do with the supposed failure of the post-dictatorship political period itself, as many representatives of the old political system that led the country into the crisis want to try and persuade us, those who, when they talk about the “others”, the corrupt, the tax evaders, and the clientelist system in the country, are essentially talking about themselves and about their own political responsibilities. This situation was not a sufficient explanation. It was a political choice. Since the organizational and administrative chaos was in itself a technology of exercising power. It was the prerequisite
- for reproducing relationships of citizens’ dependence on politicians
- the creation, maintenance and cover-up of breeding grounds of corruption from the bottom to the top of the administrative mechanism
- the tolerance for generalized tax evasion that served as a catalyst for the hegemony of neo-liberalism, for its acceptance as their own ideology by the middle classes."
Political stability
The Prime Minister referred to the need to strengthen political stability "with the constructive vote of no-confidence, but also with the simultaneous internal balancing mechanism of the proportional representation electoral system. But also in the need to decouple the process of electing the President of the Republic from the early dissolution of Parliament. And of course with our effort to create institutional terms and conditions that mean exhausting all the possibilities of finding a consensus. And that is what I think is achieved with the proposal for successive votes. "
He also pointed out that SYRIZA's proposals for the abolition of the short statute of limitation for offences committed in the exercise of ministerial duties, parliamentary immunity and the limit on parliamentary service seek to "put an end to today's constitutional logic that politicians are a caste that requires special treatment and is entitled to special privileges."
The Church
As regards changes in Church and State relations, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "the time has come for the religious neutrality of the Greek state to be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution. Because the state does not have a religion but is the guarantor of religious freedom for all its citizens - an inalienable and irrevocable freedom that our Constitution provides to every citizen. And this explicit guarantee I think will not be found to be inimicable to the Church which also wants a clear definition of its relations with the State. And this will be an important step towards the modernization and liberalization of the Constitution - an important step in rationalizing church and state relations which is, of course, not an exclusively constitutional issue. But it concerns a labyrinthial legislative and regulatory network that does not change from one day to the next. On the contrary, it requires dialogue with respect and honesty. It presupposes goodwill and long-term joint work. And it was demonstrated by the recent proposal for an agreement we reached with Archbishop Ieronymos that when these conditions are met, solutions can be found even to the most resolute problems.
Solutions that are both amicable and that take us forward."
Social rights
Alexis Tsipras also referred to the support of social rights and labour as a counterbalance to neo-liberalism by proposing:
- "to protect water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise
- to promote emphatically the protection of work and working people
- to recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage
- to strengthen state guarantees for the provision of health services to all."
"Today is the time for the Greek parliament to to go beyond petty party political interests and tactics, to seek consensus where it is feasible to seek it. We risk losing another 10 years. I call on the leaders of all political parties not to raise the issue of party discipline in the process that begins today. Let the MPs vote freely."
"It is time for the Greek parliament to take groundbreaking initiatives and rise to meet the expectations and demands of citizens."
The Prime Minister stressed that for the problems that have been identified "there are of course political responsibilities. Responses that have been searched for and continue to be sought. Responsibilities that have been assigned and will continue to be assigned".
Referring to SYRIZA's proposals, Alexis Tsipras highlighted the anti-neoliberal choices proposed and the emphasis on the presence of the people as agents as opposed to the aristocratic perception of power.
"I know very well that there are many who do not trust the people’s judgement. They consider the popular majority to be ignorant. They have the opinion that the people are easily mislead. That they only make mistakes. In a nutshell, there are several aristocrats among us." "So, to paraphrase Rosa Luxemburg, "I prefer the mistakes of the people, rather than the infallibility of their representatives."
The old system of power was political choice
Analyzing the past and how to re-build the old political system, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "the organizational deformity of the state was not the result of the supposedly weak governments of the post-dictatorship political landscape [μεταπολίτευσης]. Nor of course has it to do with the supposed failure of the post-dictatorship political period itself, as many representatives of the old political system that led the country into the crisis want to try and persuade us, those who, when they talk about the “others”, the corrupt, the tax evaders, and the clientelist system in the country, are essentially talking about themselves and about their own political responsibilities. This situation was not a sufficient explanation. It was a political choice. Since the organizational and administrative chaos was in itself a technology of exercising power. It was the prerequisite
- for reproducing relationships of citizens’ dependence on politicians
- the creation, maintenance and cover-up of breeding grounds of corruption from the bottom to the top of the administrative mechanism
- the tolerance for generalized tax evasion that served as a catalyst for the hegemony of neo-liberalism, for its acceptance as their own ideology by the middle classes."
Political stability
The Prime Minister referred to the need to strengthen political stability "with the constructive vote of no-confidence, but also with the simultaneous internal balancing mechanism of the proportional representation electoral system. But also in the need to decouple the process of electing the President of the Republic from the early dissolution of Parliament. And of course with our effort to create institutional terms and conditions that mean exhausting all the possibilities of finding a consensus. And that is what I think is achieved with the proposal for successive votes. "
He also pointed out that SYRIZA's proposals for the abolition of the short statute of limitation for offences committed in the exercise of ministerial duties, parliamentary immunity and the limit on parliamentary service seek to "put an end to today's constitutional logic that politicians are a caste that requires special treatment and is entitled to special privileges."
The Church
As regards changes in Church and State relations, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "the time has come for the religious neutrality of the Greek state to be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution. Because the state does not have a religion but is the guarantor of religious freedom for all its citizens - an inalienable and irrevocable freedom that our Constitution provides to every citizen. And this explicit guarantee I think will not be found to be inimicable to the Church which also wants a clear definition of its relations with the State. And this will be an important step towards the modernization and liberalization of the Constitution - an important step in rationalizing church and state relations which is, of course, not an exclusively constitutional issue. But it concerns a labyrinthial legislative and regulatory network that does not change from one day to the next. On the contrary, it requires dialogue with respect and honesty. It presupposes goodwill and long-term joint work. And it was demonstrated by the recent proposal for an agreement we reached with Archbishop Ieronymos that when these conditions are met, solutions can be found even to the most resolute problems.
Solutions that are both amicable and that take us forward."
Social rights
Alexis Tsipras also referred to the support of social rights and labour as a counterbalance to neo-liberalism by proposing:
- "to protect water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise
- to promote emphatically the protection of work and working people
- to recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage
- to strengthen state guarantees for the provision of health services to all."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras opens the Constitutional Debate in Parliament : His complete speech
“Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, at the initiative of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA, the highest parliamentary process of the constitutional revision is launched. It is a supreme process, regardless of the circumstances in which it takes place, because the revision of the Constitution is - I would say - a review of the very rules of political engagement, of the very framework within which politics operate. That is why the Constitution - and not unfairly - has been described as "the law of politics".
Today, however, this process embraces even wider content and becomes even more important because it comes at a transitional moment for the country, for society and for the economy, the moment we are taking our first steps after the completion of a period of many years, of the memorandum period, a difficult and tough period for the country, a period that ended, however, with a clear exit from the last adjustment programme last August.
And here there is no question of it being - just to say - a coincidence of two independent situations. The opposite. The completion of the memorandum period and the start of the constitutional revision immediately afterwards, coincide with time by choice. Because today, apart from the necessity, we have the possibility - I would say - to reflect on the experience of these years, to think about the experience of bankruptcy, the experience of the crisis as a whole, but also the experience we have gained from the management of this crisis, to reflect on the institutional causes - because, of course, there are other non-institutional ones - to draw on this experience and to draw the necessary lessons.
Because if the crisis was indeed an overwhelming experience for the vast majority of the Greek people that bore disproportionate burdens, it made us - I would say - at the same time wiser about very many things. It has led us to look at the democratic deficit of our political system, our institutional and administrative deficiencies, but also to understand the methods by which the economic and political elites organize and protect themselves - methods also largely related to the Constitution.
And precisely because the crisis worked as a wake-up call, it has brought to the forefront, emphatically, popular demands for more democracy, more equality, more social protection, and the demand for a radical reform of the Greek state, a state whose organizational deformity was not a result of the supposed weakness of the governments of the post-dictatorship political period, because in other things these governments were extremely competent. Nor, of course, has it to do with the alleged failure of the post-dictatorship political period, as they said, and as some of the representatives of the old political system that led the country to the crisis still tell us, those who, when talking about the “others”, the corrupt, the tax evaders, the clientelist system in the country, are actually talking about their own responsibilities, possibly about themselves.
This situation was not a sufficient explanation. It was a political choice. Since the organizational and administrative chaos was in itself a technology of exercising power. It was the prerequisite for reproducing relationships of citizens’ dependence on politicians, for the creation, maintenance and cover-up of breeding grounds of corruption from the bottom to the top of the administrative mechanism but also, I would say, a prerequisite for the tolerance for generalized tax evasion that served as a catalyst for the hegemony of neo-liberalism, for its acceptance, that is to say, as their own ideology by wider popular strata and especially by the middle classes.
I am therefore convinced that one of the positive strands of the crisis was to raise citizens' consciousness not only against the policies of austerity but also against a political system that restricts citizens' participation in decision-making, which ultimately underestimates their role and their intelligence and establishes a regime of lack of transparency about critical choices. This was, in fact, the demand for more and more effective democracy and for reform of the state, which emerged in the early years of the crisis with the so-called "Movement of the Squares" [The Protest Occupations of City Squares in Greece in 2011 Ed] . I would particularly say the lower square, where there were fewer slogans and more proposals and more reflection.
We, therefore, with the proposal we are submitting today to the Greek Parliament on constitutional reform, are coming to try to understand and listen to this popular demand and popular expectation for reform of the state.
At the same time, however, our proposal attempts to also respond to the major challenges faced by every organized society at the dawn of the 21st century.
As I have said several times, our proposal for a constitutional revision is not a proposal that looks inwards. At the same time, it takes into account the transformations of the state and the institutions, but also the emergence of multiple national, supranational, public and private centres of power, power centres which unfortunately are no longer controlled by the people, but on the contrary impose political and economic choices, exercising their disciplinary function over the people and their elected representatives.
They impose choices because supposedly they possess knowledge, a neutral and objective knowledge, a knowledge separate from the political system, the representatives of the people or the people themselves, a knowledge that is in fact a power in itself, as Nikos Poulantzas used to say, a power which the people must obey.
So, it is in this global post-democratic situation and taking into account the national characteristics and the effects of the crisis, that we are obliged to proceed.
We are therefore putting forward a proposal for a revision whose main purpose is to strengthen parliamentarianism, deepen Democracy and popular participation, protect social rights, abolish privileged institutions that favour the political elite, if I may be permitted the term.
But we also make a proposal that avoids constitutional maximalism and volunteerism, because we know - we have learned this now - that not everything is dependent on the Constitution. What the Constitution can do is to set the terms and limits, to determine the forms of political conflict, and not to anticipate or pre-figure the outcome of the political conflict.
And precisely because we know this, we have no ambition to want to create the perfect Constitution, simply because we can not create the perfect Constitution because a perfect Constitution does not exist. Because there will always be the implacable question, perfect for whom?
Therefore, what we are trying to do is not to impose our own views and proposals, we set them down with the aim of seeking consensus, consensus on positions and proposals that we consider necessary for the aims that we want to serve.
I believe these goals are not exclusively ours, that is, the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group’s which is making this proposal. I appreciate that there are some men and women in this Parliament who share these goals, perhaps from another ideological or political point of view.
I believe that there are many who agree on the need for a new architecture for the present-day constitution, the need to strengthen, for example, political stability, strengthen Parliament and also governments with a constructive vote of no-confidence, but also a simultaneous internal balancing mechanism of the proportional electoral system, as well as the need to decouple the process of electing the President of the Republic from the early dissolution of Parliament. And of course they agree with the effort to create institutional terms and conditions that mean exhausting all the possibilities of finding a consensus every time.
And that is what I think is achieved with the proposal we tabled, the proposal for successive votes because any other solution - after two or three failed attempts to elect the President of the Republic to go directly to the people, a proposal we had tabled initially - involves the possibility of a risk.
The danger is that we have a dualism at the top of the executive because, when the constitutional lawmaker foresees that immediately after two fruitless successive votes the people's judgement will come, the political system - regardless of the parliamentary balance - will not agree to the election of the President of the Republic by Parliament, but will give the prospect of direct election by the people.
The prospect of the direct election of the President of the Republic by the people gives - obviously, irrespective of the powers of the President of the Republic - a special power to the President elected by the people of the Republic. Our question is this: Do we want this duality? Our own thought and our own proposal is not that, it is not to create a bipolar system.
The second risk is to adopt the view that we should not have the ultimate approach to the popular vote at the end of the process and allow the President of the Republic to be elected after three consecutive failures, three successive votes that do not end up with one hundred and fifty one.
Here we have the danger of creating the disincentive for consensus, that is, the disincentive to create a consensus for the person who, according to the Constitution, must be the representative of the unity of the polity and thus allow the simple parliamentary majority of one hundred and fifty one to elect a President of the Republic even without the intervention of elections.
I therefore think that the proposal, which, after much agonising, we are putting forward, deals as far as possible with both of the risks I have mentioned.
Also, to move on to another issue, I agree that we can achieve not only the decoupling of the election of the President of the Republic from the dissolution of the House, but we can also achieve the need to strengthen the direct participation of the people in the taking of decisions not because the people are always right, but because the people are the source of all power, except for some for whom it is just a fossilized constitutional declaration rather than a living and active principle. For us it is a living and active principle. It ought to be for all of us.
I know very well that there are some in this Chamber - to put it a little elegantly - who do not trust the popular judgement, who may sometimes believe that the majority of the people are ignorant or who have the opinion, to be more polite, that people are easily misled, that they make mistakes. One might say that these are views of another system, not of democracy, but of aristocracy.
I will just paraphrase a famous phrase of a great personality, a revolutionary at the beginning of the last century, Rosa Luxemburg. I will paraphrase it, however, because she was saying this about the Central Committee and I would say this: "I prefer the mistakes of the people, rather than the infallibility of their representatives."
Let us consider what logic we are following, if we believe that precisely because the people make mistakes, we must restrict power to those who know not to make mistakes. We must, therefore, learn to trust the people, as we must learn to trust democracy as well, because it is the same.
That is why I invite you, ladies and gentlemen, to support these proposals about referenda by popular initiative, proposals relating to the mandatory referendum in the event that we have an international agreement which concedes sovereign powers to international organizations but also the proposal for the popular legislative initiative.
I will also invite you to engage with those proposals that attempt to put an end to today's constitutional logic, that our politicians are a caste that needs special treatment and is entitled to special privileges.
Also I urge you to engage with those proposals that want to abolish the institutions that form the basis and give organizational form to the clientelist state, because in our democracy we can not tolerate the existence of citizens with different speeds of treatment, the existence of first and second categories citizens.
So I think that the time has now come - and I want to believe that this is a commonplace for the great majority of the House - today to take courage to change the provisions on the responsibility of Ministers so as to abolish the short statute of limitation for offences committed in the course of their duties and thus equalise their criminal treatment, to the extent that it is necessary, with the criminal treatment of all other citizens.
I also believe that it is time to amend the provisions on parliamentary immunity, so that it also covers only offences committed in the exercise of MPs' duties. Still one step further, I believe that the time is right - and the great social majority views it absolutely positively – for us to proceed to the establishment of a limitation to the terms of office for the continued election for MPs so that the majority of Greek society ceases to believe that being an MP is a profession, because it must not be a profession, it must be a function, alongside the people, for the people, to represent the people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me, however, pass on to a subject that is unrelated to the constitution and its architecture; it is not related to the crisis and bankruptcy, but it concerns the very origin and historical conditions of the formation of the Greek state and I refer to the relations of the State and the Church. I think that today the State, the Church, the Parliament, the citizens and the faithful, which is the overwhelming majority, have now understood that steps must be taken to rationalize these relations and that we must at the same time try to solve outstanding historical issues. We must find formulations with the necessary sensitivity and in respectful terms and conditions, so that the roles, on the one side, of the State and, on the other, of the Church, because only then can we create both the appropriate conditions for a advantageous collaboration that is fitting, so that we leave aside old conflicts and clashes, so we leave in the past the unilateral activities and we go forward with mutual understanding.
I am of the opinion that at this point a broad consensus can also be formed in and out of Parliament so we can move into a new era. Because neither the Church nor the State wants to embrace each other within an institutional framework that confuses the boundaries and their roles. So the time has come for the religious neutrality of the Greek state to be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, because the State does not have a religion, but it is the guarantor of religious freedom for all its citizens, an inalienable and irrevocable freedom provided by our constitution to every citizen. And this explicit guarantee I think will not be found to be inimical to the Church which also wants a clear definition of its relations with the State. And it only benefits from it. And I believe that at the same time this will be an important step towards the modernization and liberalization of the Constitution - an important step in rationalizing church and state relations which is, of course, - I will agree with many of you who have said it publicly - not an exclusively constitutional issue. But it concerns a labyrinthine legislative and regulatory network that does not change from one day to the next. On the contrary, for it to be unravelled, to change it, requires dialogue with respect and honesty. It presupposes goodwill and long-term joint work.
I think it was demonstrated by the recent proposal for an agreement we reached with Archbishop Ieronymos that when these conditions are met, solutions can be found even to the most resolute problems. Solutions that are both amicable and that take us forward."
I would like to conclude, ladies and gentlemen MPs, this intervention on the last major issue of our proposal for the revision of the Constitution: the question of social protection, the strengthening of social rights, the necessary social interventions that question the statutes of neoliberalism, which challenge the dominant position of the neo-liberals - and of course there are some such people in this Chamber - that the precondition for development is the shattering of the work of the welfare state, because in reality we believe the opposite is true.
There is no progression for the social majority without the protection of labour, without the shielding of the welfare state. And it is precisely for this reason that, in view of the tragic experience of the crisis and of its management, we must move in the direction of supporting, widening and deepening social rights.
In this context, and following this logic, we are today putting forward our proposals to protect water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise, in order to emphatically safeguard the protection of work and working people, in order to recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage, to strengthen state guarantees, so that health services are provided to all.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have, in my view - and I want to close with this reference - already lost a lot of time, valuable time. The last two constitutional revisions, 2001 and 2008, there is no doubt that they were revisions that missed their target and failed. They started out ambitiously trying to change everything in the Constitution and eventually they changed nothing or they changed very very little.
In any case, the foundations of the clientelist state remained in place. Parliamentarianism remained weak and unprotected, and we paid for it tragically when the crisis and memoranda were unleashed and there emerged new centres of power outside this Chamber. The people remained cut off from the political system and lost their trust even more in the state and institutions. Politics had been abolished. The welfare state had been shattered by the bankruptcy. What we call the "constitutional treaty of impunity and cover-up" was established with Article 86, which constitutes a shame on the political system.
Of course, there are undoubtedly political responsibilities for all of this. Responsibilities that have been searched for and continue to be sought, responsibilities which have been assigned and will continue to be assigned. Today, however, is not the time for blame. It is time for the Greek Parliament to take groundbreaking initiatives, to overcome petty party political expediencies and tactics, to give answers that are not about today but address tomorrow. Let us rise up to meet the expectations and demands of the citizens and seek consensus wherever it can be found.
I know very well that it will not be easy to do so for a number of reasons, that it will not be easy for some men and women in this Chamber to work in this way. For, despite their views, many will either be manipulated by their leaderships whose only objective is the belated political advantage or they will be guided by political hatred of of the current conjuncture. But we are in danger of losing another ten years. And I think this is self-defeating for the political system and for democracy itself.
So I call on the leaders of all political parties to think again and not put the question of party discipline into this process, starting today. Let MPs freely express their opinions and suggestions and vote freely.
I am sure that if this happens, the vast majority of Members will work with a sense of political and social responsibility. They will work with the aim of reaching a consensus wherever we can, where they disagree, they will disagree constructively and they will agree where it is necessary to agree with magnanimity.
This is definitely what SYRIZA intends to do, I imagine that the Independent Greeks also intend to do so. I hope that the leaders of the other parties will also decide to do so.
For us, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, there are no proposals that are ultimatums, instead there are proposals for discussion, proposals seeking consensus, because the Constitution demands this. This is required by the legislator who defined this process for it to be possible to change the Constitution after two different stages - one with 151 votes in favour, the other with 180 or the one with 180 votes in favour, the other with 151 - and at the end of the day that is what our political duty requires of us, as we perceive it. And of course, this duty also concerns the very principles of democracy, parliamentarianism, principles we serve, and principles that we seek to strengthen and shield with this process.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, at the initiative of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA, the highest parliamentary process of the constitutional revision is launched. It is a supreme process, regardless of the circumstances in which it takes place, because the revision of the Constitution is - I would say - a review of the very rules of political engagement, of the very framework within which politics operate. That is why the Constitution - and not unfairly - has been described as "the law of politics".
Today, however, this process embraces even wider content and becomes even more important because it comes at a transitional moment for the country, for society and for the economy, the moment we are taking our first steps after the completion of a period of many years, of the memorandum period, a difficult and tough period for the country, a period that ended, however, with a clear exit from the last adjustment programme last August.
And here there is no question of it being - just to say - a coincidence of two independent situations. The opposite. The completion of the memorandum period and the start of the constitutional revision immediately afterwards, coincide with time by choice. Because today, apart from the necessity, we have the possibility - I would say - to reflect on the experience of these years, to think about the experience of bankruptcy, the experience of the crisis as a whole, but also the experience we have gained from the management of this crisis, to reflect on the institutional causes - because, of course, there are other non-institutional ones - to draw on this experience and to draw the necessary lessons.
Because if the crisis was indeed an overwhelming experience for the vast majority of the Greek people that bore disproportionate burdens, it made us - I would say - at the same time wiser about very many things. It has led us to look at the democratic deficit of our political system, our institutional and administrative deficiencies, but also to understand the methods by which the economic and political elites organize and protect themselves - methods also largely related to the Constitution.
And precisely because the crisis worked as a wake-up call, it has brought to the forefront, emphatically, popular demands for more democracy, more equality, more social protection, and the demand for a radical reform of the Greek state, a state whose organizational deformity was not a result of the supposed weakness of the governments of the post-dictatorship political period, because in other things these governments were extremely competent. Nor, of course, has it to do with the alleged failure of the post-dictatorship political period, as they said, and as some of the representatives of the old political system that led the country to the crisis still tell us, those who, when talking about the “others”, the corrupt, the tax evaders, the clientelist system in the country, are actually talking about their own responsibilities, possibly about themselves.
This situation was not a sufficient explanation. It was a political choice. Since the organizational and administrative chaos was in itself a technology of exercising power. It was the prerequisite for reproducing relationships of citizens’ dependence on politicians, for the creation, maintenance and cover-up of breeding grounds of corruption from the bottom to the top of the administrative mechanism but also, I would say, a prerequisite for the tolerance for generalized tax evasion that served as a catalyst for the hegemony of neo-liberalism, for its acceptance, that is to say, as their own ideology by wider popular strata and especially by the middle classes.
I am therefore convinced that one of the positive strands of the crisis was to raise citizens' consciousness not only against the policies of austerity but also against a political system that restricts citizens' participation in decision-making, which ultimately underestimates their role and their intelligence and establishes a regime of lack of transparency about critical choices. This was, in fact, the demand for more and more effective democracy and for reform of the state, which emerged in the early years of the crisis with the so-called "Movement of the Squares" [The Protest Occupations of City Squares in Greece in 2011 Ed] . I would particularly say the lower square, where there were fewer slogans and more proposals and more reflection.
We, therefore, with the proposal we are submitting today to the Greek Parliament on constitutional reform, are coming to try to understand and listen to this popular demand and popular expectation for reform of the state.
At the same time, however, our proposal attempts to also respond to the major challenges faced by every organized society at the dawn of the 21st century.
As I have said several times, our proposal for a constitutional revision is not a proposal that looks inwards. At the same time, it takes into account the transformations of the state and the institutions, but also the emergence of multiple national, supranational, public and private centres of power, power centres which unfortunately are no longer controlled by the people, but on the contrary impose political and economic choices, exercising their disciplinary function over the people and their elected representatives.
They impose choices because supposedly they possess knowledge, a neutral and objective knowledge, a knowledge separate from the political system, the representatives of the people or the people themselves, a knowledge that is in fact a power in itself, as Nikos Poulantzas used to say, a power which the people must obey.
So, it is in this global post-democratic situation and taking into account the national characteristics and the effects of the crisis, that we are obliged to proceed.
We are therefore putting forward a proposal for a revision whose main purpose is to strengthen parliamentarianism, deepen Democracy and popular participation, protect social rights, abolish privileged institutions that favour the political elite, if I may be permitted the term.
But we also make a proposal that avoids constitutional maximalism and volunteerism, because we know - we have learned this now - that not everything is dependent on the Constitution. What the Constitution can do is to set the terms and limits, to determine the forms of political conflict, and not to anticipate or pre-figure the outcome of the political conflict.
And precisely because we know this, we have no ambition to want to create the perfect Constitution, simply because we can not create the perfect Constitution because a perfect Constitution does not exist. Because there will always be the implacable question, perfect for whom?
Therefore, what we are trying to do is not to impose our own views and proposals, we set them down with the aim of seeking consensus, consensus on positions and proposals that we consider necessary for the aims that we want to serve.
I believe these goals are not exclusively ours, that is, the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group’s which is making this proposal. I appreciate that there are some men and women in this Parliament who share these goals, perhaps from another ideological or political point of view.
I believe that there are many who agree on the need for a new architecture for the present-day constitution, the need to strengthen, for example, political stability, strengthen Parliament and also governments with a constructive vote of no-confidence, but also a simultaneous internal balancing mechanism of the proportional electoral system, as well as the need to decouple the process of electing the President of the Republic from the early dissolution of Parliament. And of course they agree with the effort to create institutional terms and conditions that mean exhausting all the possibilities of finding a consensus every time.
And that is what I think is achieved with the proposal we tabled, the proposal for successive votes because any other solution - after two or three failed attempts to elect the President of the Republic to go directly to the people, a proposal we had tabled initially - involves the possibility of a risk.
The danger is that we have a dualism at the top of the executive because, when the constitutional lawmaker foresees that immediately after two fruitless successive votes the people's judgement will come, the political system - regardless of the parliamentary balance - will not agree to the election of the President of the Republic by Parliament, but will give the prospect of direct election by the people.
The prospect of the direct election of the President of the Republic by the people gives - obviously, irrespective of the powers of the President of the Republic - a special power to the President elected by the people of the Republic. Our question is this: Do we want this duality? Our own thought and our own proposal is not that, it is not to create a bipolar system.
The second risk is to adopt the view that we should not have the ultimate approach to the popular vote at the end of the process and allow the President of the Republic to be elected after three consecutive failures, three successive votes that do not end up with one hundred and fifty one.
Here we have the danger of creating the disincentive for consensus, that is, the disincentive to create a consensus for the person who, according to the Constitution, must be the representative of the unity of the polity and thus allow the simple parliamentary majority of one hundred and fifty one to elect a President of the Republic even without the intervention of elections.
I therefore think that the proposal, which, after much agonising, we are putting forward, deals as far as possible with both of the risks I have mentioned.
Also, to move on to another issue, I agree that we can achieve not only the decoupling of the election of the President of the Republic from the dissolution of the House, but we can also achieve the need to strengthen the direct participation of the people in the taking of decisions not because the people are always right, but because the people are the source of all power, except for some for whom it is just a fossilized constitutional declaration rather than a living and active principle. For us it is a living and active principle. It ought to be for all of us.
I know very well that there are some in this Chamber - to put it a little elegantly - who do not trust the popular judgement, who may sometimes believe that the majority of the people are ignorant or who have the opinion, to be more polite, that people are easily misled, that they make mistakes. One might say that these are views of another system, not of democracy, but of aristocracy.
I will just paraphrase a famous phrase of a great personality, a revolutionary at the beginning of the last century, Rosa Luxemburg. I will paraphrase it, however, because she was saying this about the Central Committee and I would say this: "I prefer the mistakes of the people, rather than the infallibility of their representatives."
Let us consider what logic we are following, if we believe that precisely because the people make mistakes, we must restrict power to those who know not to make mistakes. We must, therefore, learn to trust the people, as we must learn to trust democracy as well, because it is the same.
That is why I invite you, ladies and gentlemen, to support these proposals about referenda by popular initiative, proposals relating to the mandatory referendum in the event that we have an international agreement which concedes sovereign powers to international organizations but also the proposal for the popular legislative initiative.
I will also invite you to engage with those proposals that attempt to put an end to today's constitutional logic, that our politicians are a caste that needs special treatment and is entitled to special privileges.
Also I urge you to engage with those proposals that want to abolish the institutions that form the basis and give organizational form to the clientelist state, because in our democracy we can not tolerate the existence of citizens with different speeds of treatment, the existence of first and second categories citizens.
So I think that the time has now come - and I want to believe that this is a commonplace for the great majority of the House - today to take courage to change the provisions on the responsibility of Ministers so as to abolish the short statute of limitation for offences committed in the course of their duties and thus equalise their criminal treatment, to the extent that it is necessary, with the criminal treatment of all other citizens.
I also believe that it is time to amend the provisions on parliamentary immunity, so that it also covers only offences committed in the exercise of MPs' duties. Still one step further, I believe that the time is right - and the great social majority views it absolutely positively – for us to proceed to the establishment of a limitation to the terms of office for the continued election for MPs so that the majority of Greek society ceases to believe that being an MP is a profession, because it must not be a profession, it must be a function, alongside the people, for the people, to represent the people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me, however, pass on to a subject that is unrelated to the constitution and its architecture; it is not related to the crisis and bankruptcy, but it concerns the very origin and historical conditions of the formation of the Greek state and I refer to the relations of the State and the Church. I think that today the State, the Church, the Parliament, the citizens and the faithful, which is the overwhelming majority, have now understood that steps must be taken to rationalize these relations and that we must at the same time try to solve outstanding historical issues. We must find formulations with the necessary sensitivity and in respectful terms and conditions, so that the roles, on the one side, of the State and, on the other, of the Church, because only then can we create both the appropriate conditions for a advantageous collaboration that is fitting, so that we leave aside old conflicts and clashes, so we leave in the past the unilateral activities and we go forward with mutual understanding.
I am of the opinion that at this point a broad consensus can also be formed in and out of Parliament so we can move into a new era. Because neither the Church nor the State wants to embrace each other within an institutional framework that confuses the boundaries and their roles. So the time has come for the religious neutrality of the Greek state to be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, because the State does not have a religion, but it is the guarantor of religious freedom for all its citizens, an inalienable and irrevocable freedom provided by our constitution to every citizen. And this explicit guarantee I think will not be found to be inimical to the Church which also wants a clear definition of its relations with the State. And it only benefits from it. And I believe that at the same time this will be an important step towards the modernization and liberalization of the Constitution - an important step in rationalizing church and state relations which is, of course, - I will agree with many of you who have said it publicly - not an exclusively constitutional issue. But it concerns a labyrinthine legislative and regulatory network that does not change from one day to the next. On the contrary, for it to be unravelled, to change it, requires dialogue with respect and honesty. It presupposes goodwill and long-term joint work.
I think it was demonstrated by the recent proposal for an agreement we reached with Archbishop Ieronymos that when these conditions are met, solutions can be found even to the most resolute problems. Solutions that are both amicable and that take us forward."
I would like to conclude, ladies and gentlemen MPs, this intervention on the last major issue of our proposal for the revision of the Constitution: the question of social protection, the strengthening of social rights, the necessary social interventions that question the statutes of neoliberalism, which challenge the dominant position of the neo-liberals - and of course there are some such people in this Chamber - that the precondition for development is the shattering of the work of the welfare state, because in reality we believe the opposite is true.
There is no progression for the social majority without the protection of labour, without the shielding of the welfare state. And it is precisely for this reason that, in view of the tragic experience of the crisis and of its management, we must move in the direction of supporting, widening and deepening social rights.
In this context, and following this logic, we are today putting forward our proposals to protect water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise, in order to emphatically safeguard the protection of work and working people, in order to recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage, to strengthen state guarantees, so that health services are provided to all.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have, in my view - and I want to close with this reference - already lost a lot of time, valuable time. The last two constitutional revisions, 2001 and 2008, there is no doubt that they were revisions that missed their target and failed. They started out ambitiously trying to change everything in the Constitution and eventually they changed nothing or they changed very very little.
In any case, the foundations of the clientelist state remained in place. Parliamentarianism remained weak and unprotected, and we paid for it tragically when the crisis and memoranda were unleashed and there emerged new centres of power outside this Chamber. The people remained cut off from the political system and lost their trust even more in the state and institutions. Politics had been abolished. The welfare state had been shattered by the bankruptcy. What we call the "constitutional treaty of impunity and cover-up" was established with Article 86, which constitutes a shame on the political system.
Of course, there are undoubtedly political responsibilities for all of this. Responsibilities that have been searched for and continue to be sought, responsibilities which have been assigned and will continue to be assigned. Today, however, is not the time for blame. It is time for the Greek Parliament to take groundbreaking initiatives, to overcome petty party political expediencies and tactics, to give answers that are not about today but address tomorrow. Let us rise up to meet the expectations and demands of the citizens and seek consensus wherever it can be found.
I know very well that it will not be easy to do so for a number of reasons, that it will not be easy for some men and women in this Chamber to work in this way. For, despite their views, many will either be manipulated by their leaderships whose only objective is the belated political advantage or they will be guided by political hatred of of the current conjuncture. But we are in danger of losing another ten years. And I think this is self-defeating for the political system and for democracy itself.
So I call on the leaders of all political parties to think again and not put the question of party discipline into this process, starting today. Let MPs freely express their opinions and suggestions and vote freely.
I am sure that if this happens, the vast majority of Members will work with a sense of political and social responsibility. They will work with the aim of reaching a consensus wherever we can, where they disagree, they will disagree constructively and they will agree where it is necessary to agree with magnanimity.
This is definitely what SYRIZA intends to do, I imagine that the Independent Greeks also intend to do so. I hope that the leaders of the other parties will also decide to do so.
For us, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, there are no proposals that are ultimatums, instead there are proposals for discussion, proposals seeking consensus, because the Constitution demands this. This is required by the legislator who defined this process for it to be possible to change the Constitution after two different stages - one with 151 votes in favour, the other with 180 or the one with 180 votes in favour, the other with 151 - and at the end of the day that is what our political duty requires of us, as we perceive it. And of course, this duty also concerns the very principles of democracy, parliamentarianism, principles we serve, and principles that we seek to strengthen and shield with this process.
Finance Matters
Pension Cuts Scrapped
On Thursday, the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) approved the Greek Government’s request to scrap legislated pension cuts, at a Brussels meeting in which Greece was represented by Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Houliarakis.
The discussion at the EWG meeting concluded with no objections to Greece’s proposal or to the subsequent recommendation of creditors.
That means that the final state budget will be drafted without a provision for pension cuts, given the fact that a projection of a 3.5% primary surplus in 2019 was accepted.
The recommendation of the European Commission stated that Greece will reach its 3.5% of GDP primary surplus target even without the pension cuts, and none of the member states expressed any objections.
The Eurogroup will be briefed on Monday, 19 November, and will give its approval for Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to submit a final budget without the cuts.
Primary Surplus Targets Exceeded - again!
Greece again exceeded its target and achieved a primary budget surplus of 6.46€ billion in the 10 months to October, due to higher revenues and lower spending, Finance Ministry data showed on Wednesday.
The Memorandum-imposed Government target was a primary budget surplus - which excludes debt-servicing costs- of 3.58€ billion for that period. The surplus exceeded that by 2.87€ billion.
Net tax revenue was 42.43€ billion. That was 839€ million above target. Spending reached 40.78€ billion, 1.93€ million below target.
The Government projects a primary budget surplus of 3.82% percent of economic output this year, according to its 2018 budget. The target set by the country’s lenders is for a primary surplus of 3.5% of GDP.
Pension Cuts Scrapped
On Thursday, the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) approved the Greek Government’s request to scrap legislated pension cuts, at a Brussels meeting in which Greece was represented by Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Houliarakis.
The discussion at the EWG meeting concluded with no objections to Greece’s proposal or to the subsequent recommendation of creditors.
That means that the final state budget will be drafted without a provision for pension cuts, given the fact that a projection of a 3.5% primary surplus in 2019 was accepted.
The recommendation of the European Commission stated that Greece will reach its 3.5% of GDP primary surplus target even without the pension cuts, and none of the member states expressed any objections.
The Eurogroup will be briefed on Monday, 19 November, and will give its approval for Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to submit a final budget without the cuts.
Primary Surplus Targets Exceeded - again!
Greece again exceeded its target and achieved a primary budget surplus of 6.46€ billion in the 10 months to October, due to higher revenues and lower spending, Finance Ministry data showed on Wednesday.
The Memorandum-imposed Government target was a primary budget surplus - which excludes debt-servicing costs- of 3.58€ billion for that period. The surplus exceeded that by 2.87€ billion.
Net tax revenue was 42.43€ billion. That was 839€ million above target. Spending reached 40.78€ billion, 1.93€ million below target.
The Government projects a primary budget surplus of 3.82% percent of economic output this year, according to its 2018 budget. The target set by the country’s lenders is for a primary surplus of 3.5% of GDP.
“On the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War. Souda Bay is a beautiful location to remember the dead of so many conflicts and the sound of the ‘Last Post’ before the silence always brings a lump to the throat.”
View Ken’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D34kA1xZm0
View Ken’s video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D34kA1xZm0
"an historic step forward for the benefit of the Church and the Greek State"
10.11.2018
In an interview with Greece’s Alpha TV, Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, said that the proposed agreement between the Government and the Church of Greece will free up to 10,000 positions in the public sector that the government can proceed to fill, in areas where there was a need, adding that this agreement will “change a great many things”.
Regarding the new “Fund for the Exploitation of Church Assets”, he said that this would include all disputed Church properties but also non-disputed properties handed over voluntarily.
From the proceeds of this fund, which will begin operation immediately, the Greek state expects to be able to cover a large part of the subsidy it will pay to cover the salaries of the clergy up until 2030, he said.
The benefits to the State, according to the Prime Minister, are significant: 10,000 public jobs will be freed up [The Government has undertaken a commitment to recruit public sector staff on a 1:1 ratio with staff reductions Ed] . This means that the Greek State gets the opportunity to fill positions in other areas of the welfare state: Education, Health, etc. The Church will gain its independence and advance its social work. It will also benefit the economy itself. New jobs and additional economic benefits will be created from utilisation through tourism.
The Agreement
The first pillar of the Agreement stipulates that the Greek priests will no longer be civil servants.This means that from now on, clerics will go off the civil service payroll and will be paid by an annual subsidy from the state, which equals the current payroll of active priests. The annual payment to the Church is in recognition of the fact that in 1939 the State acquired Church property at an undervalued price. This subsidy will be adjusted in tandem with payroll changes of the Greek State and it will be paid into a special Church fund earmarked exclusively for the priests’ payroll. The Church of Greece will be responsible for the management of the subsidy, and it will be overseen by the appropriate State authorities. If the Church decides to increase the number of its clerics, the State will not be obligated to raise the subsidy.
The second pillar deals with the Church’s assets. The agreement foresees the formation of a “Church Asset Development Fund” that will be set up with joint management by the Greek state and the Church of Greece.
The Fund will be managed by a five-member committee consisting of two Church appointees, two State appointees, and one joint appointee. The assets it will manage include all those whose ownership has been an issue of contention between the Church and State since 1952, as well as any asset the Church wants to transfer to the Fund voluntarily. The revenues and obligations of the Fund will be shared equally between the two sides.
In presenting the joint statement with Archbishop Ieronymos after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke about a "historic step forward for the benefit of the Church and the Greek State".
Years of dialogue and exchange of views have resulted in an agreement that is an important step in rationalizing the relations between the state and the Church. An honest compromise, which aspires to close pending issues that have been open for decades since the 1920s. The two sides reached a joint communiqué, which will be approved by the Cabinet and the Hierarchy of the Church in order to pave the way for the necessary legislative initiatives.
PM Tsipras thanked the Archbishop, noting that "thanks to his own initiatives, thanks to his own incessant efforts, there is this historical possibility that will holds out the prospect of a modern and self-sufficient Church in a modern Greek state."
Of particular importance, however, is point 5 of the joint communiqué, since in the most clear way the Church withdraws all other claims on this ecclesiastical property. In short, the Church ceases to claim the property expropriated by the Greek state before 1939, a matter that occasionally keeps coming up in various parts of the country.
State as guarantor of the religious freedom of the people
The Prime Minister pointed out that the forthcoming constitutional revision, and in particular the changes to Article 3, are aimed at upgrading the distinct role of the Church, "enhancing its autonomy while recognizing its significant, unique contribution to the birth and shaping of its identity Greek state ".
Responding to the question the Archbishop had asked, PM Tsipras stressed that proclaiming the religious neutrality of the Greek state, on the one hand, ensures distinct roles between the State and the Church, and on the other hand it guarantees cooperation between them on matters of common interest. "The proclamation of religious neutrality in the Greek Constitution is there to underline the fact that the Greek state will be the guarantor of the religious freedom of the Greek people and the Greek citizens."
"We are listening to the views and reservations of the Church"
"And, obviously, this principle does not contradict the long tradition of our people," he said, describing as "jokes" and "comic-tragedies" "certain people who have falsely and deliberately spread lies over the last few days about the supposed imminent discarding of historical symbols, removing the cross from the Greek flag and from our national symbols".
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Government is listening to the views and reservations of the Church with respect. "All together, we will take into consideration the thoughts and proposals that will be tabled during the parliamentary process and the dialogue that the constitution itself provides for in the process of its revision."
Ieronymos’ "Thank you" for the preamble to the Constitution
Archbishop Ieronymos thanked the Prime Minister because, as he said, he had found answers to his questions and problems.
At this juncture when the Constitutional Revision is beginning, he said he wanted to thank Alexis Tsipras for preserving the preamble to the Constitution as it stands. "I feel the need to thank you and congratulate you on your initiative to leave the preamble to the constitution as our fathers wrote it."
"On the specific issue about which we met, which we decided and proposed, you will find partners in us," he said and appeared optimistic about getting its approval. “What we and this agreement are showing is our intention to move a step forward, with mutual respect for one another,” the Archbishop said.
In the Joint Statement of Church and State arrived at by the Prime Minister and Archbishop Ieronymos, which was read by Mr. Tsipras, it is stated that "our aim is to set the framework for the settlement and resolution of historical issues, but also to strengthen the autonomy of the Greek Church vis-à-vis the Greek State, recognizing its contribution and its historical role in the birth and the formation of its identity ".
Some Reactions
"It is a very good agreement, which if implemented with the mutual commitments, gives very many possibilities to the Church and to the State," said Metropolitan Ioannina Maximos, speaking on the radio station of the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency " 104.9 FM Agency "
As Metropolitan Maximos explained, "the economic exploitation of some elements that are currently inactive would create a turnover and some wealth that the Church could use for its spiritual work as well as the State to strengthen its funds" .
He also wished "that all sides and all political forces should help this vision become a reality for the benefit of the people and the Church in the narrowest sense and to fully safeguard the rights of the clergy".
The Metropolitan of Ioannina explained that "we are not talking about an agreement but an intention to agree, because in order to make the agreement there should also be individual talks and legal experts dealing with the exact formulation of such an agreement, but in any case such an agreement will pass through the cabinet but also by our own organs headed by the Hierarchy's Synod".
Invited to comment on the first reactions of the clergy, he said it was "a hasty response from people who might not have been waiting to see the outcome of things."
Regarding the issue of ecclesiastical property and its exploitation, Metropolitan Maximos said that "we are supposed to have a huge fortune, but this property is not active, it does not yield anything and often creates problems for us." "We would very much like the opportunity to use our wealth so that we can strengthen our spiritual and pastoral work as well as our social interventions."
The Association of Greek Clergy issued an angry statement on Wednesday saying they felt “betrayed” by those who participated in the talks without consulting those who are “directly affected.” The Association is particularly irked by the government's decision to strip clerics of their status as civil servants. “The Association of Greek Clergy will fight to keep the payment of the clergy as the state's contractural obligation, in exchange for what the Church has offered to the country,” the Union said in a press release.
Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said that “the aim of the agreement is to create a framework for settling historically outstanding issues.”
“For the first time since the establishment of the Greek state, there is an attempt at a resolution, not through unilateral actions but through an agreement between the Church of Greece and the Greek State on an equal basis, following a sincere dialogue conducted in good faith to settle the issue of the Church’s assets,” he explained.
“With this agreement 10,000 civil servant posts will be freed up. Although clerics are not exactly civil servants, in name they are, and are counted as civil servants.”
"It will ease the salary bill by 200€ million and we will give that as a subsidy. There will be a budget cost for the 10,000 recruitments that will be made in 2020 and of course we can cover that. We will find the resources to recruit doctors, teachers, nurses where they are needed."
Mr. Tzannakopoulos said the accord also sought to ensure the religious neutrality of the state. “Religious neutrality [means] that the Greek state will not be able to recognise certain religions with more or less rights,” Mr.Tzannakopoulos added. “But what doesn’t change is recognition of the fact that the Orthodox Church has the overwhelming majority of [religious] faithful.”
Regarding the new “Fund for the Exploitation of Church Assets”, he said that this would include all disputed Church properties but also non-disputed properties handed over voluntarily.
From the proceeds of this fund, which will begin operation immediately, the Greek state expects to be able to cover a large part of the subsidy it will pay to cover the salaries of the clergy up until 2030, he said.
The benefits to the State, according to the Prime Minister, are significant: 10,000 public jobs will be freed up [The Government has undertaken a commitment to recruit public sector staff on a 1:1 ratio with staff reductions Ed] . This means that the Greek State gets the opportunity to fill positions in other areas of the welfare state: Education, Health, etc. The Church will gain its independence and advance its social work. It will also benefit the economy itself. New jobs and additional economic benefits will be created from utilisation through tourism.
The Agreement
The first pillar of the Agreement stipulates that the Greek priests will no longer be civil servants.This means that from now on, clerics will go off the civil service payroll and will be paid by an annual subsidy from the state, which equals the current payroll of active priests. The annual payment to the Church is in recognition of the fact that in 1939 the State acquired Church property at an undervalued price. This subsidy will be adjusted in tandem with payroll changes of the Greek State and it will be paid into a special Church fund earmarked exclusively for the priests’ payroll. The Church of Greece will be responsible for the management of the subsidy, and it will be overseen by the appropriate State authorities. If the Church decides to increase the number of its clerics, the State will not be obligated to raise the subsidy.
The second pillar deals with the Church’s assets. The agreement foresees the formation of a “Church Asset Development Fund” that will be set up with joint management by the Greek state and the Church of Greece.
The Fund will be managed by a five-member committee consisting of two Church appointees, two State appointees, and one joint appointee. The assets it will manage include all those whose ownership has been an issue of contention between the Church and State since 1952, as well as any asset the Church wants to transfer to the Fund voluntarily. The revenues and obligations of the Fund will be shared equally between the two sides.
In presenting the joint statement with Archbishop Ieronymos after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke about a "historic step forward for the benefit of the Church and the Greek State".
Years of dialogue and exchange of views have resulted in an agreement that is an important step in rationalizing the relations between the state and the Church. An honest compromise, which aspires to close pending issues that have been open for decades since the 1920s. The two sides reached a joint communiqué, which will be approved by the Cabinet and the Hierarchy of the Church in order to pave the way for the necessary legislative initiatives.
PM Tsipras thanked the Archbishop, noting that "thanks to his own initiatives, thanks to his own incessant efforts, there is this historical possibility that will holds out the prospect of a modern and self-sufficient Church in a modern Greek state."
Of particular importance, however, is point 5 of the joint communiqué, since in the most clear way the Church withdraws all other claims on this ecclesiastical property. In short, the Church ceases to claim the property expropriated by the Greek state before 1939, a matter that occasionally keeps coming up in various parts of the country.
State as guarantor of the religious freedom of the people
The Prime Minister pointed out that the forthcoming constitutional revision, and in particular the changes to Article 3, are aimed at upgrading the distinct role of the Church, "enhancing its autonomy while recognizing its significant, unique contribution to the birth and shaping of its identity Greek state ".
Responding to the question the Archbishop had asked, PM Tsipras stressed that proclaiming the religious neutrality of the Greek state, on the one hand, ensures distinct roles between the State and the Church, and on the other hand it guarantees cooperation between them on matters of common interest. "The proclamation of religious neutrality in the Greek Constitution is there to underline the fact that the Greek state will be the guarantor of the religious freedom of the Greek people and the Greek citizens."
"We are listening to the views and reservations of the Church"
"And, obviously, this principle does not contradict the long tradition of our people," he said, describing as "jokes" and "comic-tragedies" "certain people who have falsely and deliberately spread lies over the last few days about the supposed imminent discarding of historical symbols, removing the cross from the Greek flag and from our national symbols".
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Government is listening to the views and reservations of the Church with respect. "All together, we will take into consideration the thoughts and proposals that will be tabled during the parliamentary process and the dialogue that the constitution itself provides for in the process of its revision."
Ieronymos’ "Thank you" for the preamble to the Constitution
Archbishop Ieronymos thanked the Prime Minister because, as he said, he had found answers to his questions and problems.
At this juncture when the Constitutional Revision is beginning, he said he wanted to thank Alexis Tsipras for preserving the preamble to the Constitution as it stands. "I feel the need to thank you and congratulate you on your initiative to leave the preamble to the constitution as our fathers wrote it."
"On the specific issue about which we met, which we decided and proposed, you will find partners in us," he said and appeared optimistic about getting its approval. “What we and this agreement are showing is our intention to move a step forward, with mutual respect for one another,” the Archbishop said.
In the Joint Statement of Church and State arrived at by the Prime Minister and Archbishop Ieronymos, which was read by Mr. Tsipras, it is stated that "our aim is to set the framework for the settlement and resolution of historical issues, but also to strengthen the autonomy of the Greek Church vis-à-vis the Greek State, recognizing its contribution and its historical role in the birth and the formation of its identity ".
Some Reactions
"It is a very good agreement, which if implemented with the mutual commitments, gives very many possibilities to the Church and to the State," said Metropolitan Ioannina Maximos, speaking on the radio station of the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency " 104.9 FM Agency "
As Metropolitan Maximos explained, "the economic exploitation of some elements that are currently inactive would create a turnover and some wealth that the Church could use for its spiritual work as well as the State to strengthen its funds" .
He also wished "that all sides and all political forces should help this vision become a reality for the benefit of the people and the Church in the narrowest sense and to fully safeguard the rights of the clergy".
The Metropolitan of Ioannina explained that "we are not talking about an agreement but an intention to agree, because in order to make the agreement there should also be individual talks and legal experts dealing with the exact formulation of such an agreement, but in any case such an agreement will pass through the cabinet but also by our own organs headed by the Hierarchy's Synod".
Invited to comment on the first reactions of the clergy, he said it was "a hasty response from people who might not have been waiting to see the outcome of things."
Regarding the issue of ecclesiastical property and its exploitation, Metropolitan Maximos said that "we are supposed to have a huge fortune, but this property is not active, it does not yield anything and often creates problems for us." "We would very much like the opportunity to use our wealth so that we can strengthen our spiritual and pastoral work as well as our social interventions."
The Association of Greek Clergy issued an angry statement on Wednesday saying they felt “betrayed” by those who participated in the talks without consulting those who are “directly affected.” The Association is particularly irked by the government's decision to strip clerics of their status as civil servants. “The Association of Greek Clergy will fight to keep the payment of the clergy as the state's contractural obligation, in exchange for what the Church has offered to the country,” the Union said in a press release.
Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said that “the aim of the agreement is to create a framework for settling historically outstanding issues.”
“For the first time since the establishment of the Greek state, there is an attempt at a resolution, not through unilateral actions but through an agreement between the Church of Greece and the Greek State on an equal basis, following a sincere dialogue conducted in good faith to settle the issue of the Church’s assets,” he explained.
“With this agreement 10,000 civil servant posts will be freed up. Although clerics are not exactly civil servants, in name they are, and are counted as civil servants.”
"It will ease the salary bill by 200€ million and we will give that as a subsidy. There will be a budget cost for the 10,000 recruitments that will be made in 2020 and of course we can cover that. We will find the resources to recruit doctors, teachers, nurses where they are needed."
Mr. Tzannakopoulos said the accord also sought to ensure the religious neutrality of the state. “Religious neutrality [means] that the Greek state will not be able to recognise certain religions with more or less rights,” Mr.Tzannakopoulos added. “But what doesn’t change is recognition of the fact that the Orthodox Church has the overwhelming majority of [religious] faithful.”
ENFIA for Monasteries
ENFIA [The Unified Property Tax Ed] applies to all the properties of the Holy Monasteries which are used for non-religious and worshiping purposes.
All properties of the Holy Monasteries, which are used outside the worship of religious and charitable purposes, regardless of whether they belong to the Church of Greece or the Ecumenical Patriarchate, are required to pay ENFIA, the Plenary Session of the Council of State [The Supreme Court of Greece Ed] has stated.
The State Councillors, with their decision No. 2318/2108, rejected with a strong majority (there was a minority of 3), the request of the Stavropigia Monastery of Agia Anastasia of Pharmakolytria, Chalkidiki.
This Holy Monastery was “summoned” for the financial year 2014, concerning its ENFIA, amounting to 259,395€. It requested that the Ministry of Finance re-calculate the ENΦΙΑ on its properties, but the Ministry did not comply and so the Monastery had appealed to the Council of State.
ENFIA [The Unified Property Tax Ed] applies to all the properties of the Holy Monasteries which are used for non-religious and worshiping purposes.
All properties of the Holy Monasteries, which are used outside the worship of religious and charitable purposes, regardless of whether they belong to the Church of Greece or the Ecumenical Patriarchate, are required to pay ENFIA, the Plenary Session of the Council of State [The Supreme Court of Greece Ed] has stated.
The State Councillors, with their decision No. 2318/2108, rejected with a strong majority (there was a minority of 3), the request of the Stavropigia Monastery of Agia Anastasia of Pharmakolytria, Chalkidiki.
This Holy Monastery was “summoned” for the financial year 2014, concerning its ENFIA, amounting to 259,395€. It requested that the Ministry of Finance re-calculate the ENΦΙΑ on its properties, but the Ministry did not comply and so the Monastery had appealed to the Council of State.
Free School Meals
Greece’s Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Welfare has announced the commencement of its ‘hot meals for schools’ national programme for the third consecutive year at a cost of 50€ million.
Deputy Social Services Minister, Theano Photiou, said that “child protection is at the heart of government policy. It is our deep conviction that social origin cannot be allowed to determine the future of each child. We believe that measures for the child must be across the board and not just address extreme poverty.”
For the third year, provision of free school meals will be made to 153,244 students in 763 schools in 63 municipalities across the country.
The diet is designed by the Agricultural University based on the Mediterranean diet, and according to the primary school director of Piraeus, Leonidas Nika, meals are prepared mainly from fresh Greek products.
Speaking to ERT, he said: "school meals are not a charitable move. It has to do with the acquisition of the culture of the Mediterranean diet as well as the child's sense of community."
For those children who have particular dietary requirements due to allergies or intolerances, special portions are distributed once the parents have informed the school .
Meals are given out when the daily programme ends and each school decides and shapes the space where children will eat.
Greece’s Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Welfare has announced the commencement of its ‘hot meals for schools’ national programme for the third consecutive year at a cost of 50€ million.
Deputy Social Services Minister, Theano Photiou, said that “child protection is at the heart of government policy. It is our deep conviction that social origin cannot be allowed to determine the future of each child. We believe that measures for the child must be across the board and not just address extreme poverty.”
For the third year, provision of free school meals will be made to 153,244 students in 763 schools in 63 municipalities across the country.
The diet is designed by the Agricultural University based on the Mediterranean diet, and according to the primary school director of Piraeus, Leonidas Nika, meals are prepared mainly from fresh Greek products.
Speaking to ERT, he said: "school meals are not a charitable move. It has to do with the acquisition of the culture of the Mediterranean diet as well as the child's sense of community."
For those children who have particular dietary requirements due to allergies or intolerances, special portions are distributed once the parents have informed the school .
Meals are given out when the daily programme ends and each school decides and shapes the space where children will eat.
SYRIZA's proposals for the Constitutional Review
3.11.2018
On Tuesday, SYRIZA's proposals for the Constitutional Review were discussed by party MPs in a four-hour process that parliamentary sources called "rich and constructive". The proposal will be based on five pillars.
Maximum consensus
The dissolution of Parliament is to be separated from the election of the President of the Republic.
Obligatory political oath
As far as the Church-State relations are concerned, Article 3 remains but is being reformulated by adding explicitly the safeguarding of the religious neutrality of the state. At the same time, however, there will be an statement that Orthodoxy is the dominant religion, but this presumption does not adversely affect other religions. In this context, there will be a mandatory political oath for elected and civil servants.
Parliamentary protection, not immunity
Regarding the Law on Liability of Ministers, the proposal is to amend the provision that provides for reduced statutory limitation of liability, since it will be brought in line with the provisions of the Criminal Law. That means, the expiration of liability for any offence will apply to ordinary citizens as well. It is also proposed that the provisions on parliamentary immunity be changed so that it exclusively covers offences committed in the performance of an MP’s duties. In this context, as the Prime Minister has pointed out, Parliament will be asked to decide whether protection needs to be given, rather than whether it is necessary to remove it.
Positive No-Confidence
It is also proposed to apply simple proportional representation to the constructive vote of no-confidence, that is to say use the parliamentary balance mechanism.
Accountability only to the People
It is proposed that the prime minister must be an MP, elected by the Greek people.
With regard to parliamentary terms of office, it is proposed that there should be a limit of three consecutive terms, while this limitation will not apply to party leaders and former prime ministers. "This is a proposal that takes into account the political experience we have gained from the crisis so as not to repeat extraordinary political situations, with the appointment of prime ministers who have not passed the test of the popular vote." "Prime Ministers must be elected by the people and accountable to the people and only to the people."
The People as Institutional counterweight
As the Prime Minister explained, these are measures that bring people, but also politics, dialogue, disagreement, confrontation of political plans, to the forefront. "That is how strong democracies are formed. When they have confidence, not when they fear a popular crisis." "The people are the main, the basic, the strongest institutional counterweight for us." "And we are against those who talk about the ignorant majority, which, of course, is transformed into a wise majority under one single condition: if they vote for the legitimate and eternal owners of the country every four years."
"They support aristocracy"
"Even if we assume they are right, we should nevertheless ask them to dare to say such things in their own names in relation to the regime they are defending: Because this is not democracy but aristocracy." "We will insist on defending ourselves democracy even when we believe that the majority does not make the decisions we want."
Protection of public goods
SYRIZA is also advocating the constitutional protection of public goods such as water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise, while at the same time the Constitution will emphatically guarantee the protection of labour and working people; it will recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage and strengthen state guarantees for the provision of health services to all citizens.
Maximum consensus
The dissolution of Parliament is to be separated from the election of the President of the Republic.
Obligatory political oath
As far as the Church-State relations are concerned, Article 3 remains but is being reformulated by adding explicitly the safeguarding of the religious neutrality of the state. At the same time, however, there will be an statement that Orthodoxy is the dominant religion, but this presumption does not adversely affect other religions. In this context, there will be a mandatory political oath for elected and civil servants.
Parliamentary protection, not immunity
Regarding the Law on Liability of Ministers, the proposal is to amend the provision that provides for reduced statutory limitation of liability, since it will be brought in line with the provisions of the Criminal Law. That means, the expiration of liability for any offence will apply to ordinary citizens as well. It is also proposed that the provisions on parliamentary immunity be changed so that it exclusively covers offences committed in the performance of an MP’s duties. In this context, as the Prime Minister has pointed out, Parliament will be asked to decide whether protection needs to be given, rather than whether it is necessary to remove it.
Positive No-Confidence
It is also proposed to apply simple proportional representation to the constructive vote of no-confidence, that is to say use the parliamentary balance mechanism.
Accountability only to the People
It is proposed that the prime minister must be an MP, elected by the Greek people.
With regard to parliamentary terms of office, it is proposed that there should be a limit of three consecutive terms, while this limitation will not apply to party leaders and former prime ministers. "This is a proposal that takes into account the political experience we have gained from the crisis so as not to repeat extraordinary political situations, with the appointment of prime ministers who have not passed the test of the popular vote." "Prime Ministers must be elected by the people and accountable to the people and only to the people."
The People as Institutional counterweight
As the Prime Minister explained, these are measures that bring people, but also politics, dialogue, disagreement, confrontation of political plans, to the forefront. "That is how strong democracies are formed. When they have confidence, not when they fear a popular crisis." "The people are the main, the basic, the strongest institutional counterweight for us." "And we are against those who talk about the ignorant majority, which, of course, is transformed into a wise majority under one single condition: if they vote for the legitimate and eternal owners of the country every four years."
"They support aristocracy"
"Even if we assume they are right, we should nevertheless ask them to dare to say such things in their own names in relation to the regime they are defending: Because this is not democracy but aristocracy." "We will insist on defending ourselves democracy even when we believe that the majority does not make the decisions we want."
Protection of public goods
SYRIZA is also advocating the constitutional protection of public goods such as water and electricity from the pursuit of private enterprise, while at the same time the Constitution will emphatically guarantee the protection of labour and working people; it will recognize the exclusive competence of the social partners to set the minimum wage and strengthen state guarantees for the provision of health services to all citizens.
"New challenges for democracy, state institutions and individual and social rights."
Ahead of the Government’s proposed to review of the Greek Constitution, PM Alexis Tsipras has written to opposition leaders asking for their proposals.
In the letter, he noted that the financial crisis and the end of the Memoranda, have created "new challenges for democracy, state institutions and individual and social rights."
He noted that citizens' trust in state institutions has been shaken over the years of the crisis and called on his political rivals to "set aside our political differences and consider what we must change to win back citizens' faith in the political system."
Describing constitutional review as a "mature demand and need of Greek society and Greek politics," he referred to certain issues such as the distinction between the state and the Church, legislative provisions on corruption by state officials and the boosting of social welfare.
"It is the responsibility of all democratic political forces to citizens to ensure we do not miss yet another opportunity to heed their concerns and intentions."
The Prime Minister asked opposition leaders to "contribute constructively" to the procedure of constitutional review by submitting their own proposals and concerns.
The Parties’ Responses
The Movement for Change [Κίνημα Αλλαγής] and the River [το Ποτάμι] immediately agreed to participate in the constitutional review process, while maintaining their positions and priorities.
The recently formed New Hellenic Momentum (NEO) party agreed that same day. Its statement said "Considering the demands arising from the new era of the country and its upgraded regional role, we must overcome narrow party interests and work together for a reform of emblematic importance".
It noted in the announcement that 21 August 2018 was a historic day, "marking the end of the long and painful period of the Memoranda and the beginning of a significant transition period, which will determine the future of our country for the most part," adding that "during this period, and in full awareness of the gravity of the circumstances, we must be united and committed to the implementation of the deep interventions required for us to never return to those causes that gave birth to the crisis".
"The Constitution concerns us all, it is the Fundamental Charter and the pillar of the rule of law that Greece is."
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement welcoming New Democracy to the process of Constitutional Reform after “three days of awkward silence” following PM Tsipras’ invitation to participate. Next Tuesday Mr Mitsotakis will present his party's proposals for a "new constitutional charter".
The Revision of the Constitution : The Procedure
The process begins with the proposal of at least 50 deputies of the ruling party. Immediately, the Speaker of Parliament asks the party leaders to nominate those Members who will participate in the Committee on the Constitutional Review. The number will be proportional to the parliamentary strength of the parties, while independent MPs will be represented.
Parliament's Rules of Procedure stipulate that the Commission shall consist of 38 to 50 members, and the decision will be taken by Speaker Nikos Voutsis.
Once the Constitutional Review Committee has been set up, there will be a single Plenary session to set how long the Commission will work for.
The Committee will conclude by proposing to the Plenary which Articles of the Constitution are to be reviewed and what form amendments to them should take. The follow two votes by the 300 MPs, one month apart, on which articles of the Constitution are to be reviewed.
All those Articles selected by 3/5 of the House (180 MPs) must be revised, the next Parliament decides with 151 deputies. On the other hand, if Parliament now takes the decision by less than 3/5 (but still with a majority), then there must be a 3/5 majority for the revised provisions at the next Parliamentary Session.
Ahead of the Government’s proposed to review of the Greek Constitution, PM Alexis Tsipras has written to opposition leaders asking for their proposals.
In the letter, he noted that the financial crisis and the end of the Memoranda, have created "new challenges for democracy, state institutions and individual and social rights."
He noted that citizens' trust in state institutions has been shaken over the years of the crisis and called on his political rivals to "set aside our political differences and consider what we must change to win back citizens' faith in the political system."
Describing constitutional review as a "mature demand and need of Greek society and Greek politics," he referred to certain issues such as the distinction between the state and the Church, legislative provisions on corruption by state officials and the boosting of social welfare.
"It is the responsibility of all democratic political forces to citizens to ensure we do not miss yet another opportunity to heed their concerns and intentions."
The Prime Minister asked opposition leaders to "contribute constructively" to the procedure of constitutional review by submitting their own proposals and concerns.
The Parties’ Responses
The Movement for Change [Κίνημα Αλλαγής] and the River [το Ποτάμι] immediately agreed to participate in the constitutional review process, while maintaining their positions and priorities.
The recently formed New Hellenic Momentum (NEO) party agreed that same day. Its statement said "Considering the demands arising from the new era of the country and its upgraded regional role, we must overcome narrow party interests and work together for a reform of emblematic importance".
It noted in the announcement that 21 August 2018 was a historic day, "marking the end of the long and painful period of the Memoranda and the beginning of a significant transition period, which will determine the future of our country for the most part," adding that "during this period, and in full awareness of the gravity of the circumstances, we must be united and committed to the implementation of the deep interventions required for us to never return to those causes that gave birth to the crisis".
"The Constitution concerns us all, it is the Fundamental Charter and the pillar of the rule of law that Greece is."
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement welcoming New Democracy to the process of Constitutional Reform after “three days of awkward silence” following PM Tsipras’ invitation to participate. Next Tuesday Mr Mitsotakis will present his party's proposals for a "new constitutional charter".
The Revision of the Constitution : The Procedure
The process begins with the proposal of at least 50 deputies of the ruling party. Immediately, the Speaker of Parliament asks the party leaders to nominate those Members who will participate in the Committee on the Constitutional Review. The number will be proportional to the parliamentary strength of the parties, while independent MPs will be represented.
Parliament's Rules of Procedure stipulate that the Commission shall consist of 38 to 50 members, and the decision will be taken by Speaker Nikos Voutsis.
Once the Constitutional Review Committee has been set up, there will be a single Plenary session to set how long the Commission will work for.
The Committee will conclude by proposing to the Plenary which Articles of the Constitution are to be reviewed and what form amendments to them should take. The follow two votes by the 300 MPs, one month apart, on which articles of the Constitution are to be reviewed.
All those Articles selected by 3/5 of the House (180 MPs) must be revised, the next Parliament decides with 151 deputies. On the other hand, if Parliament now takes the decision by less than 3/5 (but still with a majority), then there must be a 3/5 majority for the revised provisions at the next Parliamentary Session.
“Our country represents a bridge between Europe and the Arab world”
On Monday, speaking at the 3rd European Union-Arab World Summit, held in Athens, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos, stressed that the European Union and the Arab countries must tackle world-wide problems such as migration and terrorism together.
"The problems cannot be addressed by closing borders," he said. "We must protect international law, and especially the rights of refugees and migrants. At the same time, however, we must also defend European society so that it can overcome the phenomena of nationalism and intolerance.
The permanent and lasting characteristics of our foreign policy are the defence of international law, multilateral relations, and respect for UN resolutions in order to solve, through peaceful means, conflicts everywhere in the world, and particularly in our region, such as in Cyprus and Palestine.
In this context, Greece has undertaken important initiatives to promote regional cooperation in the region, such as the Rhodes Conference, which brought together 24 countries of the EU and the Arab world, as well as the international conference on religious and cultural dialogue and pluralism with the countries of the Middle East.
Our country represents a bridge between Europe and the Arab world. This goes beyond its simple geographical location. We have historical and cultural ties with all the countries of the region. We have never been a colonial power, and we also have had large diasporas which have played a very important role in Greece's relations with Arab countries.
"At this juncture, when we are recovering from the most serious financial crisis that any Western country has ever experienced in peacetime, we can offer very significant economic prospects for synergies and investment.
We intend to become an important hub for logistics and transport in our region so as to connect the European Union, the Arab world and China, while at the same time exploiting the opportunities of the "One Road, One Belt" strategy.
We are promoting initiatives to make our country an energy hub between Europe, Asia and Africa and, at the same time, having returned to the path to economic growth, we offer unique opportunities for investors in various sectors such as energy and renewable energy sources - where we have considerable know-how - real estate, infrastructure and tourism. The presence of Greek businesses in the Middle East, especially in the construction sector, gives us an important lead for the future."
On the margin of the summit, Mr. Katrougalos had one-on-one contacts with Egyptian Oil Minister, Tarek El Molla, Malta's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carmelo Abela, Moroccan Minister of State Lahcen Daoudi and Qatar's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi.
On Monday, speaking at the 3rd European Union-Arab World Summit, held in Athens, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos, stressed that the European Union and the Arab countries must tackle world-wide problems such as migration and terrorism together.
"The problems cannot be addressed by closing borders," he said. "We must protect international law, and especially the rights of refugees and migrants. At the same time, however, we must also defend European society so that it can overcome the phenomena of nationalism and intolerance.
The permanent and lasting characteristics of our foreign policy are the defence of international law, multilateral relations, and respect for UN resolutions in order to solve, through peaceful means, conflicts everywhere in the world, and particularly in our region, such as in Cyprus and Palestine.
In this context, Greece has undertaken important initiatives to promote regional cooperation in the region, such as the Rhodes Conference, which brought together 24 countries of the EU and the Arab world, as well as the international conference on religious and cultural dialogue and pluralism with the countries of the Middle East.
Our country represents a bridge between Europe and the Arab world. This goes beyond its simple geographical location. We have historical and cultural ties with all the countries of the region. We have never been a colonial power, and we also have had large diasporas which have played a very important role in Greece's relations with Arab countries.
"At this juncture, when we are recovering from the most serious financial crisis that any Western country has ever experienced in peacetime, we can offer very significant economic prospects for synergies and investment.
We intend to become an important hub for logistics and transport in our region so as to connect the European Union, the Arab world and China, while at the same time exploiting the opportunities of the "One Road, One Belt" strategy.
We are promoting initiatives to make our country an energy hub between Europe, Asia and Africa and, at the same time, having returned to the path to economic growth, we offer unique opportunities for investors in various sectors such as energy and renewable energy sources - where we have considerable know-how - real estate, infrastructure and tourism. The presence of Greek businesses in the Middle East, especially in the construction sector, gives us an important lead for the future."
On the margin of the summit, Mr. Katrougalos had one-on-one contacts with Egyptian Oil Minister, Tarek El Molla, Malta's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carmelo Abela, Moroccan Minister of State Lahcen Daoudi and Qatar's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sultan Bin Saad Al Muraikhi.
"We want to strengthen popular sovereignty as the foundation of government"
27.10.2018
Introducing the revision of the Constitution, PM Tsipras characterized it as an historic opportunity for the progressive forces. SYRIZA's proposal, he added, can not ignore the need for a broader consensus, but nor can it betray the demand of our time for a progressive reform that will broaden popular sovereignty. The demand, that is to say, for deepening democracy, widening popular participation, protecting political and social rights from the attack of neoliberalism and restoring the credibility of politics.
"We therefore want a democratic, progressive review [of the Constitution Ed]."
"We want to strengthen popular sovereignty as the foundation of government, strengthen the institutions of the parliamentary system against external and non-institutional centres of power. We want our proposal to put an end to the elitist, neo-liberal or technocratic devaluing of politics.
Our proposal will be based on the five pillars of the proposal presented on entering Government in July 2016, taking into account the consultation with society and the bodies which took place under the coordination of the Committee for Dialogue on the Constitutional Review.
The first pillar of the proposal aims to broaden democracy and strengthen the parliamentary system with a set of interrelated reforms in the architecture of the state. (a proportional representation electoral system, a positive no-confidence vote, the separation of the election of the President of the Republic from the dissolution of the Parliament, the introduction of a fixed-term of office for MPs, the obligatory MP status for the Prime Minister).
The second pillar is the establishment of institutions of direct democracy, aimed at deepening democracy and encouraging people's participation in the political life of the country. (referenda, popular legislative initiatives)
The third pillar seeks to strengthen the rule of law (reform of parliamentary immunity, abolition of the Ministerial Liability Act, change of the method of election of independent authorities)
The fourth pillar concerns state-church relations, so that distinct roles can be established with broad consensus.
Finally, the fifth pillar concerns the protection of social and collective rights and common goods (water, electricity, collective bargaining)
"We therefore want a democratic, progressive review [of the Constitution Ed]."
"We want to strengthen popular sovereignty as the foundation of government, strengthen the institutions of the parliamentary system against external and non-institutional centres of power. We want our proposal to put an end to the elitist, neo-liberal or technocratic devaluing of politics.
Our proposal will be based on the five pillars of the proposal presented on entering Government in July 2016, taking into account the consultation with society and the bodies which took place under the coordination of the Committee for Dialogue on the Constitutional Review.
The first pillar of the proposal aims to broaden democracy and strengthen the parliamentary system with a set of interrelated reforms in the architecture of the state. (a proportional representation electoral system, a positive no-confidence vote, the separation of the election of the President of the Republic from the dissolution of the Parliament, the introduction of a fixed-term of office for MPs, the obligatory MP status for the Prime Minister).
The second pillar is the establishment of institutions of direct democracy, aimed at deepening democracy and encouraging people's participation in the political life of the country. (referenda, popular legislative initiatives)
The third pillar seeks to strengthen the rule of law (reform of parliamentary immunity, abolition of the Ministerial Liability Act, change of the method of election of independent authorities)
The fourth pillar concerns state-church relations, so that distinct roles can be established with broad consensus.
Finally, the fifth pillar concerns the protection of social and collective rights and common goods (water, electricity, collective bargaining)
24th October: United Nations Day
“On United Nations Day, let us re-pledge our commitment. To recover lost confidence. To heal our planet”
A wide-range of messages on tackling poverty, reducing inequalities, respecting human rights, protecting the environment from climate change and defending peace were sent out by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the United Nations Day 24th October.
"The United Nations Day marks the birthday of our founding charter - the landmark document embodying the hopes, dreams and expectations of "We, the peoples". He emphasised that every day, the women and men of the United Nations are working to give real meaning to that Charter.
He expressed the UN's determination by saying: "Despite adversity and obstacles, we never give up."
"Extreme poverty is decreasing, but we see inequality rising. However, we are not giving up because we know that by reducing inequality we increase hope, opportunities and peace all over the world. Climate change is moving faster than we are, but we do not give up because we know that action against climate change is the only road.
Human rights are being violated in so many places. But we are not giving up because we know that respect for human rights and human dignity are a basic prerequisite for peace. Conflicts multiply, people suffer. But we do not give up because we know that every man, woman and child deserves a peaceful life.
On United Nations Day, let us reiterate our commitment. To recover the lost confidence. To heal our planet. To leave no one behind. To defend dignity for everyone and for all, as united nations."
“On United Nations Day, let us re-pledge our commitment. To recover lost confidence. To heal our planet”
A wide-range of messages on tackling poverty, reducing inequalities, respecting human rights, protecting the environment from climate change and defending peace were sent out by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the United Nations Day 24th October.
"The United Nations Day marks the birthday of our founding charter - the landmark document embodying the hopes, dreams and expectations of "We, the peoples". He emphasised that every day, the women and men of the United Nations are working to give real meaning to that Charter.
He expressed the UN's determination by saying: "Despite adversity and obstacles, we never give up."
"Extreme poverty is decreasing, but we see inequality rising. However, we are not giving up because we know that by reducing inequality we increase hope, opportunities and peace all over the world. Climate change is moving faster than we are, but we do not give up because we know that action against climate change is the only road.
Human rights are being violated in so many places. But we are not giving up because we know that respect for human rights and human dignity are a basic prerequisite for peace. Conflicts multiply, people suffer. But we do not give up because we know that every man, woman and child deserves a peaceful life.
On United Nations Day, let us reiterate our commitment. To recover the lost confidence. To heal our planet. To leave no one behind. To defend dignity for everyone and for all, as united nations."
From Kallikrates to Kleisthenes
"Local government is the main area for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues facing local communities. The Kleisthenes Law reinforces this perspective"
"Local government is the main area for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues facing local communities. The Kleisthenes Law reinforces this perspective", emphasised Interior Minister Alexis Charitsis, in an interview last week.
Question:
Pre-2015, SYRIZA pre-election seems to have preferred a more decentralized spatial plan for the boundaries of local authorities and had voted against the Kallikratis plan. The size of the Municipality and the Region was regarded as crucial for the exercise of self-government by citizens. Large entities whether in terms of population or territory prevent directness in the relationship between citizens and social movements with their elected representatives, and hence the lack of penetration of social demands to the institutions, as well as lack of control of the actions of the administration. With Kleisthenes, the number of municipalities remains the same. In this sense, the distance of citizens/elected representatives has not been bridged. In the end, did SYRIZA's position change on Local Government?
Response:
“I would like to shift your question a little: in modern western societies it is not a question of an overwhelmingly optimal scale, an ideal size for local authorities and organizations. It is not possible to make uniform completely different geographic and demographic features such as area, population size and density, existing transport networks, and so on. The crucial thing is to have at each successive scale, from the community, the municipality, the regional entity, up to the region, the appropriate structures for participation and dialogue for the citizens. The immediacy of citizen access to the local authority can not be understood any more as being close to the old model "the door of the Mayor will always be open". Structures of social accountability and control are required at every level,
The changes brought in with Kleisthenes move precisely in this direction. With the simple proportional representation but also with a series of institutional interventions, such as the separation of the community elections from the municipal voting papers, the strengthening of communities with resources and responsibilities, the municipal / regional referenda, the strengthening of the consultative committees and the popular assemblies, for the first time in our country a great effort of internal-democratic decentralization, with a deepening of democracy and an opening up of local government to society.
Question:
Kleisthenes defines simple proportional representation as the electoral system for the election of elected representatives to Local Authorities. You stand accused that in this way, on the one hand, "governance" becomes almost impossible, and, on the other hand, there is a potential distortion of the democratic will of the citizens (especially if the person elected in the second round was second in votes on the first Sunday). Simple Proportional Representation thus appears either as an ideological obsession (at best) or as an excuse to help SYRIZA penetrate into the administration of Local Authorities. Is the plan "and the ungovernability and the non-democratic outcome" for which the government stands accused true?
Response:
Simple Proportional Representation comes to replace a system of ballot rigging that abolished every concept of representativeness. A system in which the team of the mayor / governor took up 60% of the council seats, irrespective of the percentage they had in the first round. Now the popular will will be reflected precisely in the composition of the councils that are now the decisive, democratically legitimate organs, putting an end to the mayor-centered model and the single team control of the committees. The allegations about ungovernability are completely without foundation. Already the vast majority of decisions (about 90%) in municipal / regional councils are taken unanimously.
Local government is the prime focus for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues faced by local communities. Kleisthenes strengthens this perspective, it not only brings another, more democratic electoral law, but a different philosophy to local government. It creates the preconditions and culture for syntheses and convergences on a programmatic basis, facilitates the effective participation of citizens and upgrades their role in decisions. That is to say, it lays the foundations for a more democratic, decentralized and participatory local government.
Question:
The new law establishes a framework for conducting municipal and regional referenda. However, on the left you are critical of the limitations in referendum questions leading to insignificant consultative procedures on minor issues (and not for municipal charges, for example). In this sense, don’t citizens really ramain distant from permanent and binding decision-making?
Response:
The local referenda that we have established are an important opportunity for both managers and also active citizens to put forward issues and questions, to achieve high participation, to make use of an essential tool for democratic governance. Of course, as we know from political theory, issues such as tax policy or individual rights are not to be the subject of a referendum process: so a "rich" neighborhood could decide not to pay high municipal taxes to help the poorest, because their needs are covered. We are introducing the referenda as a democratic and participatory practice that can inform and influence the decisions of the representative structures of governance, not as a substitute for their responsibilities.
Question:
You face criticism that you are imposing private sector economic criteria on Municipalities, and forcing them to operate as businesses seeking loans and investments. How do you respond? Finally, are you, as a central administration, increasing or decreasing the funding of local authorities?
Response:
On the contrary, my position is in line with the basic constitutional principle that the transfer of responsibilities from the central state to the Local Authorities should be accompanied by a corresponding transfer of public resources and staff. In this direction our government is the first government after many years to increase the funding of Local Authorities. This year, the Central Independent Resources [οι ΚΑΠ ] increased by 5%, and we created new financial tools specifically for local authorities to implement critical infrastructures in local communities. Equivalent provision has been made for 2019. In addition, a large recruitment programme for permanent staff is in progress, covering the major needs of local authorities and putting an end to the work hostage of thousands of local government workers.
Decentralization with a simultaneous transfer of resources, staffing with a permanent and stable workforce, empowerment of citizens and more democracy is our plan for local government and we are doing this through all of our interventions.
In contrast, the main opposition persists with the economic blood-letting of local authorities and the perpetuation of their under-staffing, with the aim, of course, of privatizing them through the assignment of their critical functions, such as cleansing, to private interests…
Our policies (not only the Ministry of the Interior but the government in general) are helping to ensure that public goods and services of general interest remain in the public sphere, with the participation and control of local government - against neo-liberal "recipes". In this direction, we are moving towards the creation of energy communities, support for The Union of Municipal Water Supply and Drainage Operators [ΔΕΥΑ], so that water can be managed locally on the basis of social and environmental dimensions, while expanding public spaces by giving local associations the old camps and promoting public and "green" management of municipal waste. At the same time, we are launching the constitutional safeguarding of the public character of basic goods, such as water and electricity.
We must, however, be honest: the public and charitable character of a public good is not guaranteed simply by its legal guarantee. This is a first, important step. Many times, however, we have witnessed the depreciation of public goods because of their mismanagement or surrender to private interests despite the fact that they formally belong to the state. Only active participation and systematic scrutiny by informed citizens can ensure their protection and effective exploitation for the benefit of the many. The Left should not, as in the past, underestimate this dimension.
Radical cities, fearless cities, sanctuary cities, radical cities, and so on. It seems that there is for the first time a transnational coordination between movements and radical municipal and regional authorities all over the world that favour a much more direct democratic model of decision making, the re-possesssion of public goods, the feminization of the process of organization and organization, the opposition to bureaucracy and the complex hierarchy.
Now, with the democratic tools we have established as a government (simple proportional representation, local participatory institutions, gender quotas), the formation of similar schemata that will represent the views and social forces that are our focus of interest is easier and has greater prospects. Kleisthenes has the potential to effectively engage citizens, movements and initiatives that have hitherto been outside the "walls", in self-governance, and this is a major democratic breakthrough, especially for a country like Greece that has never had a significant tradition of community.
In the local elections we must be courageous, open and collaborate with active forces that may not be part of us, but they wage their own battles on local issues – which are by no means small ones - and have held a strong stance on a series of critical issues such as the refugee issue, citizens’ rights, or the Macedonian Question. From that point of view, however, we must take into account the specificities of each region and the priorities highlighted by the political context. In Thessaloniki, for example, it is necessary to set up a very progressive front that will put a brake on the Extreme Right and the forces of the old vested interest establishment attempting to raise its head again using the name issue as a vehicle.
Question:
In the municipal elections, candidates for mayors and councilors are often people of social reach because of their work: doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Citizens of known prestige are elected and re-elected, "blocking" possibly younger or alternative candidates. The result is often a low interest among citizens in the electoral process. How would the "agents of the place" and ordinary citizens be able to compete in the polls on an equal basis?
Response:
What you are pointing to is not only in local government, but at almost all political levels. Political life in modern democracies tends to be monopolized by people with significant symbolic / social or economic capital, while under-representation of young people, women, and various minorities is systemic. It is therefore a crucial and lasting struggle to widen the boundaries of political processes so that equal and substantial citizens can participate from all social groups and especially from the popular classes. A battle which is about the essence of democracy.
The answer has, in my opinion, two strands, one institutional and one collective. Kleisthenes responds to the first strand, removing any institutional barriers and creating better conditions for citizens to participate in public affairs, while upgrading their role in decision-making.
But this is not enough, and a systemic collective effort is needed to overcome class and other barriers that prevent whole social groups from taking part in the community. The role of the parties here is irreplaceable.
In local government, our municipal plans and arrangements must show through participatory and dynamic processes new "leaderships" that will more effectively reflect the diversity of local societies, different professions and places in production, multiple identities and cultural choices which characterize modern populations.
"Local government is the main area for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues facing local communities. The Kleisthenes Law reinforces this perspective"
"Local government is the main area for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues facing local communities. The Kleisthenes Law reinforces this perspective", emphasised Interior Minister Alexis Charitsis, in an interview last week.
Question:
Pre-2015, SYRIZA pre-election seems to have preferred a more decentralized spatial plan for the boundaries of local authorities and had voted against the Kallikratis plan. The size of the Municipality and the Region was regarded as crucial for the exercise of self-government by citizens. Large entities whether in terms of population or territory prevent directness in the relationship between citizens and social movements with their elected representatives, and hence the lack of penetration of social demands to the institutions, as well as lack of control of the actions of the administration. With Kleisthenes, the number of municipalities remains the same. In this sense, the distance of citizens/elected representatives has not been bridged. In the end, did SYRIZA's position change on Local Government?
Response:
“I would like to shift your question a little: in modern western societies it is not a question of an overwhelmingly optimal scale, an ideal size for local authorities and organizations. It is not possible to make uniform completely different geographic and demographic features such as area, population size and density, existing transport networks, and so on. The crucial thing is to have at each successive scale, from the community, the municipality, the regional entity, up to the region, the appropriate structures for participation and dialogue for the citizens. The immediacy of citizen access to the local authority can not be understood any more as being close to the old model "the door of the Mayor will always be open". Structures of social accountability and control are required at every level,
The changes brought in with Kleisthenes move precisely in this direction. With the simple proportional representation but also with a series of institutional interventions, such as the separation of the community elections from the municipal voting papers, the strengthening of communities with resources and responsibilities, the municipal / regional referenda, the strengthening of the consultative committees and the popular assemblies, for the first time in our country a great effort of internal-democratic decentralization, with a deepening of democracy and an opening up of local government to society.
Question:
Kleisthenes defines simple proportional representation as the electoral system for the election of elected representatives to Local Authorities. You stand accused that in this way, on the one hand, "governance" becomes almost impossible, and, on the other hand, there is a potential distortion of the democratic will of the citizens (especially if the person elected in the second round was second in votes on the first Sunday). Simple Proportional Representation thus appears either as an ideological obsession (at best) or as an excuse to help SYRIZA penetrate into the administration of Local Authorities. Is the plan "and the ungovernability and the non-democratic outcome" for which the government stands accused true?
Response:
Simple Proportional Representation comes to replace a system of ballot rigging that abolished every concept of representativeness. A system in which the team of the mayor / governor took up 60% of the council seats, irrespective of the percentage they had in the first round. Now the popular will will be reflected precisely in the composition of the councils that are now the decisive, democratically legitimate organs, putting an end to the mayor-centered model and the single team control of the committees. The allegations about ungovernability are completely without foundation. Already the vast majority of decisions (about 90%) in municipal / regional councils are taken unanimously.
Local government is the prime focus for developing broader consensus and co-operation based on the specific issues faced by local communities. Kleisthenes strengthens this perspective, it not only brings another, more democratic electoral law, but a different philosophy to local government. It creates the preconditions and culture for syntheses and convergences on a programmatic basis, facilitates the effective participation of citizens and upgrades their role in decisions. That is to say, it lays the foundations for a more democratic, decentralized and participatory local government.
Question:
The new law establishes a framework for conducting municipal and regional referenda. However, on the left you are critical of the limitations in referendum questions leading to insignificant consultative procedures on minor issues (and not for municipal charges, for example). In this sense, don’t citizens really ramain distant from permanent and binding decision-making?
Response:
The local referenda that we have established are an important opportunity for both managers and also active citizens to put forward issues and questions, to achieve high participation, to make use of an essential tool for democratic governance. Of course, as we know from political theory, issues such as tax policy or individual rights are not to be the subject of a referendum process: so a "rich" neighborhood could decide not to pay high municipal taxes to help the poorest, because their needs are covered. We are introducing the referenda as a democratic and participatory practice that can inform and influence the decisions of the representative structures of governance, not as a substitute for their responsibilities.
Question:
You face criticism that you are imposing private sector economic criteria on Municipalities, and forcing them to operate as businesses seeking loans and investments. How do you respond? Finally, are you, as a central administration, increasing or decreasing the funding of local authorities?
Response:
On the contrary, my position is in line with the basic constitutional principle that the transfer of responsibilities from the central state to the Local Authorities should be accompanied by a corresponding transfer of public resources and staff. In this direction our government is the first government after many years to increase the funding of Local Authorities. This year, the Central Independent Resources [οι ΚΑΠ ] increased by 5%, and we created new financial tools specifically for local authorities to implement critical infrastructures in local communities. Equivalent provision has been made for 2019. In addition, a large recruitment programme for permanent staff is in progress, covering the major needs of local authorities and putting an end to the work hostage of thousands of local government workers.
Decentralization with a simultaneous transfer of resources, staffing with a permanent and stable workforce, empowerment of citizens and more democracy is our plan for local government and we are doing this through all of our interventions.
In contrast, the main opposition persists with the economic blood-letting of local authorities and the perpetuation of their under-staffing, with the aim, of course, of privatizing them through the assignment of their critical functions, such as cleansing, to private interests…
Our policies (not only the Ministry of the Interior but the government in general) are helping to ensure that public goods and services of general interest remain in the public sphere, with the participation and control of local government - against neo-liberal "recipes". In this direction, we are moving towards the creation of energy communities, support for The Union of Municipal Water Supply and Drainage Operators [ΔΕΥΑ], so that water can be managed locally on the basis of social and environmental dimensions, while expanding public spaces by giving local associations the old camps and promoting public and "green" management of municipal waste. At the same time, we are launching the constitutional safeguarding of the public character of basic goods, such as water and electricity.
We must, however, be honest: the public and charitable character of a public good is not guaranteed simply by its legal guarantee. This is a first, important step. Many times, however, we have witnessed the depreciation of public goods because of their mismanagement or surrender to private interests despite the fact that they formally belong to the state. Only active participation and systematic scrutiny by informed citizens can ensure their protection and effective exploitation for the benefit of the many. The Left should not, as in the past, underestimate this dimension.
Radical cities, fearless cities, sanctuary cities, radical cities, and so on. It seems that there is for the first time a transnational coordination between movements and radical municipal and regional authorities all over the world that favour a much more direct democratic model of decision making, the re-possesssion of public goods, the feminization of the process of organization and organization, the opposition to bureaucracy and the complex hierarchy.
Now, with the democratic tools we have established as a government (simple proportional representation, local participatory institutions, gender quotas), the formation of similar schemata that will represent the views and social forces that are our focus of interest is easier and has greater prospects. Kleisthenes has the potential to effectively engage citizens, movements and initiatives that have hitherto been outside the "walls", in self-governance, and this is a major democratic breakthrough, especially for a country like Greece that has never had a significant tradition of community.
In the local elections we must be courageous, open and collaborate with active forces that may not be part of us, but they wage their own battles on local issues – which are by no means small ones - and have held a strong stance on a series of critical issues such as the refugee issue, citizens’ rights, or the Macedonian Question. From that point of view, however, we must take into account the specificities of each region and the priorities highlighted by the political context. In Thessaloniki, for example, it is necessary to set up a very progressive front that will put a brake on the Extreme Right and the forces of the old vested interest establishment attempting to raise its head again using the name issue as a vehicle.
Question:
In the municipal elections, candidates for mayors and councilors are often people of social reach because of their work: doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Citizens of known prestige are elected and re-elected, "blocking" possibly younger or alternative candidates. The result is often a low interest among citizens in the electoral process. How would the "agents of the place" and ordinary citizens be able to compete in the polls on an equal basis?
Response:
What you are pointing to is not only in local government, but at almost all political levels. Political life in modern democracies tends to be monopolized by people with significant symbolic / social or economic capital, while under-representation of young people, women, and various minorities is systemic. It is therefore a crucial and lasting struggle to widen the boundaries of political processes so that equal and substantial citizens can participate from all social groups and especially from the popular classes. A battle which is about the essence of democracy.
The answer has, in my opinion, two strands, one institutional and one collective. Kleisthenes responds to the first strand, removing any institutional barriers and creating better conditions for citizens to participate in public affairs, while upgrading their role in decision-making.
But this is not enough, and a systemic collective effort is needed to overcome class and other barriers that prevent whole social groups from taking part in the community. The role of the parties here is irreplaceable.
In local government, our municipal plans and arrangements must show through participatory and dynamic processes new "leaderships" that will more effectively reflect the diversity of local societies, different professions and places in production, multiple identities and cultural choices which characterize modern populations.
FYROM progresses the Prespa Agreement: more reactions
The Interior Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) said on Monday that additional police protection was being provided to MPs who voted to support the Prespa Agreement that changes the country's name.
Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said all 80 parliament members who backed launching the constitutional amendment process needed for the change were getting extra security after several MPs and their families reported death threats.
Parliament voted 80-39 late Friday in favour of the government's proposal for the amendment that would rename FYROM as “North Macedonia.”.
On Monday, the United States' deputy assistant secretary of state, Matthew Palmer visited Skopje and praised the parliament decision, saying "the agreement is essential for FYROM’s path towards the European Union and NATO." "I would like to underscore that the Macedonian people can rely on US friendship and support," he added.
The amendment process is expected to take several months. After it is completed, the last step in enacting the name change deal will be taken in Athens, where Greece’s parliament is to vote on whether to ratify the agreement.
Russia’s View
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the vote in the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that backed changing the country's name was rigged through a combination of blackmail, threats and vote-buying.
FYROM’s parliament on Friday approved a proposal to change the country's name, bringing a decades-old dispute with Greece one step closer to being resolved, a move that could unblock its bid to join NATO, a development opposed by Russia.
"We view what happened as an open violation of all norms, both from a legal and moral point of view. Such dirty manipulations cannot be regarded as an expression of parliamentarians' will," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
It said that the 80 votes needed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to enact constitutional changes had been secured "through blackmail, and threatening and bribing opposition deputies."
SYRIZA / AN-EL Government Coalition under threat?
The newspaper “Greek Reporter” on Sunday reported that Panos Kammenos had stated that the Prespa Agreement “granting FYROM permission to call itself “North Macedonia” is the “last straw” for his party. The article went on to say “Kammenos stated that thus far, “We cooperated to save the country,” speaking of the ANEL party’s alliance with the Greek government. However, he stressed that ANEL’s MPs will walk out of Parliament if the Prespa Agreement is presented [to Parliament Ed] for ratification, and that his party will leave the coalition if the leftist ruling SYRIZA government presents the agreement.
Ekathimerini reported it in this way: “The junior party in Greece's left-led coalition, the small nationalist Independent Greeks, will walk out when the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia comes to Parliament, leader Panos Kammenos insisted on Sunday.
The name deal, which was approved in the first of three votes in Skopje on Friday, is the “last straw” for ANEL, said Kammenos, adding that his party will leave the coalition if leftist SYRIZA presents the agreement for ratification.
“We cooperated to save the country,” Kammenos said of the alliance, which has come under increasing strain in recent days after the AN-EL chief, who is also Minister of Defence, went off script during a visit to Washington earlier this month, presenting his own alternative to the deal renaming the Balkan country “North Macedonia.”
“ANEL has been clear on its position; we will not accept the term 'Macedonia,'” Mr. Kammenos said. “We have never cooperated with those who want to steal our history.”
Η Αυγη published this report of the same speech.
"What we agreed with our partners in the government remains in force," AN-EL leader Kammenos said.
"Do not expect the government to fall. What we agreed with our partners in the government, remains in force." He said the election would take place either in October at the end of the four year term or in May and he stressed that until March, or whenever the Prespa Agreement came to the Greek Parliament, this is not a matter of discussion with the government partner.
"And our cooperation with SYRIZA in the government, our continuing presence in the government, will be until the knot comes to the comb, that is, until the Prespa Agreement comes to Parliament. Then, honestly and clearly, as we have said, we will withdraw. There is no clearer position."
"The agreement we have with the Prime Minister is not up for discussion until March. It applies absolutely. The debate is over, we will speak again in March, whenever the Agreement comes to the House."
"We can not accept any composite name for the Skopje state, which contains the term “Macedonia”. We did not hide that, we did not retreat from that and we will not retreat from it."
"Certainly, SYRIZA did not even ask us to withdraw from our position."
"Our cooperation with SYRIZA, my collaboration with Alexis Tsipras, was, is and will be an honest and open cooperation. A public partnership."
"We did not work with SYRIZA and I did not work with Alexis to cover up the rackets of the past, as New Democracy did with PASOK. I did not work with Alexis, as Samaras did with Venizelos, to stop the prosecutions facing the one or the other."
"We have worked together, with our ideological differences, to save our homeland and all together we have put into practice the national reconciliation. Whatever we had to say and whatever we have to say, we say it publicly. Open, honest and clean.
He also observed that, despite the proceedings begun in Skopje, ratification of the Prespa Agreement, from that side, "has a way to go."
He also accused New Democracy of "being the first to hand over the term “Macedonia” under the leadership of Dora Bakoyannis" and of "participating in the European People’s Party with the VMRO [The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity Ed]."
"It was VMPO, the VMPO that is not our ally but New Democracy’s ally, that built the statues of Alexander the Great in Skopje, that signed twenty-eight military cooperation agreements with Turkey, that even today is fighting against the Prespa Agreement to achieve a simple [name Ed] “ Macedonia” So here we have to call figs “figs” and boats “boats”."
Former Minister Kotzias’s view
The agreement signed with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will bring stability in the region and undercut Turkey's influence in the region, former foreign minister Nikos Kotzias said on Monday, during a speech in Heraklion.
“Do we want our most immediate neighbour to be under the influence and control of third powers, such as Turkey? Or do we want to have stability in the Balkans, in the borders, and a growing influence of our country in the region so we can ally with them against the destabilizing forces?” he asked at an event organized by political movement Pratto, which he founded.
Mr. Kotzias said the Prespes Agreement allows Greece to reclaim the name “Macedonia” which is the one widely used by everyone.
“FYROM is not called FYROM internationally, but 'Macedonia,' and if you see the newspapers after the vote on Saturday, they say the country will change its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia. We are reclaiming the name,” he said.
The Interior Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) said on Monday that additional police protection was being provided to MPs who voted to support the Prespa Agreement that changes the country's name.
Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said all 80 parliament members who backed launching the constitutional amendment process needed for the change were getting extra security after several MPs and their families reported death threats.
Parliament voted 80-39 late Friday in favour of the government's proposal for the amendment that would rename FYROM as “North Macedonia.”.
On Monday, the United States' deputy assistant secretary of state, Matthew Palmer visited Skopje and praised the parliament decision, saying "the agreement is essential for FYROM’s path towards the European Union and NATO." "I would like to underscore that the Macedonian people can rely on US friendship and support," he added.
The amendment process is expected to take several months. After it is completed, the last step in enacting the name change deal will be taken in Athens, where Greece’s parliament is to vote on whether to ratify the agreement.
Russia’s View
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the vote in the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that backed changing the country's name was rigged through a combination of blackmail, threats and vote-buying.
FYROM’s parliament on Friday approved a proposal to change the country's name, bringing a decades-old dispute with Greece one step closer to being resolved, a move that could unblock its bid to join NATO, a development opposed by Russia.
"We view what happened as an open violation of all norms, both from a legal and moral point of view. Such dirty manipulations cannot be regarded as an expression of parliamentarians' will," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
It said that the 80 votes needed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to enact constitutional changes had been secured "through blackmail, and threatening and bribing opposition deputies."
SYRIZA / AN-EL Government Coalition under threat?
The newspaper “Greek Reporter” on Sunday reported that Panos Kammenos had stated that the Prespa Agreement “granting FYROM permission to call itself “North Macedonia” is the “last straw” for his party. The article went on to say “Kammenos stated that thus far, “We cooperated to save the country,” speaking of the ANEL party’s alliance with the Greek government. However, he stressed that ANEL’s MPs will walk out of Parliament if the Prespa Agreement is presented [to Parliament Ed] for ratification, and that his party will leave the coalition if the leftist ruling SYRIZA government presents the agreement.
Ekathimerini reported it in this way: “The junior party in Greece's left-led coalition, the small nationalist Independent Greeks, will walk out when the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia comes to Parliament, leader Panos Kammenos insisted on Sunday.
The name deal, which was approved in the first of three votes in Skopje on Friday, is the “last straw” for ANEL, said Kammenos, adding that his party will leave the coalition if leftist SYRIZA presents the agreement for ratification.
“We cooperated to save the country,” Kammenos said of the alliance, which has come under increasing strain in recent days after the AN-EL chief, who is also Minister of Defence, went off script during a visit to Washington earlier this month, presenting his own alternative to the deal renaming the Balkan country “North Macedonia.”
“ANEL has been clear on its position; we will not accept the term 'Macedonia,'” Mr. Kammenos said. “We have never cooperated with those who want to steal our history.”
Η Αυγη published this report of the same speech.
"What we agreed with our partners in the government remains in force," AN-EL leader Kammenos said.
"Do not expect the government to fall. What we agreed with our partners in the government, remains in force." He said the election would take place either in October at the end of the four year term or in May and he stressed that until March, or whenever the Prespa Agreement came to the Greek Parliament, this is not a matter of discussion with the government partner.
"And our cooperation with SYRIZA in the government, our continuing presence in the government, will be until the knot comes to the comb, that is, until the Prespa Agreement comes to Parliament. Then, honestly and clearly, as we have said, we will withdraw. There is no clearer position."
"The agreement we have with the Prime Minister is not up for discussion until March. It applies absolutely. The debate is over, we will speak again in March, whenever the Agreement comes to the House."
"We can not accept any composite name for the Skopje state, which contains the term “Macedonia”. We did not hide that, we did not retreat from that and we will not retreat from it."
"Certainly, SYRIZA did not even ask us to withdraw from our position."
"Our cooperation with SYRIZA, my collaboration with Alexis Tsipras, was, is and will be an honest and open cooperation. A public partnership."
"We did not work with SYRIZA and I did not work with Alexis to cover up the rackets of the past, as New Democracy did with PASOK. I did not work with Alexis, as Samaras did with Venizelos, to stop the prosecutions facing the one or the other."
"We have worked together, with our ideological differences, to save our homeland and all together we have put into practice the national reconciliation. Whatever we had to say and whatever we have to say, we say it publicly. Open, honest and clean.
He also observed that, despite the proceedings begun in Skopje, ratification of the Prespa Agreement, from that side, "has a way to go."
He also accused New Democracy of "being the first to hand over the term “Macedonia” under the leadership of Dora Bakoyannis" and of "participating in the European People’s Party with the VMRO [The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity Ed]."
"It was VMPO, the VMPO that is not our ally but New Democracy’s ally, that built the statues of Alexander the Great in Skopje, that signed twenty-eight military cooperation agreements with Turkey, that even today is fighting against the Prespa Agreement to achieve a simple [name Ed] “ Macedonia” So here we have to call figs “figs” and boats “boats”."
Former Minister Kotzias’s view
The agreement signed with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will bring stability in the region and undercut Turkey's influence in the region, former foreign minister Nikos Kotzias said on Monday, during a speech in Heraklion.
“Do we want our most immediate neighbour to be under the influence and control of third powers, such as Turkey? Or do we want to have stability in the Balkans, in the borders, and a growing influence of our country in the region so we can ally with them against the destabilizing forces?” he asked at an event organized by political movement Pratto, which he founded.
Mr. Kotzias said the Prespes Agreement allows Greece to reclaim the name “Macedonia” which is the one widely used by everyone.
“FYROM is not called FYROM internationally, but 'Macedonia,' and if you see the newspapers after the vote on Saturday, they say the country will change its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia. We are reclaiming the name,” he said.
EU accepts Greece’s draft budget
Greece is not among the countries that received a letter from the European Commission asking for clarifications on their draft budget submitted earlier this week. Apart from Italy, letters were received today by France, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal and Belgium. State Secretary Christoforos Vernardakis commented that it is Greece’s first post-memorandum budget approved by the Commission." And he added: " Obviously there are no cuts to pensions On the contrary, all the measures of support for the welfare state and for the lower and middle strata announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair are included.
ELSTAT: final figures for 2017
According to the final figures for 2017 released by Greece’s Statistics Authority (ELSTAT), Greek GDP increased by 3.75€ billion. This increase is attributed to economic growth in Greece during 2017.
Specifically, the Greek GDP rose from 176.48€ billion in 2016 to 180.22€ billion in 2017.
ELSTAT also issued its conclusive estimate of Greece’s primary surplus for 2017, placing it at 7.01€ billion, or 3.9% of the country’s GDP.
As a result of the increased GDP, Greece’s debt as a percentage of its GDP decreased by 2.4%, falling to 176.1%. That figure for 2016 was 178.5%.
Responding to the figures issued by ELSTAT, the European Statistics Authority (Eurostat) considered the data to be accurate and did not express any concerns,.
Former PASOK Minister detained
Former PASOK Minister of Defence Yiannis Papantoniou and his wife Stavroula Kourakou were taken to Attica’s high-security Korydallos Prison on Wednesday after judicial authorities ordered them to be remanded in custody over charges of money laundering linked to alleged bribes linked to from a state defence contract.
An investigating magistrate and prosecutor decided to detain the pair pending trial after deeming them a flight risk as they rent a second home in Switzerland and have bank accounts there. The judicial officials also deemed that the pair could commit further offenses if allowed to go free.
Mr. Papantoniou has denied charges according to which he laundered 2.8€ million in Swiss Francs that he is alleged to have pocketed in exchange for securing a contract in 2003 to upgrade six Greek Navy frigates.
As he was being led away in handcuffs, Mr. Papantoniou suggested that the decision to remand him was political, referring to a “utilization of justice that is damaging our democracy.”
Judicial authorities have also asked Parliament to determine whether bribery charges against him have expired under the statute of limitations.
Greece is not among the countries that received a letter from the European Commission asking for clarifications on their draft budget submitted earlier this week. Apart from Italy, letters were received today by France, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal and Belgium. State Secretary Christoforos Vernardakis commented that it is Greece’s first post-memorandum budget approved by the Commission." And he added: " Obviously there are no cuts to pensions On the contrary, all the measures of support for the welfare state and for the lower and middle strata announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair are included.
ELSTAT: final figures for 2017
According to the final figures for 2017 released by Greece’s Statistics Authority (ELSTAT), Greek GDP increased by 3.75€ billion. This increase is attributed to economic growth in Greece during 2017.
Specifically, the Greek GDP rose from 176.48€ billion in 2016 to 180.22€ billion in 2017.
ELSTAT also issued its conclusive estimate of Greece’s primary surplus for 2017, placing it at 7.01€ billion, or 3.9% of the country’s GDP.
As a result of the increased GDP, Greece’s debt as a percentage of its GDP decreased by 2.4%, falling to 176.1%. That figure for 2016 was 178.5%.
Responding to the figures issued by ELSTAT, the European Statistics Authority (Eurostat) considered the data to be accurate and did not express any concerns,.
Former PASOK Minister detained
Former PASOK Minister of Defence Yiannis Papantoniou and his wife Stavroula Kourakou were taken to Attica’s high-security Korydallos Prison on Wednesday after judicial authorities ordered them to be remanded in custody over charges of money laundering linked to alleged bribes linked to from a state defence contract.
An investigating magistrate and prosecutor decided to detain the pair pending trial after deeming them a flight risk as they rent a second home in Switzerland and have bank accounts there. The judicial officials also deemed that the pair could commit further offenses if allowed to go free.
Mr. Papantoniou has denied charges according to which he laundered 2.8€ million in Swiss Francs that he is alleged to have pocketed in exchange for securing a contract in 2003 to upgrade six Greek Navy frigates.
As he was being led away in handcuffs, Mr. Papantoniou suggested that the decision to remand him was political, referring to a “utilization of justice that is damaging our democracy.”
Judicial authorities have also asked Parliament to determine whether bribery charges against him have expired under the statute of limitations.
"A Great Day for Democracy in Skopje"
20.10.2018
"Congratulations my friend Zoran Zaev! Tonight's vote is a big step towards our common success. A very important step towards a peaceful future with prosperity for our peoples! "Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement on social media.
The FYROM parliament last night (Friday) approved the proposal of the government of Zoran Zaev to start the procedures for the revision of the country's constitution in order to proceed with the change of its name from the “Former Republic of Macedonia” [FYROM] to the Republic of Northern Macedonia on the basis of the Prespa agreement. This vote successfully concluded the first phase of the process.
Out of a total of 117 deputies, 80 MPs voted in favour, including 8 opposition MPs. The change of name will pave the way for the country to join NATO and the European Union.
Two more phases remain. Next, constitutional amendments will be tabled, where a majority of 61 is required. A public consultation will then take place and, in the third phase, Parliament will vote "yes" or "no", where, as on Friday, again a 2/3 majority (80 votes) is required. The procedures are expected to take 3 months.
Congratulations were sent by European Council President Donald Tusk: “A vote that is a big step closer to establishing your position in our community.”
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg welcomed the decision “It is up to the Government and the political leaders to complete the national procedures on the nomenclature agreement and to seize the historic opportunity for their country to join NATO.”
European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Khan said: “A Great Day for Democracy in Skopje. I congratulate all those who have decided to move on to the European road. I expect the free choice of all Members to be fully respected. We need political ability, not party games”.
UN special mediator Matthew Nimetz expressed satisfaction with the starting of the constitutional revisions in FYROM: "I want to express my great satisfaction with this result. This is a welcome development not only for your country but for the region and for Europe. I want to congratulate all the political forces in the country, and especially its leadership, on this important step forward. It particularly impressed me how the democratic system worked effectively and responsibly, in accordance with the constitutional system and the democratic spirit of the people. I hope the remaining steps will progress smoothly to the conclusion of the process and I encourage all political leaders to work constructively to conclude the agreement and proceed with its implementation.
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Johannes Khan issued a Joint Statement:
“Today, a very important step has been made in FYROM.
The European Union strongly supports the historic agreement signed by Prime Ministers Zaev and Tsipras in June. It needed political courage, leadership and responsibility to resolve one of the oldest conflicts in the region. This was confirmed by today's vote.
It is truly a unique opportunity for the country to move decisively towards the European road, as well as for reconciliation in the region. The European Union will continue to provide its full support to its citizens and its institutions.”
*****************************************
At this week’s Cabinet Meeting, PM Tsipras called upon members of the government to commit themselves not to side with the efforts of New Democracy and the Extreme Right in their efforts to overthrow the government over the Name Issue. Their real aim, he said, was to halt the recovery of the economy.
"I understand that the issue of FYROM is creating differences. However, the premature end of the government must not be called for or counted on under the guise of these differences," the Prime Minister said. "I do not ask anyone to change positions," he pointed out, apparently addressing AN-EL leader P. Kammenos, adding: "But I ask you to make it clear that you are not considering lining up with the opposition in a possible motion of censure against the government."
On Monday, Alexis Tsipras had an informal meeting with P. Kammenos, where the need for “things to be toned down and for the government to continue its work” was agreed. According to government sources, Minister of National Defence Kammenos made it clear that he maintains his view on the name of FYROM, but stressed that "I will never throw in my lot with the attempt to overthrow the government."
**************************
"With Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras we remain fully committed to the prospect of the new Balkans of the 21st century, where friendship will be built, the cooperation and economic development of our countries will be enhanced," FYROM's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on the eve of the vote, speaking to journalists following a telephone conference with PM Tsipras.
"We will contribute to improving the economic and general development of our countries, citizens will be happier and, of course, there will be increased trade, new investments and the improvement of the economic level of the citizens of FYROM and Greece."
"I am happy about Greece's absolute commitment to this Agreement. I can also confirm our absolute commitment. I hope that tomorrow Parliament will draw strength, that MPs will show boldness and courage because they are first and foremost representatives of the citizens. The political parties must not let slip the historic responsibility of this opportunity for Macedonia that stands before them. It is my hope that they will face up to the circumstances and eventually approve and confirm the need for making the constitutional changes,"the FYROM Prime Minister said. He expressed his conviction that “political problems are to be solved by implementing a new policy, and not by changing borders”.
PM Zaev said he expected MPs to respect the will of citizens who voted in the 30th September referendum on the Prespa Agreement, with over 90 percent [of those voting Ed] voting in favour. They had, he said, voted for their country’s membership of the EU and Nato. “The people made a very important choice. The majority of citizens who voted in the referendum supported one question, one vision and one goal for the future of our country, which is only a step away from being accomplished.
The fulfillment of this vision is now in the hands of every Member of Parliament, separately and depends on them. They need to make a decision demonstrating that they want to make our country a safe and good place to live for every citizen.”
He underlined that the time had come for a different Balkans, having left behind prejudices and its reputation as a powder keg, to become a source of stability.
“In accordance with the strategic priorities – membership of NATO and the EU, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia undertook the obligation to prepare a proposal of draft amendments for constitutional changes…
Considering the historical importance and the urgency that the moment calls for, the Government I lead took an initiative and made a decision to submit the proposal of draft amendments to constitutional changes to the Parliament, and with that, asked Parliament to begin with this procedure.
Now, all Members of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation, have a historical duty in service to the citizens, to secure the road for our country towards stability, security and economic prosperity. That is the road towards the EU and NATO that passes through the Prespa Agreement.”
The FYROM parliament last night (Friday) approved the proposal of the government of Zoran Zaev to start the procedures for the revision of the country's constitution in order to proceed with the change of its name from the “Former Republic of Macedonia” [FYROM] to the Republic of Northern Macedonia on the basis of the Prespa agreement. This vote successfully concluded the first phase of the process.
Out of a total of 117 deputies, 80 MPs voted in favour, including 8 opposition MPs. The change of name will pave the way for the country to join NATO and the European Union.
Two more phases remain. Next, constitutional amendments will be tabled, where a majority of 61 is required. A public consultation will then take place and, in the third phase, Parliament will vote "yes" or "no", where, as on Friday, again a 2/3 majority (80 votes) is required. The procedures are expected to take 3 months.
Congratulations were sent by European Council President Donald Tusk: “A vote that is a big step closer to establishing your position in our community.”
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg welcomed the decision “It is up to the Government and the political leaders to complete the national procedures on the nomenclature agreement and to seize the historic opportunity for their country to join NATO.”
European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Khan said: “A Great Day for Democracy in Skopje. I congratulate all those who have decided to move on to the European road. I expect the free choice of all Members to be fully respected. We need political ability, not party games”.
UN special mediator Matthew Nimetz expressed satisfaction with the starting of the constitutional revisions in FYROM: "I want to express my great satisfaction with this result. This is a welcome development not only for your country but for the region and for Europe. I want to congratulate all the political forces in the country, and especially its leadership, on this important step forward. It particularly impressed me how the democratic system worked effectively and responsibly, in accordance with the constitutional system and the democratic spirit of the people. I hope the remaining steps will progress smoothly to the conclusion of the process and I encourage all political leaders to work constructively to conclude the agreement and proceed with its implementation.
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Johannes Khan issued a Joint Statement:
“Today, a very important step has been made in FYROM.
The European Union strongly supports the historic agreement signed by Prime Ministers Zaev and Tsipras in June. It needed political courage, leadership and responsibility to resolve one of the oldest conflicts in the region. This was confirmed by today's vote.
It is truly a unique opportunity for the country to move decisively towards the European road, as well as for reconciliation in the region. The European Union will continue to provide its full support to its citizens and its institutions.”
*****************************************
At this week’s Cabinet Meeting, PM Tsipras called upon members of the government to commit themselves not to side with the efforts of New Democracy and the Extreme Right in their efforts to overthrow the government over the Name Issue. Their real aim, he said, was to halt the recovery of the economy.
"I understand that the issue of FYROM is creating differences. However, the premature end of the government must not be called for or counted on under the guise of these differences," the Prime Minister said. "I do not ask anyone to change positions," he pointed out, apparently addressing AN-EL leader P. Kammenos, adding: "But I ask you to make it clear that you are not considering lining up with the opposition in a possible motion of censure against the government."
On Monday, Alexis Tsipras had an informal meeting with P. Kammenos, where the need for “things to be toned down and for the government to continue its work” was agreed. According to government sources, Minister of National Defence Kammenos made it clear that he maintains his view on the name of FYROM, but stressed that "I will never throw in my lot with the attempt to overthrow the government."
**************************
"With Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras we remain fully committed to the prospect of the new Balkans of the 21st century, where friendship will be built, the cooperation and economic development of our countries will be enhanced," FYROM's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on the eve of the vote, speaking to journalists following a telephone conference with PM Tsipras.
"We will contribute to improving the economic and general development of our countries, citizens will be happier and, of course, there will be increased trade, new investments and the improvement of the economic level of the citizens of FYROM and Greece."
"I am happy about Greece's absolute commitment to this Agreement. I can also confirm our absolute commitment. I hope that tomorrow Parliament will draw strength, that MPs will show boldness and courage because they are first and foremost representatives of the citizens. The political parties must not let slip the historic responsibility of this opportunity for Macedonia that stands before them. It is my hope that they will face up to the circumstances and eventually approve and confirm the need for making the constitutional changes,"the FYROM Prime Minister said. He expressed his conviction that “political problems are to be solved by implementing a new policy, and not by changing borders”.
PM Zaev said he expected MPs to respect the will of citizens who voted in the 30th September referendum on the Prespa Agreement, with over 90 percent [of those voting Ed] voting in favour. They had, he said, voted for their country’s membership of the EU and Nato. “The people made a very important choice. The majority of citizens who voted in the referendum supported one question, one vision and one goal for the future of our country, which is only a step away from being accomplished.
The fulfillment of this vision is now in the hands of every Member of Parliament, separately and depends on them. They need to make a decision demonstrating that they want to make our country a safe and good place to live for every citizen.”
He underlined that the time had come for a different Balkans, having left behind prejudices and its reputation as a powder keg, to become a source of stability.
“In accordance with the strategic priorities – membership of NATO and the EU, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia undertook the obligation to prepare a proposal of draft amendments for constitutional changes…
Considering the historical importance and the urgency that the moment calls for, the Government I lead took an initiative and made a decision to submit the proposal of draft amendments to constitutional changes to the Parliament, and with that, asked Parliament to begin with this procedure.
Now, all Members of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation, have a historical duty in service to the citizens, to secure the road for our country towards stability, security and economic prosperity. That is the road towards the EU and NATO that passes through the Prespa Agreement.”
OECD “optimistic” about the Greek Economy
Secretary of the OECD’s [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]
Joint Steering Committee for Greece, Mario Lopez-Roland expressed the organisation’s support for Greece for the repair of the damage caused by the austerity policies, as well as its optimism about the course of the Greek economy.
Talking to the Renewable Energy Agency on the sidelines of the International Forum of Rhodes, Mario Lopez-Roland said that Greece has entered a new era, noting that this is a very important moment, because the Greek government will now have the opportunity to promote policies of its own.
"I think we are in a new era. Obviously there are structural issues and problems for the Greek economy that are not easy to solve. But this is a very important moment, because for the first time this [Greek Ed] Government will have the opportunity to promote its own policies. Now that it has left the programme, it has a new national development strategy. It is focused on restoring the damage caused by austerity policies.
Greece has the support of the OECD. We are actively working with Greece. The OECD Secretary General recently met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. We are optimistic. I just met the head of the OECD's office in Greece and he told me that the prospects for growth, the prospect for GDP, were optimistic for the next two years… And I believe that this Government, as far as the OECD is concerned, is implementing the right policies to bring about stability, win investor confidence and start coping with the tragic social crisis that has occurred over the last few years. This is the first priority for OECD as a great opportunity to help Greece."
Secretary of the OECD’s [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]
Joint Steering Committee for Greece, Mario Lopez-Roland expressed the organisation’s support for Greece for the repair of the damage caused by the austerity policies, as well as its optimism about the course of the Greek economy.
Talking to the Renewable Energy Agency on the sidelines of the International Forum of Rhodes, Mario Lopez-Roland said that Greece has entered a new era, noting that this is a very important moment, because the Greek government will now have the opportunity to promote policies of its own.
"I think we are in a new era. Obviously there are structural issues and problems for the Greek economy that are not easy to solve. But this is a very important moment, because for the first time this [Greek Ed] Government will have the opportunity to promote its own policies. Now that it has left the programme, it has a new national development strategy. It is focused on restoring the damage caused by austerity policies.
Greece has the support of the OECD. We are actively working with Greece. The OECD Secretary General recently met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. We are optimistic. I just met the head of the OECD's office in Greece and he told me that the prospects for growth, the prospect for GDP, were optimistic for the next two years… And I believe that this Government, as far as the OECD is concerned, is implementing the right policies to bring about stability, win investor confidence and start coping with the tragic social crisis that has occurred over the last few years. This is the first priority for OECD as a great opportunity to help Greece."
"The most beautiful, the lightest day of the world"
George Seferis
13.10.2018
"October 12, 1944, Thursday. After 1264 Days of Occupation, Athens is again free"
Minister of the Interior, Alexis Charitsis represented the Government and welcomed the the City of Athens’event honouring the anniversary of the liberation of Athens from the Nazi occupation troops on October 12, 1944.
Among other things, Alexis Charitsis noted that "the meaning of claiming German compensation" is primarily moral, not material ". "The German state must recognize its historical debt to Greece. Only in this way will the wound of the Occupation and the unfinished business of the past be definitively closed. It is the ultimate vindication we owe to the victims of the Occupation and to all those who fought to end the Nazi darkness."
The Minister’s speech in full:
"Mr. Mayor, Representatives of the Parties, the Church, Representatives of the Region and the Military Authorities
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today is a special day for Athens, celebrating the liberation of the capital from the Nazi troops. Essentially, the end of the Nazi occupation of Greece. On this day, 74 years ago, ended one of the most difficult, darkest periods our country has ever lived through.
The Occupation was particularly tough in Greece, the ferocious atrocities of the Nazis and the blood tax paid by the Greek people was among the largest in Europe. So when, one sunny morning like today, the flag of the conqueror was cast down from the Acropolis. When the last soldier of the Wehrmacht withdrew, the people of Athens poured spontaneously onto the streets, celebrating.
It was "the most beautiful, the lightest day of the world", with the words of our great poet, George Seferis. The liberation was not freely granted to the people of Athens and Greece. The people won it with its blood, with its indomitable strength throughout the course of the Occupation, despite thousands of executions, torture, and lethal hunger. Mostly, however, the people won it with the resistance it had put up to the conqueror, with the heroism it displayed against its military superiority.
If the Occupation was one of the most difficult moments in our history, the National Resistance was one of the most brilliant pages of this people. The overwhelming majority of the Athenians and Greeks did not submit to the conqueror, did not collaborate with the Occupation. They resisted as best they could, with all the means at their disposal. A large proportion of citizens joined the resistance organizations, in particular EAM. Large parts of the country were liberated long before the Nazi troops officially withdrew. The Athenians went on strike and held mass demonstrations in March 1943, overwhelming the political mobilization planned by the occupiers. Millions of citizens took part in the first elections in April 1944 in the liberated areas for the election of the National Council. Elections in which women also participated for the first time. Democratic institutions and organisations of popular power flourished in liberated Greece.
The Greek people put their own indelible mark on the great anti-fascist war that shook the world and through this struggle decisively changed itself and the face of the country. The end of the war found Greece exhausted, destroyed, counting its wounds. But also completely different.
The pre-war political and ideological relations had been overturned. The slogan that dominates the streets of Athens on the day of liberation is "Freedom – Popular Power". The people emerged from the margins of the Metaxas dictatorship and became the protagonist of its own history. The demand for equality and justice echoes in every corner of the country. The demand for national unity is now set in very different terms.
It is a unity focusing on mature popular claims and not on the interests of a minority, as it was in the past. And perhaps this Greek "Spring" did not last long, it quickly gave way - just a few weeks afterwards – to new trials for the Greek people. However, it has left its mark on the social and political developments of the country for many years – up until our days.
The great social, democratic demands of the coming decades have their roots in the epic feats of the National Resistance. There are huge efforts to realise popular demands for freedom - democracy - social justice that at that time remained unfulfilled. For the wounds of the civil war to be healed and the Greek people to be united in real terms, with democracy and social cohesion. We have an obligation to protect this heritage.
The struggles and bloody sacrifices of our people that brought the liberation can not and must not be forgotten. Their spirit must be a guide to our efforts today. We have a duty to preserve the historical memory, to ensure the new generations understand the tragic and at the same time heroic past of our people. This is the meaning of celebrating this day, the great anti-fascist victory of the people of Athens who for decades remained forgotten, but now are regaining the place they deserves. This is also the point of claiming German reparations [ see NOTE below]. And it is primarily moral, not material. The German state is obliged to recognize its historical debt to Greece. Only in this way will the wound of Occupation and the unfinished past of the past be definitively closed. It is the ultimate vindication we owe to the victims of the Occupation and to those who fought to end the Nazi darkness. We therefore have a duty not to forget.
And this becomes even more imperative today, when we see the fascist ghost re-emerging in Europe and Greece. It is a matter of shame for a country that suffered so much at the hands of the Nazis to have a Nazi party in parliament. It is an insult to the memory of all those who gave their blood and life to defeat the monster of Nazism. Those whom we honour today and to whom we are accountable, since, as warned by Walter Benjamin, "not even the dead will be safe from the enemy, if the enemy is victorious."
Faced with this danger we must raise a wall, all democratic citizens, all the democratic forces of the country. We must not let the snake come out of its egg. Let us not re-live history as a tragedy.
Today, Greece is at a crucial crossroads. It is emerging from a difficult period that has plagued society and tested its cohesion. Days like the one we are celebrating today - a day when all seemed strong - remind us that we have a rare opportunity and the heavy responsibility to work together for a better future for all Greeks. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past but let us realise the vision of the hundreds of thousands of Athenians on the streets that Thursday, October 12, 1944 - their expectations for democracy, justice and social progress."
NOTE
In 2015, a Parliamentary Commission determined that losses and damages suffered by Greece during the Occupation totalled at least 289€ billion. Now, its calculations come to €332 billion as well as repayment for a "loan" the Nazis forcibly took from the Bank of Greece.
In 1942, Nazi Germany forced the Greek national bank to make an interest-free loan of 476€ million Reichsmarks. The Nazis used the money to finance the "cost of occupation" of Greece as well as military operations. The loan was never repaid. The Commission has come to the conclusion that Germany still owes Greece about €11 billion.
While the German government's official line has long been to refuse such demands and insist that Greek claims have already been compensated in previous reparation payments, there are high-placed voices in the German government saying otherwise. Accompanying Steinmeier on the state visit is Gregor Gysi, a prominent face of the opposition Left party. "It weighs on me that occupied Greece was obliged by the Nazi regime to give a compulsory loan. In my opinion, the Federal Republic of Germany is still liable for this loan. For legal, political, and moral reasons, Germany should pay back the loan and offer negotiations on the interest."
PM Alexis Tsipras has called the German payment of reparations a "historical obligation".
Among other things, Alexis Charitsis noted that "the meaning of claiming German compensation" is primarily moral, not material ". "The German state must recognize its historical debt to Greece. Only in this way will the wound of the Occupation and the unfinished business of the past be definitively closed. It is the ultimate vindication we owe to the victims of the Occupation and to all those who fought to end the Nazi darkness."
The Minister’s speech in full:
"Mr. Mayor, Representatives of the Parties, the Church, Representatives of the Region and the Military Authorities
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today is a special day for Athens, celebrating the liberation of the capital from the Nazi troops. Essentially, the end of the Nazi occupation of Greece. On this day, 74 years ago, ended one of the most difficult, darkest periods our country has ever lived through.
The Occupation was particularly tough in Greece, the ferocious atrocities of the Nazis and the blood tax paid by the Greek people was among the largest in Europe. So when, one sunny morning like today, the flag of the conqueror was cast down from the Acropolis. When the last soldier of the Wehrmacht withdrew, the people of Athens poured spontaneously onto the streets, celebrating.
It was "the most beautiful, the lightest day of the world", with the words of our great poet, George Seferis. The liberation was not freely granted to the people of Athens and Greece. The people won it with its blood, with its indomitable strength throughout the course of the Occupation, despite thousands of executions, torture, and lethal hunger. Mostly, however, the people won it with the resistance it had put up to the conqueror, with the heroism it displayed against its military superiority.
If the Occupation was one of the most difficult moments in our history, the National Resistance was one of the most brilliant pages of this people. The overwhelming majority of the Athenians and Greeks did not submit to the conqueror, did not collaborate with the Occupation. They resisted as best they could, with all the means at their disposal. A large proportion of citizens joined the resistance organizations, in particular EAM. Large parts of the country were liberated long before the Nazi troops officially withdrew. The Athenians went on strike and held mass demonstrations in March 1943, overwhelming the political mobilization planned by the occupiers. Millions of citizens took part in the first elections in April 1944 in the liberated areas for the election of the National Council. Elections in which women also participated for the first time. Democratic institutions and organisations of popular power flourished in liberated Greece.
The Greek people put their own indelible mark on the great anti-fascist war that shook the world and through this struggle decisively changed itself and the face of the country. The end of the war found Greece exhausted, destroyed, counting its wounds. But also completely different.
The pre-war political and ideological relations had been overturned. The slogan that dominates the streets of Athens on the day of liberation is "Freedom – Popular Power". The people emerged from the margins of the Metaxas dictatorship and became the protagonist of its own history. The demand for equality and justice echoes in every corner of the country. The demand for national unity is now set in very different terms.
It is a unity focusing on mature popular claims and not on the interests of a minority, as it was in the past. And perhaps this Greek "Spring" did not last long, it quickly gave way - just a few weeks afterwards – to new trials for the Greek people. However, it has left its mark on the social and political developments of the country for many years – up until our days.
The great social, democratic demands of the coming decades have their roots in the epic feats of the National Resistance. There are huge efforts to realise popular demands for freedom - democracy - social justice that at that time remained unfulfilled. For the wounds of the civil war to be healed and the Greek people to be united in real terms, with democracy and social cohesion. We have an obligation to protect this heritage.
The struggles and bloody sacrifices of our people that brought the liberation can not and must not be forgotten. Their spirit must be a guide to our efforts today. We have a duty to preserve the historical memory, to ensure the new generations understand the tragic and at the same time heroic past of our people. This is the meaning of celebrating this day, the great anti-fascist victory of the people of Athens who for decades remained forgotten, but now are regaining the place they deserves. This is also the point of claiming German reparations [ see NOTE below]. And it is primarily moral, not material. The German state is obliged to recognize its historical debt to Greece. Only in this way will the wound of Occupation and the unfinished past of the past be definitively closed. It is the ultimate vindication we owe to the victims of the Occupation and to those who fought to end the Nazi darkness. We therefore have a duty not to forget.
And this becomes even more imperative today, when we see the fascist ghost re-emerging in Europe and Greece. It is a matter of shame for a country that suffered so much at the hands of the Nazis to have a Nazi party in parliament. It is an insult to the memory of all those who gave their blood and life to defeat the monster of Nazism. Those whom we honour today and to whom we are accountable, since, as warned by Walter Benjamin, "not even the dead will be safe from the enemy, if the enemy is victorious."
Faced with this danger we must raise a wall, all democratic citizens, all the democratic forces of the country. We must not let the snake come out of its egg. Let us not re-live history as a tragedy.
Today, Greece is at a crucial crossroads. It is emerging from a difficult period that has plagued society and tested its cohesion. Days like the one we are celebrating today - a day when all seemed strong - remind us that we have a rare opportunity and the heavy responsibility to work together for a better future for all Greeks. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past but let us realise the vision of the hundreds of thousands of Athenians on the streets that Thursday, October 12, 1944 - their expectations for democracy, justice and social progress."
NOTE
In 2015, a Parliamentary Commission determined that losses and damages suffered by Greece during the Occupation totalled at least 289€ billion. Now, its calculations come to €332 billion as well as repayment for a "loan" the Nazis forcibly took from the Bank of Greece.
In 1942, Nazi Germany forced the Greek national bank to make an interest-free loan of 476€ million Reichsmarks. The Nazis used the money to finance the "cost of occupation" of Greece as well as military operations. The loan was never repaid. The Commission has come to the conclusion that Germany still owes Greece about €11 billion.
While the German government's official line has long been to refuse such demands and insist that Greek claims have already been compensated in previous reparation payments, there are high-placed voices in the German government saying otherwise. Accompanying Steinmeier on the state visit is Gregor Gysi, a prominent face of the opposition Left party. "It weighs on me that occupied Greece was obliged by the Nazi regime to give a compulsory loan. In my opinion, the Federal Republic of Germany is still liable for this loan. For legal, political, and moral reasons, Germany should pay back the loan and offer negotiations on the interest."
PM Alexis Tsipras has called the German payment of reparations a "historical obligation".
The Economy
Tourism
According to data from the Bank of Greece, 10.5 million people visited Greece between January and June 2018. The number for the same period last year was 8.5 million - an increase of 22.9%, or more than 2 million people in just 6 months.
As a result, the revenues for the Greek economy increased by 17.2% compared to the period between January and June 2017, reaching 4.777€ billion.
63.9% of the tourists were EU citizens and 25.9% non-EU citizens.
The cruise sector recorded an increase as well, but at a lower rate. The revenues generated by cruises in Greece were up by 2.4% compared to the first six months of the previous year.
The State Budget : latest data
State Budget Office estimates show, for the eight-month period January-August 2018, a primary surplus of 868€ million, higher than the same period last year.
On the revenue side of the State Budget, tax revenues increased by 624€ million and Extra Budgetary Resources [EBR - resources raised through profits, loans and equity. Ed.] increased by 244€ million. This is offset by the reduced privatization revenue of 741€ million.
On the State Budget side, an increase of 386€ million was attributable to an increase in primary expenditure of 930€ million. Expenditure on Interest was reduced by 438€ million and expenditure under the Public Investment Programme (PAE) reduced by 106€ million. For the rest of the sub-sectors of the general government, legal entities show reduced revenues of 106€ million and reduced expenses by 235€ million, resulting in an improved cash primary surplus by 78€ million for the year. The decrease in the income of legal entities is mainly due to the decrease in revenue from indirect taxes (by 167€ million), while transfers from the state budget increased by 80€ million compared to the corresponding period of 2017.
Local authorities report increased revenue of 670€ million and increased expenditure of 330€ million, with their primary surplus result being increased by 337€ million. The increase in revenues of the Local Authorities is mainly due to the increased transfers from the state budget of 595€ million compared to the corresponding period of 2017.
Social Security Organisations recorded increased revenue of 909€ million and an increased expenditure by 1,352€ billion, resulting in a 445€ million annual increase in their cash surplus. The increase in social security income is due to an increase of 390€ million in State budget transfers and an increase of 416€ million in social security contributions compared to the same period of 2017.
Finally, a reduction of 298€ million in the government's general arrears in the eight-month period of 2018, compared with an increase of 1,091€ billion in the corresponding period last year, meant a favourable effect of 1,389€ billion on the government’s general primary surplus result in 2018.
Tourism
According to data from the Bank of Greece, 10.5 million people visited Greece between January and June 2018. The number for the same period last year was 8.5 million - an increase of 22.9%, or more than 2 million people in just 6 months.
As a result, the revenues for the Greek economy increased by 17.2% compared to the period between January and June 2017, reaching 4.777€ billion.
63.9% of the tourists were EU citizens and 25.9% non-EU citizens.
The cruise sector recorded an increase as well, but at a lower rate. The revenues generated by cruises in Greece were up by 2.4% compared to the first six months of the previous year.
The State Budget : latest data
State Budget Office estimates show, for the eight-month period January-August 2018, a primary surplus of 868€ million, higher than the same period last year.
On the revenue side of the State Budget, tax revenues increased by 624€ million and Extra Budgetary Resources [EBR - resources raised through profits, loans and equity. Ed.] increased by 244€ million. This is offset by the reduced privatization revenue of 741€ million.
On the State Budget side, an increase of 386€ million was attributable to an increase in primary expenditure of 930€ million. Expenditure on Interest was reduced by 438€ million and expenditure under the Public Investment Programme (PAE) reduced by 106€ million. For the rest of the sub-sectors of the general government, legal entities show reduced revenues of 106€ million and reduced expenses by 235€ million, resulting in an improved cash primary surplus by 78€ million for the year. The decrease in the income of legal entities is mainly due to the decrease in revenue from indirect taxes (by 167€ million), while transfers from the state budget increased by 80€ million compared to the corresponding period of 2017.
Local authorities report increased revenue of 670€ million and increased expenditure of 330€ million, with their primary surplus result being increased by 337€ million. The increase in revenues of the Local Authorities is mainly due to the increased transfers from the state budget of 595€ million compared to the corresponding period of 2017.
Social Security Organisations recorded increased revenue of 909€ million and an increased expenditure by 1,352€ billion, resulting in a 445€ million annual increase in their cash surplus. The increase in social security income is due to an increase of 390€ million in State budget transfers and an increase of 416€ million in social security contributions compared to the same period of 2017.
Finally, a reduction of 298€ million in the government's general arrears in the eight-month period of 2018, compared with an increase of 1,091€ billion in the corresponding period last year, meant a favourable effect of 1,389€ billion on the government’s general primary surplus result in 2018.
FYROM Referendum on Prespa Agreement “the result was enough of an indication of support from the electorate”
6.10.2018
Last Sunday's non-binding referendum in FYROM on whether to change the country’s name to Republic of North Macedonia under the Prespa Agreement reached with Greece produced a “contradictory”result. 90% voted in favour - but the turn-out fell far short of 50%.
A total of 1,806,336 voters had the right to vote in the referendum, while 2,694 voters holding diplomatic and consular posts abroad, were declared eligible to vote. The question they were asked to answer was: "Are you in favour of the country's accession to NATO and the EU, by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Hellenic Republic?"
Electoral lists were drawn up in 2002 and have not been updated since then. They do not include the high level of immigration, which was counted in the abstention rate. The Government of FYROM had earlier announced that it did not need to amass 50% of eligible votes because the referendum was advisory.
FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the result was “enough of an indication of support from the electorate” for him to continue to push for implementation of the agreement.
Opponents of the agreement, including President Gjorge Ivanov, had called on voters to abstain from the voting in the referendum, so that it would not be considered valid.
“It is clear that the agreement with Greece was not given a green light by citizens,” main opposition VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickovski told journalists, adding that the government has lost its legitimisation after the results of the referendum.
Asked if he intends to step down as PM, Zaev said, “I do not intend to resign…It is my duty to stay on.”
He said that the citizens who voted in the referendum had made “a serious contribution” and had “helped to build the foundations of the future of our country”.
“Over 650,000 citizens who voted in the referendum supported [the name change]. Over 90 percent supported [the name change], and believe that the country must accept the agreement with Greece and become a member of Nato and the European Union,” Zaev said.
Although the referendum was not legally binding, FYROM’s MPs had said that they would be bound by the results.
However, the fact that the turnout rate was not sufficient (over 50 percent of registered voters) for the referendum to be considered valid, gave opponents of the agreement opportunity to oppose it when it is tabled in parliament.
The nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party has 48 seats in parliament (out of a total of 120 MPs), enough to block the necessary constitutional amendments, for which a two-thirds majority is needed.
PM Zaev said that he is determined to ensure that FYROM “accedes to the European Union and Nato”, and that the time has come to support the country’s European prospects.
Opponents of the agreement say that it constitutes a national humiliation.
PM Zaev and the ethnic Albanian parties (which represent 20-25 percent of the population of the country) must now persuade the ten additional VMRO-DMNE MPs needed to form a two-thirds parliamentary majority to support the required constitutional amendments.
At stake is FYROM’s membership of NATO and the European Union.
"MPs now have an obligation to make Macedonia a better place for all of us," PM Zaev told reporters late on Sunday.
But support from the VMRO seems unlikely. It has rejected the referendum result, saying the low turnout made the vote "deeply unsuccessful" and that the government had "lost its legitimacy."
If parliament votes against the deal, Zoran Zaev has said he will call an early election.
If the FYROM parliament approves the change, the agreement then needs approval from the Greek parliament, where it faces some fierce opposition as well.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' coalition partner, Panos Kammenos, who heads AN-EL, the Independent Greeks party, has threatened to vote against the agreement.
If both parliaments ratify the agreement, EU accession talks with the “Republic of North Macedonia” are scheduled to begin next year.
The United States, the European Union and NATO reacted to Sunday’s referendum for the name change in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that would open the Balkan country’s path to accession to NATO and the EU.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on the referendum results saying, “The United States welcomes the results…. in which citizens expressed their support for NATO and European Union (EU) membership by accepting the Prespa Agreement between FYROM and Greece. The United States strongly supports the Agreement’s full implementation, which will allow FYROM to take its rightful place in NATO and the EU, contributing to regional stability, security, and prosperity.”
The State Department also urges the Balkan country’s political leaders “to rise above partisan politics and seize this historic opportunity to secure a brighter future for the country as a full participant in Western institutions.”
Russia, for its part, accused western countries of trying to drag the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) into the NATO military alliance.
“Despite the fact that leading politicians in the EU and NATO member-states openly urged Macedonian citizens to vote in favour [of the name change agreement with Greece], which, we believe is a totally unacceptable practice, all this ended in failure,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted by Russia’s TASS news agency as telling reporters on Thursday.
“The continuation of heavy-handed outside interference in Macedonia’s internal affairs is evident. The goal is obvious – to drag Skopje into the alliance at any cost.”
The EU called on all sides to respect the result of Sunday's referendum. The European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, a strong champion of the FYROM name change, played down the low turnout in a post on Twitter on Sunday night, noting that the referendum was "consultative" and referring to a "very significant 'yes' vote."
NATO has also already issued an invitation to FYROM to join the military alliance pending approval of the deal. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg has said on Twitter that it was a historic opportunity, adding: "NATO's door is open."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras telephoned his FYROM counterpart Zoran Zaev to congratulate him for "his decisiveness and bravery in continuing with the implementation of the agreement."
The Greek Foreign Ministry noted that Greece remained "committed" to the name deal and observed that objections to the agreement turned out to be "untrue" and "incorrect." Its statement read:
"The result of the referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, though it is a consultative referendum and not part of the binding clauses of the Prespa agreement, is contradictory: A strongly predominant “Yes” without the corresponding turn-out; a large part of the neighbouring country’s society supported the agreement. Yet, an important part approached it with scepticism. Greece respects the choices of the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
In its statement, the Ministry referred to a "climate of nationalism and suspicion, of daily fake news and rampant fanaticism" which, it said, "unfortunately does not allow for a sober assessment of the great benefits of the Agreement, while hindering the mutual understanding of peoples and the development of their cooperation, that are essential."
"Extreme and aggressive forms of nationalism in our region, irresponsible behaviours on what concerns the region’s future and, getting caught up in irredentist stereotypes - when history should be a school and not a prison - do not provide positive prospects for the region in general."
"The need for equitable cooperation is more and more felt in the region, as is the need for a culture of democratic dialogue to prevail, as well as for a culture of understanding and fair compromises."
A total of 1,806,336 voters had the right to vote in the referendum, while 2,694 voters holding diplomatic and consular posts abroad, were declared eligible to vote. The question they were asked to answer was: "Are you in favour of the country's accession to NATO and the EU, by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Hellenic Republic?"
Electoral lists were drawn up in 2002 and have not been updated since then. They do not include the high level of immigration, which was counted in the abstention rate. The Government of FYROM had earlier announced that it did not need to amass 50% of eligible votes because the referendum was advisory.
FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the result was “enough of an indication of support from the electorate” for him to continue to push for implementation of the agreement.
Opponents of the agreement, including President Gjorge Ivanov, had called on voters to abstain from the voting in the referendum, so that it would not be considered valid.
“It is clear that the agreement with Greece was not given a green light by citizens,” main opposition VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickovski told journalists, adding that the government has lost its legitimisation after the results of the referendum.
Asked if he intends to step down as PM, Zaev said, “I do not intend to resign…It is my duty to stay on.”
He said that the citizens who voted in the referendum had made “a serious contribution” and had “helped to build the foundations of the future of our country”.
“Over 650,000 citizens who voted in the referendum supported [the name change]. Over 90 percent supported [the name change], and believe that the country must accept the agreement with Greece and become a member of Nato and the European Union,” Zaev said.
Although the referendum was not legally binding, FYROM’s MPs had said that they would be bound by the results.
However, the fact that the turnout rate was not sufficient (over 50 percent of registered voters) for the referendum to be considered valid, gave opponents of the agreement opportunity to oppose it when it is tabled in parliament.
The nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party has 48 seats in parliament (out of a total of 120 MPs), enough to block the necessary constitutional amendments, for which a two-thirds majority is needed.
PM Zaev said that he is determined to ensure that FYROM “accedes to the European Union and Nato”, and that the time has come to support the country’s European prospects.
Opponents of the agreement say that it constitutes a national humiliation.
PM Zaev and the ethnic Albanian parties (which represent 20-25 percent of the population of the country) must now persuade the ten additional VMRO-DMNE MPs needed to form a two-thirds parliamentary majority to support the required constitutional amendments.
At stake is FYROM’s membership of NATO and the European Union.
"MPs now have an obligation to make Macedonia a better place for all of us," PM Zaev told reporters late on Sunday.
But support from the VMRO seems unlikely. It has rejected the referendum result, saying the low turnout made the vote "deeply unsuccessful" and that the government had "lost its legitimacy."
If parliament votes against the deal, Zoran Zaev has said he will call an early election.
If the FYROM parliament approves the change, the agreement then needs approval from the Greek parliament, where it faces some fierce opposition as well.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' coalition partner, Panos Kammenos, who heads AN-EL, the Independent Greeks party, has threatened to vote against the agreement.
If both parliaments ratify the agreement, EU accession talks with the “Republic of North Macedonia” are scheduled to begin next year.
The United States, the European Union and NATO reacted to Sunday’s referendum for the name change in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that would open the Balkan country’s path to accession to NATO and the EU.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on the referendum results saying, “The United States welcomes the results…. in which citizens expressed their support for NATO and European Union (EU) membership by accepting the Prespa Agreement between FYROM and Greece. The United States strongly supports the Agreement’s full implementation, which will allow FYROM to take its rightful place in NATO and the EU, contributing to regional stability, security, and prosperity.”
The State Department also urges the Balkan country’s political leaders “to rise above partisan politics and seize this historic opportunity to secure a brighter future for the country as a full participant in Western institutions.”
Russia, for its part, accused western countries of trying to drag the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) into the NATO military alliance.
“Despite the fact that leading politicians in the EU and NATO member-states openly urged Macedonian citizens to vote in favour [of the name change agreement with Greece], which, we believe is a totally unacceptable practice, all this ended in failure,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted by Russia’s TASS news agency as telling reporters on Thursday.
“The continuation of heavy-handed outside interference in Macedonia’s internal affairs is evident. The goal is obvious – to drag Skopje into the alliance at any cost.”
The EU called on all sides to respect the result of Sunday's referendum. The European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, a strong champion of the FYROM name change, played down the low turnout in a post on Twitter on Sunday night, noting that the referendum was "consultative" and referring to a "very significant 'yes' vote."
NATO has also already issued an invitation to FYROM to join the military alliance pending approval of the deal. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg has said on Twitter that it was a historic opportunity, adding: "NATO's door is open."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras telephoned his FYROM counterpart Zoran Zaev to congratulate him for "his decisiveness and bravery in continuing with the implementation of the agreement."
The Greek Foreign Ministry noted that Greece remained "committed" to the name deal and observed that objections to the agreement turned out to be "untrue" and "incorrect." Its statement read:
"The result of the referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, though it is a consultative referendum and not part of the binding clauses of the Prespa agreement, is contradictory: A strongly predominant “Yes” without the corresponding turn-out; a large part of the neighbouring country’s society supported the agreement. Yet, an important part approached it with scepticism. Greece respects the choices of the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
In its statement, the Ministry referred to a "climate of nationalism and suspicion, of daily fake news and rampant fanaticism" which, it said, "unfortunately does not allow for a sober assessment of the great benefits of the Agreement, while hindering the mutual understanding of peoples and the development of their cooperation, that are essential."
"Extreme and aggressive forms of nationalism in our region, irresponsible behaviours on what concerns the region’s future and, getting caught up in irredentist stereotypes - when history should be a school and not a prison - do not provide positive prospects for the region in general."
"The need for equitable cooperation is more and more felt in the region, as is the need for a culture of democratic dialogue to prevail, as well as for a culture of understanding and fair compromises."
"As a Government, we have been vindicated"
"As a Government, we have been vindicated. The Treasury has already received the first installment for the licences. Since January 2015, the Channels have been paying advertising tax and the state has collected about 150€ million," said Digital Policy Minister, Nikos Pappas.
“The advertising tax was voted on in 2010, but it has never been enforced (until 2015). For 5 years there has been a loss of revenue to the State, at the time cuts were being demanded.”
“New Democracy will do well to think back on its arguments. As for example, the number of licences should be infinite. Ultimately, the market, as it turned out, does not have room for unlimited channels.”
Minister Pappas said that "the procedure for regional licences is complicated. We will look at the criteria for defining the number of permits per region, as well as the conditions of the process, which will be different from the procedure for granting the licences at the all-Greece level".
"As a Government, we have been vindicated. The Treasury has already received the first installment for the licences. Since January 2015, the Channels have been paying advertising tax and the state has collected about 150€ million," said Digital Policy Minister, Nikos Pappas.
“The advertising tax was voted on in 2010, but it has never been enforced (until 2015). For 5 years there has been a loss of revenue to the State, at the time cuts were being demanded.”
“New Democracy will do well to think back on its arguments. As for example, the number of licences should be infinite. Ultimately, the market, as it turned out, does not have room for unlimited channels.”
Minister Pappas said that "the procedure for regional licences is complicated. We will look at the criteria for defining the number of permits per region, as well as the conditions of the process, which will be different from the procedure for granting the licences at the all-Greece level".
"Day of Love and Awareness for All Animals - Events all over Greece"
Since 1931, when World Animal Day was celebrated at a conference of environmentalists in Florence as a way of raising popular and professional awareness about endangered animals, the event was established and relates to all animals. Its celebration, on 4 October, honours the memory of St. Francis of Assisi, who has been proclaimed by the Catholic Church as protector of animals and the environment.
Particularly pleasing news is that in Paris too, following London, Brussels and Ottawa, it has been decided to honour the animals that died in World War I with a monument in the heart of the city.
The animals that fell in World War I are estimated to exceed the population of Greece: about 11 million horses, donkeys and mules, but also 100,000 dogs and 200,000 pigeons. "Our aim is for these animals to gain national recognition for the suffering they endured during the First World War," said Amandine Sanvisens, president of Zoopolis the Paris-based Union of Animals.
Information and awareness-raising events were held across Greece, including events held by the University of Crete involving the Department of Preschool Education, activities at Hersonissos schools, a Teacher Training Day in Gournes and a Scientific Seminar in Heraklion.
The aim of the events is to inform and raise awareness among children, parents, educators and society in general, members of the university community, veterinary surgeons, psychologists, special educationists and volunteers about the benefits of coexistence and involvement with companion animals.
On Thursday, a parade with four-legged friends was organized by the Zofilis Aksis Association in Heraklion.
A central objective of the events is the publicising and promotion of the International Declaration of the Rights of Animals (1978) adopted by the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the ongoing effort to get it formally adopted by the UN.
Article 1
All animals are born with equal rights to life and the possibility of existence.
Article 2
1. Human Beings must respect the life of each animal.
2. Human Beings belong to the animal kingdom and can not kill or exploit other species of the animal kingdom. Instead, they must use their knowledge for the good of the animals.
3. Every animal is entitled to care, attention and protection from human beings.
Article 3
1. No animal shall be subjected to ill-treatment or inhuman behaviour.
2. If the killing of an animal is considered to be mandatory, it must be instantaneous, painless and without any disturbance to the animal.
Article 4
1. Each animal is entitled to live in its natural habitat (land, sea, air) and to reproduce in accordance with natural laws;
2. The deprivation of liberty of the animal even for educational purposes is contrary to the declaration of rights.
Article 5
1. Any animal traditionally considered to be a domestic animal shall have the right to live at the pace and conditions of life and freedom corresponding to its species.
2. Varying these conditions by human beings for gain is contrary to the declaration.
Article 6
1. Any animal which is a partner of a human being shall have the right to life which is commensurate with its natural longevity.
2. The abandonment of an animal is considered an inhuman and degrading act.
Article 7
With regard to livestock offering their services to humans, the duration and intensity of work must be reasonable, nutrition satisfactory and resting obligatory.
Article 8
1. Any experimentation on animals, medical, scientific, etc is contrary to animal rights, since it causes physical or mental pain.
2. Replacement of experimentation with animals by other existing techniques must be sought.
Article 9
Animals kept for human consumption must be housed, fed, transported and killed without causing pain or distress.
Article 10
1. It is forbidden to exploit animals for the enjoyment of human beings. 2. The display of animals and animal shows are a violation of the dignity and respect for the life of the animal.
Article 11
Any act that unnecessarily causes death of an animal is a biopsy, a crime against life.
Article 12
1. Any act causing the death of a large number of wild animals is a genocide, a crime against the species.
2. Pollution and any destruction of our natural environment lead to genocide.
Article 13
1. Respect is also due to the dead animal.
2. Every scene of violence on television and cinema, with animals as victims, should be banned and only scenes intended to inform about animal rights must be displayed.
Article 14
1. Animal welfare organizations must be represented by every government.
2. The rights of the animal must be guaranteed by the law, exactly like human rights.
Since 1931, when World Animal Day was celebrated at a conference of environmentalists in Florence as a way of raising popular and professional awareness about endangered animals, the event was established and relates to all animals. Its celebration, on 4 October, honours the memory of St. Francis of Assisi, who has been proclaimed by the Catholic Church as protector of animals and the environment.
Particularly pleasing news is that in Paris too, following London, Brussels and Ottawa, it has been decided to honour the animals that died in World War I with a monument in the heart of the city.
The animals that fell in World War I are estimated to exceed the population of Greece: about 11 million horses, donkeys and mules, but also 100,000 dogs and 200,000 pigeons. "Our aim is for these animals to gain national recognition for the suffering they endured during the First World War," said Amandine Sanvisens, president of Zoopolis the Paris-based Union of Animals.
Information and awareness-raising events were held across Greece, including events held by the University of Crete involving the Department of Preschool Education, activities at Hersonissos schools, a Teacher Training Day in Gournes and a Scientific Seminar in Heraklion.
The aim of the events is to inform and raise awareness among children, parents, educators and society in general, members of the university community, veterinary surgeons, psychologists, special educationists and volunteers about the benefits of coexistence and involvement with companion animals.
On Thursday, a parade with four-legged friends was organized by the Zofilis Aksis Association in Heraklion.
A central objective of the events is the publicising and promotion of the International Declaration of the Rights of Animals (1978) adopted by the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the ongoing effort to get it formally adopted by the UN.
Article 1
All animals are born with equal rights to life and the possibility of existence.
Article 2
1. Human Beings must respect the life of each animal.
2. Human Beings belong to the animal kingdom and can not kill or exploit other species of the animal kingdom. Instead, they must use their knowledge for the good of the animals.
3. Every animal is entitled to care, attention and protection from human beings.
Article 3
1. No animal shall be subjected to ill-treatment or inhuman behaviour.
2. If the killing of an animal is considered to be mandatory, it must be instantaneous, painless and without any disturbance to the animal.
Article 4
1. Each animal is entitled to live in its natural habitat (land, sea, air) and to reproduce in accordance with natural laws;
2. The deprivation of liberty of the animal even for educational purposes is contrary to the declaration of rights.
Article 5
1. Any animal traditionally considered to be a domestic animal shall have the right to live at the pace and conditions of life and freedom corresponding to its species.
2. Varying these conditions by human beings for gain is contrary to the declaration.
Article 6
1. Any animal which is a partner of a human being shall have the right to life which is commensurate with its natural longevity.
2. The abandonment of an animal is considered an inhuman and degrading act.
Article 7
With regard to livestock offering their services to humans, the duration and intensity of work must be reasonable, nutrition satisfactory and resting obligatory.
Article 8
1. Any experimentation on animals, medical, scientific, etc is contrary to animal rights, since it causes physical or mental pain.
2. Replacement of experimentation with animals by other existing techniques must be sought.
Article 9
Animals kept for human consumption must be housed, fed, transported and killed without causing pain or distress.
Article 10
1. It is forbidden to exploit animals for the enjoyment of human beings. 2. The display of animals and animal shows are a violation of the dignity and respect for the life of the animal.
Article 11
Any act that unnecessarily causes death of an animal is a biopsy, a crime against life.
Article 12
1. Any act causing the death of a large number of wild animals is a genocide, a crime against the species.
2. Pollution and any destruction of our natural environment lead to genocide.
Article 13
1. Respect is also due to the dead animal.
2. Every scene of violence on television and cinema, with animals as victims, should be banned and only scenes intended to inform about animal rights must be displayed.
Article 14
1. Animal welfare organizations must be represented by every government.
2. The rights of the animal must be guaranteed by the law, exactly like human rights.
"The Greek people will stand once more on the right side of history"
29.9.2018
Speaking at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Prime Minister Tsipras underlined that "in Greece we have not just managed to stand on our feet, overcoming the difficulties, but we have managed to become part of the solution in Europe and the wider region instead of part of the problem."
Alexis Tsipras spoke about the huge lack of confidence in international and national institutions and about the growing strength of nationalist forces. The Prime Minister emphasised that the Greek people had welcomed migrants, giving lessons in solidarity, underlining that "we faced the Refugee Issue with respect for international law and human rights. We did not surrender to xenophobic voices."
Referring to the Balkan region, he stressed that Greece is actively promoting "stability and economic activity" through its dialogue with Albania, but mainly through the "historic" Prespes Agreement which "can be used as a model for resolving differences.”
“It is an agreement that did not arise by imposing the interests of the strongest, but it was mutually acceptable, defending the dignity of both sides,” he said, noting it will open FYROM’s path to EU and NATO membership.
With respect to the Cyprus issue, Alexis Tsipras reiterated that a just and viable solution is being sought on the basis of UN decisions. "The Greek people will stand once again on the right side of history."
"The central question for the future of the international community is not patriotism or globalization, but whether we are going to abandon our world to the uncontrolled path of the unfolding nationalism - which history teaches us leads to tragedies - or are we going to create the conditions for progressive collective solutions that will respect the national and popular sovereignty of each individually," he said.
"No modern, democratic patriotic policy can be a policy of passive acceptance of the suggestions of supranational elites who are not accountable to anybody. No modern, democratic patriotic policy can take as given an international order that reproduces inequalities of power or wealth, or that protects the right of some to have huge trade surpluses at the expense of others, where certain countries impose their will and interests on others, let alone when they do so in the name of common values."
"This is our position in the Eurozone, this is our position in relation to the “humanitarian” wars in the region and this is our position on our differences with our neighbours."
PM. Tsipras stressed the need to build on the proposals of the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, for reforming the UN.
"The challenge of our time is to rediscover this balance as an international community towards nationalist forces that propagate fear, hatred and ultimately the collective regression of every people. And that is a truly modern, democratic, universal but at the same time patriotic choice. It is a choice that our countries will seek to live in peace and prosper, not to turn one against the other. We believe that a modern democratic patriotic policy must be based on collective protocols and guarantees that uphold peace, stability, sustainable development and human rights.
It must not be based on the logic of unilateral actions, nationalism and the strengthening of the powerful at the expense of the weak. Our culture as Greeks leaves no room for doubt as to the positions we will support. I assure you, have no doubt: The Greek people will stand once more on the right side of history."
Alexis Tsipras spoke about the huge lack of confidence in international and national institutions and about the growing strength of nationalist forces. The Prime Minister emphasised that the Greek people had welcomed migrants, giving lessons in solidarity, underlining that "we faced the Refugee Issue with respect for international law and human rights. We did not surrender to xenophobic voices."
Referring to the Balkan region, he stressed that Greece is actively promoting "stability and economic activity" through its dialogue with Albania, but mainly through the "historic" Prespes Agreement which "can be used as a model for resolving differences.”
“It is an agreement that did not arise by imposing the interests of the strongest, but it was mutually acceptable, defending the dignity of both sides,” he said, noting it will open FYROM’s path to EU and NATO membership.
With respect to the Cyprus issue, Alexis Tsipras reiterated that a just and viable solution is being sought on the basis of UN decisions. "The Greek people will stand once again on the right side of history."
"The central question for the future of the international community is not patriotism or globalization, but whether we are going to abandon our world to the uncontrolled path of the unfolding nationalism - which history teaches us leads to tragedies - or are we going to create the conditions for progressive collective solutions that will respect the national and popular sovereignty of each individually," he said.
"No modern, democratic patriotic policy can be a policy of passive acceptance of the suggestions of supranational elites who are not accountable to anybody. No modern, democratic patriotic policy can take as given an international order that reproduces inequalities of power or wealth, or that protects the right of some to have huge trade surpluses at the expense of others, where certain countries impose their will and interests on others, let alone when they do so in the name of common values."
"This is our position in the Eurozone, this is our position in relation to the “humanitarian” wars in the region and this is our position on our differences with our neighbours."
PM. Tsipras stressed the need to build on the proposals of the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, for reforming the UN.
"The challenge of our time is to rediscover this balance as an international community towards nationalist forces that propagate fear, hatred and ultimately the collective regression of every people. And that is a truly modern, democratic, universal but at the same time patriotic choice. It is a choice that our countries will seek to live in peace and prosper, not to turn one against the other. We believe that a modern democratic patriotic policy must be based on collective protocols and guarantees that uphold peace, stability, sustainable development and human rights.
It must not be based on the logic of unilateral actions, nationalism and the strengthening of the powerful at the expense of the weak. Our culture as Greeks leaves no room for doubt as to the positions we will support. I assure you, have no doubt: The Greek people will stand once more on the right side of history."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Meet
According to Government sources, Tuesday’s bilateral one-hour meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York took place in a significantly “improved climate” compared to their previous meeting in July on the sidelines of NATO.
President Erdogan invited Mr. Tsipras to Istanbul for a formal working meeting.
The Greek Prime Minister stressed that it is crucial to promote positive relations between the two countries in order to promote respect for international law and reduce tensions in the Aegean. It was agreed to intensify contacts to this end and to implement confidence-building measures.
It was also agreed that there should be closer cooperation between the authorities of the two countries on the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, with a view to further reducing refugee migration flows.
It was also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of security (countering terrorism, dismantling traffickers’ networks).
President Erdogan also referred to the issue of the 8 Turkish officers, repeating the standing positions of the Turkish side.
In the economic field, the issue of the coastal connection between Izmir and Thessaloniki was discussed, a matter that was "progressed", with the aim of activating the connection before next summer. In addition, cooperation in Tourism and the resolving of relevant issues was also discussed.
As for the Cyprus issue, Alexis Tsipras stressed Greece's commitment to a just and viable solution on the basis of UN resolutions and its support for restarting bi-communal talks. He stressed that security consultations should be restarted on the basis of the Guterres framework. Both the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President stressed the importance of the forthcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Britain and Turkey on Security Issues in New York.
PM Tsipras also raised the issues of the re-opening of the Halki Theological School and the elections for the Monasteries of the Greek minority in Constantinople. For his part, the Turkish President reiterated his standing positions on the issues of the Muslim minority in Thrace.
According to Government sources, Tuesday’s bilateral one-hour meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York took place in a significantly “improved climate” compared to their previous meeting in July on the sidelines of NATO.
President Erdogan invited Mr. Tsipras to Istanbul for a formal working meeting.
The Greek Prime Minister stressed that it is crucial to promote positive relations between the two countries in order to promote respect for international law and reduce tensions in the Aegean. It was agreed to intensify contacts to this end and to implement confidence-building measures.
It was also agreed that there should be closer cooperation between the authorities of the two countries on the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, with a view to further reducing refugee migration flows.
It was also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of security (countering terrorism, dismantling traffickers’ networks).
President Erdogan also referred to the issue of the 8 Turkish officers, repeating the standing positions of the Turkish side.
In the economic field, the issue of the coastal connection between Izmir and Thessaloniki was discussed, a matter that was "progressed", with the aim of activating the connection before next summer. In addition, cooperation in Tourism and the resolving of relevant issues was also discussed.
As for the Cyprus issue, Alexis Tsipras stressed Greece's commitment to a just and viable solution on the basis of UN resolutions and its support for restarting bi-communal talks. He stressed that security consultations should be restarted on the basis of the Guterres framework. Both the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President stressed the importance of the forthcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Britain and Turkey on Security Issues in New York.
PM Tsipras also raised the issues of the re-opening of the Halki Theological School and the elections for the Monasteries of the Greek minority in Constantinople. For his part, the Turkish President reiterated his standing positions on the issues of the Muslim minority in Thrace.
“There is enough fiscal space to cancel both the pension cuts and the lowering of the tax-free threshold”
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told parliament that there is enough fiscal space to cancel both the pension cuts and the lowering of the tax-free threshold that the Government has already passed into law.
Despite the mixed signals from creditors, which Tsakalotos recognised, he said that, “We have the fiscal space to not cut pensions [as of 1 January, 2019] and to not lower the tax-free threshold [as of 1 January 2020].
He pointed out to the MPs of New Democracy and Movement for Change [KIN.AΛ.] "You are saddened that conditions have changed since 2017" [when the reductions in pensions and tax-free allowances were decided Ed]
"We have a financial space to not reduce pensions and the tax-free allowances," said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs. He emphasised the fact that the primary surplus had reached 3.5% - much higher than the IMF forecasts used by the Fund to demand the cuts.
Referring to the attacks he made on his alleged statements on the mortality of pensioners, Minister Tsakalotos called it "too heavy" for opposition parties to say in the public debate that he and the Prime Minister "want people to die". He attributed this tactic to the "panic" of the opposition and called upon it to reveal the "magical" way in which actuarial studies can be produced that don’t refer to mortality.
"Consumables" are parties without ideological orientation
He criticized KIN.AL. and Fofi Gennimata because they "were directly aligned" with New Democracy on the issue of pensions. He also commented that KIN.AL. is not following the path of the European Social-Democrats which is slowly coming out in favour of progressive alliances. With regard to the amendment by the Democratic Rally (ΔΗ.ΣΥ) to revoke the transfer of archaeological monuments, public spaces and protected areas to the Public Properties Company [ implying their potential privatisation Ed] Minister Tsakalotos stressed that "we have not transferred anything. It is difficult to discuss with those who are not sincere in what they say, but say them simply to try to create false impressions.
Minister Tsakalotos also criticised New Democracy. “You said that there would be pension cuts and reductions in the tax-free allowances. Now that it is apparent that there are counter-measures [to offset the policies of austerity], you are in a panic and say things that should not be said.”
He was replying to ND’s criticism of his statement, referring to actuarial data, that the life expectancy of older pensioners, who will die between 2020-2040, is one factor that makes pension cuts unnecessary and that will make the insurance system viable in the long run. The main opposition party intimated that Minister Tsakalotos was waiting for old pensioners to die!
Minister Tsakalotos also denied that the Government had transferred title of ownership of archaeological sites, monuments and museums to the Public Properties Company.
“If there is some ambivalence, we will review it. This was a first list [of properties]. Obviously, title to hospitals, squares, playgrounds, and archaeological sites cannot be transferred,” he said, charging that critics are trying to create a sensation with falsehoods.
In a vitriolic barb against the centre-left Movement for Change party, he said that, “I am trying to find a thread that might link you to European Social Democracy, and I cannot find one.
Capital Controls Ended
Almost three and a half years since the introduction of capital controls to stabilise the Greek banking system, the Government announced that they are to be abolished for domestic transactions and further eased for transactions abroad.
The changes will take effect on 1 October.
The provisions of the decision are as follows:
• Limits on withdrawals of cash in Greece will be entirely abolished. The current limit is 5,000€ per month. The level of deposits has risen since the withdrawal limit was increased from 2,400€ to 5,000€ in June.
• There will no longer be any limits on withdrawals using credit cards or pre-paid cards.
• There will be a 5,000€ limit on withdrawals abroad, which includes withdrawals using credit cards and pre-paid cards issued in Greece.
• The limit on the amount of cash carried by Greek citizens travelling abroad will increase from 3,000€ to 10,000€.
• For businesses, the limit on the amount that can be transferred abroad, in the context of their business activity, will rise from 40,000€ to 100,000€, per transaction, per client, per day.
• There will be no limit on the transfer abroad of profits on investments made in Greece. For sums from profits and dividends deriving from investments in Greece, depositors can transfer to a bank account in their name abroad 100 percent of the initial investment per year. The provision applies only to investors who transferred the capital from abroad to a Greek bank account in their name.
• Cash Payments or cash payments in full of cheques and letters of credit will be allowed. Until now, they had to be deposited in a bank account.
Electrical interconnection of Crete - Peloponnese
Four companies (SIEYUAN-GEDI (China), Mytilineos Group, TOMI ABETE and TERNA SA) participated in the competitive tendering for the construction of the substations of the electrical interconnection of Crete - Peloponnese, according to ΑΔΜΗΕ [The Independent Power Transmission Operator S.A. Ed]. TERNA was declared the lowest bidder and awarded the contract at 18.5€ million.
The contract is for the new Transmission and Regulation Terminal in the south-eastern Peloponnese as well as the upgrading and extension of the existing outdoor substation in the area of Chania, which are part of the “small” electrical interconnection of Crete.
Tenders for submarine and underground cables in Crete and the Peloponnese were announced last week. The entire project, said ΑΔΜΗΕ , is entering the implementation phase, on time for its completion in 2020.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told parliament that there is enough fiscal space to cancel both the pension cuts and the lowering of the tax-free threshold that the Government has already passed into law.
Despite the mixed signals from creditors, which Tsakalotos recognised, he said that, “We have the fiscal space to not cut pensions [as of 1 January, 2019] and to not lower the tax-free threshold [as of 1 January 2020].
He pointed out to the MPs of New Democracy and Movement for Change [KIN.AΛ.] "You are saddened that conditions have changed since 2017" [when the reductions in pensions and tax-free allowances were decided Ed]
"We have a financial space to not reduce pensions and the tax-free allowances," said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs. He emphasised the fact that the primary surplus had reached 3.5% - much higher than the IMF forecasts used by the Fund to demand the cuts.
Referring to the attacks he made on his alleged statements on the mortality of pensioners, Minister Tsakalotos called it "too heavy" for opposition parties to say in the public debate that he and the Prime Minister "want people to die". He attributed this tactic to the "panic" of the opposition and called upon it to reveal the "magical" way in which actuarial studies can be produced that don’t refer to mortality.
"Consumables" are parties without ideological orientation
He criticized KIN.AL. and Fofi Gennimata because they "were directly aligned" with New Democracy on the issue of pensions. He also commented that KIN.AL. is not following the path of the European Social-Democrats which is slowly coming out in favour of progressive alliances. With regard to the amendment by the Democratic Rally (ΔΗ.ΣΥ) to revoke the transfer of archaeological monuments, public spaces and protected areas to the Public Properties Company [ implying their potential privatisation Ed] Minister Tsakalotos stressed that "we have not transferred anything. It is difficult to discuss with those who are not sincere in what they say, but say them simply to try to create false impressions.
Minister Tsakalotos also criticised New Democracy. “You said that there would be pension cuts and reductions in the tax-free allowances. Now that it is apparent that there are counter-measures [to offset the policies of austerity], you are in a panic and say things that should not be said.”
He was replying to ND’s criticism of his statement, referring to actuarial data, that the life expectancy of older pensioners, who will die between 2020-2040, is one factor that makes pension cuts unnecessary and that will make the insurance system viable in the long run. The main opposition party intimated that Minister Tsakalotos was waiting for old pensioners to die!
Minister Tsakalotos also denied that the Government had transferred title of ownership of archaeological sites, monuments and museums to the Public Properties Company.
“If there is some ambivalence, we will review it. This was a first list [of properties]. Obviously, title to hospitals, squares, playgrounds, and archaeological sites cannot be transferred,” he said, charging that critics are trying to create a sensation with falsehoods.
In a vitriolic barb against the centre-left Movement for Change party, he said that, “I am trying to find a thread that might link you to European Social Democracy, and I cannot find one.
Capital Controls Ended
Almost three and a half years since the introduction of capital controls to stabilise the Greek banking system, the Government announced that they are to be abolished for domestic transactions and further eased for transactions abroad.
The changes will take effect on 1 October.
The provisions of the decision are as follows:
• Limits on withdrawals of cash in Greece will be entirely abolished. The current limit is 5,000€ per month. The level of deposits has risen since the withdrawal limit was increased from 2,400€ to 5,000€ in June.
• There will no longer be any limits on withdrawals using credit cards or pre-paid cards.
• There will be a 5,000€ limit on withdrawals abroad, which includes withdrawals using credit cards and pre-paid cards issued in Greece.
• The limit on the amount of cash carried by Greek citizens travelling abroad will increase from 3,000€ to 10,000€.
• For businesses, the limit on the amount that can be transferred abroad, in the context of their business activity, will rise from 40,000€ to 100,000€, per transaction, per client, per day.
• There will be no limit on the transfer abroad of profits on investments made in Greece. For sums from profits and dividends deriving from investments in Greece, depositors can transfer to a bank account in their name abroad 100 percent of the initial investment per year. The provision applies only to investors who transferred the capital from abroad to a Greek bank account in their name.
• Cash Payments or cash payments in full of cheques and letters of credit will be allowed. Until now, they had to be deposited in a bank account.
Electrical interconnection of Crete - Peloponnese
Four companies (SIEYUAN-GEDI (China), Mytilineos Group, TOMI ABETE and TERNA SA) participated in the competitive tendering for the construction of the substations of the electrical interconnection of Crete - Peloponnese, according to ΑΔΜΗΕ [The Independent Power Transmission Operator S.A. Ed]. TERNA was declared the lowest bidder and awarded the contract at 18.5€ million.
The contract is for the new Transmission and Regulation Terminal in the south-eastern Peloponnese as well as the upgrading and extension of the existing outdoor substation in the area of Chania, which are part of the “small” electrical interconnection of Crete.
Tenders for submarine and underground cables in Crete and the Peloponnese were announced last week. The entire project, said ΑΔΜΗΕ , is entering the implementation phase, on time for its completion in 2020.
"The country is today at a crucial crossroads"…
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of New Democracy speaking at the 83rd International Fair of Thessaloniki
22.9.2018
"The country is today at a crucial crossroads"…
"The danger for the country has not passed. As long as the country is not borrowing on the money markets, its position remains exceptionally unsafe. I ask the Greeks to work together to build a new contract of trust based on meritocracy, hard work, security, justice, opportunities for all. We can. And I am sure we can achieve it…"
The six goals for the next day
Kyriakos Mitsotakis analyzed his six goals for when he becomes Prime Minister.
"The six goals can become a meeting point for a wide social majority."
"A society that gives opportunities for progress and prosperity to all. Making solidarity a debt to the weaker. This is the only way to reduce inequalities.
In recent years we have experienced a landslide in the income of the middle class, the drain of tax evasion, starvation wages for younger people. The belt of upward social mobility must be put back in operation, giving opportunities to the children of hard-working Greeks to live better than their parents. The difference between us and SYRIZA is that this will not happen with the redistribution of misery, but with the production of new wealth, and this brings me to my second goal.
An economy that is productive, digital, innovative that will attract investment on sound bases this time. With a National Plan for Tourism, Primary Production, Manufacturing, Energy, Shipping, Services. With a Roadmap for Investments, Public-Private Partnerships and with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Turning entrepreneurship into healthy action, far away from the rotten state-capitalist capitalism.
A political system with a functional and an efficient state. This means deepening the Republic with more rights and obligations for citizens. Of course, extension of voting rights to Greeks abroad. But also a bold Constitutional review to overcome the institutional distortions of the past. Enhancing the accountability of civilian personnel and the transparency of the state, an administration that is flexible for the citizen and not for the bureaucracy. Using technology and with executives who will be constantly evaluated and trained.
Education, preparing for the future, mirroring the economy. This means: Strengthening technical and vocational education and the direct use of technology everywhere. Linking education to the labour market. Modern programmes and facilities, a clear and reliable examination system and up-to-date teachers. Evaluation everywhere. And students at universities that are meritocratic, competitive, open to the world. With freedom of access to knowledge and ideas, but not to lawlessness.
A country that faces the rule of law and security as pre-conditions of the Republic. This means: Effective and qualitative Justice, a police that performs its mission without distraction. Citizens rejoicing in their neighbourhoods, universities and buildings free from squatting and violence. Not with terrorists and criminals who come out of prison every now and then.
A country that will not simply belong to Europe and NATO. But a country that will be involved in shaping them, combining national priorities, common responsibilities, and the needs of our allies. This means we regain our equal relationship with our partners. That we have a view and an action plan for every development in a changing world. And that we use the power of Hellenism everywhere in the world.
Mr. Mitsotakis expressed the belief that Greece could grow at an average rate of 4% of GDP in the coming years and drastically reduce its debt.
"In the next five years, 700,000 new jobs will be created and a message will be given to Greeks abroad to return to their homeland," he said, while he wondered why the creditors imprisoned Greece "in murderous primary surpluses".
He underlined that the answer is political: "Because they do not believe that there is the will to re-build the state, to liberate the economy from the shackles of patronage and statism and allow the private sector to generate wealth and jobs…
His plan for government
Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged to put an end to the excessive primary surpluses, which, he said, "came from the Government's insistence on over-taxation, expropriating the productive Greece in order to re-distribute it later as state-sponsored begging."
In this context, he stressed that taxation and contributions would be reduced everywhere.
"Restoring to the economy the incentives for work and entrepreneurship that will lead to higher incomes directly but above all that will trigger growth, investment and hundreds of thousands of new jobs."
So, he stressed that the income tax rate for individuals would be reduced to 9% for incomes up to 10,000€ from 22% today.
He pledged that agricultural collective schemes would be taxed at a rate of 10%. He also pledged to drastically reduce the VAT on eating out immediately to 13% from 24% and then to 11% for the entire catering and hotel package.
“We will give the entrepreneur a strong incentive to invest. With the reduction in corporation tax and dividend tax, the real tax burden on business profits will be reduced to 24%, from 40% today."
He also underlined that by 2021.the business tax fee would be phased out. [The obligation to pay business tax applies regardless of whether or not the persons liable have earnings or losses during the financial year Ed]
Regarding property, he stressed that the ΕΝΦΙΑ will be reduced by 30% . "We will reduce ΕΝΦΙΑ in a fair way so that everyone and especially the middle class can benefit."
"At the same time, we will suspend VAT on building activity for three years and provide a tax credit equivalent to 40% of the cost – on the basis of legal documentation - for the operation, aesthetic and energy upgrading, maintenance and utilization of existing housing."
"I am proposing an agreement of truth to the business community and I am sure it will be accepted. We will reduce taxes, simplify the business environment, help liquidity. And they will pay their taxes and take care of their employees, making them a part of their success. Every successful business must be reflected in their own staff."
He also underlined that the recovery of confidence through a bold reform plan is the key to bringing investors back to Greece. And in this context, he stressed that among the first decisions of the next government would be the complete abolition of capital controls.
In a second year, he pledged to claim a 3.5% of GDP reduction in the primary surplus [target Ed], a target which he said, "Mr Tsipras had accepted without a fight".
Social Security
As to the Social Insurance System, he described the Law of Katrougalos as "a bad law".
"Not only does it reduce pensions, but ultimately it punishes creativity and work. Why should one work longer if he knows that he will eventually get the same pension? How will businesses take many recruits when labour costs rise excessively due to high employer contributions? And why should a freelancer declare his actual earnings when the amount of contributions is unbearable? And what young person is today motivated to join the insurance system if he thinks he will never get a pension?"
" The Katrougalos Law will be abolished. The national pension and the first pillar are maintained, but the system becomes more rewarding.
Contributions for a primary pension, which are today stands at 20%, will be gradually reduced over a four-year period to 15%.
The 7% contribution is maintained. However, the money will be placed in the individual account of each insured person. He will choose whether his money will go to the public or private insurance funds.
The plan, he said, will have the strict supervision of the Bank of Greece.
Whosoever wishes may optionally choose additional private insurance with generous tax incentives.
"Investment prospects endless"
Then, the President of New Democracy underlined that his party knows what to do to make investments come to Greece. "And there are endless prospects for investment in our homeland," he said, adding that "the opportunities for an investment boom are ahead of us. And they primarily concern Northern Greece."
He even pledged that his government "will sweep away all the obstacles that today grip domestic entrepreneurship and discourage foreign investors. There will be a licencing authority at the level of a deputy minister who will have the sole responsibility for unblocking all major investments."
Reconstruction of the state
Regarding the structure of the state, Mr. Mitsotakis pledged "a simple and effective state".
As to how it can be built, he said: "With basic tools, eGovernment, the promotion of Public Partnerships with the private sector and evaluation everywhere. A digital signature will be implemented everywhere, which means direct processing of all documents electronically.
Citizens will also be able to process their affairs from home with a new identity card, also with digital signatures. I commit myself to an electronic database of all geospatial data in the logic of the proposal submitted by the Technical Chamber of Greece [TEE] ".
At the same time, he explained that the ND government would give more functions to the private sector through a Public-Private Partnership.
"There are many examples. Like the 24 schools in Attica. Where modern, prototype, schools were built in poor areas of the capital, such as Keratsini. And the public-private partnership is also the answer to Thessaloniki's urban transport system. "
He pledged that there would be no layoffs in the public sector and stressed that his government would support civil servants.
However, he stressed that a modern evaluation system would be implemented, in which he said, "we will make absolutely no exceptions."
He also underlined the transfer of responsibility of ΕΝΦΙΑ to the municipalities.
"It will be a great institutional breakthrough that changes the architecture of the state in Greece for the benefit of local communities."
Social solidarity
Referring to the issues of social solidarity, the President of New Democracy argued that "the real solution to poverty is not fragmentary bonuses," but "stable jobs that can only come through a burst of investment."
He also pledged to draw up a retraining programme to help the long-term unemployed gain "the skills that the labour market is looking for".
He also argued that the guaranteed minimum income would be extended to include all basic benefits, while stressing that labour law would be strictly enforced.
He confirmed that the minimum wage would be abolished, while the "minimum wage could be determined by free negotiations between the social partners. And obviously it should grow, following the improvement of the economy."
At the same time, he announced that a single 120-installment arrangement would be introduced with a minimum installment of 20€ per month.
"But with the strategic bad payers we will be relentless. We know how to locate them. I advise them to hurry to service their debts from now on."
At the same time, coupons amounting to 180€ a month will be issued "to give their children access to private kindergartens of their choice when they do not find a place in the municipal kindergarten".
Justice and Security
On the issues of Justice and Security, the President of New Democracy underlined that "we will let the police work without distraction; left free to fight terrorism, organized crime and put an end to all sorts of no-go areas."
Flexible and fast intervention units will come back.
He also said that the Paraskevopoulos Law would be abolished , "that Paraskevopoulos Law has made the prison gate a revolving hotel door".
We will review the criminal procedure so that terrorists, money-makers and all sorts of outlaws do not escape justice.
At the same time, the Code of Criminal Procedure will be revised and, "economic crime and mafia networks of the darkness will be targeted by the next government. A strong financial police will assemble all control powers to fight financial crime wherever and however high up it is located."
Education
On the issue of Education, the President of New Democracy underlined the need for more autonomous and creative schools with "freedom in organizing, managing resources, selecting teaching staff, curriculum development. Evaluation everywhere. With new content. To teach computer programming, the language of the future, already from the primary school. Developing skills such as teamwork instead of those of a sterile parrot."
At the same time, he undertook to set up a Model School in every regional unit. "We will abolish the SYRIZA counter-regulation, we will establish the assessment of all Universities by an Independent Quality Assurance Authority, upon which will depend part of their funding".
"And we will set a minimum threshold for entry into higher education so that those who enter them have the minimum qualifications to attend and graduate.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After his speech at the 83rd TIF on Saturday, Mr. Mitsotakis gave a press conference which prompted this response from the Prime Minister's Press Office.
“At today's (Saturday) press conference, Mr. Mitsotakis, without being pressured, of his own accord, admitted that:
- He intends to appeal again to the IMF.
- He intends to leave 1.5 million retired people up in the air.
- He intends to undermine labour rights and labour law, since he considers them optional, while centre stage are simply incentives for entrepreneurs.
- He intends to implement the tax cut demanded by the IMF for 2020.
- He intends to grant amnesty to the tax evaders, committing himself to write off their debts so that the sea of debt of half-billion euros owed by New Democracy and PASOK can also be wiped out.
- He plans to make new reductions in salaries, pensions and redundancy payments, while he has pledged reductions of burdens only to those who have, and he admitted that he has no idea how to implement his programme given the country's fiscal targets.
- He does not intend to reduce ENFIA, since he estimates it at 2 billion euros, i.e. what is being collected today.
- Lastly, we imagine that the “strategic bad payers” who he has promised to pursue include himself, who has had his name linked to all the scandals of the last 15 years. So we will enjoy the image of Mr. Mitsotakis chasing his own tail.
In a nutshell, Mitsotakis' presence at the TIF is the best pre-election material for the October 2019 election campaign. Let the citizens who declare themselves undecided about Mr Mitsotakis, let them see and let them rush in massive numbers to the polls in order to escape the return to the IMF and the social pillaging that it stands for. For this important contribution we thank him warmly.”
"The danger for the country has not passed. As long as the country is not borrowing on the money markets, its position remains exceptionally unsafe. I ask the Greeks to work together to build a new contract of trust based on meritocracy, hard work, security, justice, opportunities for all. We can. And I am sure we can achieve it…"
The six goals for the next day
Kyriakos Mitsotakis analyzed his six goals for when he becomes Prime Minister.
"The six goals can become a meeting point for a wide social majority."
"A society that gives opportunities for progress and prosperity to all. Making solidarity a debt to the weaker. This is the only way to reduce inequalities.
In recent years we have experienced a landslide in the income of the middle class, the drain of tax evasion, starvation wages for younger people. The belt of upward social mobility must be put back in operation, giving opportunities to the children of hard-working Greeks to live better than their parents. The difference between us and SYRIZA is that this will not happen with the redistribution of misery, but with the production of new wealth, and this brings me to my second goal.
An economy that is productive, digital, innovative that will attract investment on sound bases this time. With a National Plan for Tourism, Primary Production, Manufacturing, Energy, Shipping, Services. With a Roadmap for Investments, Public-Private Partnerships and with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Turning entrepreneurship into healthy action, far away from the rotten state-capitalist capitalism.
A political system with a functional and an efficient state. This means deepening the Republic with more rights and obligations for citizens. Of course, extension of voting rights to Greeks abroad. But also a bold Constitutional review to overcome the institutional distortions of the past. Enhancing the accountability of civilian personnel and the transparency of the state, an administration that is flexible for the citizen and not for the bureaucracy. Using technology and with executives who will be constantly evaluated and trained.
Education, preparing for the future, mirroring the economy. This means: Strengthening technical and vocational education and the direct use of technology everywhere. Linking education to the labour market. Modern programmes and facilities, a clear and reliable examination system and up-to-date teachers. Evaluation everywhere. And students at universities that are meritocratic, competitive, open to the world. With freedom of access to knowledge and ideas, but not to lawlessness.
A country that faces the rule of law and security as pre-conditions of the Republic. This means: Effective and qualitative Justice, a police that performs its mission without distraction. Citizens rejoicing in their neighbourhoods, universities and buildings free from squatting and violence. Not with terrorists and criminals who come out of prison every now and then.
A country that will not simply belong to Europe and NATO. But a country that will be involved in shaping them, combining national priorities, common responsibilities, and the needs of our allies. This means we regain our equal relationship with our partners. That we have a view and an action plan for every development in a changing world. And that we use the power of Hellenism everywhere in the world.
Mr. Mitsotakis expressed the belief that Greece could grow at an average rate of 4% of GDP in the coming years and drastically reduce its debt.
"In the next five years, 700,000 new jobs will be created and a message will be given to Greeks abroad to return to their homeland," he said, while he wondered why the creditors imprisoned Greece "in murderous primary surpluses".
He underlined that the answer is political: "Because they do not believe that there is the will to re-build the state, to liberate the economy from the shackles of patronage and statism and allow the private sector to generate wealth and jobs…
His plan for government
Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged to put an end to the excessive primary surpluses, which, he said, "came from the Government's insistence on over-taxation, expropriating the productive Greece in order to re-distribute it later as state-sponsored begging."
In this context, he stressed that taxation and contributions would be reduced everywhere.
"Restoring to the economy the incentives for work and entrepreneurship that will lead to higher incomes directly but above all that will trigger growth, investment and hundreds of thousands of new jobs."
So, he stressed that the income tax rate for individuals would be reduced to 9% for incomes up to 10,000€ from 22% today.
He pledged that agricultural collective schemes would be taxed at a rate of 10%. He also pledged to drastically reduce the VAT on eating out immediately to 13% from 24% and then to 11% for the entire catering and hotel package.
“We will give the entrepreneur a strong incentive to invest. With the reduction in corporation tax and dividend tax, the real tax burden on business profits will be reduced to 24%, from 40% today."
He also underlined that by 2021.the business tax fee would be phased out. [The obligation to pay business tax applies regardless of whether or not the persons liable have earnings or losses during the financial year Ed]
Regarding property, he stressed that the ΕΝΦΙΑ will be reduced by 30% . "We will reduce ΕΝΦΙΑ in a fair way so that everyone and especially the middle class can benefit."
"At the same time, we will suspend VAT on building activity for three years and provide a tax credit equivalent to 40% of the cost – on the basis of legal documentation - for the operation, aesthetic and energy upgrading, maintenance and utilization of existing housing."
"I am proposing an agreement of truth to the business community and I am sure it will be accepted. We will reduce taxes, simplify the business environment, help liquidity. And they will pay their taxes and take care of their employees, making them a part of their success. Every successful business must be reflected in their own staff."
He also underlined that the recovery of confidence through a bold reform plan is the key to bringing investors back to Greece. And in this context, he stressed that among the first decisions of the next government would be the complete abolition of capital controls.
In a second year, he pledged to claim a 3.5% of GDP reduction in the primary surplus [target Ed], a target which he said, "Mr Tsipras had accepted without a fight".
Social Security
As to the Social Insurance System, he described the Law of Katrougalos as "a bad law".
"Not only does it reduce pensions, but ultimately it punishes creativity and work. Why should one work longer if he knows that he will eventually get the same pension? How will businesses take many recruits when labour costs rise excessively due to high employer contributions? And why should a freelancer declare his actual earnings when the amount of contributions is unbearable? And what young person is today motivated to join the insurance system if he thinks he will never get a pension?"
" The Katrougalos Law will be abolished. The national pension and the first pillar are maintained, but the system becomes more rewarding.
Contributions for a primary pension, which are today stands at 20%, will be gradually reduced over a four-year period to 15%.
The 7% contribution is maintained. However, the money will be placed in the individual account of each insured person. He will choose whether his money will go to the public or private insurance funds.
The plan, he said, will have the strict supervision of the Bank of Greece.
Whosoever wishes may optionally choose additional private insurance with generous tax incentives.
"Investment prospects endless"
Then, the President of New Democracy underlined that his party knows what to do to make investments come to Greece. "And there are endless prospects for investment in our homeland," he said, adding that "the opportunities for an investment boom are ahead of us. And they primarily concern Northern Greece."
He even pledged that his government "will sweep away all the obstacles that today grip domestic entrepreneurship and discourage foreign investors. There will be a licencing authority at the level of a deputy minister who will have the sole responsibility for unblocking all major investments."
Reconstruction of the state
Regarding the structure of the state, Mr. Mitsotakis pledged "a simple and effective state".
As to how it can be built, he said: "With basic tools, eGovernment, the promotion of Public Partnerships with the private sector and evaluation everywhere. A digital signature will be implemented everywhere, which means direct processing of all documents electronically.
Citizens will also be able to process their affairs from home with a new identity card, also with digital signatures. I commit myself to an electronic database of all geospatial data in the logic of the proposal submitted by the Technical Chamber of Greece [TEE] ".
At the same time, he explained that the ND government would give more functions to the private sector through a Public-Private Partnership.
"There are many examples. Like the 24 schools in Attica. Where modern, prototype, schools were built in poor areas of the capital, such as Keratsini. And the public-private partnership is also the answer to Thessaloniki's urban transport system. "
He pledged that there would be no layoffs in the public sector and stressed that his government would support civil servants.
However, he stressed that a modern evaluation system would be implemented, in which he said, "we will make absolutely no exceptions."
He also underlined the transfer of responsibility of ΕΝΦΙΑ to the municipalities.
"It will be a great institutional breakthrough that changes the architecture of the state in Greece for the benefit of local communities."
Social solidarity
Referring to the issues of social solidarity, the President of New Democracy argued that "the real solution to poverty is not fragmentary bonuses," but "stable jobs that can only come through a burst of investment."
He also pledged to draw up a retraining programme to help the long-term unemployed gain "the skills that the labour market is looking for".
He also argued that the guaranteed minimum income would be extended to include all basic benefits, while stressing that labour law would be strictly enforced.
He confirmed that the minimum wage would be abolished, while the "minimum wage could be determined by free negotiations between the social partners. And obviously it should grow, following the improvement of the economy."
At the same time, he announced that a single 120-installment arrangement would be introduced with a minimum installment of 20€ per month.
"But with the strategic bad payers we will be relentless. We know how to locate them. I advise them to hurry to service their debts from now on."
At the same time, coupons amounting to 180€ a month will be issued "to give their children access to private kindergartens of their choice when they do not find a place in the municipal kindergarten".
Justice and Security
On the issues of Justice and Security, the President of New Democracy underlined that "we will let the police work without distraction; left free to fight terrorism, organized crime and put an end to all sorts of no-go areas."
Flexible and fast intervention units will come back.
He also said that the Paraskevopoulos Law would be abolished , "that Paraskevopoulos Law has made the prison gate a revolving hotel door".
We will review the criminal procedure so that terrorists, money-makers and all sorts of outlaws do not escape justice.
At the same time, the Code of Criminal Procedure will be revised and, "economic crime and mafia networks of the darkness will be targeted by the next government. A strong financial police will assemble all control powers to fight financial crime wherever and however high up it is located."
Education
On the issue of Education, the President of New Democracy underlined the need for more autonomous and creative schools with "freedom in organizing, managing resources, selecting teaching staff, curriculum development. Evaluation everywhere. With new content. To teach computer programming, the language of the future, already from the primary school. Developing skills such as teamwork instead of those of a sterile parrot."
At the same time, he undertook to set up a Model School in every regional unit. "We will abolish the SYRIZA counter-regulation, we will establish the assessment of all Universities by an Independent Quality Assurance Authority, upon which will depend part of their funding".
"And we will set a minimum threshold for entry into higher education so that those who enter them have the minimum qualifications to attend and graduate.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After his speech at the 83rd TIF on Saturday, Mr. Mitsotakis gave a press conference which prompted this response from the Prime Minister's Press Office.
“At today's (Saturday) press conference, Mr. Mitsotakis, without being pressured, of his own accord, admitted that:
- He intends to appeal again to the IMF.
- He intends to leave 1.5 million retired people up in the air.
- He intends to undermine labour rights and labour law, since he considers them optional, while centre stage are simply incentives for entrepreneurs.
- He intends to implement the tax cut demanded by the IMF for 2020.
- He intends to grant amnesty to the tax evaders, committing himself to write off their debts so that the sea of debt of half-billion euros owed by New Democracy and PASOK can also be wiped out.
- He plans to make new reductions in salaries, pensions and redundancy payments, while he has pledged reductions of burdens only to those who have, and he admitted that he has no idea how to implement his programme given the country's fiscal targets.
- He does not intend to reduce ENFIA, since he estimates it at 2 billion euros, i.e. what is being collected today.
- Lastly, we imagine that the “strategic bad payers” who he has promised to pursue include himself, who has had his name linked to all the scandals of the last 15 years. So we will enjoy the image of Mr. Mitsotakis chasing his own tail.
In a nutshell, Mitsotakis' presence at the TIF is the best pre-election material for the October 2019 election campaign. Let the citizens who declare themselves undecided about Mr Mitsotakis, let them see and let them rush in massive numbers to the polls in order to escape the return to the IMF and the social pillaging that it stands for. For this important contribution we thank him warmly.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ speech: Reactions and Comments
SYRIZA
“Mr. Mitsotakis represents the past of Memoranda and bankruptcy, wild neo-liberalism and authoritarianism. Greece, however, has finally left behind those who have brought her to the brink of a cliff and now she can optimistically plan her future..”
“With the support of big capital, the dissolution of the insurance system and the privatization of public goods, Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented his own Memorandum. This does not, of course, include workers and their rights, support for the welfare state, fair development, democracy and progressive reforms. But there is a place for nationalism and the far right, the re-establishment of the police state and repression.
“Mitsotakis’ plan will create fiscal chaos to benefit the economic oligarchy. He announced that he will offer the employees’[social security Ed] contributions to private companies and pension funds in order to create a Pinochet insurance system. The ND leader will destroy the foundations of the social security system, hand over public services to private interests and will impose an Olympic Games growth model that has cost Greece billions of euros.
”He will cut the budget in Education to make room for the private sector and will also reduce social security benefits by rolling them up in the Social Solidarity Income. He will reduce taxes on the big firms and afterwards he will ask them to “take care” of the workers with an ‘agreement of truth’.
Finally, the statement said, “we hope that all working people as well as the majority of citizens will read Mitsotakis’ speech.”
Independent Greeks [AN-EL]
Theodoros Tosounidis released a statement which said:
"Mr. Tough Guy", [τζάμπα μάγκας], it is you who threatened the stability of the country before the Greeks got out of the Memoranda.
"Mr. Tough Guy", it is you who are preparing cuts in wages and pensions, instead of putting your hand in your rich pocket to pay off your party's overwhelming debts and the unpaid loans of your newspaper.
"Mr. Tough Guy", it is you who say one thing in Thessaloniki, and something different in Brussels when they have a word in your ear.
"Mr. Tough Guy" it is you who in Brussels present yourself as the Centrist, and in Greece hide behind Adonis and Voridis (far-right members of ND. Ed).
"Mr. Tough Guy" it is you who talk about meritocracy, while whatever you have achieved was because you are the offspring of a "political hothouse."
"Descendent of the political backrooms, you missed another chance to tell the truth. No Greek will trust you with Greece."
The Movement for Change [Κίνημα Αλλαγής] said:
"We heard nothing from Mr Mitsotakis today on the issues of the modern welfare state and social justice - concepts that are crucial to our people but foreign to the ideological framework of New Democracy"
"He did, however, remember to repeat the positions he had expressed to the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises [ΣΕΒ] by casting doubt on labour rights and achievements."
The statement of the Centre Union read: "Mitsotakis's insistence on the “enhanced” proportional representation cuts every bridge of his communication with the Centre Union. The only government partner left to him is PASOK."
SYRIZA
“Mr. Mitsotakis represents the past of Memoranda and bankruptcy, wild neo-liberalism and authoritarianism. Greece, however, has finally left behind those who have brought her to the brink of a cliff and now she can optimistically plan her future..”
“With the support of big capital, the dissolution of the insurance system and the privatization of public goods, Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented his own Memorandum. This does not, of course, include workers and their rights, support for the welfare state, fair development, democracy and progressive reforms. But there is a place for nationalism and the far right, the re-establishment of the police state and repression.
“Mitsotakis’ plan will create fiscal chaos to benefit the economic oligarchy. He announced that he will offer the employees’[social security Ed] contributions to private companies and pension funds in order to create a Pinochet insurance system. The ND leader will destroy the foundations of the social security system, hand over public services to private interests and will impose an Olympic Games growth model that has cost Greece billions of euros.
”He will cut the budget in Education to make room for the private sector and will also reduce social security benefits by rolling them up in the Social Solidarity Income. He will reduce taxes on the big firms and afterwards he will ask them to “take care” of the workers with an ‘agreement of truth’.
Finally, the statement said, “we hope that all working people as well as the majority of citizens will read Mitsotakis’ speech.”
Independent Greeks [AN-EL]
Theodoros Tosounidis released a statement which said:
"Mr. Tough Guy", [τζάμπα μάγκας], it is you who threatened the stability of the country before the Greeks got out of the Memoranda.
"Mr. Tough Guy", it is you who are preparing cuts in wages and pensions, instead of putting your hand in your rich pocket to pay off your party's overwhelming debts and the unpaid loans of your newspaper.
"Mr. Tough Guy", it is you who say one thing in Thessaloniki, and something different in Brussels when they have a word in your ear.
"Mr. Tough Guy" it is you who in Brussels present yourself as the Centrist, and in Greece hide behind Adonis and Voridis (far-right members of ND. Ed).
"Mr. Tough Guy" it is you who talk about meritocracy, while whatever you have achieved was because you are the offspring of a "political hothouse."
"Descendent of the political backrooms, you missed another chance to tell the truth. No Greek will trust you with Greece."
The Movement for Change [Κίνημα Αλλαγής] said:
"We heard nothing from Mr Mitsotakis today on the issues of the modern welfare state and social justice - concepts that are crucial to our people but foreign to the ideological framework of New Democracy"
"He did, however, remember to repeat the positions he had expressed to the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises [ΣΕΒ] by casting doubt on labour rights and achievements."
The statement of the Centre Union read: "Mitsotakis's insistence on the “enhanced” proportional representation cuts every bridge of his communication with the Centre Union. The only government partner left to him is PASOK."
Kelly Vlahakis – Hanks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Secretary of the US Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross in Thessaloniki’s International Fair
Earth Friendly Products
- a dream fulfilled
Participating in the USA Pavillion at this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair, Earth Friendly Products [ECOS] fulfilled a dream of its founder, Van Vlahakis, a Cretan immigrant to the USA who founded the green giant Earth Friendly Products. He died in 2014. Van Vlahakis was born in Crete but at the age of 18 decided to emigrate to the United States of America.
After many difficult years, Vlahakis entered the cleaning products industry. It was then when he saw what harsh chemicals can do to humans and our environment. So, he decided to create an alternative, producing environmentally friendly cleaners
Today, a giant in its sector, Earth Friendly Products is recognized as one of California’s best employers, providing its workers with a minimum wage of at least $17 an hour, among other benefits.
Van Vlahakis, his daughter Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks and their team made a promise back in 2013:
They wanted their production to come to Greece, at a time when no one was thinking of investing in a country that was hit the most by the financial crisis.
Their dream came true earlier this year, when the ECOS teams from New Jersey and California came to Greece to bring their knowledge, skills and expertise to a place with people full of talent and a country that is open for business.
Vlahakis-Hanks emphasized the importance of manufacturing in Greece in a sustainable way and added that ‘this milestone brought so much joy and excitement, because it was certainly my father’s vision to grow our ECOS brand here in his homeland’.
The Greek-American CEO had the opportunity to meet with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross as well as with the U.S. Ambassador in Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt.
They discussed the history of the Company and how it managed to expand by prioritizing the Environment and its protection in an innovative way.
Earth Friendly Products’ ECOS brand cleaners, that are made in the company’s new premises in Greece, are already on sale in most Greek supermarkets and in other 60 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, expanding the company’s reputation throughout the world.
DATA
During the period between January and August 2018, Greece achieved a primary budget surplus of 3.14€ billion as a result of higher-than-expected revenues and lower spending.
The Government’s budget was projected to show a primary deficit of 917€ million for the first 8 months of 2018, so it outperformed the target by 2.2€ billion.
Greece projects a Primary Budget Surplus of 3.8 percent for 2018, 0.3 percent higher than the country’s obligation under the bailout programme.
- a dream fulfilled
Participating in the USA Pavillion at this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair, Earth Friendly Products [ECOS] fulfilled a dream of its founder, Van Vlahakis, a Cretan immigrant to the USA who founded the green giant Earth Friendly Products. He died in 2014. Van Vlahakis was born in Crete but at the age of 18 decided to emigrate to the United States of America.
After many difficult years, Vlahakis entered the cleaning products industry. It was then when he saw what harsh chemicals can do to humans and our environment. So, he decided to create an alternative, producing environmentally friendly cleaners
Today, a giant in its sector, Earth Friendly Products is recognized as one of California’s best employers, providing its workers with a minimum wage of at least $17 an hour, among other benefits.
Van Vlahakis, his daughter Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks and their team made a promise back in 2013:
They wanted their production to come to Greece, at a time when no one was thinking of investing in a country that was hit the most by the financial crisis.
Their dream came true earlier this year, when the ECOS teams from New Jersey and California came to Greece to bring their knowledge, skills and expertise to a place with people full of talent and a country that is open for business.
Vlahakis-Hanks emphasized the importance of manufacturing in Greece in a sustainable way and added that ‘this milestone brought so much joy and excitement, because it was certainly my father’s vision to grow our ECOS brand here in his homeland’.
The Greek-American CEO had the opportunity to meet with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross as well as with the U.S. Ambassador in Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt.
They discussed the history of the Company and how it managed to expand by prioritizing the Environment and its protection in an innovative way.
Earth Friendly Products’ ECOS brand cleaners, that are made in the company’s new premises in Greece, are already on sale in most Greek supermarkets and in other 60 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, expanding the company’s reputation throughout the world.
DATA
During the period between January and August 2018, Greece achieved a primary budget surplus of 3.14€ billion as a result of higher-than-expected revenues and lower spending.
The Government’s budget was projected to show a primary deficit of 917€ million for the first 8 months of 2018, so it outperformed the target by 2.2€ billion.
Greece projects a Primary Budget Surplus of 3.8 percent for 2018, 0.3 percent higher than the country’s obligation under the bailout programme.
"The aim is for us to make Greece our own again, a Greece of prosperity, equality and progress. The plan to make this happen is Fair Development"
15.9.2018
“Historic” was how Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras described the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair. This was because, as he said, Prime Ministers have been presenting their plans adapted to the requirements of the lenders, and this year he has the opportunity to present his own Government’s projects.
"Three years after the tough agreement of August 2015, it is the first time I can tell you with absolute certainty that we made the right decisions and we were right," PM Alexis Tsipras said in his speech at Vellidio.
"Our choice to not jeopardize the European journey of the country and to reach agreement with our lenders that summer proved to be the only correct choice. Because Greece today is now a different country.
A country that, after a clean exit from the Memoranda, again stands on her own two feet, relies on her own strengths and can look forward to the future with self-belief and confidence.
And this is a project for the benefit of all of us.
Above all, however, for the benefit of those who made great sacrifices during the crisis; for those who resisted the difficulties and lifted burdens that were often more than their fair share. For the future of all these people, for their lives and their expectations, we struggled hard. And today I can look into the eyes of each and every one of you all, and say that your perseverance and patience have borne fruit.
And the future now belongs to you.
The future belongs to the many who suffered, who worked hard, who lifted the burden of the country on their backs.The honest and dignified citizens of this country. The people of labour and creativity who are now entitled to be optimistic again.
And to hope again. And to look forward to the future. Because the end of the Memoranda was not a foregone conclusion. Three years ago, and almost every day over the years, few were the ones who believed we could do it.
That we could manage to stop the downward spiral and stabilize the Greek economy. But also to protect the large social majority from the consequences of the crisis. So now in this historic 83rd TIF, I did not come here to share largesse with you. I came to share and I am sharing with you a vision. Our vision for Greece of the new era that is rising. Now that we have learned from the mistakes, now that we know how things have turned out. Now that we have proved that we had the strength to endure and stop the disaster. Now we know that we also have the power and the knowledge to envision, to design and to realize the regeneration of our homeland."
For A Greece of Fair Development
He described the positive course of the Greek economy and the plan for Greece of Fair Development. He announced a 50% reduction in the Unified Property Tax [ΕΝΦΙΑ], a reduction in insurance contributions for self-employed persons, a reduction in VAT rates, recruitment of staff in schools for Special Needs and for Help in the Home [Βοήθεια στο Σπίτι], a rent subsidy scheme, a subsidy for all social security contributions for young wage earners in the private sector, and the abolition of business tax for cooperative farmers and for Social Co-operative Enterprises [ΚΟΙΝ.Σ.ΕΠ.].
The Prime Minister referred to the course of the Greek economy's growth "after 9 whole years with unemployment dropping from 27% to 19.1% and more than 300,000 new jobs created. Economic indicators with exports, industrial production, household consumption and retail trade are on the rise after decades."
"The country is not only achieving the goals of primary surpluses, but over the last three years, it has far exceeded them, something that is expected this year too."
"That the public finances have been brought back to health is the other big boon, the big knot of public debt has been resolved. And the Greek debt is now viable. Payments are low until 2032, with the grace period we have secured.
"So temporary turbulence in the markets caused by external factors does not concern us, for at least two and a half years from today, thanks to the liquidity cushion that the country has secured for its financing needs up to 2020. Furthermore the conditions are now being devised to design and build with certainty the postmemorandum Greece, Greece of the new era."
Building the Post-Memorandum Greece
"But let's take things from the beginning:
After nine years, the Greek economy is re-emerging again on a recovery path. For six consecutive quarters it has seen positive growth rates, and only last week ELSTAT revised its forecast for 2018, which is expected to close at nearly 2.5%.
Unemployment from 27% in 2015 reached 19.1% in June 2018. More than 300,000 new jobs have been created within three years, and 70% of them are full-time jobs. Fundamental indicators show steady improvement. The economic confidence indicator, the economic climate index, the business expectancy index, the consumer confidence index have all been performing at their best for many years.
Exports, industrial production, household consumption and the retail trade are also on the upside.
Foreign direct investment in 2017 recorded a ten year record with 3.6€ billion net inflow. But if economic indices show a 10-year record, the country's public finances are now healthier than ever before. The country is not only achieving the primary surplus goals, but over the past three years, it has far exceeded them……
So the conditions are being shaped for us to design and build the post-Memorandum Greece, Greece of the new era, with certainty. The question is: How do we dream about this Greece? Will we learn lessons from the crisis? Or will we go back to the causes that provoked it?
Back to the Greece of waste, of the clientelist state, the tax evasion and corruption, a state-sponsored regime of vested interest entrepreneurship, irresponsible borrowing and lending, primary deficits, huge inequalities and arbitrariness.
We will either go back or go forward to rebuild the country on a new basis. Building a new practice of democratic governance. Creating a new economic model. Reconstructing production. Investing in innovation and digital convergence with knowledge and new technologies. Fighting inequalities.
Giving equal access to education and culture to all citizens. This is our vision for the regeneration of our homeland that I now want to share with you.
"Make Greece our own again"
"The aim is for us to make Greece our own again, a Greece of prosperity, equality and progress. The plan to make this happen is Fair Development.
The recovery of employment will be achieved by supporting investment and the ongoing deepening of structural reforms as well as the protection of wage labour and the empowerment of workers' bargaining power.
We have the plan and we are putting it into action: And the name of this project is: Fair Development.
This goal needs the combined and coordinated action of all of us.
It requires the implementation of specific policies to strengthen the competitiveness of the Greek economy. Not by reducing wage costs but by upgrading the quality of the product produced, the country's evolution in the chain of production value and the strengthening of our position in the international division of labour.
It requires policies based essentially on two pillars:
Firstly, supporting investment and the ongoing deepening of structural reforms. To transform Greece into a modern, efficient, European state.
Second: protecting paid employment and strengthening the bargaining power of workers.
Attracting new investment is a key objective to succeed in generating new wealth and reducing unemployment…
This effort must first and foremost address the field of structural reforms and the creation of an investment-friendly environment. To a level that has unfortunately for a long time for our country been a leap too far:
Because the administrative chaos, overlapping responsibilities, lack of institutions and the absence of control mechanisms were not the result of the the old political system being inept. It was a choice.
Because it was only in this chaos that the practices of corruption, of the clientelist state and of political corruption could flourish…
“We must also emphasize specific sectors of the economy”
"All the above are reforms and active policies that only our Government has the power and political strength to launch and complete. And it will complete them.
At the same time, however, we must also emphasize specific sectors of the economy. Where Greece has accumulated experience and competitive advantages. Either because of the high qualifications of its workforce, or because of its geographical location or because of the special natural environment.
For example, in Tourism : Where we are already working intensively and with a view to improving the tourist product, expanding the tourist season, opening up new markets, promoting alternative forms of tourism.
Or in Energy: where through the international synergies of the country with future producers such as Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, Greece is becoming an energy hub and a guarantor of energy efficiency in the whole of Europe.
To the flagship projects in this field, such as the TAP and IGB pipelines and the LNG gas station in Alexandroupolis, we are working to add other projects such as the underwater connection for the transport of electricity from Crete to mainland Greece, as well as the Eastmed pipeline for gas transportation from the Middle East and Cyprus to Continental Europe.
At the same time we are continuing the interventions and legislative initiatives to promote green energy in the overall energy mix:
In this direction, in the three years 2018 - 2020, competitions for Renewable Energy Sources [ΑΠΕ] projects totalling 2.5€ billion will have been implemented.
We are also focussing on Agricultural Production, where our strategic plan and interventions aim at vertically integrating production by linking it to the processing and standardization of foods.
Strengthening cooperative structures with targeted relief and special incentives
In Industry and Manufacturing where they are being first implemented - the integrated plan for the spatial organization and consolidation of industrial activity.
And special programmes to adapt Greek industry to the two major challenges of our time: environmental protection and the digital revolution.
We are also focussing on transport and infrastructure where we are moving forward with targeted strategic interventions to complete the country's road network. E 65, BOAK and Patras-Pyrgos are the big priorities of our project.
Major investments have begun and will be completed in the coming years in the major ports of Northern Greece - Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis.
While the Thessaloniki Metro will start operating in November 2020, the projects for its expansion continue.
New stations of the Athens Metro will be delivered in 2019, while the new Line 4 is already being auctioned.
"Our choice to not jeopardize the European journey of the country and to reach agreement with our lenders that summer proved to be the only correct choice. Because Greece today is now a different country.
A country that, after a clean exit from the Memoranda, again stands on her own two feet, relies on her own strengths and can look forward to the future with self-belief and confidence.
And this is a project for the benefit of all of us.
Above all, however, for the benefit of those who made great sacrifices during the crisis; for those who resisted the difficulties and lifted burdens that were often more than their fair share. For the future of all these people, for their lives and their expectations, we struggled hard. And today I can look into the eyes of each and every one of you all, and say that your perseverance and patience have borne fruit.
And the future now belongs to you.
The future belongs to the many who suffered, who worked hard, who lifted the burden of the country on their backs.The honest and dignified citizens of this country. The people of labour and creativity who are now entitled to be optimistic again.
And to hope again. And to look forward to the future. Because the end of the Memoranda was not a foregone conclusion. Three years ago, and almost every day over the years, few were the ones who believed we could do it.
That we could manage to stop the downward spiral and stabilize the Greek economy. But also to protect the large social majority from the consequences of the crisis. So now in this historic 83rd TIF, I did not come here to share largesse with you. I came to share and I am sharing with you a vision. Our vision for Greece of the new era that is rising. Now that we have learned from the mistakes, now that we know how things have turned out. Now that we have proved that we had the strength to endure and stop the disaster. Now we know that we also have the power and the knowledge to envision, to design and to realize the regeneration of our homeland."
For A Greece of Fair Development
He described the positive course of the Greek economy and the plan for Greece of Fair Development. He announced a 50% reduction in the Unified Property Tax [ΕΝΦΙΑ], a reduction in insurance contributions for self-employed persons, a reduction in VAT rates, recruitment of staff in schools for Special Needs and for Help in the Home [Βοήθεια στο Σπίτι], a rent subsidy scheme, a subsidy for all social security contributions for young wage earners in the private sector, and the abolition of business tax for cooperative farmers and for Social Co-operative Enterprises [ΚΟΙΝ.Σ.ΕΠ.].
The Prime Minister referred to the course of the Greek economy's growth "after 9 whole years with unemployment dropping from 27% to 19.1% and more than 300,000 new jobs created. Economic indicators with exports, industrial production, household consumption and retail trade are on the rise after decades."
"The country is not only achieving the goals of primary surpluses, but over the last three years, it has far exceeded them, something that is expected this year too."
"That the public finances have been brought back to health is the other big boon, the big knot of public debt has been resolved. And the Greek debt is now viable. Payments are low until 2032, with the grace period we have secured.
"So temporary turbulence in the markets caused by external factors does not concern us, for at least two and a half years from today, thanks to the liquidity cushion that the country has secured for its financing needs up to 2020. Furthermore the conditions are now being devised to design and build with certainty the postmemorandum Greece, Greece of the new era."
Building the Post-Memorandum Greece
"But let's take things from the beginning:
After nine years, the Greek economy is re-emerging again on a recovery path. For six consecutive quarters it has seen positive growth rates, and only last week ELSTAT revised its forecast for 2018, which is expected to close at nearly 2.5%.
Unemployment from 27% in 2015 reached 19.1% in June 2018. More than 300,000 new jobs have been created within three years, and 70% of them are full-time jobs. Fundamental indicators show steady improvement. The economic confidence indicator, the economic climate index, the business expectancy index, the consumer confidence index have all been performing at their best for many years.
Exports, industrial production, household consumption and the retail trade are also on the upside.
Foreign direct investment in 2017 recorded a ten year record with 3.6€ billion net inflow. But if economic indices show a 10-year record, the country's public finances are now healthier than ever before. The country is not only achieving the primary surplus goals, but over the past three years, it has far exceeded them……
So the conditions are being shaped for us to design and build the post-Memorandum Greece, Greece of the new era, with certainty. The question is: How do we dream about this Greece? Will we learn lessons from the crisis? Or will we go back to the causes that provoked it?
Back to the Greece of waste, of the clientelist state, the tax evasion and corruption, a state-sponsored regime of vested interest entrepreneurship, irresponsible borrowing and lending, primary deficits, huge inequalities and arbitrariness.
We will either go back or go forward to rebuild the country on a new basis. Building a new practice of democratic governance. Creating a new economic model. Reconstructing production. Investing in innovation and digital convergence with knowledge and new technologies. Fighting inequalities.
Giving equal access to education and culture to all citizens. This is our vision for the regeneration of our homeland that I now want to share with you.
"Make Greece our own again"
"The aim is for us to make Greece our own again, a Greece of prosperity, equality and progress. The plan to make this happen is Fair Development.
The recovery of employment will be achieved by supporting investment and the ongoing deepening of structural reforms as well as the protection of wage labour and the empowerment of workers' bargaining power.
We have the plan and we are putting it into action: And the name of this project is: Fair Development.
This goal needs the combined and coordinated action of all of us.
It requires the implementation of specific policies to strengthen the competitiveness of the Greek economy. Not by reducing wage costs but by upgrading the quality of the product produced, the country's evolution in the chain of production value and the strengthening of our position in the international division of labour.
It requires policies based essentially on two pillars:
Firstly, supporting investment and the ongoing deepening of structural reforms. To transform Greece into a modern, efficient, European state.
Second: protecting paid employment and strengthening the bargaining power of workers.
Attracting new investment is a key objective to succeed in generating new wealth and reducing unemployment…
This effort must first and foremost address the field of structural reforms and the creation of an investment-friendly environment. To a level that has unfortunately for a long time for our country been a leap too far:
Because the administrative chaos, overlapping responsibilities, lack of institutions and the absence of control mechanisms were not the result of the the old political system being inept. It was a choice.
Because it was only in this chaos that the practices of corruption, of the clientelist state and of political corruption could flourish…
“We must also emphasize specific sectors of the economy”
"All the above are reforms and active policies that only our Government has the power and political strength to launch and complete. And it will complete them.
At the same time, however, we must also emphasize specific sectors of the economy. Where Greece has accumulated experience and competitive advantages. Either because of the high qualifications of its workforce, or because of its geographical location or because of the special natural environment.
For example, in Tourism : Where we are already working intensively and with a view to improving the tourist product, expanding the tourist season, opening up new markets, promoting alternative forms of tourism.
Or in Energy: where through the international synergies of the country with future producers such as Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, Greece is becoming an energy hub and a guarantor of energy efficiency in the whole of Europe.
To the flagship projects in this field, such as the TAP and IGB pipelines and the LNG gas station in Alexandroupolis, we are working to add other projects such as the underwater connection for the transport of electricity from Crete to mainland Greece, as well as the Eastmed pipeline for gas transportation from the Middle East and Cyprus to Continental Europe.
At the same time we are continuing the interventions and legislative initiatives to promote green energy in the overall energy mix:
In this direction, in the three years 2018 - 2020, competitions for Renewable Energy Sources [ΑΠΕ] projects totalling 2.5€ billion will have been implemented.
We are also focussing on Agricultural Production, where our strategic plan and interventions aim at vertically integrating production by linking it to the processing and standardization of foods.
Strengthening cooperative structures with targeted relief and special incentives
In Industry and Manufacturing where they are being first implemented - the integrated plan for the spatial organization and consolidation of industrial activity.
And special programmes to adapt Greek industry to the two major challenges of our time: environmental protection and the digital revolution.
We are also focussing on transport and infrastructure where we are moving forward with targeted strategic interventions to complete the country's road network. E 65, BOAK and Patras-Pyrgos are the big priorities of our project.
Major investments have begun and will be completed in the coming years in the major ports of Northern Greece - Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis.
While the Thessaloniki Metro will start operating in November 2020, the projects for its expansion continue.
New stations of the Athens Metro will be delivered in 2019, while the new Line 4 is already being auctioned.
If the first pillar of our political plan is investment and reforms, the second is the recovery of employment.
"The goal is that within the next two years we will have managed to return to the investment grade. This effort should be first and foremost in the field of structural reforms and the creation of a investment- friendly environment.
If the first pillar of our political plan is investment and reforms, the second, as I said earlier, is the recovery of employment - and it aims to protect working people and strengthen their bargaining power.
"We are moving ahead with the implementation of programmes for the employment of 10,000 professionals in the manufacturing, agri-food and new technologies sectors and 5,500 young professionals in public sector bodies with wages corresponding to their qualifications."
"While from 2019 and for the next two years we are providing incentives in the form of reductions in social security contributions and tax exemptions for young professionals returning to the country."
Because in our vision of the future, support for workers, wage growth, regulation of the labour market,
respect for the rights of those who work and produce are not the effects of development. But the conditions for it.
This is precisely where our dividing line becomes even more apparent between us and the forces of extreme neoliberalism - those forces that believe that growth and attraction of investment requires the trashing of the world of work.
On the contrary, with our own interventions from 2015 until today, we have succeeded in creating a new regime for the regulation of the labour market. And this did not limit growth at all.
With the exit from the Memoranda, we are able to put our labour forces back centre stage with two reforms: the restoration of collective bargaining as of 21 August with the salary increase for tens of thousands of workers as a direct result and the raising of the minimum wage in 2019, after the consultation with all stakeholders has been completed.
"In the field of Public Health, where we have managed in three years to change the image of the National Health System, which in 2014 was literally collapsing. Not just because of budgetary constraints. But also because of mismanagement, wastefulness, maladministration, indifference - not to say callousness – because of political power, because of the “brown envelope” and generalized corruption, which is now revealed in its entirety with the affairs of Novartis and the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention [ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ].
Today the situation is radically different.
The National Health System [ΕΣΥ] is back on its feet
Our central political goal is to guarantee universal, equitable and effective coverage of modern health needs. "The National Health System [ΕΣΥ] is back on its feet. We have made the commitment to full and universal access of uninsured citizens to the health system. We have strengthened all public health structures with additional staff. And for the first time since 2016, the balance of recruitment / retirement in the ΕΣΥ is positive."
Our central political objectives for the post-Memorandum era are:
Reducing the charges on citizens.
Reducing waiting times for services.
The reduction of unmet medical needs through Primary Care Mobile Units for Remote Areas.
The filling of all the core positions of doctors, nurses and other staff vacated during the catastrophic five-year period 2010-2014.
The increase in the wages of specialists and the gradual restoration of the cuts in the special medical salary.
The Restoration of the Henry Dynant Hospital, which was almost stolen from the State, back to within the framework of Public Care, in cooperation with the Onassis Foundation.
Specific Policy Commitments
A gradual reduction of ENFIA by up to 50% for 1.2 million small properties
By the end of the year, we will also legislate for the gradual reduction of ENFIA by up to 50% for 1.2m small properties and 30% for medium sized properties.
The reduction will be in two phases, the first from 1/1/2019 and the second from 1/2020.
At the same time the tax structure will change to make it more proportionate, fairer, lighter for ordinary citizens, hence there will be more tax on large properties rather than extortion for the popular strata.
Reduction of social insurance contributions for self-employed persons
Also from 1/1/19 we are reducing the social insurance contributions of self-employed persons, up to 35% with an income of over 7,000€, reducing the contribution rate for the main pension from 20% to 13.3%.
A corresponding reduction of up to 35% will also apply to farmers.
In addition, with additional concern for all engineers, doctors, lawyers, we are reducing the contributions for a supplementary pension and a lump sum to the minimum currently in force, that is, 64.50€ per month - an intervention that will drastically alleviate the burden on hundreds of thousands of self-employed people, doctors, lawyers, engineers and farmers and increase their disposable income.
Reduction in investment tax from 29% to 25%
Starting from 1/1/2019 and over a four-year period, we are also reducing taxation on businesses by four percentage points, from 29% today to 25%.
Rent subsidy programme
From 1/1/19 we are also moving to an extensive rent subsidy programme, with amounts of between 70€ and 200€ a month, with income criteria that will cover at least 300,000 families. This is a measure that will strengthen, among other things, the ability of young couples to take the step, to live together, to make families, because let us not forget that the demographic is one of the greatest threats to the country.
Recruitment of 3,000 permanent staff for Help in the Home
We will also proceed immediately with the recruitment of 3,000 permanent specialist personnel, so that in the next year we can strengthen and make permanent the "Help in the Home" programme, which serves tens of thousands of elderly people and people with special needs.
Recruitment of 4,500 teachers and specialists in Special Education
And at the same time, we are proceeding with the immediate recruitment of 4,500 teachers and specialist staff to strengthen Special Education in state schools.
Elimination of the Trading Tax
We will abolish the Trading Tax[The obligation to pay this business tax applies regardless of whether or not the persons liable have earnings or losses during the previous financial year. Ed]for Social Co-operative Enterprises [ΚΟΙΝ.Σ.ΕΠ.], cooperative farmers and inactive enterprises, with effect from 1.1.2019.
Reduction of VAT rates
A reduction of the top rate by two percentage points from 24% to 22% and of the low rate from 13% to 12%.
Education
I am coming now to the field of Education, where our interventions are gradually changing the picture.
And they set our targets for the overall upgrading of the public education system in our country.
Next Tuesday and for the third consecutive year schools across the country will commence with all teachers and books in place.
For the first time the recruitment of more than 19,000 substitute teachers was completed before the beginning of the school year.
This success takes on such a dimension because it demonstrates the indifference of previous governments, the old political system.
And through this provocative indifference, it turns out that their Excellencies did not have a great deal of interest in the children of the social majority. Since they seem to have no time but for their "Heirs," as Pierre Bourdieu described as the children of the elite.
We,on the other hand, committed to the goal of strengthening the state school, announced a comprehensive and ambitious plan to upgrade the Baccalaureate [Απολυτηρίο] and the new means of admission to University.
In order to bring pupils back to school, to open up access to University and to weaken the private supplementary teaching.
Welfare, Social Solidarity and Social Security
Welfare, Social Solidarity and Social Security are the next areas where the balancing, protective and redistributive character of the State is judged.
Here we demonstrate in practice that social protection and the fight against inequality are prerequisites for fair development.
With immediate measures to tackle the humanitarian crisis and using the Social Solidarity Income, we have reversed the process of social disintegration that we inherited in 2015.
We have already increased the welfare budget from 789€ million in 2015 to 2€ billion for 2018 while we have set our target for this spending to reach 4€ billion by 2022.
By implementing this goal, poverty rates in our country will reach levels lower than in 2008.
With the new insurance system, despite the shortcomings and individual injustices that we can now correct, the deficit of 1€ billion in 2014 was a surplus of 770€ million in 2017.
Of course we are well aware that pensioners' income has been greatly reduced during the crisis.
From our side and despite unbearable pressures, we have tried and largely managed to contain the reductions and to stabilize the income situation of retired people.
But the worry today is the measures that the IMF has demanded for 2019.
So I want to say clearly that according to the figures and the forecasts we have for 2019 the position of the IMF is not confirmed.
On the contrary, I am confident that the target for a 3.5% primary surplus can be achieved without the implementation of this measure.
This position, once verified by the statistics, will be explained to our European partners in the European Commission next year, as we will present, like all the eurozone countries, the 2019 budget in mid-October.
It is already clear that our partners accept and are happy about the new fiscal reality that has been shaped.
Deepening Democracy: The Constitutional Review
In our plan for Fair Development, the institutional interventions for deepening democracy have a core role.
In the years in which we found ourselves in the government of the country, we have made moves that put citizens and democracy at the very centre.
Simple proportional representation in parliamentary and local elections change the terms of doing politics and deepen democracy.
A series of pieces of legislation to ensure the true equality of citizens regardless of gender, race, colour, and sexual orientation have already been passed and are changing the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.
Democratic reforms to broaden individual freedoms have been completed.
And now is the time to take the big step:
Let us start the process of the Constitutional Review in October to implement reforms that are well overdue and essential for the broadening of democracy, for the strengthening of the protection of social rights and public goods, for the abolition of protective arrangements for Ministers and MPs who do damage to Greek citizens, for the rationalisation of the relations and the distinct roles of the Church and the State.
And I am confident that the Constitutional Review will make a major contribution to the great effort to restore the relationship of trust between citizens and state institutions, between citizens and politics.
Because, after all, this is the great objective of the Constitutional Review.
The restoration of politics itself, the strengthening of faith in the Republic.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Recovery of employment, the welfare state and a deepening of democracy are the three pillars of our plan, which I presented to you, for the post-Memoranda Greece of the new era.
Today, however, at the first TIF after the difficult times of the crisis, after the end of the prolonged austerity period, I have the political obligation to stand before you and to make concrete and clear commitments for the next day.
Commitments that are now more than feasible as the budget adjustment cycle is closed.
As the Greek economy is now stabilized and has the potential not only to achieve primary surpluses but also additional fiscal space.
And this is not just my own estimation, my own forecast, my own wish.
It is reflected in the medium-term budgetary strategy adopted by our lenders and voted for in Greek Parliament.
3.5€ billion is, by the way, the additional budget space from 2019 to 2022.
But already today, and before the end of 2018, our possibilities as a result of the positive course of the economy are extended.
So, in addition to the possible dividend yield, about which we will have a clear picture towards the end of the year, we can rectify injustices in the Memoranda and repay to beneficiaries the amounts unlawfully withheld.
By the end of the year, therefore, we are paying back to the security forces and the armed forces, as well as to judges and academics, a retrospective amount of a total of 1€ billion.
It is right and it is done.
"The goal is that within the next two years we will have managed to return to the investment grade. This effort should be first and foremost in the field of structural reforms and the creation of a investment- friendly environment.
If the first pillar of our political plan is investment and reforms, the second, as I said earlier, is the recovery of employment - and it aims to protect working people and strengthen their bargaining power.
"We are moving ahead with the implementation of programmes for the employment of 10,000 professionals in the manufacturing, agri-food and new technologies sectors and 5,500 young professionals in public sector bodies with wages corresponding to their qualifications."
"While from 2019 and for the next two years we are providing incentives in the form of reductions in social security contributions and tax exemptions for young professionals returning to the country."
Because in our vision of the future, support for workers, wage growth, regulation of the labour market,
respect for the rights of those who work and produce are not the effects of development. But the conditions for it.
This is precisely where our dividing line becomes even more apparent between us and the forces of extreme neoliberalism - those forces that believe that growth and attraction of investment requires the trashing of the world of work.
On the contrary, with our own interventions from 2015 until today, we have succeeded in creating a new regime for the regulation of the labour market. And this did not limit growth at all.
With the exit from the Memoranda, we are able to put our labour forces back centre stage with two reforms: the restoration of collective bargaining as of 21 August with the salary increase for tens of thousands of workers as a direct result and the raising of the minimum wage in 2019, after the consultation with all stakeholders has been completed.
"In the field of Public Health, where we have managed in three years to change the image of the National Health System, which in 2014 was literally collapsing. Not just because of budgetary constraints. But also because of mismanagement, wastefulness, maladministration, indifference - not to say callousness – because of political power, because of the “brown envelope” and generalized corruption, which is now revealed in its entirety with the affairs of Novartis and the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention [ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ].
Today the situation is radically different.
The National Health System [ΕΣΥ] is back on its feet
Our central political goal is to guarantee universal, equitable and effective coverage of modern health needs. "The National Health System [ΕΣΥ] is back on its feet. We have made the commitment to full and universal access of uninsured citizens to the health system. We have strengthened all public health structures with additional staff. And for the first time since 2016, the balance of recruitment / retirement in the ΕΣΥ is positive."
Our central political objectives for the post-Memorandum era are:
Reducing the charges on citizens.
Reducing waiting times for services.
The reduction of unmet medical needs through Primary Care Mobile Units for Remote Areas.
The filling of all the core positions of doctors, nurses and other staff vacated during the catastrophic five-year period 2010-2014.
The increase in the wages of specialists and the gradual restoration of the cuts in the special medical salary.
The Restoration of the Henry Dynant Hospital, which was almost stolen from the State, back to within the framework of Public Care, in cooperation with the Onassis Foundation.
Specific Policy Commitments
A gradual reduction of ENFIA by up to 50% for 1.2 million small properties
By the end of the year, we will also legislate for the gradual reduction of ENFIA by up to 50% for 1.2m small properties and 30% for medium sized properties.
The reduction will be in two phases, the first from 1/1/2019 and the second from 1/2020.
At the same time the tax structure will change to make it more proportionate, fairer, lighter for ordinary citizens, hence there will be more tax on large properties rather than extortion for the popular strata.
Reduction of social insurance contributions for self-employed persons
Also from 1/1/19 we are reducing the social insurance contributions of self-employed persons, up to 35% with an income of over 7,000€, reducing the contribution rate for the main pension from 20% to 13.3%.
A corresponding reduction of up to 35% will also apply to farmers.
In addition, with additional concern for all engineers, doctors, lawyers, we are reducing the contributions for a supplementary pension and a lump sum to the minimum currently in force, that is, 64.50€ per month - an intervention that will drastically alleviate the burden on hundreds of thousands of self-employed people, doctors, lawyers, engineers and farmers and increase their disposable income.
Reduction in investment tax from 29% to 25%
Starting from 1/1/2019 and over a four-year period, we are also reducing taxation on businesses by four percentage points, from 29% today to 25%.
Rent subsidy programme
From 1/1/19 we are also moving to an extensive rent subsidy programme, with amounts of between 70€ and 200€ a month, with income criteria that will cover at least 300,000 families. This is a measure that will strengthen, among other things, the ability of young couples to take the step, to live together, to make families, because let us not forget that the demographic is one of the greatest threats to the country.
Recruitment of 3,000 permanent staff for Help in the Home
We will also proceed immediately with the recruitment of 3,000 permanent specialist personnel, so that in the next year we can strengthen and make permanent the "Help in the Home" programme, which serves tens of thousands of elderly people and people with special needs.
Recruitment of 4,500 teachers and specialists in Special Education
And at the same time, we are proceeding with the immediate recruitment of 4,500 teachers and specialist staff to strengthen Special Education in state schools.
Elimination of the Trading Tax
We will abolish the Trading Tax[The obligation to pay this business tax applies regardless of whether or not the persons liable have earnings or losses during the previous financial year. Ed]for Social Co-operative Enterprises [ΚΟΙΝ.Σ.ΕΠ.], cooperative farmers and inactive enterprises, with effect from 1.1.2019.
Reduction of VAT rates
A reduction of the top rate by two percentage points from 24% to 22% and of the low rate from 13% to 12%.
Education
I am coming now to the field of Education, where our interventions are gradually changing the picture.
And they set our targets for the overall upgrading of the public education system in our country.
Next Tuesday and for the third consecutive year schools across the country will commence with all teachers and books in place.
For the first time the recruitment of more than 19,000 substitute teachers was completed before the beginning of the school year.
This success takes on such a dimension because it demonstrates the indifference of previous governments, the old political system.
And through this provocative indifference, it turns out that their Excellencies did not have a great deal of interest in the children of the social majority. Since they seem to have no time but for their "Heirs," as Pierre Bourdieu described as the children of the elite.
We,on the other hand, committed to the goal of strengthening the state school, announced a comprehensive and ambitious plan to upgrade the Baccalaureate [Απολυτηρίο] and the new means of admission to University.
In order to bring pupils back to school, to open up access to University and to weaken the private supplementary teaching.
Welfare, Social Solidarity and Social Security
Welfare, Social Solidarity and Social Security are the next areas where the balancing, protective and redistributive character of the State is judged.
Here we demonstrate in practice that social protection and the fight against inequality are prerequisites for fair development.
With immediate measures to tackle the humanitarian crisis and using the Social Solidarity Income, we have reversed the process of social disintegration that we inherited in 2015.
We have already increased the welfare budget from 789€ million in 2015 to 2€ billion for 2018 while we have set our target for this spending to reach 4€ billion by 2022.
By implementing this goal, poverty rates in our country will reach levels lower than in 2008.
With the new insurance system, despite the shortcomings and individual injustices that we can now correct, the deficit of 1€ billion in 2014 was a surplus of 770€ million in 2017.
Of course we are well aware that pensioners' income has been greatly reduced during the crisis.
From our side and despite unbearable pressures, we have tried and largely managed to contain the reductions and to stabilize the income situation of retired people.
But the worry today is the measures that the IMF has demanded for 2019.
So I want to say clearly that according to the figures and the forecasts we have for 2019 the position of the IMF is not confirmed.
On the contrary, I am confident that the target for a 3.5% primary surplus can be achieved without the implementation of this measure.
This position, once verified by the statistics, will be explained to our European partners in the European Commission next year, as we will present, like all the eurozone countries, the 2019 budget in mid-October.
It is already clear that our partners accept and are happy about the new fiscal reality that has been shaped.
Deepening Democracy: The Constitutional Review
In our plan for Fair Development, the institutional interventions for deepening democracy have a core role.
In the years in which we found ourselves in the government of the country, we have made moves that put citizens and democracy at the very centre.
Simple proportional representation in parliamentary and local elections change the terms of doing politics and deepen democracy.
A series of pieces of legislation to ensure the true equality of citizens regardless of gender, race, colour, and sexual orientation have already been passed and are changing the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.
Democratic reforms to broaden individual freedoms have been completed.
And now is the time to take the big step:
Let us start the process of the Constitutional Review in October to implement reforms that are well overdue and essential for the broadening of democracy, for the strengthening of the protection of social rights and public goods, for the abolition of protective arrangements for Ministers and MPs who do damage to Greek citizens, for the rationalisation of the relations and the distinct roles of the Church and the State.
And I am confident that the Constitutional Review will make a major contribution to the great effort to restore the relationship of trust between citizens and state institutions, between citizens and politics.
Because, after all, this is the great objective of the Constitutional Review.
The restoration of politics itself, the strengthening of faith in the Republic.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Recovery of employment, the welfare state and a deepening of democracy are the three pillars of our plan, which I presented to you, for the post-Memoranda Greece of the new era.
Today, however, at the first TIF after the difficult times of the crisis, after the end of the prolonged austerity period, I have the political obligation to stand before you and to make concrete and clear commitments for the next day.
Commitments that are now more than feasible as the budget adjustment cycle is closed.
As the Greek economy is now stabilized and has the potential not only to achieve primary surpluses but also additional fiscal space.
And this is not just my own estimation, my own forecast, my own wish.
It is reflected in the medium-term budgetary strategy adopted by our lenders and voted for in Greek Parliament.
3.5€ billion is, by the way, the additional budget space from 2019 to 2022.
But already today, and before the end of 2018, our possibilities as a result of the positive course of the economy are extended.
So, in addition to the possible dividend yield, about which we will have a clear picture towards the end of the year, we can rectify injustices in the Memoranda and repay to beneficiaries the amounts unlawfully withheld.
By the end of the year, therefore, we are paying back to the security forces and the armed forces, as well as to judges and academics, a retrospective amount of a total of 1€ billion.
It is right and it is done.
The Future of Thessaloniki
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have presented to you my vision and my plan for Greece of the new era.
In this vision, I would like to conclude by saying that Thessaloniki does not have the miserable position of the country’s Second Largest City.
It has a distinct, leading role - the role of the real capital of the Balkans.
And this is not a rhetorical cliché
It is proven by reality itself.
It is evidenced by the particular importance and position of Thessaloniki - and Northern Greece in general - in the development plan I have presented.
Its location as the Balkans' energy, transit and communication hub.
Because in our development plan, Northern Greece becomes the geopolitical crossroads of the vertical and the horizontal corridors of the natural gas pipelines.
And at the same time with the railway line of Thessaloniki - Edomeni, the safe and fast movement of goods from our harbours to Central Europe is achieved.
Combined with the large investments already made in the harbours of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis, Northern Greece becomes the centre of the Balkan Ring of Transport.
From Thessaloniki, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Ruse, Kostantza.
From Bulgaria and Romania to Serbia with the re-development of the Danube.
And from Belgrade to Skopje and Thessaloniki.
And this open horizon suits Thessaloniki.
The horizon of partnerships, trade, co-development and cooperation.
Because that’s how I envisage Thessaloniki:
A city that is open, a city of communication, democracy and progress.
A city of self-confidence and creativity.
A city of Culture.
And from the very first moment, I have proved that this vision is not just empty rhetoric.
I fulfilled my commitment to the metro, to the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization, about the return of open spaces to the people of Thessaloniki…
And we are also proceeding immediately to the necessary processes, control and approval of the Special Spatial Plan, in order to begin planning for the reconstruction and reshaping of the TIF exhibition space.
The goal in 2019 is for there to be an architectural competition for a TIF with modern exhibition facilities and a new park in the centre of the city.
Because we want Thessaloniki to be the capital of the Balkans.
Because we want Thessaloniki to be the heart of Balkan Co-development.
A node of trade and financial transactions.
A bridge of cultures
and No fence.
A city with its neighbours and its economic hinterland behind it.
Because Thessaloniki does not deserve ill-temper, it does not deserve intolerance, it does not deserve fear, hatred or division.
The only thing Thessaloniki deserves is to go forward.
With this open horizon, with confidence and understanding, with a willingness to cooperate and communicate, we are reaching out to our neighbours.
We do that in the economy and trade. We do that in culture.
And we are doing it also in our international relations.
And a model of this attitude is the Prespa Agreement.
Which opens the Greeks to the world.
Which transforms our country into a producer of solutions.
Which makes Thessaloniki once again the capital of the Balkans.
With this vision, with this faith
With pride and sense of national duty
I want to assure you that I will move forward and we will move forward for a Greece that we deserve.
Because, as the poet says, “we deserve nothing less than heaven”.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have presented to you my vision and my plan for Greece of the new era.
In this vision, I would like to conclude by saying that Thessaloniki does not have the miserable position of the country’s Second Largest City.
It has a distinct, leading role - the role of the real capital of the Balkans.
And this is not a rhetorical cliché
It is proven by reality itself.
It is evidenced by the particular importance and position of Thessaloniki - and Northern Greece in general - in the development plan I have presented.
Its location as the Balkans' energy, transit and communication hub.
Because in our development plan, Northern Greece becomes the geopolitical crossroads of the vertical and the horizontal corridors of the natural gas pipelines.
And at the same time with the railway line of Thessaloniki - Edomeni, the safe and fast movement of goods from our harbours to Central Europe is achieved.
Combined with the large investments already made in the harbours of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis, Northern Greece becomes the centre of the Balkan Ring of Transport.
From Thessaloniki, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Ruse, Kostantza.
From Bulgaria and Romania to Serbia with the re-development of the Danube.
And from Belgrade to Skopje and Thessaloniki.
And this open horizon suits Thessaloniki.
The horizon of partnerships, trade, co-development and cooperation.
Because that’s how I envisage Thessaloniki:
A city that is open, a city of communication, democracy and progress.
A city of self-confidence and creativity.
A city of Culture.
And from the very first moment, I have proved that this vision is not just empty rhetoric.
I fulfilled my commitment to the metro, to the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization, about the return of open spaces to the people of Thessaloniki…
And we are also proceeding immediately to the necessary processes, control and approval of the Special Spatial Plan, in order to begin planning for the reconstruction and reshaping of the TIF exhibition space.
The goal in 2019 is for there to be an architectural competition for a TIF with modern exhibition facilities and a new park in the centre of the city.
Because we want Thessaloniki to be the capital of the Balkans.
Because we want Thessaloniki to be the heart of Balkan Co-development.
A node of trade and financial transactions.
A bridge of cultures
and No fence.
A city with its neighbours and its economic hinterland behind it.
Because Thessaloniki does not deserve ill-temper, it does not deserve intolerance, it does not deserve fear, hatred or division.
The only thing Thessaloniki deserves is to go forward.
With this open horizon, with confidence and understanding, with a willingness to cooperate and communicate, we are reaching out to our neighbours.
We do that in the economy and trade. We do that in culture.
And we are doing it also in our international relations.
And a model of this attitude is the Prespa Agreement.
Which opens the Greeks to the world.
Which transforms our country into a producer of solutions.
Which makes Thessaloniki once again the capital of the Balkans.
With this vision, with this faith
With pride and sense of national duty
I want to assure you that I will move forward and we will move forward for a Greece that we deserve.
Because, as the poet says, “we deserve nothing less than heaven”.
U.S.A. - Honoured Country at 83rd TIF
Greece's strategic partnership with the US will be the best foundation for a new outlook for both Greece and the wider region, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said at the inauguration of the US stand at the 83rd TIF. This was his speech:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Mr. Secretary, Mr. Ambassador,
It is a great pleasure for me to be with you here at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair for us to inaugurate the Pavilion of this year's Exhibition’s Honoured Country, the USA.
As you rightly said, on my trip to Washington I had discussed with President Trump how very important it was for us at the first Thessaloniki International Exhibition following the exit of Greece from the eight-year adventure of the adjustment programmes - the TIF that signifies the return of the economy and the country to normality, growth, recovery - to play host to the United States as the "honoured country".
Our two peoples share many things. Above all, we share common values, struggles for common values and common goals of freedom and democracy. We have historical ties, very strong ties throughout history, hard work, difficult times, but a lasting and indomitable effort for progress and prosperity.
So, Mr. Secretary, you are visiting our country at a critical moment, as after a long time we are leaving behind the recession and austerity, and now we can unleash the potential of the Greek economy, we can concentrate on producing new wealth, we can invest where we have comparative advantages and invest with a plan. Let us give room to the living forces of this country to come to the forefront, to the young women and the young men of our country, to the business world that is bold.
And I think we have to take very many lessons, significant experiences and know-how from the presence of a large delegation of business people, people from the market of the US, on the occasion of the country's honoured presence at the 83rd TIF. The United States, a pioneering force in the global economy and global production, where innovation and entrepreneurial start-ups flourish, we want it to be, and we believe it can be, a helper in our effort to give a new impetus to the Greek economy and to invest in new ideas, innovation and entrepreneurial start-ups.
But Greece is not just a country that is coming out of the crisis, having many new perspectives in front of it. But it is also a country that can play and is playing an extremely important role in a, I would say, generally fragile wider region. So Greece, as a pillar of stability, as a pillar of security and as a country that can play a leading role in the region, is opening its gates to the new era. And the support in this endeavour by your presence, today, here, and the large business delegation from the US is really a very, very important contribution.
And in conclusion, let me say that the 83rd TIF, with the presence of the honoured country and at a high level today, signifies the great potential of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Northern Greece to play a decisive role, to be the heart Balkan joint development and, for the Greek economy, the locomotive of productive reconstruction.
With these thoughts, therefore, and looking forward to visiting the Pavilion, the American Pavilion, which I see has been particularly upgraded this year, as the 83rd International Exhibition has been upgraded, I would like to warmly welcome, to Thessaloniki and the 83rd TIF, the US Trade Secretary, Mr Ross, and all the US participants, and to reiterate my assurance that the strategic cooperation between Greece and the USA will be the best basis, I would say, the best foundation of a new perspective for both Greece as well as for the wider region –perspectives of security, development, peace and stability.”
Greece's strategic partnership with the US will be the best foundation for a new outlook for both Greece and the wider region, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said at the inauguration of the US stand at the 83rd TIF. This was his speech:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Mr. Secretary, Mr. Ambassador,
It is a great pleasure for me to be with you here at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair for us to inaugurate the Pavilion of this year's Exhibition’s Honoured Country, the USA.
As you rightly said, on my trip to Washington I had discussed with President Trump how very important it was for us at the first Thessaloniki International Exhibition following the exit of Greece from the eight-year adventure of the adjustment programmes - the TIF that signifies the return of the economy and the country to normality, growth, recovery - to play host to the United States as the "honoured country".
Our two peoples share many things. Above all, we share common values, struggles for common values and common goals of freedom and democracy. We have historical ties, very strong ties throughout history, hard work, difficult times, but a lasting and indomitable effort for progress and prosperity.
So, Mr. Secretary, you are visiting our country at a critical moment, as after a long time we are leaving behind the recession and austerity, and now we can unleash the potential of the Greek economy, we can concentrate on producing new wealth, we can invest where we have comparative advantages and invest with a plan. Let us give room to the living forces of this country to come to the forefront, to the young women and the young men of our country, to the business world that is bold.
And I think we have to take very many lessons, significant experiences and know-how from the presence of a large delegation of business people, people from the market of the US, on the occasion of the country's honoured presence at the 83rd TIF. The United States, a pioneering force in the global economy and global production, where innovation and entrepreneurial start-ups flourish, we want it to be, and we believe it can be, a helper in our effort to give a new impetus to the Greek economy and to invest in new ideas, innovation and entrepreneurial start-ups.
But Greece is not just a country that is coming out of the crisis, having many new perspectives in front of it. But it is also a country that can play and is playing an extremely important role in a, I would say, generally fragile wider region. So Greece, as a pillar of stability, as a pillar of security and as a country that can play a leading role in the region, is opening its gates to the new era. And the support in this endeavour by your presence, today, here, and the large business delegation from the US is really a very, very important contribution.
And in conclusion, let me say that the 83rd TIF, with the presence of the honoured country and at a high level today, signifies the great potential of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Northern Greece to play a decisive role, to be the heart Balkan joint development and, for the Greek economy, the locomotive of productive reconstruction.
With these thoughts, therefore, and looking forward to visiting the Pavilion, the American Pavilion, which I see has been particularly upgraded this year, as the 83rd International Exhibition has been upgraded, I would like to warmly welcome, to Thessaloniki and the 83rd TIF, the US Trade Secretary, Mr Ross, and all the US participants, and to reiterate my assurance that the strategic cooperation between Greece and the USA will be the best basis, I would say, the best foundation of a new perspective for both Greece as well as for the wider region –perspectives of security, development, peace and stability.”
PM Tsipras at the European Parliament
On Tuesday, PM Tsipras spoke at the plenary meeting of the European Parliament on the Future of Europe.
"Today we are standing again on our own feet and looking forward to the future with optimism."
"We managed to embed the reforms that led us to fiscal consolidation and exit from the crisis while at the same time we managed to protect as much as we could the large social majority."
At the same time, he pointed out that space for development can be created "only by supporting employment and supporting social cohesion", which, he stressed, is an ideological division between neoliberal and progressive forces.
"Some of you, in 2015, were afraid of SYRIZA and the Left for pursuing a better Europe. You believed that anyone challenging the current Europe of neoliberal hegemony and social inequality is a danger to our common construction," he underlined and urged those who had believed that to admit that they had been mistaken.
He pointed out that if there is someone really threatening Europe, it is not those who are struggling to change it, but those who are struggling to abolish it.
"At this moment, the snake egg is being incubated in Europe, just as in the 1930s."
Addressing in particular to the European People’s Party [EPP], he stressed that these forces are within that party. "They are becoming sovereign, hegemonic in the political discourse."
"When you have to turn your political rhetoric into nationalistic, extreme, chauvinist positions, in order to overturn or curb the rise of the extreme Right in your own countries, you do nothing more than to feed these extreme forces."
During his speech, the Greek Prime Minister was raising the alarm, estimating that the EU's failure to give democratic and workable responses to the modern challenges "will inevitably lead to the triumph of chauvinism and the resurgence of nationalist antagonisms." "Let us draw conclusions about the Europe we want from the eight-year Greek crisis in order to be shielded against future crises."
"The management of the economic crisis, the refugee crisis and the security crisis has so far revealed enormous deficits and contradictions," he said, stressing the risk that all these crises might become a structural crisis in the European venture.
Interpreting the causes of the emergence of nationalist forces, he noted that during the economic crisis, instead of becoming more democratic with the tools of the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU had become more technocratic and ethnocentric.
"Critical decisions are taken behind the closed doors of unrepresentative bodies, who are not accountable to European citizens and keep citizens away from the Union. And in the form of technocrats such as the Troika, they keep the keys to economic sovereignty and do not report anywhere." he underlined, pointing to the marginalization of the Commission, the Parliament and the Council. "They took a secondary role, behind the institutionally unregistered Eurogroup and the technical eceelons of the ECB and the IMF technocrats."
"The failure of neoliberal management of the crisis is ultimately the one that feeds the monster of chauvinism and extreme right-wing populism," he noted going on to talk about "fiscal fetishism" in the management of the economic crisis, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities between and within member states.
"The neoliberal failure transferred the extreme right from being the prisoner in the dock of history and from isolation to the political centre stage."
"The refugee crisis has confirmed Europe's inability to move forward, when a large part of its members do not share its founding values.
" For hope to overcome the far-right fear, what we need today in Europe is not less solidarity and more borders, but a new social contract for social cohesion and the well-being of our peoples."
He spoke specifically about the deepening of political unification, a stronger Parliament and stronger European institutions with democratic and social control. Against this background, he was again in favour of a Eurozone Finance Minister and a Eurozone Social Cohesion Work Co-ordinator. "I do not believe in one-dimensional fiscal fetishism," he said, "but the need to achieve the fiscal path within targets alongside social protection."
While in Strasbourg, Alexis Tsipras gave this wide-ranging interview to Euronews
http://www.euronews.com/2018/09/13/tsipras-blames-neo-liberal-policies-eu-s-democratic-deficit-for-rise-of-far-right
On Tuesday, PM Tsipras spoke at the plenary meeting of the European Parliament on the Future of Europe.
"Today we are standing again on our own feet and looking forward to the future with optimism."
"We managed to embed the reforms that led us to fiscal consolidation and exit from the crisis while at the same time we managed to protect as much as we could the large social majority."
At the same time, he pointed out that space for development can be created "only by supporting employment and supporting social cohesion", which, he stressed, is an ideological division between neoliberal and progressive forces.
"Some of you, in 2015, were afraid of SYRIZA and the Left for pursuing a better Europe. You believed that anyone challenging the current Europe of neoliberal hegemony and social inequality is a danger to our common construction," he underlined and urged those who had believed that to admit that they had been mistaken.
He pointed out that if there is someone really threatening Europe, it is not those who are struggling to change it, but those who are struggling to abolish it.
"At this moment, the snake egg is being incubated in Europe, just as in the 1930s."
Addressing in particular to the European People’s Party [EPP], he stressed that these forces are within that party. "They are becoming sovereign, hegemonic in the political discourse."
"When you have to turn your political rhetoric into nationalistic, extreme, chauvinist positions, in order to overturn or curb the rise of the extreme Right in your own countries, you do nothing more than to feed these extreme forces."
During his speech, the Greek Prime Minister was raising the alarm, estimating that the EU's failure to give democratic and workable responses to the modern challenges "will inevitably lead to the triumph of chauvinism and the resurgence of nationalist antagonisms." "Let us draw conclusions about the Europe we want from the eight-year Greek crisis in order to be shielded against future crises."
"The management of the economic crisis, the refugee crisis and the security crisis has so far revealed enormous deficits and contradictions," he said, stressing the risk that all these crises might become a structural crisis in the European venture.
Interpreting the causes of the emergence of nationalist forces, he noted that during the economic crisis, instead of becoming more democratic with the tools of the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU had become more technocratic and ethnocentric.
"Critical decisions are taken behind the closed doors of unrepresentative bodies, who are not accountable to European citizens and keep citizens away from the Union. And in the form of technocrats such as the Troika, they keep the keys to economic sovereignty and do not report anywhere." he underlined, pointing to the marginalization of the Commission, the Parliament and the Council. "They took a secondary role, behind the institutionally unregistered Eurogroup and the technical eceelons of the ECB and the IMF technocrats."
"The failure of neoliberal management of the crisis is ultimately the one that feeds the monster of chauvinism and extreme right-wing populism," he noted going on to talk about "fiscal fetishism" in the management of the economic crisis, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities between and within member states.
"The neoliberal failure transferred the extreme right from being the prisoner in the dock of history and from isolation to the political centre stage."
"The refugee crisis has confirmed Europe's inability to move forward, when a large part of its members do not share its founding values.
" For hope to overcome the far-right fear, what we need today in Europe is not less solidarity and more borders, but a new social contract for social cohesion and the well-being of our peoples."
He spoke specifically about the deepening of political unification, a stronger Parliament and stronger European institutions with democratic and social control. Against this background, he was again in favour of a Eurozone Finance Minister and a Eurozone Social Cohesion Work Co-ordinator. "I do not believe in one-dimensional fiscal fetishism," he said, "but the need to achieve the fiscal path within targets alongside social protection."
While in Strasbourg, Alexis Tsipras gave this wide-ranging interview to Euronews
http://www.euronews.com/2018/09/13/tsipras-blames-neo-liberal-policies-eu-s-democratic-deficit-for-rise-of-far-right
"It is the first time, after 8 years, that a Prime Minister of Greece will speak at the Thessaloniki International Fair [TIF] and present his Government's own plan"
Alexis Tsipras on the eve of the Thessaloniki International Fair
"For the first time, after 8 years, a fiscal space is being created and I want to discuss with you about its fair distribution"
"It is the first time, after 8 years, that a Prime Minister of Greece will speak at the Thessaloniki International Fair [TIF] and present his government's own plan," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his opening address to the meeting with representatives of the productive forces of the North, ahead of the 83rd TIF.
During his speech, the Prime Minister noted that this year's TIF will be the biggest in its 20 years and is also unique because it is the first to be held after the end of the Memoranda and the agreement on the sustainability of the Greek debt. He stressed that this agreement ensures its long-term viability, within an integrated management framework that we jointly agreed with our partners and whose main focus is the growth of the economy.
He also noted that since debt sustainability has now been secured and the international rating agencies have started upgrading the Greek economy's worth, the way is paved for a safe return to international money markets.
At the same time, the Prime Minister made it clear that the country's effort was not over by exiting the Memoranda. Reforms remain at the core of government policy. "The fact that in 3 years we have corrected decades of pathogens does not mean that there are no other reforms to take place, especially those related to development," he noted.
He informed the agencies that the government, in order to achieve development, "fair development", has shaped the "national development strategy" that accompanies the exit of Greece from the Memoranda. He also stressed that for the first time there is an integrated plan with the Government’s own social and developmental priorities to guide and harmonise national efforts to achieve equitable growth.
Regarding northern Greece, he acknowledged that it is there where the country's productive core in areas such as agri-food, processing, logistics and economic relations with the Balkan countries lies. He also pointed out that the cabinet reshuffle last week brought to the government more ministers and deputy ministers from northern Greece.
For the 83rd TIF he stressed that it marks the passage to the new era for Greece after leaving the Memoranda and sent the message saying that "we can be more optimistic without being complacent".
"For the first time, after eight years, a fiscal space is being created and I want to discuss with you about its fair distribution," the Prime Minister said, saying that the priority is to bring relief to the social strata that have borne the greatest burden of the fiscal adjustment.
At the same time, he paid special attention to the enactment of the necessary reforms to prevent the country from returning to the policies that led it to bankruptcy.
He said that Northern Greece is among the government's priorities for the country's productive reconstruction, it can become the "locomotive" of industrial development, the "heart" of agricultural production and processing.
For Thessaloniki, he said that by resolving the name issue of fYROM, we will see a rapid growth in the next four years and the city will really become the capital of the Balkans, and it will be a city that will be calling out for the title of joint capital.
He noted that this is the second time that the meeting with the productive forces of Northern Greece has taken place in Thessaloniki and not in Athens, as was the case before, before the Prime Minister's Office was opened in Thessaloniki, and he noted that this indicates that Thessaloniki is not a "poor relative".
Mr. Tsipras said it was very important that the honoured country at this year's TIF is the United States.
"For the first time, after 8 years, a fiscal space is being created and I want to discuss with you about its fair distribution"
"It is the first time, after 8 years, that a Prime Minister of Greece will speak at the Thessaloniki International Fair [TIF] and present his government's own plan," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his opening address to the meeting with representatives of the productive forces of the North, ahead of the 83rd TIF.
During his speech, the Prime Minister noted that this year's TIF will be the biggest in its 20 years and is also unique because it is the first to be held after the end of the Memoranda and the agreement on the sustainability of the Greek debt. He stressed that this agreement ensures its long-term viability, within an integrated management framework that we jointly agreed with our partners and whose main focus is the growth of the economy.
He also noted that since debt sustainability has now been secured and the international rating agencies have started upgrading the Greek economy's worth, the way is paved for a safe return to international money markets.
At the same time, the Prime Minister made it clear that the country's effort was not over by exiting the Memoranda. Reforms remain at the core of government policy. "The fact that in 3 years we have corrected decades of pathogens does not mean that there are no other reforms to take place, especially those related to development," he noted.
He informed the agencies that the government, in order to achieve development, "fair development", has shaped the "national development strategy" that accompanies the exit of Greece from the Memoranda. He also stressed that for the first time there is an integrated plan with the Government’s own social and developmental priorities to guide and harmonise national efforts to achieve equitable growth.
Regarding northern Greece, he acknowledged that it is there where the country's productive core in areas such as agri-food, processing, logistics and economic relations with the Balkan countries lies. He also pointed out that the cabinet reshuffle last week brought to the government more ministers and deputy ministers from northern Greece.
For the 83rd TIF he stressed that it marks the passage to the new era for Greece after leaving the Memoranda and sent the message saying that "we can be more optimistic without being complacent".
"For the first time, after eight years, a fiscal space is being created and I want to discuss with you about its fair distribution," the Prime Minister said, saying that the priority is to bring relief to the social strata that have borne the greatest burden of the fiscal adjustment.
At the same time, he paid special attention to the enactment of the necessary reforms to prevent the country from returning to the policies that led it to bankruptcy.
He said that Northern Greece is among the government's priorities for the country's productive reconstruction, it can become the "locomotive" of industrial development, the "heart" of agricultural production and processing.
For Thessaloniki, he said that by resolving the name issue of fYROM, we will see a rapid growth in the next four years and the city will really become the capital of the Balkans, and it will be a city that will be calling out for the title of joint capital.
He noted that this is the second time that the meeting with the productive forces of Northern Greece has taken place in Thessaloniki and not in Athens, as was the case before, before the Prime Minister's Office was opened in Thessaloniki, and he noted that this indicates that Thessaloniki is not a "poor relative".
Mr. Tsipras said it was very important that the honoured country at this year's TIF is the United States.
PM Tsipras in Chania
"Throughout the autumn I will set out out a series of tours to check the progress of the announcements we made at the Regional Conferences," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Chania on Wednesday..
"It is very important for us to see the speed of their implementation, to see where there are problems and difficulties, because if we achieve this and implement these projects it will be an important development for the whole of each region. For the Region of Crete, the important projects that have been planned must be launched – the routing for the Northern Axis National Highway [ΒΟΑΚ] and the airport at Kastelli."
He stressed how the government and local agencies will jointly control "how progress is being made on the implementation of the projects we have jointly agreed on at the Regional Development Conferences".
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the Regional Development Conferences, which, he said, "shows us the way to hold discussions and make decisions for each place in its own right".
Alexis Tsipras also remarked that what is of great value is to record the speed of implementation of the projects and to tackle bureaucratic problems, so that positive benefits for each Region can be achieved.
"I know that for the Region of Crete, over the last three years, things have been running satisfactorily - better than in previous years, but it is important not only to run things but also for us to be able to overcome bureaucratic difficulties in order to start the implementation of important projects for the region as a whole, "the Prime Minister said.
Crete’s Future Electricity Supply
On Thursday, ADMIE, Greece’s electrical grid, said a company is being set up immediately to build a power link connecting Crete to the mainland. The Crete-Attica link will be completed by 2022 after Greek energy regulator RAE decided the operator had sufficient expertise, reliable technology and the financial strength to undertake the project’s construction.
The link is crucial for electricity supply on Crete, where a large part of the power produced by oil-fueled generators must be switched off after 2020 due to European Union emissions regulations.
The link is part of a 3.5€ billion cross-border infrastructure project, EuroAsia Interconnector, that will carry electricity generated in Israel to European grids via Cyprus, Crete and mainland Greece.
ADMIE and the EU-backed EuroAsia Interconnector agreed last year to set up the company to build the Greek leg of the link. ADMIE would hold a 51%, EuroAsia a 39% stake and private investors will own the rest.
"Throughout the autumn I will set out out a series of tours to check the progress of the announcements we made at the Regional Conferences," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Chania on Wednesday..
"It is very important for us to see the speed of their implementation, to see where there are problems and difficulties, because if we achieve this and implement these projects it will be an important development for the whole of each region. For the Region of Crete, the important projects that have been planned must be launched – the routing for the Northern Axis National Highway [ΒΟΑΚ] and the airport at Kastelli."
He stressed how the government and local agencies will jointly control "how progress is being made on the implementation of the projects we have jointly agreed on at the Regional Development Conferences".
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the Regional Development Conferences, which, he said, "shows us the way to hold discussions and make decisions for each place in its own right".
Alexis Tsipras also remarked that what is of great value is to record the speed of implementation of the projects and to tackle bureaucratic problems, so that positive benefits for each Region can be achieved.
"I know that for the Region of Crete, over the last three years, things have been running satisfactorily - better than in previous years, but it is important not only to run things but also for us to be able to overcome bureaucratic difficulties in order to start the implementation of important projects for the region as a whole, "the Prime Minister said.
Crete’s Future Electricity Supply
On Thursday, ADMIE, Greece’s electrical grid, said a company is being set up immediately to build a power link connecting Crete to the mainland. The Crete-Attica link will be completed by 2022 after Greek energy regulator RAE decided the operator had sufficient expertise, reliable technology and the financial strength to undertake the project’s construction.
The link is crucial for electricity supply on Crete, where a large part of the power produced by oil-fueled generators must be switched off after 2020 due to European Union emissions regulations.
The link is part of a 3.5€ billion cross-border infrastructure project, EuroAsia Interconnector, that will carry electricity generated in Israel to European grids via Cyprus, Crete and mainland Greece.
ADMIE and the EU-backed EuroAsia Interconnector agreed last year to set up the company to build the Greek leg of the link. ADMIE would hold a 51%, EuroAsia a 39% stake and private investors will own the rest.
TV Licences settled
On Wednesday the Greek National Council for Radio and Television [ESR] made the definitive announcement of the licenced TV stations. After 30 years without regulation, the decision vindicated the Government which for the first time held a competitive tendering process for national TV channel licences.
From now on, the Channel Owners are required to operate within the framework of legality, paying the relevant fees - something that previous governments pursued for decades.
The ESR has designated the five final TV licence holders as SKAI, STAR, ALPHA, ANTENNA TV
and EPSILON.
These licencees must pay the first installment of the licence fee of 3.5€ million within 15 days of the publication of the ESR Decision. If they do not submit the first installment in due time, they automatically lose the licence and at the same time forfeit the letter of guarantee submitted for participation in the licencing tender process.
"Today's decision of the ESR finalises in the most positive way for the public interest and the Republic, the process of licencing the TV stations," said Lefteris Kretsos, Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information. "Some did not want it and fought it. Get over it" he added in his statement.
Church must pay its taxes
The Church had appealed to the Council of State and asked the Head of the 1st District Tax Office of Athens for a partial cancellation, due to an error, of its income tax returns for the years 2011-2013 with a total tax liability of approximately 18€ million. It also sought recognition that the gross income declared from the renting of 164 residential properties was exempt from income tax and that, for that reason, approximately 2,9€ million (income from the properties in question) should be reimbursed.
However, the Council of State rejected the applications of the Church of Greece and upheld the corresponding decisions of the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal.
In its judgments, the Second Section of the Council of State found that the income of the Church of Greece from letting its urban properties is not exempt from income tax and that the Greek Church has to pay tax of approximately 2.9€ million for the property in question during the three-year period 2011-2013.
17 accused of “negligent arson”, 13 of “intentional arson”
Throughout Greece, 30 people altogether were arrested in August, accused of arson.
According to the Fire Brigade, staff of the Department of Combating Fighting Crimes, Conflict Abatement Corps and investigating officers of local fire services across the country have detained 30 people for 37 fires. 17 of those arrested are accused of “negligent arson”, while the remaining 13 are charged with “intentional arson”.
Aristides Floros back in custody
On Friday last week, a Supreme Court prosecutor ordered the re-examination of the case of Aristides Floros, who has been re-arrested after being released early from prison due to a medical disability.
The re-arrest is due to questions regarding the authenticity of medical records of Mr. Floros’ alleged disability which was why he was released from Halkida Prison last week, just 36 months into his 21-year sentence.
Mr. Floros, the former managing director of power supplier Energa was sentenced to 21 years in prison in February 2017 for crimes including embezzlement, smuggling and money laundering.
These charges were in addition to the charges that Mr. Floros already faced from 2014 when he was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in prison for ordering an assassination attempt against a lawyer.
After an emergency meeting of the council of the appeals court, judges in the Evia town of Halkida, Mr. Floros was remanded in custody at his home in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada, to await the issue of a warrant for his arrest as a fugitive.
The Supreme Court prosecutor also ordered the judicial authorities in Halkida to re-examine the vague evidence presented on the part of the judicial authorities in Halkida. The documentation stated that Mr. Floros suffered from a 67 percent disability, which is the exact amount needed to secure his release according to Greek law.
Late last Friday evening, a doctor came forward claiming that his signature had been forged on medical records used to secure the release of Mr. Floros.
On Wednesday the Greek National Council for Radio and Television [ESR] made the definitive announcement of the licenced TV stations. After 30 years without regulation, the decision vindicated the Government which for the first time held a competitive tendering process for national TV channel licences.
From now on, the Channel Owners are required to operate within the framework of legality, paying the relevant fees - something that previous governments pursued for decades.
The ESR has designated the five final TV licence holders as SKAI, STAR, ALPHA, ANTENNA TV
and EPSILON.
These licencees must pay the first installment of the licence fee of 3.5€ million within 15 days of the publication of the ESR Decision. If they do not submit the first installment in due time, they automatically lose the licence and at the same time forfeit the letter of guarantee submitted for participation in the licencing tender process.
"Today's decision of the ESR finalises in the most positive way for the public interest and the Republic, the process of licencing the TV stations," said Lefteris Kretsos, Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information. "Some did not want it and fought it. Get over it" he added in his statement.
Church must pay its taxes
The Church had appealed to the Council of State and asked the Head of the 1st District Tax Office of Athens for a partial cancellation, due to an error, of its income tax returns for the years 2011-2013 with a total tax liability of approximately 18€ million. It also sought recognition that the gross income declared from the renting of 164 residential properties was exempt from income tax and that, for that reason, approximately 2,9€ million (income from the properties in question) should be reimbursed.
However, the Council of State rejected the applications of the Church of Greece and upheld the corresponding decisions of the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal.
In its judgments, the Second Section of the Council of State found that the income of the Church of Greece from letting its urban properties is not exempt from income tax and that the Greek Church has to pay tax of approximately 2.9€ million for the property in question during the three-year period 2011-2013.
17 accused of “negligent arson”, 13 of “intentional arson”
Throughout Greece, 30 people altogether were arrested in August, accused of arson.
According to the Fire Brigade, staff of the Department of Combating Fighting Crimes, Conflict Abatement Corps and investigating officers of local fire services across the country have detained 30 people for 37 fires. 17 of those arrested are accused of “negligent arson”, while the remaining 13 are charged with “intentional arson”.
Aristides Floros back in custody
On Friday last week, a Supreme Court prosecutor ordered the re-examination of the case of Aristides Floros, who has been re-arrested after being released early from prison due to a medical disability.
The re-arrest is due to questions regarding the authenticity of medical records of Mr. Floros’ alleged disability which was why he was released from Halkida Prison last week, just 36 months into his 21-year sentence.
Mr. Floros, the former managing director of power supplier Energa was sentenced to 21 years in prison in February 2017 for crimes including embezzlement, smuggling and money laundering.
These charges were in addition to the charges that Mr. Floros already faced from 2014 when he was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in prison for ordering an assassination attempt against a lawyer.
After an emergency meeting of the council of the appeals court, judges in the Evia town of Halkida, Mr. Floros was remanded in custody at his home in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada, to await the issue of a warrant for his arrest as a fugitive.
The Supreme Court prosecutor also ordered the judicial authorities in Halkida to re-examine the vague evidence presented on the part of the judicial authorities in Halkida. The documentation stated that Mr. Floros suffered from a 67 percent disability, which is the exact amount needed to secure his release according to Greek law.
Late last Friday evening, a doctor came forward claiming that his signature had been forged on medical records used to secure the release of Mr. Floros.
“To meet our strategic goal of full water autonomy for our islands"
On Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Nektarios Santorinios, opened the European Desalination Society's [EDS] Annual International Conference on Water with the message that drinking water treatment and management with desalination plants is the only solution to the huge problem of the lack of basic water infrastructure in the islands.
Mr Santorinios stressed that such a conference was another opportunity to open the dialogue and make suggestions on how innovation in the Water Cycle can be applied, with the aim of ensuring the full environmental autonomy of the islands in an environmentally friendly manner, to improve local communities and create conditions for development for those areas.
He said that the central policy objective of the Ministry is to ensure water-based autonomy in the Aegean islands in the first phase, and other areas in the next. "We can not allow the continuation of this obsolete situation (and I am referring to the transfer of quantities of water by water-carriers) that some have for years called a solution. If we want to argue that we are planning to develop tourism, and not just to exploit it, and to improve the quality of life of citizens, we are obliged to ensure modern water supply infrastructure with appropriate desalination and potable water treatment plants to provide those improved living and development conditions of our islands."
"The treatment and management of drinking water with desalination plants is the only solution to the big problem of the lack of basic water infrastructure in the islands. Especially in the smaller islands, the problem of water supply autonomy is a key issue, as the lack of drinking water and basic infrastructures related to water supply in the islands makes for reduced development potential and creates an environment of unequal living conditions for their residents.
The installation of desalination plants has already been completed in Kastellorizo, Patmos, Arkiou, Leros, Aegiali Amorgos, Donousa, Pserimos and Telendos. These units have been put into operation and the transport of water by water-carriers has been stopped. For the other "dry" islands - Kimolos, Irakleia, Katapola Amorgou, Lipsi, I.M. Panormitis, Agathonisi - the process of installing desalination units is in progress with the utilization of NSRF resources 2014-2020 and the Public Investment Project to meet our strategic goal of full water autonomy for our islands."
On Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Nektarios Santorinios, opened the European Desalination Society's [EDS] Annual International Conference on Water with the message that drinking water treatment and management with desalination plants is the only solution to the huge problem of the lack of basic water infrastructure in the islands.
Mr Santorinios stressed that such a conference was another opportunity to open the dialogue and make suggestions on how innovation in the Water Cycle can be applied, with the aim of ensuring the full environmental autonomy of the islands in an environmentally friendly manner, to improve local communities and create conditions for development for those areas.
He said that the central policy objective of the Ministry is to ensure water-based autonomy in the Aegean islands in the first phase, and other areas in the next. "We can not allow the continuation of this obsolete situation (and I am referring to the transfer of quantities of water by water-carriers) that some have for years called a solution. If we want to argue that we are planning to develop tourism, and not just to exploit it, and to improve the quality of life of citizens, we are obliged to ensure modern water supply infrastructure with appropriate desalination and potable water treatment plants to provide those improved living and development conditions of our islands."
"The treatment and management of drinking water with desalination plants is the only solution to the big problem of the lack of basic water infrastructure in the islands. Especially in the smaller islands, the problem of water supply autonomy is a key issue, as the lack of drinking water and basic infrastructures related to water supply in the islands makes for reduced development potential and creates an environment of unequal living conditions for their residents.
The installation of desalination plants has already been completed in Kastellorizo, Patmos, Arkiou, Leros, Aegiali Amorgos, Donousa, Pserimos and Telendos. These units have been put into operation and the transport of water by water-carriers has been stopped. For the other "dry" islands - Kimolos, Irakleia, Katapola Amorgou, Lipsi, I.M. Panormitis, Agathonisi - the process of installing desalination units is in progress with the utilization of NSRF resources 2014-2020 and the Public Investment Project to meet our strategic goal of full water autonomy for our islands."
"The exit from the Memoranda is the starting point of a new era for the country"
"The exit from the Memoranda is the starting point of a new era for the country," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his speech at SYRIZA's Central Committee.
"We knew the Samaras government had studiously laid mines for our every step," he said, speaking about 2015. "That's why the Left was, is and will be a huge issue for this country."
"We had to continuously overcome obstacles that the old system put up together with its machinery.
"Our vision is not of a Greece where workers will be undeclared, uninsured and permanently expendable."
"The Greece of the new era that we envision and that we are working for will never allow its future to be sacrificed again. The Greece of the new era will produce new wealth. It will be a country where the production of this wealth will be as significant as its distribution."
"The resumption of Collective Bargaining and the Minimum Wage is not an ideological obsession of the Left, as Mr Mitsotakis often alleges, but it is the State's self-evident obligation to the world of work."
Greece will become a modern, progressive, European country where the protagonists are the living forces of society, the working world, the world of labour, science, culture, young women and young men.
"Our vision is not of a Greece where, at the moment when business profits are achieved, workers will be paid pocket money, where they will be undeclared, uninsured and permanently expendable."
He underlined that the government inherited an unemployment rate that had reached as much as 28% and it now stands at 19.5%.
"Forms of full-time employment have been strengthened, rather than being “flexible”. There remains, of course, a great deal of effort to make full-time work a feature of all contracts."
"We are continuing, with the increase in the minimum wage, the abolition of the lower minimum wage for young people, the restoration of the basic principles of collective bargaining.
"All this is not an ideological obsession of the left, as the neoliberal supporter of the Memorandum, Mr Mitsotakis, alleges. On the contrary, they are the elementary rules of social justice, the state's self-evident obligation to the world of work.
"Now having the financial capability, we are ready to make generous interventions in the field of personal and corporate taxation."
"We have already worked out a series of tax cuts, which we will soon be able to announce." He added that at the same time, the government is working to have additional interventions to deal with the issue of the public debts that involve thousands of our fellow citizens.
Alexis Tsipras pointed out that our homeland is in an area where for years, tension has existed and that today the challenges are great. "For this reason, we have invested in an active, multidimensional, peaceful foreign policy."
"The line of nationalism, of conspiracy, of isolation, is nothing other than a line of national defeat that turns Greece into a fearful and discredited power. We know that the position we have chosen also has political costs. Of course, that will be short-lived. The outcome always ends up favouring the national interest."
He said an example of this was the case of the two Greek soldiers. He reproached New Democracy on the grounds that he had heard one of its prominent officials make "the embarrassing suggestion of making an exchange" and that, following the moves of the Government that secured their return, the "fans of the bazaar bargaining, lost their voice". He also reproached New Democracy for its position on the "Macedonian Question".
"Greece is in a clearing, it will not return to the hands of those who brought it to their knees. We will not go back."
"We knew the Samaras government had studiously laid mines for our every step," he said, speaking about 2015. "That's why the Left was, is and will be a huge issue for this country."
"We had to continuously overcome obstacles that the old system put up together with its machinery.
"Our vision is not of a Greece where workers will be undeclared, uninsured and permanently expendable."
"The Greece of the new era that we envision and that we are working for will never allow its future to be sacrificed again. The Greece of the new era will produce new wealth. It will be a country where the production of this wealth will be as significant as its distribution."
"The resumption of Collective Bargaining and the Minimum Wage is not an ideological obsession of the Left, as Mr Mitsotakis often alleges, but it is the State's self-evident obligation to the world of work."
Greece will become a modern, progressive, European country where the protagonists are the living forces of society, the working world, the world of labour, science, culture, young women and young men.
"Our vision is not of a Greece where, at the moment when business profits are achieved, workers will be paid pocket money, where they will be undeclared, uninsured and permanently expendable."
He underlined that the government inherited an unemployment rate that had reached as much as 28% and it now stands at 19.5%.
"Forms of full-time employment have been strengthened, rather than being “flexible”. There remains, of course, a great deal of effort to make full-time work a feature of all contracts."
"We are continuing, with the increase in the minimum wage, the abolition of the lower minimum wage for young people, the restoration of the basic principles of collective bargaining.
"All this is not an ideological obsession of the left, as the neoliberal supporter of the Memorandum, Mr Mitsotakis, alleges. On the contrary, they are the elementary rules of social justice, the state's self-evident obligation to the world of work.
"Now having the financial capability, we are ready to make generous interventions in the field of personal and corporate taxation."
"We have already worked out a series of tax cuts, which we will soon be able to announce." He added that at the same time, the government is working to have additional interventions to deal with the issue of the public debts that involve thousands of our fellow citizens.
Alexis Tsipras pointed out that our homeland is in an area where for years, tension has existed and that today the challenges are great. "For this reason, we have invested in an active, multidimensional, peaceful foreign policy."
"The line of nationalism, of conspiracy, of isolation, is nothing other than a line of national defeat that turns Greece into a fearful and discredited power. We know that the position we have chosen also has political costs. Of course, that will be short-lived. The outcome always ends up favouring the national interest."
He said an example of this was the case of the two Greek soldiers. He reproached New Democracy on the grounds that he had heard one of its prominent officials make "the embarrassing suggestion of making an exchange" and that, following the moves of the Government that secured their return, the "fans of the bazaar bargaining, lost their voice". He also reproached New Democracy for its position on the "Macedonian Question".
"Greece is in a clearing, it will not return to the hands of those who brought it to their knees. We will not go back."
Cabinet Re-Shuffle
“The new composition of the Government reflects its determination to respond to the demands, challenges and increased tasks created in the new period following the exit from the Memoranda. In order to achieve economic stability, it will implement its plan to re-launch the country in the most efficient and effective way.”
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the new ministers in his speech at the first meeting of the new cabinet setting the main goals of the government in the post-memorandum period.
"Today is the first meeting of the Council of Ministers after the expiry of the adjustment programme and the clear exit from the Memoranda. We are in a new phase, confronted with new challenges but also with a new line-up." Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said at the beginning of his speech.
He then welcomed the new and new ministers, and wished them “good strength” and “good work” in their new duties.
"The country's exit from the Memoranda fills the Greek people with reasonable expectations for the improvement of their living conditions, relief from the burdens of austerity, more effective treatment of the problems of everyday life, but, above all, it fills them with the expectation that we will continue our journey from here from now on with caution but also with a plan - in order for the country never to return to the adventure of bankruptcy, but also to make good use of the great and untapped possibilities of this country."
"We are committed to the vision, the planning and the implementation of a new promising prospect for post-Memorandum Greece."
"With the cycle of Memoranda has closed the cycle of fiscal adjustment. The cycle of stewardship, of reductions and cuts has been closed and the cycle of relief, policies of social support, the virtuous circle of fair development can now be opened. Of course always with caution and wisdom, without repeating the mistakes of the past that led the country to Stewardship of the Memorandum and decline."
"In our political plan, our main goal is to support those social forces that have disproportionately borne the burdens of the crisis."
"First and foremost with the recovery of work with decent wages and conditions. This is precisely why we are setting the regulation of the labour market and raising the minimum wage as a top priority. Already the core principles of collective bargaining have returned, illegality in the labour market has diminished."
"A prerequisite for the recovery of work in our country is the creation of a pro-investment environment," the Prime Minister said.
He also spoke about administrative efficiency and the fight against corruption in the administrative mechanism, which are also deterring investment both foreign and Greek.
He spoke about accelerating and deepening the reforms in public administration and the economy.
"Reforms of key importance for a modern European country, such as cadastre [Land Registration Ed], forest maps, asset management, computerisation of public administration, simplification of procedures for setting up new businesses, dealing with “red” loans, accelerating the administration of justice, and consolidating the principles of transparency in public works. None of these are reforms of the Memoranda. On the contrary, they are our own reforms, they are reforms that if they had been made before the Memoranda, we might perhaps even have avoided them or avoided paying such a heavy price. And, ultimately, they are reforms that we alone can implement."
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said:
“The new composition of the Government reflects its determination to respond to the demands, challenges and increased tasks created in the new period following the exit from the Memoranda. In order to achieve economic stability, it will implement its plan to re-launch the country in the most efficient and effective way.
Key elements of the new scheme are targeted broadening, the renewal involving many new people, a total of thirteen, the maintenance of necessary balances, the support the prime minister continues to show to younger people ... of PM Tsipras’ generation and younger, by assigning them significant portfolios, but also the strengthening of the presence of women in the new Cabinet…
Typical examples of upgrading to the Cabinet are those of Alexis Haritsis, who from being Deputy Minister of Economy and Development was appointed as Minister of the Interior. Katerina Netopoulou, born in 1988, is the youngest member of the government and was appointed Deputy Minister of Macedonia-Thrace. Equally important is the move of Michalis Kalogirou to the post of Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights. Secretary General of the Government is Akritas Kaidatzis, also a person of the new generation. Among the new people and executives of the "Tsipras generation" are the new Minister of Rural Development and Food Stavros Arachovitis, the MP Xanthis and the deputy minister of Economy Stathis Giannakidis, and L. Kretsos, who was upgraded to PSIPTE deputy minister. Also important governmental executives of the new generation remain in post, such as D. Tzanakopoulos, E. Achtioglou, N. Iliopoulos.
At the same time, the reshuffle also showed the government's intention to make political overtures towards the Centre-left and also towards a socially centre-right audience. Characteristic are the cases of Marilizza Xenogiannakopoulou (Minister of Administrative Reconstruction) and Mirsini Zorba (Minister of Culture), who was a PASOK MEPs from 2000-2004. Included in the government, for the first time, is the SYRIZA MP with centre-left leanings, Olympia Teliyogirodou, and Markos Bolaris (Deputy Foreign Minister for Religious Affairs) returned. An overture to a "socially centre-right" audience is the appointment of Katerina Papakosta as Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection.
A key qualitative element in the changes announced is the strengthening of the presence of women in the government. In relation to the previous figure, six additional women are included, bringing the total number to thirteen. A total of thirteen new people are included in the composition of the new government. The participation of ANEL continues.
“The new composition of the Government reflects its determination to respond to the demands, challenges and increased tasks created in the new period following the exit from the Memoranda. In order to achieve economic stability, it will implement its plan to re-launch the country in the most efficient and effective way.”
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the new ministers in his speech at the first meeting of the new cabinet setting the main goals of the government in the post-memorandum period.
"Today is the first meeting of the Council of Ministers after the expiry of the adjustment programme and the clear exit from the Memoranda. We are in a new phase, confronted with new challenges but also with a new line-up." Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said at the beginning of his speech.
He then welcomed the new and new ministers, and wished them “good strength” and “good work” in their new duties.
"The country's exit from the Memoranda fills the Greek people with reasonable expectations for the improvement of their living conditions, relief from the burdens of austerity, more effective treatment of the problems of everyday life, but, above all, it fills them with the expectation that we will continue our journey from here from now on with caution but also with a plan - in order for the country never to return to the adventure of bankruptcy, but also to make good use of the great and untapped possibilities of this country."
"We are committed to the vision, the planning and the implementation of a new promising prospect for post-Memorandum Greece."
"With the cycle of Memoranda has closed the cycle of fiscal adjustment. The cycle of stewardship, of reductions and cuts has been closed and the cycle of relief, policies of social support, the virtuous circle of fair development can now be opened. Of course always with caution and wisdom, without repeating the mistakes of the past that led the country to Stewardship of the Memorandum and decline."
"In our political plan, our main goal is to support those social forces that have disproportionately borne the burdens of the crisis."
"First and foremost with the recovery of work with decent wages and conditions. This is precisely why we are setting the regulation of the labour market and raising the minimum wage as a top priority. Already the core principles of collective bargaining have returned, illegality in the labour market has diminished."
"A prerequisite for the recovery of work in our country is the creation of a pro-investment environment," the Prime Minister said.
He also spoke about administrative efficiency and the fight against corruption in the administrative mechanism, which are also deterring investment both foreign and Greek.
He spoke about accelerating and deepening the reforms in public administration and the economy.
"Reforms of key importance for a modern European country, such as cadastre [Land Registration Ed], forest maps, asset management, computerisation of public administration, simplification of procedures for setting up new businesses, dealing with “red” loans, accelerating the administration of justice, and consolidating the principles of transparency in public works. None of these are reforms of the Memoranda. On the contrary, they are our own reforms, they are reforms that if they had been made before the Memoranda, we might perhaps even have avoided them or avoided paying such a heavy price. And, ultimately, they are reforms that we alone can implement."
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said:
“The new composition of the Government reflects its determination to respond to the demands, challenges and increased tasks created in the new period following the exit from the Memoranda. In order to achieve economic stability, it will implement its plan to re-launch the country in the most efficient and effective way.
Key elements of the new scheme are targeted broadening, the renewal involving many new people, a total of thirteen, the maintenance of necessary balances, the support the prime minister continues to show to younger people ... of PM Tsipras’ generation and younger, by assigning them significant portfolios, but also the strengthening of the presence of women in the new Cabinet…
Typical examples of upgrading to the Cabinet are those of Alexis Haritsis, who from being Deputy Minister of Economy and Development was appointed as Minister of the Interior. Katerina Netopoulou, born in 1988, is the youngest member of the government and was appointed Deputy Minister of Macedonia-Thrace. Equally important is the move of Michalis Kalogirou to the post of Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights. Secretary General of the Government is Akritas Kaidatzis, also a person of the new generation. Among the new people and executives of the "Tsipras generation" are the new Minister of Rural Development and Food Stavros Arachovitis, the MP Xanthis and the deputy minister of Economy Stathis Giannakidis, and L. Kretsos, who was upgraded to PSIPTE deputy minister. Also important governmental executives of the new generation remain in post, such as D. Tzanakopoulos, E. Achtioglou, N. Iliopoulos.
At the same time, the reshuffle also showed the government's intention to make political overtures towards the Centre-left and also towards a socially centre-right audience. Characteristic are the cases of Marilizza Xenogiannakopoulou (Minister of Administrative Reconstruction) and Mirsini Zorba (Minister of Culture), who was a PASOK MEPs from 2000-2004. Included in the government, for the first time, is the SYRIZA MP with centre-left leanings, Olympia Teliyogirodou, and Markos Bolaris (Deputy Foreign Minister for Religious Affairs) returned. An overture to a "socially centre-right" audience is the appointment of Katerina Papakosta as Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection.
A key qualitative element in the changes announced is the strengthening of the presence of women in the government. In relation to the previous figure, six additional women are included, bringing the total number to thirteen. A total of thirteen new people are included in the composition of the new government. The participation of ANEL continues.
"Priority has been given to coastal and national parks, as well as demolitions to which the owners have consented to avoid fines"
Demolitions of homes that were destroyed in last month’s wildfires are to continue next week while work to knock down properties that have been illegally built on forestland or coastlines is expected to start in the middle of September.
Four properties out of some 900 that were razed by the fires have been knocked down and orders are out for the demolition of dozens more.
As for the 3,200 illegally built properties that authorities have pledged to raze, notifications are being sent out and demolitions will begin in mid-September, Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis said.
In an interview with the "24/7" radio station, Minister Stathakis made it clear that the government's goal is to establish legality of construction at a rapid pace. He pointed out that the first demolitions of illegal buildings will be around mid-September. "Priority has been given to coastal and national parks, as well as demolitions to which the owners have consented to avoid fines," he underlined.
He also pointed out that the first demolitions will take place in the area of the Athens-Sounio beach front and stated that "these are old illegalities that were completed in the late 1990s, but also concern newer buildings".
"We will have impressive results on the face of the demolition of the unauthorised constructions" and said that the main objective is to facilitate access to the coast and high environmental protection." He added that the government has doubled its resources from the Green Fund for the project in order for demolitions to proceed quickly.
Referring to the so-called "demolition process", he said, "it is complicated, with high degrees of protection and slow pace", adding that "there is now a wider awareness that this issue should go ahead."
Regarding the property in Mati, where 26 people were trapped and killed, Mr Stathakis said that the inspector's findings are awaited and it appears to be completely unauthorised.
"The objective is the demolition of unauthorised fences, constructions, installations and buildings located on the coast and in the coastal zone, in accordance with the decisions made by the local forestry and construction agencies and the relevant department of the Local Government of Attica."
There are reported to be 3,200 clear cases of illegal construction activities in Attica, which block access to the coast, are in burned forests and wooded areas, are in places defined as water courses or consist of dangerously dilapidated buildings.
According to the Ministry of Environment & Energy, 208 buildings have been selected for the first demolition phase including 15 constructions in national forests in Attica - the Sounion National Park and the Mount Parnitha Mountains [which additionally have the protection of a protective Presidential Decree], 105 constructions in forested areas of Kapandriti, Lavrio, Parnitha, Penteli and Megara and 20 coastal front constructions between Athens and Sounion. Also to be demolished in this phase are 35 buildings on the coastal front of Megara, 17 constructions in the Bourkari wetlands in Megara, [which also has a Presidential Protection Order], and 16 tourist and restaurant facilities located on beaches and the seaside throughout Attica.
Demolitions of homes that were destroyed in last month’s wildfires are to continue next week while work to knock down properties that have been illegally built on forestland or coastlines is expected to start in the middle of September.
Four properties out of some 900 that were razed by the fires have been knocked down and orders are out for the demolition of dozens more.
As for the 3,200 illegally built properties that authorities have pledged to raze, notifications are being sent out and demolitions will begin in mid-September, Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis said.
In an interview with the "24/7" radio station, Minister Stathakis made it clear that the government's goal is to establish legality of construction at a rapid pace. He pointed out that the first demolitions of illegal buildings will be around mid-September. "Priority has been given to coastal and national parks, as well as demolitions to which the owners have consented to avoid fines," he underlined.
He also pointed out that the first demolitions will take place in the area of the Athens-Sounio beach front and stated that "these are old illegalities that were completed in the late 1990s, but also concern newer buildings".
"We will have impressive results on the face of the demolition of the unauthorised constructions" and said that the main objective is to facilitate access to the coast and high environmental protection." He added that the government has doubled its resources from the Green Fund for the project in order for demolitions to proceed quickly.
Referring to the so-called "demolition process", he said, "it is complicated, with high degrees of protection and slow pace", adding that "there is now a wider awareness that this issue should go ahead."
Regarding the property in Mati, where 26 people were trapped and killed, Mr Stathakis said that the inspector's findings are awaited and it appears to be completely unauthorised.
"The objective is the demolition of unauthorised fences, constructions, installations and buildings located on the coast and in the coastal zone, in accordance with the decisions made by the local forestry and construction agencies and the relevant department of the Local Government of Attica."
There are reported to be 3,200 clear cases of illegal construction activities in Attica, which block access to the coast, are in burned forests and wooded areas, are in places defined as water courses or consist of dangerously dilapidated buildings.
According to the Ministry of Environment & Energy, 208 buildings have been selected for the first demolition phase including 15 constructions in national forests in Attica - the Sounion National Park and the Mount Parnitha Mountains [which additionally have the protection of a protective Presidential Decree], 105 constructions in forested areas of Kapandriti, Lavrio, Parnitha, Penteli and Megara and 20 coastal front constructions between Athens and Sounion. Also to be demolished in this phase are 35 buildings on the coastal front of Megara, 17 constructions in the Bourkari wetlands in Megara, [which also has a Presidential Protection Order], and 16 tourist and restaurant facilities located on beaches and the seaside throughout Attica.
ENΦΙΑ 2018 accounts were published this week.
The Independent Public Revenue Authority has released statistics concerning the Single Property Tax [ENΦΙΑ 2018] which show that 7,310,185 owners, natural and legal persons have a tax liability.
However, the tax will be charged to 6,331,155 natural and legal persons, because 979,030 owners are liable for a tax of less than one euro, so it is not paid.
Payment of the monthly installments of ENFIA starts from September and ends at the end of January 2019. The first installment should be paid by September 28th.
According to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), 1,414,225 or 23% of property owners this year will receive reductions and exemptions from ENΦΙΑ, totaling 95,328,835€. For the majority, however, the ENFIA tax will be more or less the same as last year.
737,709, or 12% of property owners will pay up to 50€ more in ENFIA this year, 160,001 will pay between 50€ and 200€ more and 48,961 will pay an increase of more than 200€.
Reporting on this aspect of ENΦΙΑ 2018, The Greek Reporter and e-Kathemerini led their stories with “One million property owners in for a nasty ENFIA surprise”. It went on “Around one million property owners are facing a significantly higher ENFIA bill this year”, a reference which includes those property owners in the central Athens area around Aeolou, Adrianou, Lysikratous and Vyronos where the zone price per square metre used for tax purposes (known as “objective value”) has increased from 1,750€ last year to 3,050€. As a result, their ENFIA rate has gone from 4.5€ per square metre to 9.2€/sq.m.
The Greek Reporter newspaper ran the same story with the same emphasis, virtually word for word.
“Almost one million property owners in Greece will see an increase in their ENFIA bill for 2018, averaging around 3% to 30% increase,” was how it saw ENΦΙΑ 2018.
The Independent Public Revenue Authority has released statistics concerning the Single Property Tax [ENΦΙΑ 2018] which show that 7,310,185 owners, natural and legal persons have a tax liability.
However, the tax will be charged to 6,331,155 natural and legal persons, because 979,030 owners are liable for a tax of less than one euro, so it is not paid.
Payment of the monthly installments of ENFIA starts from September and ends at the end of January 2019. The first installment should be paid by September 28th.
According to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), 1,414,225 or 23% of property owners this year will receive reductions and exemptions from ENΦΙΑ, totaling 95,328,835€. For the majority, however, the ENFIA tax will be more or less the same as last year.
737,709, or 12% of property owners will pay up to 50€ more in ENFIA this year, 160,001 will pay between 50€ and 200€ more and 48,961 will pay an increase of more than 200€.
Reporting on this aspect of ENΦΙΑ 2018, The Greek Reporter and e-Kathemerini led their stories with “One million property owners in for a nasty ENFIA surprise”. It went on “Around one million property owners are facing a significantly higher ENFIA bill this year”, a reference which includes those property owners in the central Athens area around Aeolou, Adrianou, Lysikratous and Vyronos where the zone price per square metre used for tax purposes (known as “objective value”) has increased from 1,750€ last year to 3,050€. As a result, their ENFIA rate has gone from 4.5€ per square metre to 9.2€/sq.m.
The Greek Reporter newspaper ran the same story with the same emphasis, virtually word for word.
“Almost one million property owners in Greece will see an increase in their ENFIA bill for 2018, averaging around 3% to 30% increase,” was how it saw ENΦΙΑ 2018.
"Today a new day is dawning in our country"
25.8.2018
"Today a new day is dawning in our country"
In a speech full of symbolism, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the Greek people from the island of Ithaca marking Greece’s exit from the Bailout Programme and “the straitjacket of the memorandums”.
"Today a new day is dawning in our country.
It is an historic day.
The Memoranda of austerity, recession, and social devastation have finally come to an end.
Our country regains its rights to defining its fortunes and its future.
Like a normal European country.
Without external compulsions.
Without any further extortion.
Without more sacrifices by our people.
“Our place is closed, the two black Clashing Rocks [The Symplegades Ed] are closed, the poet says.
We have left these Clashing Rocks behind us.
Knowing that Greece is its history.
Achievements, struggles but also bruises.
That is to say, these are what have defined her course on the journey through the centuries.
A journey that was never easy.
But it always had a destination.
Even in the darkest days, in the greatest storms.
Since 2010, Greece has experienced its modern day Odyssey.
Within five years, things happened to a country unprecedented in time of peace.
25% of our national wealth has been lost.
3 out of 10 were unemployed.
6 out of 10 young people, too.
Austerity measures of 65€ billion have been implemented.
Violence and repression became part of everyday life.
Democracy has been trivialised.
Bankers became Prime Ministers and Ministers became bankers.
Fascist gangs came out of their hiding places after 60 years.
A country in a lasting state of emergency.
And a people, however, who never accepted the fate the powerful had in store for them.
And they wrote new pages of resistance.
This people, three and a half years ago, took a historic decision.
Taking the country's helm from those who had led it onto the rocks.
And give it to new captains.
We took on this heavy responsibility.
With strength, determination but also with respect for the sacrifices of our people.
We did not move with certainties. Just one.
The one which was defined by the Greek women and men:
To take the country out of the straitjacket of the Memoranda and endless austerity.
We passed through many waves to get to our destination today.
The crew changed.
Others were afraid of the waves, others preferred to tame them.
We have heard the Sirens of futility many times.
That things in Greece cannot change.
And the Memorandums will be here forever.
That there is no point in resisting when the Laestrygenes and Cyclopes stand against you.
The wild beasts that the small and weak Greece could not defeat.
None of these, however, swayed our effort.
That is because the men and women people who worked hard to reach the destination were no longer on the sidelines.
They were no longer locked in the hold, without a voice, without hope.
But they were at the helm. With us.
And in the difficulties it was they who stayed firm.
Greek Women, Greek Men,
Today is a day of deliverance.
But it is also the beginning of a new era.
And at this point of departure, we will not commit the act of hubris to ignore the lessons of the Greece of the Memoranda.
We will not let forgetfulness take us off course.
We will not become lotus eaters.
We will never forget the reasons and the people who led the country to the Memoranda.
Nor the immunity from taxation by those with great wealth
Nor the widespread interweaving of vested interests and corruption
Nor the unaccountability of a number of business and publishing groups that for years considered the country to belong to them
Nor the cynicism and contempt of a political elite who thought Greece was a feudal and the Greek their faithful subjects.
We will never forget those who have abused and scorned Greece and the Greeks, because they dared not to consent to the implementation of a neo-liberal experiment that would last for decades.
But we will not forget also those who stood at the side of the Greeks and Greece in the difficult times.
People and political forces from all European countries.
Who have strongly resisted the plans for Greece to expelled and punished.
Because they know that Greece means much more for Europe than fiscal strength.
We will not forget anything that we have experienced because it is not just a matter for the historians of the future.
But they are the stores of a country that is writing the new page of its history, in the present time.
We have arrived at our destination, we have emerged from the Memorandums, but we are fully aware that we have not finished here.
New battles are now ahead of us.
Modern suitors are here and still stand against us.
It is those who want to see the ship again tossed about by the sea and the people back in the hold.
Those who, in their image and likeness, made the Greece of corruption, of the interweaving of vested interests and the power of the few.
Those who want to be undisturbed in their tax evasion, being parasites at public expense, having their off shore accounts and their deposits abroad.
Those who consider themselves above any law and above the rule of law.
And who tremble at the idea of an independent judiciary.
We are not going to leave Ithaca in their hands.
Now that we have reached our coveted destination, we have the strength to make our place the way it deserves to be.
The resourceful Greeks, we written the final chapter of the Memoranda with struggle and sacrifice.
From today, with vision and determination, we set out for the new era of our country.
With caution and responsibility, so that we do not go back to the Greece of deficits and bankruptcy.
But also with boldness, we set out for the rebirth of Greece
For a homeland of equality, democracy and social justice.
That is why Ithaca is just the beginning."
In a speech full of symbolism, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the Greek people from the island of Ithaca marking Greece’s exit from the Bailout Programme and “the straitjacket of the memorandums”.
"Today a new day is dawning in our country.
It is an historic day.
The Memoranda of austerity, recession, and social devastation have finally come to an end.
Our country regains its rights to defining its fortunes and its future.
Like a normal European country.
Without external compulsions.
Without any further extortion.
Without more sacrifices by our people.
“Our place is closed, the two black Clashing Rocks [The Symplegades Ed] are closed, the poet says.
We have left these Clashing Rocks behind us.
Knowing that Greece is its history.
Achievements, struggles but also bruises.
That is to say, these are what have defined her course on the journey through the centuries.
A journey that was never easy.
But it always had a destination.
Even in the darkest days, in the greatest storms.
Since 2010, Greece has experienced its modern day Odyssey.
Within five years, things happened to a country unprecedented in time of peace.
25% of our national wealth has been lost.
3 out of 10 were unemployed.
6 out of 10 young people, too.
Austerity measures of 65€ billion have been implemented.
Violence and repression became part of everyday life.
Democracy has been trivialised.
Bankers became Prime Ministers and Ministers became bankers.
Fascist gangs came out of their hiding places after 60 years.
A country in a lasting state of emergency.
And a people, however, who never accepted the fate the powerful had in store for them.
And they wrote new pages of resistance.
This people, three and a half years ago, took a historic decision.
Taking the country's helm from those who had led it onto the rocks.
And give it to new captains.
We took on this heavy responsibility.
With strength, determination but also with respect for the sacrifices of our people.
We did not move with certainties. Just one.
The one which was defined by the Greek women and men:
To take the country out of the straitjacket of the Memoranda and endless austerity.
We passed through many waves to get to our destination today.
The crew changed.
Others were afraid of the waves, others preferred to tame them.
We have heard the Sirens of futility many times.
That things in Greece cannot change.
And the Memorandums will be here forever.
That there is no point in resisting when the Laestrygenes and Cyclopes stand against you.
The wild beasts that the small and weak Greece could not defeat.
None of these, however, swayed our effort.
That is because the men and women people who worked hard to reach the destination were no longer on the sidelines.
They were no longer locked in the hold, without a voice, without hope.
But they were at the helm. With us.
And in the difficulties it was they who stayed firm.
Greek Women, Greek Men,
Today is a day of deliverance.
But it is also the beginning of a new era.
And at this point of departure, we will not commit the act of hubris to ignore the lessons of the Greece of the Memoranda.
We will not let forgetfulness take us off course.
We will not become lotus eaters.
We will never forget the reasons and the people who led the country to the Memoranda.
Nor the immunity from taxation by those with great wealth
Nor the widespread interweaving of vested interests and corruption
Nor the unaccountability of a number of business and publishing groups that for years considered the country to belong to them
Nor the cynicism and contempt of a political elite who thought Greece was a feudal and the Greek their faithful subjects.
We will never forget those who have abused and scorned Greece and the Greeks, because they dared not to consent to the implementation of a neo-liberal experiment that would last for decades.
But we will not forget also those who stood at the side of the Greeks and Greece in the difficult times.
People and political forces from all European countries.
Who have strongly resisted the plans for Greece to expelled and punished.
Because they know that Greece means much more for Europe than fiscal strength.
We will not forget anything that we have experienced because it is not just a matter for the historians of the future.
But they are the stores of a country that is writing the new page of its history, in the present time.
We have arrived at our destination, we have emerged from the Memorandums, but we are fully aware that we have not finished here.
New battles are now ahead of us.
Modern suitors are here and still stand against us.
It is those who want to see the ship again tossed about by the sea and the people back in the hold.
Those who, in their image and likeness, made the Greece of corruption, of the interweaving of vested interests and the power of the few.
Those who want to be undisturbed in their tax evasion, being parasites at public expense, having their off shore accounts and their deposits abroad.
Those who consider themselves above any law and above the rule of law.
And who tremble at the idea of an independent judiciary.
We are not going to leave Ithaca in their hands.
Now that we have reached our coveted destination, we have the strength to make our place the way it deserves to be.
The resourceful Greeks, we written the final chapter of the Memoranda with struggle and sacrifice.
From today, with vision and determination, we set out for the new era of our country.
With caution and responsibility, so that we do not go back to the Greece of deficits and bankruptcy.
But also with boldness, we set out for the rebirth of Greece
For a homeland of equality, democracy and social justice.
That is why Ithaca is just the beginning."
Greece Exits The Memoranda : Some Comments and Views from around Europe
“Today we can safely conclude the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme with no more follow-up rescue programmes as, for the first time since early 2010, Greece can stand on its own feet,” Mario Centeno, the chairman of the ESM’s Board of Governors, said on Monday in a statement marking Greece’s successful exit from its final, three-year bailout programme.
“This was possible thanks to the extraordinary effort of the Greek people, the good cooperation with the current Greek government and the support of European partners through loans and debt relief,” he said.
The ESM has disbursed 61.9€ billion over three years in support of macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalisation. A further 24.1€ billion that was available to Greece under the programme was not needed, he said.
“The restructuring of the debt should have come at the start”
“The IMF has played the most "dirty" role in the years of the eight-year long Memorandum crisis by imposing a "harsh" neo-liberal policy. And that when for all the previous years, eminent staff members of the Fund made a lot of mistakes and forecasts, which have been costly to both citizens and the economy.
From 2010 until this year, the Fund has become accustomed to being shown to be wrong again and again.
Let's take the things from the beginning. The refusal to restructure Greece's debt at the beginning of the programme, despite the high probability that the debt would prove not to be sustainable, is an object of criticism. In the case of Greece, which the Fund decided in 2010 to finance with "exceptional access", the restructuring of the debt should have come at the start.
“The IMF estimated that revenues from privatization would reach 50€ billion up from the 12.5€ billion originally calculated, while the optimistic growth forecasts too were revised after just 18 months had elapsed since the beginning of the programme.
Explosion of Unemployment
Also, although the IMF had experience gained from other programmes, it did not predict the explosion in unemployment, as the adjustment policy created nearly 1,000,000 unemployed young people over a three-year period.
In 2010 they estimated that unemployment would be 12.1% but it reached 12.6%; in 2011 they reckoned on unemployment at 14.6%, but it reached 17.7%, while for 2012 their forecast was 14.8% and it turned out at 24.4%. In the three-year period of the Memorandum, 2010-2013, unemployment increased by 806,803, while the number of unemployed in January 2013 reached 1,348,000.
Mistakes
In January 2013 a 43-page study by former IMF chief economist Olivier Blasar, entitled "Mistakes of forecasting growth and fiscal multipliers" was published. By making a mistake with a multiplier the IMF had imposed much greater austerity (cuts in public sector salaries, pensions, etc.) in countries such as Greece and Portugal, with the result that there was much a greater fall in domestic demand.
A report was subsequently published in the year 2015 in which the Fund acknowledged that it was a mistake not to have included the restructuring of the Greek debt in the 2010 programme as a prerequisite for its viability!
Up until 2015, the Fund had "erred" on a number of forecasts, such as: In April 2010, when Greece entered the Memoranda, the Fund forecast a -2% recession for 2010 (when it finally closed at -5.5%) , a -1.1% recession for 2011 (when it finally closed at -9.1%) and a return to growth for 2012 (which eventually closed at -7.3%). Similarly, in October 2014, the Fund projected growth in the order of 2.9% in 2015, when it finally closed at -0.3%.
Overly pessimistic after 2015
Again, in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook in April 2018, the Fund revised downwards its growth forecast for both this year and 2017, and also for the 2019, compared to the corresponding October 2017 report. In October 2017, , it estimated for 2018 that growth would close at 2.6%, while in April 2018 it predicted a fall of 2% in growth.
The Fund’s report presented on October 11, 2017, indicated that Greece's primary surplus for 2017 would be 1.696% of GDP and 2.221% in 2018. In the end, Eurostat announced that our country's primary surplus in 2017 stood at 4.2% (excluding the social dividend).
In short, up to 2015, the Fund was over optimistic, without achieving the targets, and after 2015 it has followed the opposite course.”
2008 and all that!
“After eight years, Greece was on Monday deemed strong enough to stand on its own feet. The international bailout programme that has provided Athens with emergency financial support has come to an end. Aside from the tough budget rules in place for the next decade or more, Greeks can wave goodbye to the troika – the officials from the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Union – that has in effect been running the country since 2010.
Commentators throughout Europe warn us to beware the hype that trumpets this as a great success story, a tribute to solidarity and a commonsense approach that has restored economic stability and prevented Greece from being the first country to leave the euro. The Greek Bailout Programme has been a colossal failure. It is a tale of incompetence, of dogma, of needless delay and of the interests of banks being put before the needs of people. And there will be long-term consequences. When Greece first received help in 2010, the plan was for it to have access to the financial markets within two years. It has taken two further rescue packages and six years for that to happen.
The Greek economy has recently been growing, but it has a vast amount of ground to make up, following a peak-to-trough contraction that saw gross domestic product shrink by almost a third. It is argued that the loss of so much output could have been avoided, but Greece – like the rest of Europe – was subjected to the idea that the priority in the wake of the most serious financial crisis in a century was for governments to balance the books through deflation.
Greece’s problems were triggered when Athens said its budget deficit had ballooned to 13% of GDP in 2009 – much worse than previously estimated. The markets took fright and Athens was forced to seek international help. The original rescue plan involved €110bn of financial assistance in return for shrinking its deficit by 7.5 percentage points in 2010 alone.
This was never remotely feasible, but was based on the theory that a commitment to shrink budget deficits and to bring public debt levels down would boost the confidence of the financial markets. Investors would demand a lower premium for holding sovereign debt, and that would result in lower long-term interest rates. Lower long-term interest rates would mean higher growth. In Europe in the years after the financial crisis, the idea that you could cut public spending to return to prosperity was all the rage. It was called expansionary fiscal contraction (EFC).
Adherents of EFC believed in crowding out: the theory that any boost a government got from spending more on, say, repairing bridges, to boost growth and create jobs would be negated by the higher interest rates needed to finance the deficits that would result. Public spending would crowd out private investment.
But the crowding out theory was inappropriate for the financial crisis and its aftermath, because the banks were dysfunctional, credit flows had dried up and the demand for private sector investment was not there. In those circumstances, when the government was the only game in town, cutting public investment had the opposite effect to the one intended. If consumers and businesses were already retrenching, EFC sucked demand out of the economy. Cutting public sector wages and reducing the value of pensions and benefits resulted in lower consumer spending and further depressed private investment.
In Greece, this approach led to a spiral of decline as jobs were shed and tax revenues slumped. Public debt went up rather than down, leading to pressure for still more cuts.
But milder versions of the same dynamic played out elsewhere. There was Ireland, where the insistence that taxpayers rather than bondholders should pay for the irresponsible lending of the banks resulted in disability benefits being cut. There was Italy, where there was no real attempt between 2010 and 2012 to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis through discretionary fiscal policy.
And there was, of course, Britain, where the coalition government did not even have the excuse of being confined by the straitjacket of the single currency to excuse its foolish decision to choke off the economic recovery of 2009-10 with over-hasty spending cuts and tax increases. George Osborne was a true believer in EFC.
It is no real defence for those who so avidly embraced austerity to point to the return of growth as evidence that they were right all along. All economies recover eventually: the question is whether a less damaging approach could have been adopted. To which the answer is yes. The recovery from the deep downturn of 2008-09 would have been faster and more sustainable had different policies been followed.
As it is, extensive and permanent damage has been done. First, there is the social cost of a decade of failed austerity: the closed libraries; the mothballed care centres, the increased number of food banks.
Second, there is the opportunity cost: all the infrastructure that could have been built or repaired had governments taken advantage of historically low interest rates and borrowed to invest. Cutting corners to save money has consequences.
Third, the global economy is far from healed. In fact, it has been the weakest recovery from any recession since the second world war. The US has done best of the developed economies because it was influenced by, but never wedded to, EFC.
Last, but certainly not least, the old social contract between leaders and people has been stretched almost to breaking point. Voters once believed that if they worked hard, they would earn a decent wage and the state would look after them if times were hard. If that belief no longer holds, what people have seen happening in Greece these past eight years has much to do with it.” [Drawn largely from Larry Elliot writing in the Guardian Ed]
And the EU…
An Opinion piece in Η ΑΥΓΗ put it like this “In the first half of 2015, after a referendum delivered a resounding rejection of creditors’ terms for further assistance, Germany initially pressed for Greece’s ejection from the eurozone. Greek banks had already shut down.
The eurozone was desperate to avoid a fracturing of the currency union; any exit at all would call into question the supposed irrevocability of the euro, prompting financial markets to bet against other struggling economies. The eurozone was supposed to be a monetary union, without any fiscal ties or support mechanisms. When Greece lost access to the financial markets in the spring of 2010, Eurozone countries discarded the “no bailout” edict in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty setting out the ground rules for the single currency. With a legal reinterpretation of the treaty, bailouts turned out to be possible after all – as long as they took the form of loans rather than outright cuts in debt.
That is the source of Greece’s continuing plight. Though the country is emerging from the bailout programme, it remains beholden to its eurozone creditors and the huge loans they have made. These account for the lion’s share of its towering public debt which, at 180 percent of GDP, is the highest in Europe. (Only Japan has higher debt as a share of GDP but, in a crucial contrast with Greece, Japanese themselves – rather than foreign creditors – hold the bulk of it.)
High public debt makes countries vulnerable to the whims of markets. They must be on their best behaviour to ensure access to private sources of funds, and even then they can fall foul of mood swings when investors lose their appetite for risk. Greece will now have to tap markets again to refinance its existing debt as official loans mature. That is why, in an ideal world, Greece should have left its third bailout with a much lower debt, through a direct reduction in the face value of the euro zone loans.
However, any such “haircuts” are anathema to European creditors and the no-bailout rule of Maastricht, and who fear a taxpayer backlash against explicit losses on loans made to Greece. Instead, the eurozone has pursued a policy of debt relief through other means. Interest rates which were initially punitive are now as low as possible and interest payments are deferred on a big part of the lending. Maturities of the loans have been extended and stretch out for decades. Greece must run primary (before interest payments) budget surpluses not just for the next few years, but until 2060.
Along with the burden of debt, there is a heritage of bitterness on both sides. Northern creditor countries blame Greek fiscal profligacy for the country’s woes. Greeks blame their rescuers for the austerity and unpopular reforms that they have had to endure. Evidence indicates that the bulk of the bailout billions has gone to safeguard the banks of northern Europe while the Greek debt remains stubbornly high.
GDP has fallen so far – it was a quarter lower last year than in 2007 – a bounce-back might appear feasible at least in the short-term. But projections further ahead are discouragingly low, suggesting that Greece will not be able to grow its way out of trouble. The IMF projects long-run real GDP growth of around 1 percent a year. Even this meager estimate may prove optimistic; Greece faces particularly unfavourable demographics as ageing shrinks the working-age population.
The eurozone’s unwillingness to face the truth and to write down some of its lending to Greece is misguided. Its policies are set to keep Greece in a prison of debt for decades to come, with the eurozone creditors as its jailers. This is not the way to forge a new and happier relationship between the eurozone and Greece.”
“Today we can safely conclude the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme with no more follow-up rescue programmes as, for the first time since early 2010, Greece can stand on its own feet,” Mario Centeno, the chairman of the ESM’s Board of Governors, said on Monday in a statement marking Greece’s successful exit from its final, three-year bailout programme.
“This was possible thanks to the extraordinary effort of the Greek people, the good cooperation with the current Greek government and the support of European partners through loans and debt relief,” he said.
The ESM has disbursed 61.9€ billion over three years in support of macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalisation. A further 24.1€ billion that was available to Greece under the programme was not needed, he said.
“The restructuring of the debt should have come at the start”
“The IMF has played the most "dirty" role in the years of the eight-year long Memorandum crisis by imposing a "harsh" neo-liberal policy. And that when for all the previous years, eminent staff members of the Fund made a lot of mistakes and forecasts, which have been costly to both citizens and the economy.
From 2010 until this year, the Fund has become accustomed to being shown to be wrong again and again.
Let's take the things from the beginning. The refusal to restructure Greece's debt at the beginning of the programme, despite the high probability that the debt would prove not to be sustainable, is an object of criticism. In the case of Greece, which the Fund decided in 2010 to finance with "exceptional access", the restructuring of the debt should have come at the start.
“The IMF estimated that revenues from privatization would reach 50€ billion up from the 12.5€ billion originally calculated, while the optimistic growth forecasts too were revised after just 18 months had elapsed since the beginning of the programme.
Explosion of Unemployment
Also, although the IMF had experience gained from other programmes, it did not predict the explosion in unemployment, as the adjustment policy created nearly 1,000,000 unemployed young people over a three-year period.
In 2010 they estimated that unemployment would be 12.1% but it reached 12.6%; in 2011 they reckoned on unemployment at 14.6%, but it reached 17.7%, while for 2012 their forecast was 14.8% and it turned out at 24.4%. In the three-year period of the Memorandum, 2010-2013, unemployment increased by 806,803, while the number of unemployed in January 2013 reached 1,348,000.
Mistakes
In January 2013 a 43-page study by former IMF chief economist Olivier Blasar, entitled "Mistakes of forecasting growth and fiscal multipliers" was published. By making a mistake with a multiplier the IMF had imposed much greater austerity (cuts in public sector salaries, pensions, etc.) in countries such as Greece and Portugal, with the result that there was much a greater fall in domestic demand.
A report was subsequently published in the year 2015 in which the Fund acknowledged that it was a mistake not to have included the restructuring of the Greek debt in the 2010 programme as a prerequisite for its viability!
Up until 2015, the Fund had "erred" on a number of forecasts, such as: In April 2010, when Greece entered the Memoranda, the Fund forecast a -2% recession for 2010 (when it finally closed at -5.5%) , a -1.1% recession for 2011 (when it finally closed at -9.1%) and a return to growth for 2012 (which eventually closed at -7.3%). Similarly, in October 2014, the Fund projected growth in the order of 2.9% in 2015, when it finally closed at -0.3%.
Overly pessimistic after 2015
Again, in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook in April 2018, the Fund revised downwards its growth forecast for both this year and 2017, and also for the 2019, compared to the corresponding October 2017 report. In October 2017, , it estimated for 2018 that growth would close at 2.6%, while in April 2018 it predicted a fall of 2% in growth.
The Fund’s report presented on October 11, 2017, indicated that Greece's primary surplus for 2017 would be 1.696% of GDP and 2.221% in 2018. In the end, Eurostat announced that our country's primary surplus in 2017 stood at 4.2% (excluding the social dividend).
In short, up to 2015, the Fund was over optimistic, without achieving the targets, and after 2015 it has followed the opposite course.”
2008 and all that!
“After eight years, Greece was on Monday deemed strong enough to stand on its own feet. The international bailout programme that has provided Athens with emergency financial support has come to an end. Aside from the tough budget rules in place for the next decade or more, Greeks can wave goodbye to the troika – the officials from the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Union – that has in effect been running the country since 2010.
Commentators throughout Europe warn us to beware the hype that trumpets this as a great success story, a tribute to solidarity and a commonsense approach that has restored economic stability and prevented Greece from being the first country to leave the euro. The Greek Bailout Programme has been a colossal failure. It is a tale of incompetence, of dogma, of needless delay and of the interests of banks being put before the needs of people. And there will be long-term consequences. When Greece first received help in 2010, the plan was for it to have access to the financial markets within two years. It has taken two further rescue packages and six years for that to happen.
The Greek economy has recently been growing, but it has a vast amount of ground to make up, following a peak-to-trough contraction that saw gross domestic product shrink by almost a third. It is argued that the loss of so much output could have been avoided, but Greece – like the rest of Europe – was subjected to the idea that the priority in the wake of the most serious financial crisis in a century was for governments to balance the books through deflation.
Greece’s problems were triggered when Athens said its budget deficit had ballooned to 13% of GDP in 2009 – much worse than previously estimated. The markets took fright and Athens was forced to seek international help. The original rescue plan involved €110bn of financial assistance in return for shrinking its deficit by 7.5 percentage points in 2010 alone.
This was never remotely feasible, but was based on the theory that a commitment to shrink budget deficits and to bring public debt levels down would boost the confidence of the financial markets. Investors would demand a lower premium for holding sovereign debt, and that would result in lower long-term interest rates. Lower long-term interest rates would mean higher growth. In Europe in the years after the financial crisis, the idea that you could cut public spending to return to prosperity was all the rage. It was called expansionary fiscal contraction (EFC).
Adherents of EFC believed in crowding out: the theory that any boost a government got from spending more on, say, repairing bridges, to boost growth and create jobs would be negated by the higher interest rates needed to finance the deficits that would result. Public spending would crowd out private investment.
But the crowding out theory was inappropriate for the financial crisis and its aftermath, because the banks were dysfunctional, credit flows had dried up and the demand for private sector investment was not there. In those circumstances, when the government was the only game in town, cutting public investment had the opposite effect to the one intended. If consumers and businesses were already retrenching, EFC sucked demand out of the economy. Cutting public sector wages and reducing the value of pensions and benefits resulted in lower consumer spending and further depressed private investment.
In Greece, this approach led to a spiral of decline as jobs were shed and tax revenues slumped. Public debt went up rather than down, leading to pressure for still more cuts.
But milder versions of the same dynamic played out elsewhere. There was Ireland, where the insistence that taxpayers rather than bondholders should pay for the irresponsible lending of the banks resulted in disability benefits being cut. There was Italy, where there was no real attempt between 2010 and 2012 to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis through discretionary fiscal policy.
And there was, of course, Britain, where the coalition government did not even have the excuse of being confined by the straitjacket of the single currency to excuse its foolish decision to choke off the economic recovery of 2009-10 with over-hasty spending cuts and tax increases. George Osborne was a true believer in EFC.
It is no real defence for those who so avidly embraced austerity to point to the return of growth as evidence that they were right all along. All economies recover eventually: the question is whether a less damaging approach could have been adopted. To which the answer is yes. The recovery from the deep downturn of 2008-09 would have been faster and more sustainable had different policies been followed.
As it is, extensive and permanent damage has been done. First, there is the social cost of a decade of failed austerity: the closed libraries; the mothballed care centres, the increased number of food banks.
Second, there is the opportunity cost: all the infrastructure that could have been built or repaired had governments taken advantage of historically low interest rates and borrowed to invest. Cutting corners to save money has consequences.
Third, the global economy is far from healed. In fact, it has been the weakest recovery from any recession since the second world war. The US has done best of the developed economies because it was influenced by, but never wedded to, EFC.
Last, but certainly not least, the old social contract between leaders and people has been stretched almost to breaking point. Voters once believed that if they worked hard, they would earn a decent wage and the state would look after them if times were hard. If that belief no longer holds, what people have seen happening in Greece these past eight years has much to do with it.” [Drawn largely from Larry Elliot writing in the Guardian Ed]
And the EU…
An Opinion piece in Η ΑΥΓΗ put it like this “In the first half of 2015, after a referendum delivered a resounding rejection of creditors’ terms for further assistance, Germany initially pressed for Greece’s ejection from the eurozone. Greek banks had already shut down.
The eurozone was desperate to avoid a fracturing of the currency union; any exit at all would call into question the supposed irrevocability of the euro, prompting financial markets to bet against other struggling economies. The eurozone was supposed to be a monetary union, without any fiscal ties or support mechanisms. When Greece lost access to the financial markets in the spring of 2010, Eurozone countries discarded the “no bailout” edict in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty setting out the ground rules for the single currency. With a legal reinterpretation of the treaty, bailouts turned out to be possible after all – as long as they took the form of loans rather than outright cuts in debt.
That is the source of Greece’s continuing plight. Though the country is emerging from the bailout programme, it remains beholden to its eurozone creditors and the huge loans they have made. These account for the lion’s share of its towering public debt which, at 180 percent of GDP, is the highest in Europe. (Only Japan has higher debt as a share of GDP but, in a crucial contrast with Greece, Japanese themselves – rather than foreign creditors – hold the bulk of it.)
High public debt makes countries vulnerable to the whims of markets. They must be on their best behaviour to ensure access to private sources of funds, and even then they can fall foul of mood swings when investors lose their appetite for risk. Greece will now have to tap markets again to refinance its existing debt as official loans mature. That is why, in an ideal world, Greece should have left its third bailout with a much lower debt, through a direct reduction in the face value of the euro zone loans.
However, any such “haircuts” are anathema to European creditors and the no-bailout rule of Maastricht, and who fear a taxpayer backlash against explicit losses on loans made to Greece. Instead, the eurozone has pursued a policy of debt relief through other means. Interest rates which were initially punitive are now as low as possible and interest payments are deferred on a big part of the lending. Maturities of the loans have been extended and stretch out for decades. Greece must run primary (before interest payments) budget surpluses not just for the next few years, but until 2060.
Along with the burden of debt, there is a heritage of bitterness on both sides. Northern creditor countries blame Greek fiscal profligacy for the country’s woes. Greeks blame their rescuers for the austerity and unpopular reforms that they have had to endure. Evidence indicates that the bulk of the bailout billions has gone to safeguard the banks of northern Europe while the Greek debt remains stubbornly high.
GDP has fallen so far – it was a quarter lower last year than in 2007 – a bounce-back might appear feasible at least in the short-term. But projections further ahead are discouragingly low, suggesting that Greece will not be able to grow its way out of trouble. The IMF projects long-run real GDP growth of around 1 percent a year. Even this meager estimate may prove optimistic; Greece faces particularly unfavourable demographics as ageing shrinks the working-age population.
The eurozone’s unwillingness to face the truth and to write down some of its lending to Greece is misguided. Its policies are set to keep Greece in a prison of debt for decades to come, with the eurozone creditors as its jailers. This is not the way to forge a new and happier relationship between the eurozone and Greece.”
Social Security
“The country's political forces have distinct positions. They are divided between those who defend it and those who are against it” Tasos Petropoulos, Deputy Minister of Social Security
“The political and ideological undermining of Social Security is expected to intensify. Not only to reduce the influence of Government but also to prepare for the complete dismantling of the programme. Social Security carries a strong ideological burden. In line with the perspectives of those planning for the future, the country's political forces have distinct positions. They are divided between those who defend it and those who are against it. In the recent years of the economic and social crisis, it has been argued that cuts in wages and pensions bring about growth. The opposite has happened. Successive pension cuts and a sharp fall in wages, in particular since February 2012, have been interacting in an increasingly rapid collapse of the economy and a deepening of recession.
They have rigged and deregulated the labour market….
Without concern for the lack of basic fiscal financial adequacy for the individual insurers, they refused insurance reform while knowing that money was being transferred from one institution to another to pay pensions.
The last year that the Insurance Funds showed a surplus was in 2013. But then 4.5€ billion had been deducted from pensions. They showed a surplus of 843€ million, while in fact there was a deficit of 3 billion 758 million euros.
The ND - PASOK cuts deducted 45€ billion from pensions up to 2015, while pension expenditure in 2015 had exceeded 17% of GDP before any reductions made by our own government. Today, those cuts have resulted in accumulated losses of 63.1€ billion.
Nor were they interested in paying pensions faster -eventually leaving unpaid hundreds of thousands of pensions exceeding 2€ billion (168,922 unpaid principal pensions, 154,022 unpaid supplementary allowances and 63,500 unpaid lump sums).
Within 3 and a half years - and while thousands of new applications have been submitted each month - we reduced of outstanding principal pensions by 74.1%, pending auxiliary pensions by 41.6% and outstanding lump sums by 55.1%.
But the opposition-friendly press does not attribute the backlog to past accumulated delays. On the contrary, it contributes to New Democracy policy of weakening social security by undermining citizens’ appreciation of social insurance, - by challenging the positive results we are achieving which are recognized by all the international organizations.
The political and ideological undermining of social security will intensify. Not only to reduce the influence of the Government but also to prepare for the dismantling of the social security system and its replacement by the programme designed with the predominant involvement of Mr Mitsotakis's adviser on insurance which makes provision for so great a reduction in social security contributions as to inevitably lead to pensions of 200€.
That is why today’s tears of the Opposition will be shown to be crocodile tears, whether they are tears flowing for widows' pensions or for low-paid pensioners or for those who receive higher pensions. The target of our policy is to increase them. And we will succeed.”
Tax Evasion
Inspections by tax officers nationwide have shown that 60% of businesses audited have violated Greek tax legislation. Violations include failure to issue receipts, using Debit and Credit Card [POS] terminals registered in other countries and tampering with cash registers.
Audits have revealed tax dodging by construction firms, doctors, bailiffs, tour operators, petrol stations and even the unemployed and retirees.
The head of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, Giorgos Pitsilis, told ANT1 TV on Friday that authorities are planning 55,000 audits focusing on the catering, hospitality and services sectors.
T.I.L.O.S
When the blades of its 800-kilowatt wind turbine start turning, the small Greek island of Tilos will become the first in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power.
The island between Rhodes and Kos has a winter population of 400. But that swells to as many as 3,000 people in the summer, putting an impossible strain on its power supply.
This summer, technicians are conducting the final tests on a renewable replacement system that will be fully rolled out later this year. It will allow Tilos to run exclusively on high-tech batteries recharged by a wind turbine and a solar park.
The European Commission says Tilos will be the first autonomous renewable green island in the Mediterranean. It plans to use the project as a blueprint for other small islands across the EU that have limited grid connection to their mainlands.
The EU has largely funded the project, providing 11€ million of the total 13.7€ million cost.
“The innovation of this programme and its funding lies in the batteries — the energy storage — that is what is innovative,” project manager Spyros Aliferis said. “The energy produced by the wind turbines and the photovoltaics will be stored in batteries, so that this energy can be used for the grid when there is demand.” The batteries store power during sunny and windy conditions, releasing it during periods of heavy demand and lower production — such as at night-time and the peak tourist season — to keep the grid powered up.
Named TILOS — Technology Innovation for the Local Scale Optimum Integration of Battery Energy Storage — the project uses a prototype battery system that has improved the storage of the excess energy.
Currently, Tilos gets its energy from an underwater cable that runs from Kos to the island of Nisiros and on to Tilos. That creates an erratic, outage-prone service that routinely destroys appliances and has forced many businesses to rely on diesel generators.
“The country's political forces have distinct positions. They are divided between those who defend it and those who are against it” Tasos Petropoulos, Deputy Minister of Social Security
“The political and ideological undermining of Social Security is expected to intensify. Not only to reduce the influence of Government but also to prepare for the complete dismantling of the programme. Social Security carries a strong ideological burden. In line with the perspectives of those planning for the future, the country's political forces have distinct positions. They are divided between those who defend it and those who are against it. In the recent years of the economic and social crisis, it has been argued that cuts in wages and pensions bring about growth. The opposite has happened. Successive pension cuts and a sharp fall in wages, in particular since February 2012, have been interacting in an increasingly rapid collapse of the economy and a deepening of recession.
They have rigged and deregulated the labour market….
Without concern for the lack of basic fiscal financial adequacy for the individual insurers, they refused insurance reform while knowing that money was being transferred from one institution to another to pay pensions.
The last year that the Insurance Funds showed a surplus was in 2013. But then 4.5€ billion had been deducted from pensions. They showed a surplus of 843€ million, while in fact there was a deficit of 3 billion 758 million euros.
The ND - PASOK cuts deducted 45€ billion from pensions up to 2015, while pension expenditure in 2015 had exceeded 17% of GDP before any reductions made by our own government. Today, those cuts have resulted in accumulated losses of 63.1€ billion.
Nor were they interested in paying pensions faster -eventually leaving unpaid hundreds of thousands of pensions exceeding 2€ billion (168,922 unpaid principal pensions, 154,022 unpaid supplementary allowances and 63,500 unpaid lump sums).
Within 3 and a half years - and while thousands of new applications have been submitted each month - we reduced of outstanding principal pensions by 74.1%, pending auxiliary pensions by 41.6% and outstanding lump sums by 55.1%.
But the opposition-friendly press does not attribute the backlog to past accumulated delays. On the contrary, it contributes to New Democracy policy of weakening social security by undermining citizens’ appreciation of social insurance, - by challenging the positive results we are achieving which are recognized by all the international organizations.
The political and ideological undermining of social security will intensify. Not only to reduce the influence of the Government but also to prepare for the dismantling of the social security system and its replacement by the programme designed with the predominant involvement of Mr Mitsotakis's adviser on insurance which makes provision for so great a reduction in social security contributions as to inevitably lead to pensions of 200€.
That is why today’s tears of the Opposition will be shown to be crocodile tears, whether they are tears flowing for widows' pensions or for low-paid pensioners or for those who receive higher pensions. The target of our policy is to increase them. And we will succeed.”
Tax Evasion
Inspections by tax officers nationwide have shown that 60% of businesses audited have violated Greek tax legislation. Violations include failure to issue receipts, using Debit and Credit Card [POS] terminals registered in other countries and tampering with cash registers.
Audits have revealed tax dodging by construction firms, doctors, bailiffs, tour operators, petrol stations and even the unemployed and retirees.
The head of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, Giorgos Pitsilis, told ANT1 TV on Friday that authorities are planning 55,000 audits focusing on the catering, hospitality and services sectors.
T.I.L.O.S
When the blades of its 800-kilowatt wind turbine start turning, the small Greek island of Tilos will become the first in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power.
The island between Rhodes and Kos has a winter population of 400. But that swells to as many as 3,000 people in the summer, putting an impossible strain on its power supply.
This summer, technicians are conducting the final tests on a renewable replacement system that will be fully rolled out later this year. It will allow Tilos to run exclusively on high-tech batteries recharged by a wind turbine and a solar park.
The European Commission says Tilos will be the first autonomous renewable green island in the Mediterranean. It plans to use the project as a blueprint for other small islands across the EU that have limited grid connection to their mainlands.
The EU has largely funded the project, providing 11€ million of the total 13.7€ million cost.
“The innovation of this programme and its funding lies in the batteries — the energy storage — that is what is innovative,” project manager Spyros Aliferis said. “The energy produced by the wind turbines and the photovoltaics will be stored in batteries, so that this energy can be used for the grid when there is demand.” The batteries store power during sunny and windy conditions, releasing it during periods of heavy demand and lower production — such as at night-time and the peak tourist season — to keep the grid powered up.
Named TILOS — Technology Innovation for the Local Scale Optimum Integration of Battery Energy Storage — the project uses a prototype battery system that has improved the storage of the excess energy.
Currently, Tilos gets its energy from an underwater cable that runs from Kos to the island of Nisiros and on to Tilos. That creates an erratic, outage-prone service that routinely destroys appliances and has forced many businesses to rely on diesel generators.
Demolition of Illegal Buildings fast-tracked
18.08.2018
On Saturday, the Government fast-tracked legislation, which does not require approval in Parliament, in order to accelerate its plans for the demolition of thousands of illegal properties on Greece’s coastlines and forestland. Emergency procedures will allow Ministries to issue demolition orders on illegally constructed buildings.
This gives the Environment, Energy and Interior Ministers the power to order the removal of structures which are in breach of building regulations.
The Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported one governmental source saying: “The assumption of immediate measures by the state, under the weight of the national tragedy the Greek people experienced, is imperative in order to proceed, without impediments, with the demolition of illegal buildings that are a threat to public safety. In order to ensure that residents are protected in the event of danger, it is the government’s obligation to show zero tolerance for illegal buildings on coasts and in forests.”
Last week Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reiterated his government’s resolve to knock down 3,200 illegal structures for which final judicial decisions have been issued.
This gives the Environment, Energy and Interior Ministers the power to order the removal of structures which are in breach of building regulations.
The Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported one governmental source saying: “The assumption of immediate measures by the state, under the weight of the national tragedy the Greek people experienced, is imperative in order to proceed, without impediments, with the demolition of illegal buildings that are a threat to public safety. In order to ensure that residents are protected in the event of danger, it is the government’s obligation to show zero tolerance for illegal buildings on coasts and in forests.”
Last week Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reiterated his government’s resolve to knock down 3,200 illegal structures for which final judicial decisions have been issued.
Soldiers Released
After nearly 6 months imprisonment in a maximum security prison in Edirne, Turkey, with no charges filed against them, a Turkish court ordered the unconditional release of the Greek army officers Angelos Mitretodis and Dimitris Kouklatzis. The two officers were arrested on 1 March, when during a patrol at the Greek-Turkish border they entered a few dozen yards into Turkish territory, due to weather conditions and low visibility.
On Tuesday 14 August, the court in Edirne examined the two officers’ latest petition to be released, and decided to release them pending trial. There were no conditions attached to their release, and therefore they have been allowed to return to Greece.
At the hearing, the two officers reiterated that they entered Turkish territory by mistake.
The prosecutor stated that the jail time already served by the two officers is not less than the prison term imposed for illegal entry into a military area. The court decided that there is no evidence to support espionage charges. Hence, taking into account the length of their incarceration, the two officers were set free. They will be tried in absentia with the charge of illegal entry into a forbidden military area.
The Turkish President’s diplomatic advisor assured his Greek counterpart that the two officers will be tried in absentia and that if a penalty is imposed it will not exceed the prison time already served by the officers.
The aircraft of the Greek Prime Minister was sent to Edirne, where it arrived shortly after 1am today, to transport the two officers back to Greece.
Deputy Foreign Minister Georgos Katrougalos and the deputy chief of the Greek general staff, Konstantinos Floros, were sent to accompany the two officers back to Greece.
Mr. Katrougalos on the return flight posted a photograph of the two men on Twitter, along with a lengthy message.
“Shortly we will be in Thessaloniki. A great joy, a great success. It is the result of systematic diplomatic efforts of the state and political forces, with the wishes of all Greeks. New prospects of bolstering friendship, good neighbourly relations, and stability in the region, Katrougalos wrote.
The aircraft arrived at about 3:30am arrived at the Thessaloniki International Airport ‘Makedonia, where they were welcomed by their parents, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, and Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Amanatidis, as well as a military Guard of Honour.
The defence minister spoke to the officers by telephone shortly before they boarded the PM’s aircraft.
In his public statements, Defence Minister Kammenos said that the Greek people had displayed unity and patriotism.
“On behalf of the Prime Minister we welcome them, and hope that this signals a new day for Greek-Turkish relations. We can live in peace and with respect for international law and international treaties,” he said.
“I want to send a message of unity. I hope that their being freed on this landmark day, will signal a new day in Greek-Turkish relations. I welcome the two officers, congratulate them because they honoured their oath, did not hand over the flag, served in conditions in which they were held hostage, and returned in order to continue to serve the Country,” he said.
Government sources underlined the importance of the context and background to the success in securing the release of the two Greek soldiers.
These key points were made:
Greece has firmly insisted on the path of diplomacy, keeping open multi-level channels of communication with Turkey in recent years. There were the three Prime Minister's visits to Turkey in 2015-2016 and Foreign Ministry meetings. Greece expressed support to for the democratically elected Government of Turkey in face of the attempted coup d'état in July 2016 and showed consistent support for Turkey's EU orientation. There was the visit of the Turkish President to Athens for the first time after 65 years. Greece’s disagreement with the rationale of imposing financial sanctions on Turkey in the last period.
In the framework of these bilateral relations, contacts have been intensified through all existing channels (Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greek Diplomatic and Consular Authorities in Turkey.
At the Tsipras-Erdogan meeting which lasted more than an hour and a half at the NATO Summit, the issue of the soldiers’ detention was discussed extensively. A meeting that some rushed to characterize it as a failure.
After that meeting, PM Tsipras had stated at the press conference: "First of all, my words are measured, but I must tell you that coming out of the meeting I have more hope than I had before. It was not an easy meeting, so it took almost two hours."
Greece has persisted in raising the issue in talks with its allies and partners, and in international and European forums, in order to exert further pressure to resolve the issue. In this context, the request for the release of our two military personnel was included in the Conclusions of the European Council, in a Resolution of the European Parliament and in the Report of the European Commission. At the same time, it was urged by President Tusk and Juncker at the Varna Summit, and at NATO, both by the Prime Minister and by the Foreign Minister and the Minister of National Defence. Finally, the issue was repeatedly raised in the German-Turkish and US-Turkish talks, and it was also on the agenda at the Putin-Erdogan meeting in April.
Turkey's attempt to reboot its relations with the EU and its member states (re-establishing relations with the Netherlands, meeting with Chancellor Merkel, approaches to Austria) was also an important factor in resolving the issue, at a time when Turkey faces financial problems and US-Turkish relations are in crisis. "Turkey has made this move by recognizing that this issue has - as a result of the above-mentioned Greek actions - become crucial for the relaunch of Euro-Turkish relations."
“The release of the two Greek officers is an act of justice which will contribute to friendship, good neighbourly relations and stability in the region,” a statement from PM Tsipras’s office said.
After nearly 6 months imprisonment in a maximum security prison in Edirne, Turkey, with no charges filed against them, a Turkish court ordered the unconditional release of the Greek army officers Angelos Mitretodis and Dimitris Kouklatzis. The two officers were arrested on 1 March, when during a patrol at the Greek-Turkish border they entered a few dozen yards into Turkish territory, due to weather conditions and low visibility.
On Tuesday 14 August, the court in Edirne examined the two officers’ latest petition to be released, and decided to release them pending trial. There were no conditions attached to their release, and therefore they have been allowed to return to Greece.
At the hearing, the two officers reiterated that they entered Turkish territory by mistake.
The prosecutor stated that the jail time already served by the two officers is not less than the prison term imposed for illegal entry into a military area. The court decided that there is no evidence to support espionage charges. Hence, taking into account the length of their incarceration, the two officers were set free. They will be tried in absentia with the charge of illegal entry into a forbidden military area.
The Turkish President’s diplomatic advisor assured his Greek counterpart that the two officers will be tried in absentia and that if a penalty is imposed it will not exceed the prison time already served by the officers.
The aircraft of the Greek Prime Minister was sent to Edirne, where it arrived shortly after 1am today, to transport the two officers back to Greece.
Deputy Foreign Minister Georgos Katrougalos and the deputy chief of the Greek general staff, Konstantinos Floros, were sent to accompany the two officers back to Greece.
Mr. Katrougalos on the return flight posted a photograph of the two men on Twitter, along with a lengthy message.
“Shortly we will be in Thessaloniki. A great joy, a great success. It is the result of systematic diplomatic efforts of the state and political forces, with the wishes of all Greeks. New prospects of bolstering friendship, good neighbourly relations, and stability in the region, Katrougalos wrote.
The aircraft arrived at about 3:30am arrived at the Thessaloniki International Airport ‘Makedonia, where they were welcomed by their parents, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, and Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Amanatidis, as well as a military Guard of Honour.
The defence minister spoke to the officers by telephone shortly before they boarded the PM’s aircraft.
In his public statements, Defence Minister Kammenos said that the Greek people had displayed unity and patriotism.
“On behalf of the Prime Minister we welcome them, and hope that this signals a new day for Greek-Turkish relations. We can live in peace and with respect for international law and international treaties,” he said.
“I want to send a message of unity. I hope that their being freed on this landmark day, will signal a new day in Greek-Turkish relations. I welcome the two officers, congratulate them because they honoured their oath, did not hand over the flag, served in conditions in which they were held hostage, and returned in order to continue to serve the Country,” he said.
Government sources underlined the importance of the context and background to the success in securing the release of the two Greek soldiers.
These key points were made:
Greece has firmly insisted on the path of diplomacy, keeping open multi-level channels of communication with Turkey in recent years. There were the three Prime Minister's visits to Turkey in 2015-2016 and Foreign Ministry meetings. Greece expressed support to for the democratically elected Government of Turkey in face of the attempted coup d'état in July 2016 and showed consistent support for Turkey's EU orientation. There was the visit of the Turkish President to Athens for the first time after 65 years. Greece’s disagreement with the rationale of imposing financial sanctions on Turkey in the last period.
In the framework of these bilateral relations, contacts have been intensified through all existing channels (Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greek Diplomatic and Consular Authorities in Turkey.
At the Tsipras-Erdogan meeting which lasted more than an hour and a half at the NATO Summit, the issue of the soldiers’ detention was discussed extensively. A meeting that some rushed to characterize it as a failure.
After that meeting, PM Tsipras had stated at the press conference: "First of all, my words are measured, but I must tell you that coming out of the meeting I have more hope than I had before. It was not an easy meeting, so it took almost two hours."
Greece has persisted in raising the issue in talks with its allies and partners, and in international and European forums, in order to exert further pressure to resolve the issue. In this context, the request for the release of our two military personnel was included in the Conclusions of the European Council, in a Resolution of the European Parliament and in the Report of the European Commission. At the same time, it was urged by President Tusk and Juncker at the Varna Summit, and at NATO, both by the Prime Minister and by the Foreign Minister and the Minister of National Defence. Finally, the issue was repeatedly raised in the German-Turkish and US-Turkish talks, and it was also on the agenda at the Putin-Erdogan meeting in April.
Turkey's attempt to reboot its relations with the EU and its member states (re-establishing relations with the Netherlands, meeting with Chancellor Merkel, approaches to Austria) was also an important factor in resolving the issue, at a time when Turkey faces financial problems and US-Turkish relations are in crisis. "Turkey has made this move by recognizing that this issue has - as a result of the above-mentioned Greek actions - become crucial for the relaunch of Euro-Turkish relations."
“The release of the two Greek officers is an act of justice which will contribute to friendship, good neighbourly relations and stability in the region,” a statement from PM Tsipras’s office said.
Minister Xanthos in Anogia
"In relation to the Nazi atrocities that unfolded in August 1944 in Anogia, it is imperative to preserve the historical memory and to highlight the heroic resistance of our people to the conquerors," said Minister of Health and Rethymnon MP, Andreas Xanthos, who represented the Government at this year's memorial events for the Holocaust of Anogia.
In his statements, the Health Minister stressed that events of commemoration "are a powerful antidote to the toxic effects of racism, nationalism, intolerance and the fascist extreme-right that is again raising its head in Europe."
"After August 20, the cycle of the crisis - the Memoranda of Understanding and the Financial Stewardship - is finally closed, and a new period begins with the "healing" of the wounds of society, increased employment, fair development, support for the Social State, the consolidation of public life and the "armour-plating" of institutions and of the Republic. This is the new great opportunity for the country, where it will be judged who has the political plan for a sustainable exit from the crisis and the productive reconstruction of the country.
TOURISM : More Good News
Souda is expecting to see the number of cruise-ship passengers exceed the 95,000 mark for the first eight months of 2018.
The data, reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, say cruise passengers arriving through the port of Souda will be boosted by around 1,900 people disembarking from the Marella Discover 2 cruise liner which is expected to dock on Sunday.
Six more cruise ship arrivals are scheduled to approach Souda port by the end of August.
Greece is expecting a bumper year for tourism, with passenger arrivals by air already up and millions of tourists expected to holiday here.
Overall, it is estimated that over three million more passengers from abroad arrived in Greece during July compared to previous years.
The data lead to projections that the Ministry of Tourism target of 32 million arrivals in 2018 will be exceeded, and that the total number of arrivals will be over 33 million, as arrivals by land and sea also show an upward trend.
FITCH on Greece
Global rating agency Fitch Ratings upgraded the long-term foreign currency issuer default rating on Greece to ‘BB-‘ from ‘B’. The outlook on Greece is stable, Fitch said on Friday.
Greece’s banking sector is recovering, Fitch noted, adding that the country’s relationship with its European creditors has “substantially improved”.
The announcement, which still rates Greek debt as speculative, follows S&P Global's decision last month to raise its outlook for Greece to "positive," suggesting another upgrade could be coming soon.
"The debt relief measures agreed at the 21 June Eurogroup are substantial," Fitch said in a statement.
"We expect fiscal performance to remain sound over the post-programme period," the agency said, noting that the economy posted a budget surplus of 0.8 percent of GDP last year, up from 0.6 percent the year before.
Fitch said , based on a premise of 3.4 percent annual GDP growth, Greek debt should fall to 123.3 percent of GDP by 2030, down from 182.7 percent this year.
"In relation to the Nazi atrocities that unfolded in August 1944 in Anogia, it is imperative to preserve the historical memory and to highlight the heroic resistance of our people to the conquerors," said Minister of Health and Rethymnon MP, Andreas Xanthos, who represented the Government at this year's memorial events for the Holocaust of Anogia.
In his statements, the Health Minister stressed that events of commemoration "are a powerful antidote to the toxic effects of racism, nationalism, intolerance and the fascist extreme-right that is again raising its head in Europe."
"After August 20, the cycle of the crisis - the Memoranda of Understanding and the Financial Stewardship - is finally closed, and a new period begins with the "healing" of the wounds of society, increased employment, fair development, support for the Social State, the consolidation of public life and the "armour-plating" of institutions and of the Republic. This is the new great opportunity for the country, where it will be judged who has the political plan for a sustainable exit from the crisis and the productive reconstruction of the country.
TOURISM : More Good News
Souda is expecting to see the number of cruise-ship passengers exceed the 95,000 mark for the first eight months of 2018.
The data, reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, say cruise passengers arriving through the port of Souda will be boosted by around 1,900 people disembarking from the Marella Discover 2 cruise liner which is expected to dock on Sunday.
Six more cruise ship arrivals are scheduled to approach Souda port by the end of August.
Greece is expecting a bumper year for tourism, with passenger arrivals by air already up and millions of tourists expected to holiday here.
Overall, it is estimated that over three million more passengers from abroad arrived in Greece during July compared to previous years.
The data lead to projections that the Ministry of Tourism target of 32 million arrivals in 2018 will be exceeded, and that the total number of arrivals will be over 33 million, as arrivals by land and sea also show an upward trend.
FITCH on Greece
Global rating agency Fitch Ratings upgraded the long-term foreign currency issuer default rating on Greece to ‘BB-‘ from ‘B’. The outlook on Greece is stable, Fitch said on Friday.
Greece’s banking sector is recovering, Fitch noted, adding that the country’s relationship with its European creditors has “substantially improved”.
The announcement, which still rates Greek debt as speculative, follows S&P Global's decision last month to raise its outlook for Greece to "positive," suggesting another upgrade could be coming soon.
"The debt relief measures agreed at the 21 June Eurogroup are substantial," Fitch said in a statement.
"We expect fiscal performance to remain sound over the post-programme period," the agency said, noting that the economy posted a budget surplus of 0.8 percent of GDP last year, up from 0.6 percent the year before.
Fitch said , based on a premise of 3.4 percent annual GDP growth, Greek debt should fall to 123.3 percent of GDP by 2030, down from 182.7 percent this year.
Te Carob Tree
“It’s a strange paradox with the carob tree: On the one hand it is neglected, and on the other it is deeply entrenched in the consciousness of the Cretan people,” says Korina Miliaraki, President of the Agritourism Union of Crete and the Epimenides Cultural Society of Panormos, and the individual spearheading a campaign to get the carob tree onto the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the one hand there are festivals on the island to celebrate the carob tree (the one in the village of Kato Pines is well known in the greater region of Elounda) but it is also used for firewood.
Nevertheless, the campaign to safeguard Crete’s tradition of cultivating and using carob in myriad ways is progressing, as the proposal drafted by the Epimenides Society has already qualified for the second stage of assessment. If all goes well, this will lead to its registration on Greece’s National Cultural Heritage List.
“The carob tree saved us in World War II. Indeed, the livelihood of many Cretan people was tied to the tree’s existence,” says Ms.Miliaraki. According to her, carob is particularly nutritious due to its high content of calcium and sugar, which amounts to approximately 30-40 percent of its total weight. Grinding carob produces flour to make bread, biscuits and rusks, while boiling it produces syrup, which is also a rich source of carbohydrates, calcium and iron. The carob tree is easy to cultivate as it does not require a lot of water and can survive long periods of drought.
“It is a tree that is quite self-sufficient but which can also yield a lot when it is looked after,” she says.
The conditions for registering the carob as a Cretan symbol of cultural heritage are ripe. An increasing number of small-scale producers on the island are creating an array of products based on carob and export rates are high, as its nutritional value has classified it as one of the world’s trendiest superfoods right now.
As the process of getting Crete’s carob trees onto the UNESCO list proceeds, Ms. Miliaraki is open to information and expert opinions that can help boost the proposal. So far, the only Greek product in the UNESCO list is mastic gum from the eastern Aegean island of Chios. “If we all make an effort, we can not only save this tree, but also showcase it for the treasure it is.”
“It’s a strange paradox with the carob tree: On the one hand it is neglected, and on the other it is deeply entrenched in the consciousness of the Cretan people,” says Korina Miliaraki, President of the Agritourism Union of Crete and the Epimenides Cultural Society of Panormos, and the individual spearheading a campaign to get the carob tree onto the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the one hand there are festivals on the island to celebrate the carob tree (the one in the village of Kato Pines is well known in the greater region of Elounda) but it is also used for firewood.
Nevertheless, the campaign to safeguard Crete’s tradition of cultivating and using carob in myriad ways is progressing, as the proposal drafted by the Epimenides Society has already qualified for the second stage of assessment. If all goes well, this will lead to its registration on Greece’s National Cultural Heritage List.
“The carob tree saved us in World War II. Indeed, the livelihood of many Cretan people was tied to the tree’s existence,” says Ms.Miliaraki. According to her, carob is particularly nutritious due to its high content of calcium and sugar, which amounts to approximately 30-40 percent of its total weight. Grinding carob produces flour to make bread, biscuits and rusks, while boiling it produces syrup, which is also a rich source of carbohydrates, calcium and iron. The carob tree is easy to cultivate as it does not require a lot of water and can survive long periods of drought.
“It is a tree that is quite self-sufficient but which can also yield a lot when it is looked after,” she says.
The conditions for registering the carob as a Cretan symbol of cultural heritage are ripe. An increasing number of small-scale producers on the island are creating an array of products based on carob and export rates are high, as its nutritional value has classified it as one of the world’s trendiest superfoods right now.
As the process of getting Crete’s carob trees onto the UNESCO list proceeds, Ms. Miliaraki is open to information and expert opinions that can help boost the proposal. So far, the only Greek product in the UNESCO list is mastic gum from the eastern Aegean island of Chios. “If we all make an effort, we can not only save this tree, but also showcase it for the treasure it is.”
“We can’t turn back time to correct mistakes. We are obliged to focus on the how’s and why’s of this tragedy”
11.08.2018
On Tuesday, PM Alexis Tsipras chaired a meeting to discuss the Attica wildfires, after which he admitted mistakes were possibly made in the management and response to the wildfires. However, he also addressed previous governments, stating that he “expected some self-criticism from those who were in power for decades”.
“We can’t turn back time to correct mistakes […] we are obliged to focus on the how’s and why’s of this tragedy. My promise from the very first day was that everything will be investigated in depth, in all dimensions and following clear procedures […] nothing will be hidden away” he said.
“Our intention is clear, the areas struck will be rebuilt rapidly but on a new basis that guarantees legality, respect for the environment and the lives of residents.”
The PM added that he had discussed 20 immediate measures with the Ministers and Authorities responsible, concerning the demolition of illegal buildings in Attica, controlling building activity and protecting the environment.
A total of 3,200 illegally constructed buildings will be demolished under the government plans. A thorough process to remove constructions obstructing access to coastlines has also begun, while 250 regional authority officials will be hired to crackdown on illegal building activity and an electronic platform to record illegal buildings will also be created.
PM Tsipras went on to comment on what he called the failed policies of the past which contributed to the failure to deal with the deadly Attica wildfires. However, he added that the government has accepted the political responsibility for the fires and will now take the opportunity to remedy long-standing issues.
The Prime Minister talked about a national tragedy, noting that "the pain of the lost lives gives rise to the responsibility not to be satisfied with words, but to take action, each in their own role, so that we never experience again such a tragedy."
"The chaos of uncontrolled building, which threatens human lives, can not be tolerated from now on. Anything that destroys forests and beaches, anything that represents a danger to human lives will be removed." PM Tsipras, talked about the debt to the dead. "But our duty is even greater to the living - to the next generations."
In this context, he underlined the need for a "broad, sincere and decisive" commitment by society "or at least by the vast majority of it". "The collective interest of a whole society can not be subordinated to the self-serving aims of some, of a minority."
He stressed that the political will of the government is not enough, but "confrontation with vested interests and behavious inherited from the past are required." "Political power has often encouraged unregulated activity." He pointed out that one of the main causes that led to the environmentally damaging and dangerous residential developments was the fear of the political costs: "Do not touch the irregularities in order to avoid losing votes. This was the rule for decades."
"Speculation, political profiteering, rushing, bribery, trading votes for illegalities, self-interested compromising with monstrous pathogens were the vicious sons of the political cost."
He described as "patrons" and "sponsors of unacceptable and wretched political behaviours" the vested interests, referring to those who saw in Greek land "an opportunity for illegal enrichment".
Alexis Tsipras commented on the position taken by the official opposition. "Just as I have taken responsibility, from the very first moment, even those responsibilities that can not be attributed to me, so I would expect even a tiny drop of self-criticism from those who have governed this country not for two or three or five years but for four or more decades, themselves and their families,"the Prime Minister stressed referring to the New Democracy and PASOK.
"The masters of the brown envelope, the masters of the transaction and the unauthorised activities, with the politicians and the Nomarchs, the political fireplaces and the local circuits that were fuelled by the transactions and the corruption and who engaged in speculation of all kinds in this residential monstrosity", he continued, noting that , instead of self-criticism, now they wag their fingers.
"At worst they pose in the photos with a broad - I would say, spiteful - smile of joy after an interview about the 90 dead." He accused the main opposition of treating the tragedy as a political opportunity. "To derive political, personal, and petty-party advantage." "We, for our part, bow our heads before this unspeakable tragedy."
PM Tsipras concluded by reiterating the government's determination to confront these pathogens, which we "inherited in order to to change them, not to perpetuate them." "There lies our great responsibility." "This situation must end and it will end."
Participating in the meeting which took place at the Technology Park of Lavrion were the Minister of the Environment and Infrastructure, the Regional Governor of Attica, the General Manager of the Public Land Company, and the relevant General Secretaries and representatives of Local Government.
“We can’t turn back time to correct mistakes […] we are obliged to focus on the how’s and why’s of this tragedy. My promise from the very first day was that everything will be investigated in depth, in all dimensions and following clear procedures […] nothing will be hidden away” he said.
“Our intention is clear, the areas struck will be rebuilt rapidly but on a new basis that guarantees legality, respect for the environment and the lives of residents.”
The PM added that he had discussed 20 immediate measures with the Ministers and Authorities responsible, concerning the demolition of illegal buildings in Attica, controlling building activity and protecting the environment.
A total of 3,200 illegally constructed buildings will be demolished under the government plans. A thorough process to remove constructions obstructing access to coastlines has also begun, while 250 regional authority officials will be hired to crackdown on illegal building activity and an electronic platform to record illegal buildings will also be created.
PM Tsipras went on to comment on what he called the failed policies of the past which contributed to the failure to deal with the deadly Attica wildfires. However, he added that the government has accepted the political responsibility for the fires and will now take the opportunity to remedy long-standing issues.
The Prime Minister talked about a national tragedy, noting that "the pain of the lost lives gives rise to the responsibility not to be satisfied with words, but to take action, each in their own role, so that we never experience again such a tragedy."
"The chaos of uncontrolled building, which threatens human lives, can not be tolerated from now on. Anything that destroys forests and beaches, anything that represents a danger to human lives will be removed." PM Tsipras, talked about the debt to the dead. "But our duty is even greater to the living - to the next generations."
In this context, he underlined the need for a "broad, sincere and decisive" commitment by society "or at least by the vast majority of it". "The collective interest of a whole society can not be subordinated to the self-serving aims of some, of a minority."
He stressed that the political will of the government is not enough, but "confrontation with vested interests and behavious inherited from the past are required." "Political power has often encouraged unregulated activity." He pointed out that one of the main causes that led to the environmentally damaging and dangerous residential developments was the fear of the political costs: "Do not touch the irregularities in order to avoid losing votes. This was the rule for decades."
"Speculation, political profiteering, rushing, bribery, trading votes for illegalities, self-interested compromising with monstrous pathogens were the vicious sons of the political cost."
He described as "patrons" and "sponsors of unacceptable and wretched political behaviours" the vested interests, referring to those who saw in Greek land "an opportunity for illegal enrichment".
Alexis Tsipras commented on the position taken by the official opposition. "Just as I have taken responsibility, from the very first moment, even those responsibilities that can not be attributed to me, so I would expect even a tiny drop of self-criticism from those who have governed this country not for two or three or five years but for four or more decades, themselves and their families,"the Prime Minister stressed referring to the New Democracy and PASOK.
"The masters of the brown envelope, the masters of the transaction and the unauthorised activities, with the politicians and the Nomarchs, the political fireplaces and the local circuits that were fuelled by the transactions and the corruption and who engaged in speculation of all kinds in this residential monstrosity", he continued, noting that , instead of self-criticism, now they wag their fingers.
"At worst they pose in the photos with a broad - I would say, spiteful - smile of joy after an interview about the 90 dead." He accused the main opposition of treating the tragedy as a political opportunity. "To derive political, personal, and petty-party advantage." "We, for our part, bow our heads before this unspeakable tragedy."
PM Tsipras concluded by reiterating the government's determination to confront these pathogens, which we "inherited in order to to change them, not to perpetuate them." "There lies our great responsibility." "This situation must end and it will end."
Participating in the meeting which took place at the Technology Park of Lavrion were the Minister of the Environment and Infrastructure, the Regional Governor of Attica, the General Manager of the Public Land Company, and the relevant General Secretaries and representatives of Local Government.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Thursday announced the creation of the National Emergency Management Service, which will replace the General Secretariat for Civil Protection following last month’s deadly Attica wildfires that claimed the lives of 93 people.
The new agency, which will be under the direct authority of the Interior Ministry, will integrate all the services, research institutes and voluntary teams involved in the management of emergencies, PM Tsipras said during a visit to the Ministry for Citizens’ Protection. It will be run by a candidate of proven experience and scientific competence who will be appointed subject to approval by a team of experts.
The Director will be advised by a scientific council comprising members of research institutes and other agencies involved in the field of natural disasters. Representatives of the fire service, ambulance service, police, Hellenic Red Cross, coast guard, military, forestry service as well as research institutes and voluntary bodies will also be called upon to give advice.
The new service will have a budget of 500€ million, comprising funds from the European Investment Bank, the EU-subsidized National Strategic Reference Framework, as well as Greece’s public investment programme.
Describing the deadly wildfires in eastern Attica as “an unspeakable tragedy,” PM Tsipras said the most important thing is that such a disaster is never again repeated.”
"The country's emergency management system has come to the end of its cycle, radical reform is needed for us to be able to respond effectively to the new challenges."
"We have opted for the creation of an upgraded structure with two characteristics: It will be a single emergency management organization that will adapt the most modern models from Europe, the United States and Canada."
The selection procedure of the Director will utilise all the rules of transparency and meritocratic choice, since it will be organized under the supervision of an independent panel of experts and will be ratified by the Conference of Presidents of Parliament*.
[*This consists of the President and Vice-Presidents of Parliament, Parliamentary Chairpersons who have been elected as Members of Parliament, the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees, the Chairperson of the Committee on Institutions and Transparency, the Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Groups and a representative of the Independent Members as long as there are at least five Ed.]
"We are determined to move forward boldly and with great seriousness with all the interventions needed to correct the distortions of the past, to create a modern and efficient state that stand beside citizens not in their way."
The Prime Minister stressed that the important thing is not to find scapegoats, but to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
"After my meeting with the two leading Greek academics, Mr Zerefos and Mr. Lekkas, at which I asked them to make the assessment of climate change, I asked the distinguished professor, Mr. Goldman, to set up a committee under the auspices of the International Fire Observation Centre. That Committee has the objective of directly investigating the underlying causes of the recent tragedy. Objectively and honestly. Primarily, it will produce a report on the necessary reforms and policies that we must adopt to avoid such disasters in the future."
The new agency, which will be under the direct authority of the Interior Ministry, will integrate all the services, research institutes and voluntary teams involved in the management of emergencies, PM Tsipras said during a visit to the Ministry for Citizens’ Protection. It will be run by a candidate of proven experience and scientific competence who will be appointed subject to approval by a team of experts.
The Director will be advised by a scientific council comprising members of research institutes and other agencies involved in the field of natural disasters. Representatives of the fire service, ambulance service, police, Hellenic Red Cross, coast guard, military, forestry service as well as research institutes and voluntary bodies will also be called upon to give advice.
The new service will have a budget of 500€ million, comprising funds from the European Investment Bank, the EU-subsidized National Strategic Reference Framework, as well as Greece’s public investment programme.
Describing the deadly wildfires in eastern Attica as “an unspeakable tragedy,” PM Tsipras said the most important thing is that such a disaster is never again repeated.”
"The country's emergency management system has come to the end of its cycle, radical reform is needed for us to be able to respond effectively to the new challenges."
"We have opted for the creation of an upgraded structure with two characteristics: It will be a single emergency management organization that will adapt the most modern models from Europe, the United States and Canada."
The selection procedure of the Director will utilise all the rules of transparency and meritocratic choice, since it will be organized under the supervision of an independent panel of experts and will be ratified by the Conference of Presidents of Parliament*.
[*This consists of the President and Vice-Presidents of Parliament, Parliamentary Chairpersons who have been elected as Members of Parliament, the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees, the Chairperson of the Committee on Institutions and Transparency, the Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Groups and a representative of the Independent Members as long as there are at least five Ed.]
"We are determined to move forward boldly and with great seriousness with all the interventions needed to correct the distortions of the past, to create a modern and efficient state that stand beside citizens not in their way."
The Prime Minister stressed that the important thing is not to find scapegoats, but to investigate the causes of the tragedy.
"After my meeting with the two leading Greek academics, Mr Zerefos and Mr. Lekkas, at which I asked them to make the assessment of climate change, I asked the distinguished professor, Mr. Goldman, to set up a committee under the auspices of the International Fire Observation Centre. That Committee has the objective of directly investigating the underlying causes of the recent tragedy. Objectively and honestly. Primarily, it will produce a report on the necessary reforms and policies that we must adopt to avoid such disasters in the future."
Name Dispute
On Wednesday Defence Minister and leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), Panos Kammenos said his party will withdraw its support from the SYRIZA-led government if the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is put to a vote in Greece’s Parliament.
“I will not allow this deal to go through with my consent,” he told Real FM.
Greek MPs are to vote on the deal after it has been ratified in a September 30th referendum in FYROM and after the Balkan state has revised its constitution – not expected before early 2019.
"Once the agreement reaches the parliament, if all procedures in Skopje are completed, AN-EL (Independent Greeks) will leave the Government. We have clearly said that and I cannot agree with a solution that gives away name Macedonia without giving the Greek people any say in it," Kammenos told Real FM radio station.
He explained what would happen if the agreement reached the Greek parliament.
"Once the PM decides to bring the agreement into the parliament, I will go to him and say that the party is leaving the government and all ministers nominated by Independent Greeks will resign, followed by a meeting with the President," said Mr. Kammenos and added that general elections would follow.
He said another option was also available - a referendum at which Greek citizens would decide if they approved the agreement.
Operation Trident
Greek tax inspectors on the island of Mykonos have found two point-of-sale machines which were linked to Switzerland. The two terminals were found at a Louis Vuitton store on Mykonos and another outlet in Nammos village.
The discoveries were part of a tax-inspection operation on the island which also uncovered a beach bar in Paraga which failed to declare around €3,500 of income.
‘Operation Trident’ also temporarily closed a souvenir shop which was making sales without issuing receipts.
According to the Athens-Macedonian New Agency, the authorities confiscated the daily turnover – worth 19,000€ – at Catrine, a famous restaurant on Mykonos, because the business had tax arrears of 380,000€.
A 48-hour shutdown was also imposed on a laundry business in Mykonos for failing to issue receipts worth 13,000€.
On Wednesday Defence Minister and leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), Panos Kammenos said his party will withdraw its support from the SYRIZA-led government if the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is put to a vote in Greece’s Parliament.
“I will not allow this deal to go through with my consent,” he told Real FM.
Greek MPs are to vote on the deal after it has been ratified in a September 30th referendum in FYROM and after the Balkan state has revised its constitution – not expected before early 2019.
"Once the agreement reaches the parliament, if all procedures in Skopje are completed, AN-EL (Independent Greeks) will leave the Government. We have clearly said that and I cannot agree with a solution that gives away name Macedonia without giving the Greek people any say in it," Kammenos told Real FM radio station.
He explained what would happen if the agreement reached the Greek parliament.
"Once the PM decides to bring the agreement into the parliament, I will go to him and say that the party is leaving the government and all ministers nominated by Independent Greeks will resign, followed by a meeting with the President," said Mr. Kammenos and added that general elections would follow.
He said another option was also available - a referendum at which Greek citizens would decide if they approved the agreement.
Operation Trident
Greek tax inspectors on the island of Mykonos have found two point-of-sale machines which were linked to Switzerland. The two terminals were found at a Louis Vuitton store on Mykonos and another outlet in Nammos village.
The discoveries were part of a tax-inspection operation on the island which also uncovered a beach bar in Paraga which failed to declare around €3,500 of income.
‘Operation Trident’ also temporarily closed a souvenir shop which was making sales without issuing receipts.
According to the Athens-Macedonian New Agency, the authorities confiscated the daily turnover – worth 19,000€ – at Catrine, a famous restaurant on Mykonos, because the business had tax arrears of 380,000€.
A 48-hour shutdown was also imposed on a laundry business in Mykonos for failing to issue receipts worth 13,000€.
"We will never try to escape our responsibilities"
PM Alexis Tsipras
3.8.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has invited agencies, experts and opposition parties to draw up a national plan to deal with decades of residential settlement irregularities in order to avoid any more tragedies .
"We will never try to escape our responsibilities," the Prime Minister stressed at the extraordinary Cabinet Meeting last Saturday.
He called on cabinet members to contribute with all their might to help the state effectively stand by the people "who have paid such a heavy price of life and property to the fire".
He said he was determined that his Government "from some self-preservation instinct" did not commit the same mistake as previous governments "by exaggerating the excuses to reduce the responsibilities". He would not go along with "the chain of characterizations, of easy accusations, of the polemic without boundaries and clearly without any respect for the dead, motivated by the attempt to exploit the pain and destruction of the tragedy. That only leads to the covering up of the truth, in the name of a macabre petty party politics."
"I say this not as a tactic but because the dead can not speak, and the least we owe to their memory is respect. At least respect for the truth."
The Prime Minister made it clear that the Ggovernment is not aiming to perpetuate any power given by the people, nor the mistakes and behaviours of the past. "We want to go deeper into reality because we believe that this is the only way we can change it," he said, making special reference to the distortions that have prevailed for many years in the Greek state and especially in unauthorised residential building.
"Today, therefore, we all understand in a painful way and to the utmost depth that we are governing a country that has been dominated by distortions for years," he noted referring to whole settlements that were arbitrarily built on stream beds and beaches, residential complexes created without provision for the safety of residents, under the auspices of a clientelist state. "However, today, this state is governed by us," he said, expressing his concern about whether what had to be done by the current Government to change things could be achieved in three years to solve decades of huge problems."
In particular, he wondered: " did we hesitate, giving priority to the battle to deal with the humanitarian disaster caused by the policies of the Memoranda, to deal resolutely with the risk of other disasters, created by the distortions of the corrupt past." "The responsibility is ours as long as these distortions remain," he said, "As long as the unauthorised buildings are not demolished, as long as paving is not removed from the rivers, as long as access to the beach remains forbidden by fences and villas built on the sand."
In this context, Alexis Tsipras stressed that the Government is not content with the relief measures for the victims already announced, expressing his determination to rapidly develop a national plan to deal with decades of residential building irregularities.
He directed a mass invitation to scientific bodies, universities, experts, but also to opposition parties, speaking about a "national effort, a duty placed on us all by today's tragedy." The aim, he said, is to provide citizens with the "simple and clear guarantee - a guarantee in every civilized society" - that there will be no further tragedies, noting that this is a practical expression of the meaning of his self-criticism. "Not in easy words that lead nowhere, but in difficult action," he noted.
The Prime Minister clarified the Government's willingness to "break eggs" in order to get things done. "If we need to" break eggs", to get the bulldozers working, if there is to be conflict, so be it," he said, stressing that there is no question of "waiting with folded arms, with measures and with aspirin, for the next tragedy." He also announced the immediate upgrading of the civil protection mechanism, based on new needs, new dangers, and European experience.
He placed the whole Government on alert, "because the summer is not over and that means we can not relax", he said.
Referring to the evidence discovered by the investigating authorities of arson being behind the deadly fires, he said that "We still do not know who is their target. We are not going to play a game of scenarios or hide behind conspiracy theories to give us easy answers."
Instead, he pointed out that it is now up to the Government to organize in the best possible way the defence of the state and society against such criminal acts. "If the aim of the perpetrators is to strike at social cohesion, to create a feeling of insecurity for the citizens, then they might try again," he said.
"Let us organize the defence of the state and society. We must guarantee the protection and security of every citizen, but also organize the voluntary mobilization of all to deal with such challenges," he said, stressing the significant contribution of volunteers in tackling the disaster, which shows, as he said, that this is feasible. "It is the only way," he said, "to organize effective defence against any plan that can not be dealt with in formal terms."
The Prime Minister also spoke about the issue of resignations and sackings of those responsible "or supposedly responsible" being expressed by the Opposition. "Executions, at the time of the battle, which have become the norm in previous tragedies, are not an act of political bravery but of political cowardice," he said, while he emphatically defended the people who have waged and are waging the battle, even at the risk of their lives. "Let the various critics and warlords from their couches not open fire on those who at risk to their lives in the face of the fires, fought and saved thousands of our fellow countrymen." Referring to the firefighters and the police officers, he said, "if they had not been on the field of the battle, today we would be mourning a lot more dead," the harbour workers" who rescued hundreds of our fellow citizens from death in the sea, the state and municipal employees "who rushed to help the work of fighting the fire".
"Let them shoot at us, not at them," he underlined. He also pointed out that the self-criticism he has expressed is not about the operational aspects of the colossal rescue effort in face of an unprecedented catastrophe that occurred on Monday night. "When this battle is over, after the last outbreak of danger is eliminated, there will be a calm appraisal and the possible attribution of responsibilities. Otherwise, we go on a witch hunt and try to find scapegoats," he said, pointing out "We have no intention of escaping our responsibilities."
"We will never try to escape our responsibilities," the Prime Minister stressed at the extraordinary Cabinet Meeting last Saturday.
He called on cabinet members to contribute with all their might to help the state effectively stand by the people "who have paid such a heavy price of life and property to the fire".
He said he was determined that his Government "from some self-preservation instinct" did not commit the same mistake as previous governments "by exaggerating the excuses to reduce the responsibilities". He would not go along with "the chain of characterizations, of easy accusations, of the polemic without boundaries and clearly without any respect for the dead, motivated by the attempt to exploit the pain and destruction of the tragedy. That only leads to the covering up of the truth, in the name of a macabre petty party politics."
"I say this not as a tactic but because the dead can not speak, and the least we owe to their memory is respect. At least respect for the truth."
The Prime Minister made it clear that the Ggovernment is not aiming to perpetuate any power given by the people, nor the mistakes and behaviours of the past. "We want to go deeper into reality because we believe that this is the only way we can change it," he said, making special reference to the distortions that have prevailed for many years in the Greek state and especially in unauthorised residential building.
"Today, therefore, we all understand in a painful way and to the utmost depth that we are governing a country that has been dominated by distortions for years," he noted referring to whole settlements that were arbitrarily built on stream beds and beaches, residential complexes created without provision for the safety of residents, under the auspices of a clientelist state. "However, today, this state is governed by us," he said, expressing his concern about whether what had to be done by the current Government to change things could be achieved in three years to solve decades of huge problems."
In particular, he wondered: " did we hesitate, giving priority to the battle to deal with the humanitarian disaster caused by the policies of the Memoranda, to deal resolutely with the risk of other disasters, created by the distortions of the corrupt past." "The responsibility is ours as long as these distortions remain," he said, "As long as the unauthorised buildings are not demolished, as long as paving is not removed from the rivers, as long as access to the beach remains forbidden by fences and villas built on the sand."
In this context, Alexis Tsipras stressed that the Government is not content with the relief measures for the victims already announced, expressing his determination to rapidly develop a national plan to deal with decades of residential building irregularities.
He directed a mass invitation to scientific bodies, universities, experts, but also to opposition parties, speaking about a "national effort, a duty placed on us all by today's tragedy." The aim, he said, is to provide citizens with the "simple and clear guarantee - a guarantee in every civilized society" - that there will be no further tragedies, noting that this is a practical expression of the meaning of his self-criticism. "Not in easy words that lead nowhere, but in difficult action," he noted.
The Prime Minister clarified the Government's willingness to "break eggs" in order to get things done. "If we need to" break eggs", to get the bulldozers working, if there is to be conflict, so be it," he said, stressing that there is no question of "waiting with folded arms, with measures and with aspirin, for the next tragedy." He also announced the immediate upgrading of the civil protection mechanism, based on new needs, new dangers, and European experience.
He placed the whole Government on alert, "because the summer is not over and that means we can not relax", he said.
Referring to the evidence discovered by the investigating authorities of arson being behind the deadly fires, he said that "We still do not know who is their target. We are not going to play a game of scenarios or hide behind conspiracy theories to give us easy answers."
Instead, he pointed out that it is now up to the Government to organize in the best possible way the defence of the state and society against such criminal acts. "If the aim of the perpetrators is to strike at social cohesion, to create a feeling of insecurity for the citizens, then they might try again," he said.
"Let us organize the defence of the state and society. We must guarantee the protection and security of every citizen, but also organize the voluntary mobilization of all to deal with such challenges," he said, stressing the significant contribution of volunteers in tackling the disaster, which shows, as he said, that this is feasible. "It is the only way," he said, "to organize effective defence against any plan that can not be dealt with in formal terms."
The Prime Minister also spoke about the issue of resignations and sackings of those responsible "or supposedly responsible" being expressed by the Opposition. "Executions, at the time of the battle, which have become the norm in previous tragedies, are not an act of political bravery but of political cowardice," he said, while he emphatically defended the people who have waged and are waging the battle, even at the risk of their lives. "Let the various critics and warlords from their couches not open fire on those who at risk to their lives in the face of the fires, fought and saved thousands of our fellow countrymen." Referring to the firefighters and the police officers, he said, "if they had not been on the field of the battle, today we would be mourning a lot more dead," the harbour workers" who rescued hundreds of our fellow citizens from death in the sea, the state and municipal employees "who rushed to help the work of fighting the fire".
"Let them shoot at us, not at them," he underlined. He also pointed out that the self-criticism he has expressed is not about the operational aspects of the colossal rescue effort in face of an unprecedented catastrophe that occurred on Monday night. "When this battle is over, after the last outbreak of danger is eliminated, there will be a calm appraisal and the possible attribution of responsibilities. Otherwise, we go on a witch hunt and try to find scapegoats," he said, pointing out "We have no intention of escaping our responsibilities."
On Monday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited the site of deadly wildfires outside Athens.
“Today, I visited the site of the tragedy. I spoke with citizens, engineers, soldiers, firemen and volunteers,” Mr Tsipras noted after his visit. “Unspeakable grief and infinite respect for all those who waged an uneven battle with the flames, and are now waging the battle of restoration.”
However, some have criticised the Government's response to the tragedy. When Defence Minister Panos Kammenos visited the area last week, he was heckled by distraught survivors.
The Authorities have also come under criticism for how buildings and roads were laid out in the area and an alleged lack of adequate preparation for the fire season.
Mr Tsipras has accepted full political responsibility for the disaster and pledged a series of changes, including a crackdown on illegal and haphazard construction thought to have worsened the blaze.
Greece wildfire: deadly blaze rages across holiday resorts near Athens
Greek authorities believe the fire resulted from arson and turned so deadly because winds of up to 62 miles per hour buffeted the pine-forested seaside resorts.
The Government will move decisively and quickly, the Prime Minister said, to a comprehensive redevelopment, spatial and urban planning, with the creation of appropriate infrastructure. This means creating communal spaces, open access to beaches and a plan to ensure the safety of citizens, in strict flood and fire conditions. And this, of course, is not just about Mati but dozens of areas in Athens and wider Attica.
Plan to Demolish Illegal Buildings
On Wednesday, Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis, his Deputy, Sokratis Famellos and Interior Minister Panos Skourletis announced a government plan for the demolition of hundreds of properties that have been illegally built on forestland and coastal areas such as those ravaged by the recent wildfires.
Addressing a joint press conference, Minister Stathakis said “The demolitions will be in a matter of days or weeks,” he said, noting that around 2,500 illegal buildings on forestland and another 700 on the coastline would be knocked down. In all these cases, the properties have been declared illegal by Greek courts. The owners have the right to appeal to the Council of State against the move within 15 days of receiving the demolition notices.
Deputy Minister Famellos indicated that municipal authorities are accountable as they are issuing the orders for demolitions. The piece of land in Mati, eastern Attica, where 26 people were found dead, is state property that has been encroached on, he said. The land, which had been built on, is officially designated as a coastal area and therefore any construction is illegal. He said that the specific area in Mati is part of the land-use plan that only allows its use by those bathing in the sea.
"On the stretch of land where 26 of our fellow citizens found tragic death, it has been confirmed that all the constructions were unauthorised and never legalized."
As for “the handling of the tragedy,” Interior Minister Skourletis said the Government would soon unveil “a plan for the radical overhaul and replanning of civil protection.”
Initial Financial Relief
Meanwhile, a legislative amendment was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday setting out the initial financial relief that will go to victims of the wildfires.
The amendment, which was jointly tabled by Minister Skourletis and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, proposes a sum of 5,900€ going toward repairs to each damaged home and 4,400€ for permanent physical injury. The relief concerns both primary residences and summer homes, with an extra sum of 600€ going to each disabled beneficiary or those with large families.
“Today, I visited the site of the tragedy. I spoke with citizens, engineers, soldiers, firemen and volunteers,” Mr Tsipras noted after his visit. “Unspeakable grief and infinite respect for all those who waged an uneven battle with the flames, and are now waging the battle of restoration.”
However, some have criticised the Government's response to the tragedy. When Defence Minister Panos Kammenos visited the area last week, he was heckled by distraught survivors.
The Authorities have also come under criticism for how buildings and roads were laid out in the area and an alleged lack of adequate preparation for the fire season.
Mr Tsipras has accepted full political responsibility for the disaster and pledged a series of changes, including a crackdown on illegal and haphazard construction thought to have worsened the blaze.
Greece wildfire: deadly blaze rages across holiday resorts near Athens
Greek authorities believe the fire resulted from arson and turned so deadly because winds of up to 62 miles per hour buffeted the pine-forested seaside resorts.
The Government will move decisively and quickly, the Prime Minister said, to a comprehensive redevelopment, spatial and urban planning, with the creation of appropriate infrastructure. This means creating communal spaces, open access to beaches and a plan to ensure the safety of citizens, in strict flood and fire conditions. And this, of course, is not just about Mati but dozens of areas in Athens and wider Attica.
Plan to Demolish Illegal Buildings
On Wednesday, Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis, his Deputy, Sokratis Famellos and Interior Minister Panos Skourletis announced a government plan for the demolition of hundreds of properties that have been illegally built on forestland and coastal areas such as those ravaged by the recent wildfires.
Addressing a joint press conference, Minister Stathakis said “The demolitions will be in a matter of days or weeks,” he said, noting that around 2,500 illegal buildings on forestland and another 700 on the coastline would be knocked down. In all these cases, the properties have been declared illegal by Greek courts. The owners have the right to appeal to the Council of State against the move within 15 days of receiving the demolition notices.
Deputy Minister Famellos indicated that municipal authorities are accountable as they are issuing the orders for demolitions. The piece of land in Mati, eastern Attica, where 26 people were found dead, is state property that has been encroached on, he said. The land, which had been built on, is officially designated as a coastal area and therefore any construction is illegal. He said that the specific area in Mati is part of the land-use plan that only allows its use by those bathing in the sea.
"On the stretch of land where 26 of our fellow citizens found tragic death, it has been confirmed that all the constructions were unauthorised and never legalized."
As for “the handling of the tragedy,” Interior Minister Skourletis said the Government would soon unveil “a plan for the radical overhaul and replanning of civil protection.”
Initial Financial Relief
Meanwhile, a legislative amendment was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday setting out the initial financial relief that will go to victims of the wildfires.
The amendment, which was jointly tabled by Minister Skourletis and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, proposes a sum of 5,900€ going toward repairs to each damaged home and 4,400€ for permanent physical injury. The relief concerns both primary residences and summer homes, with an extra sum of 600€ going to each disabled beneficiary or those with large families.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held a meeting with Christos Zerefos who heads the Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology at the Academy of Athens and Efthimios Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonic and Applied Geology at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens whose area of scientific expertise is the study and prevention of natural disasters.
After the meeting, the Prime Minister noted in his posting on social media that he had asked for their advice. "As climate change will bring us more often face to face with extreme weather events, strong winds or heavy rainfall, we need to upgrade the models and civil protection protocols to deal with floods and fires."
"They pledged to contribute with ideas and suggestions. And I am grateful to them. Let the two great tragedies of Attica, Mandra and Mati, be the alarm bell and the trigger for major changes. Let us enhance the prevention and protection mechanism properly so that we may never relive such tragedies."
Notes on the Economy
The way is open for the disbursement of the fifth and final installment of 15€ billion by the European Stability Mechanism [ESM] Board of Governors.
On 1 August 2018, the Governing Council of ESM approved the Supplementary Memorandum with Greece following the completion of national parliamentary procedures.
According to the same announcement, the European Commission today signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Greece, on behalf of the ESM. It should be noted that the ESM Governing Council now "paves the way for the disbursement of the fifth tranche", which will be released in the coming days.
Latest T-Bill Auction
Greece sold 26-week treasury bills on Wednesday, raising a total of 812.5€ million from the market, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said. The interest rate of the new issue was set at 0.85 percent, the same as the previous auction in July. Excluded from the international money markets since 2010, Greece conducts a monthly treasury bill auction programme to cover maturing debts and meet its financing needs, in parallel with the bailout programme.
Manufacturing Sector News
Greek factory activity grew steadily in July, with production and new orders increasing, leading companies to hire more staff, a survey showed on Wednesday.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, was unchanged in July at 53.5, above the 50 line denoting expansion in activity. The manufacturing sector has improved steadily since June 2017.
“Growth remained strong in July. Rates of expansion in output and new orders eased, partly reflecting a weaker expansion in new export orders,” said Andrew Harker, IHS Markit associate director.
Driving the 14th straight month of growth in output were increased new orders at home and from abroad. Export business grew but at a slower pace than June.
With raw materials prices continuing to rise at a fast pace at the start of the third quarter, some firms were able to pass their higher cost burdens on to customers.
“Input costs continued to rise at a sharp pace, posing a potential threat to new order growth going forward,” Mr. Harker said. “Nevertheless, a sharp and accelerated rise in average charges suggests client demand for Greek goods remains robust.”
Manufacturing jobs continued to increase in July, extending a trend seen since May 2017, with many companies maintaining a positive outlook on production growth in the coming year, the survey showed.
Greece’s jobless rate, at 20.2 percent in April, remains the highest in the euro zone.
After the meeting, the Prime Minister noted in his posting on social media that he had asked for their advice. "As climate change will bring us more often face to face with extreme weather events, strong winds or heavy rainfall, we need to upgrade the models and civil protection protocols to deal with floods and fires."
"They pledged to contribute with ideas and suggestions. And I am grateful to them. Let the two great tragedies of Attica, Mandra and Mati, be the alarm bell and the trigger for major changes. Let us enhance the prevention and protection mechanism properly so that we may never relive such tragedies."
Notes on the Economy
The way is open for the disbursement of the fifth and final installment of 15€ billion by the European Stability Mechanism [ESM] Board of Governors.
On 1 August 2018, the Governing Council of ESM approved the Supplementary Memorandum with Greece following the completion of national parliamentary procedures.
According to the same announcement, the European Commission today signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Greece, on behalf of the ESM. It should be noted that the ESM Governing Council now "paves the way for the disbursement of the fifth tranche", which will be released in the coming days.
Latest T-Bill Auction
Greece sold 26-week treasury bills on Wednesday, raising a total of 812.5€ million from the market, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said. The interest rate of the new issue was set at 0.85 percent, the same as the previous auction in July. Excluded from the international money markets since 2010, Greece conducts a monthly treasury bill auction programme to cover maturing debts and meet its financing needs, in parallel with the bailout programme.
Manufacturing Sector News
Greek factory activity grew steadily in July, with production and new orders increasing, leading companies to hire more staff, a survey showed on Wednesday.
Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, was unchanged in July at 53.5, above the 50 line denoting expansion in activity. The manufacturing sector has improved steadily since June 2017.
“Growth remained strong in July. Rates of expansion in output and new orders eased, partly reflecting a weaker expansion in new export orders,” said Andrew Harker, IHS Markit associate director.
Driving the 14th straight month of growth in output were increased new orders at home and from abroad. Export business grew but at a slower pace than June.
With raw materials prices continuing to rise at a fast pace at the start of the third quarter, some firms were able to pass their higher cost burdens on to customers.
“Input costs continued to rise at a sharp pace, posing a potential threat to new order growth going forward,” Mr. Harker said. “Nevertheless, a sharp and accelerated rise in average charges suggests client demand for Greek goods remains robust.”
Manufacturing jobs continued to increase in July, extending a trend seen since May 2017, with many companies maintaining a positive outlook on production growth in the coming year, the survey showed.
Greece’s jobless rate, at 20.2 percent in April, remains the highest in the euro zone.
"I won't hide the fact that I am overwhelmed by mixed feelings right now ... Pain, devastation for the human lives unexpectedly and unfairly lost. But also anguish at whether we acted correctly in everything we did."
28.07.2018 Alexis Tsipras
Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras said he assumed "political responsibility" for the tragedy.
At a televised cabinet meeting, PM Tsipras said he wanted first of all "to assume completely before the great Greek people the political responsibility for this tragedy".
"I believe that is what the Prime Minister and the Government should do." "I have called you here today first of all to take full political responsibility for this tragedy in front of my cabinet and the Greek people," he said. "I won't hide the fact that I am overwhelmed by mixed feelings right now ... Pain, devastation for the human lives unexpectedly and unfairly lost. But also anguish at whether we acted correctly in everything we did."
The Government has announced a long list of relief measures including a one-off 10,000€ payment for families of the victims. Their spouses and near relatives were also offered public sector jobs.
About 300 firefighters and volunteers were still combing the area on Friday for those still missing. More than 500 homes were destroyed by the blaze.
PM Tsipras promised a national plan to tackle decades of unauthorised construction and to reform and upgrade the Civil Protection Service "to guarantee ... that there will be no more tragedies".
The disaster unleashed a wave of solidarity and many survivors were being looked after by voluntary organisations, who are providing them with accommodation, clothing and food.
At a televised cabinet meeting, PM Tsipras said he wanted first of all "to assume completely before the great Greek people the political responsibility for this tragedy".
"I believe that is what the Prime Minister and the Government should do." "I have called you here today first of all to take full political responsibility for this tragedy in front of my cabinet and the Greek people," he said. "I won't hide the fact that I am overwhelmed by mixed feelings right now ... Pain, devastation for the human lives unexpectedly and unfairly lost. But also anguish at whether we acted correctly in everything we did."
The Government has announced a long list of relief measures including a one-off 10,000€ payment for families of the victims. Their spouses and near relatives were also offered public sector jobs.
About 300 firefighters and volunteers were still combing the area on Friday for those still missing. More than 500 homes were destroyed by the blaze.
PM Tsipras promised a national plan to tackle decades of unauthorised construction and to reform and upgrade the Civil Protection Service "to guarantee ... that there will be no more tragedies".
The disaster unleashed a wave of solidarity and many survivors were being looked after by voluntary organisations, who are providing them with accommodation, clothing and food.
Greece continues to deal with the devastating wildfires in east and west Attica that killed at least 86 people and left 187 injured.
The effort to extinguish the most disastrous wildfires Attica has seen in decades continued in Kineta (west Attica) and the Geraneia Mountains (east Attica). Authorities said many people are still reported missing and there are fears that the death toll could rise further.
The Government announced a series of measures on Tuesday to help those affected by the devastating fires, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the nation in a televised statement, declaring three-days of mourning.
The Greek PM said the country is experiencing an unspeakable tragedy. "There is nothing more valuable than human life” he said in his message, adding that “we must not allow mourning to overwhelm us, as there are hours of struggle, hours of unity, bravery and solidarity ahead”.
“We can only stand united in the face of tragedy.” “There are no dividing lines at such times”, he said adding that responsibilities will be apportioned later.
PM Tsipras said that the struggle to put out the fires, to save what can be saved, to alleviate the pain of those affected and to find the missing people continues. He thanked the foreign countries that rushed to help Greece tackle the fires. Italy, Germany, Poland and France all sent help in the form of planes, vehicles and firefighters, while Spain and Cyprus also offered assistance, and more planes joined from Romania.
Finally, he praised the efforts being made by firemen, medical staff, volunteers, the armed forces and the police who are fighting the wildfires. He promised to leave nobody without the help of the State, adding that all the necessary answers will be found for the tragedy.
Later, Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos announced a series of measures. He said the Finance Ministry will open a special bank account to collect money, both from State entities and private individuals to finance the reconstruction of damaged residencies and other properties.
According to Mr.Tzanakopoulos, emergency measures to financially support those whose properties were damaged in the fires include: postponing the payment of tax dues until 28th September; a suspension of ENFIA property tax; and in some cases an exemption from tax.
The core measures as well as the compensations to be paid out will be announced in coming days, as experts have already begun to assess the extent and scope of the damage to properties and land in the areas hit by the wildfires.
First direct support measures
"In the next few days and after an overall assessment of the situation and extent of the damage, we will also announce the main package of measures to support the families of the victims of the disaster, as well as special aids and compensation for the victims, in addition to what is currently stipulated by the law" the Government spokesman said in his statement.
Specifically, a credit of 20€ million was approved by the Ministry of Finance and placed in a special account of the Ministry of the Interior to address the immediate needs of the affected municipalities and their citizens.
The establishment of a special account by the Finance Ministry, for contributions by the State, as well as individuals, because, the Government spokesman stressed, there is a tremendous interest in offering practical solidarity both from home and abroad. From this account will be financed the repair of material damage. The exact contribution of the State will be announced in the days following the overall assessment of the situation.
It was also decided to strengthen the joint police, fire and military patrols to effectively police the affected areas. At the same time, Mr. Tzanakopoulos highlighted the extraordinary measures announced earlier by the Finance Ministry, such as the extension for the submission of tax declarations (taxes on income, VAT and other taxes) until 28.9.2018.
The effort to extinguish the most disastrous wildfires Attica has seen in decades continued in Kineta (west Attica) and the Geraneia Mountains (east Attica). Authorities said many people are still reported missing and there are fears that the death toll could rise further.
The Government announced a series of measures on Tuesday to help those affected by the devastating fires, while Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the nation in a televised statement, declaring three-days of mourning.
The Greek PM said the country is experiencing an unspeakable tragedy. "There is nothing more valuable than human life” he said in his message, adding that “we must not allow mourning to overwhelm us, as there are hours of struggle, hours of unity, bravery and solidarity ahead”.
“We can only stand united in the face of tragedy.” “There are no dividing lines at such times”, he said adding that responsibilities will be apportioned later.
PM Tsipras said that the struggle to put out the fires, to save what can be saved, to alleviate the pain of those affected and to find the missing people continues. He thanked the foreign countries that rushed to help Greece tackle the fires. Italy, Germany, Poland and France all sent help in the form of planes, vehicles and firefighters, while Spain and Cyprus also offered assistance, and more planes joined from Romania.
Finally, he praised the efforts being made by firemen, medical staff, volunteers, the armed forces and the police who are fighting the wildfires. He promised to leave nobody without the help of the State, adding that all the necessary answers will be found for the tragedy.
Later, Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos announced a series of measures. He said the Finance Ministry will open a special bank account to collect money, both from State entities and private individuals to finance the reconstruction of damaged residencies and other properties.
According to Mr.Tzanakopoulos, emergency measures to financially support those whose properties were damaged in the fires include: postponing the payment of tax dues until 28th September; a suspension of ENFIA property tax; and in some cases an exemption from tax.
The core measures as well as the compensations to be paid out will be announced in coming days, as experts have already begun to assess the extent and scope of the damage to properties and land in the areas hit by the wildfires.
First direct support measures
"In the next few days and after an overall assessment of the situation and extent of the damage, we will also announce the main package of measures to support the families of the victims of the disaster, as well as special aids and compensation for the victims, in addition to what is currently stipulated by the law" the Government spokesman said in his statement.
Specifically, a credit of 20€ million was approved by the Ministry of Finance and placed in a special account of the Ministry of the Interior to address the immediate needs of the affected municipalities and their citizens.
The establishment of a special account by the Finance Ministry, for contributions by the State, as well as individuals, because, the Government spokesman stressed, there is a tremendous interest in offering practical solidarity both from home and abroad. From this account will be financed the repair of material damage. The exact contribution of the State will be announced in the days following the overall assessment of the situation.
It was also decided to strengthen the joint police, fire and military patrols to effectively police the affected areas. At the same time, Mr. Tzanakopoulos highlighted the extraordinary measures announced earlier by the Finance Ministry, such as the extension for the submission of tax declarations (taxes on income, VAT and other taxes) until 28.9.2018.
"Mandra and Rafina taken together are both instances of the same unregulated urban and spatial development, struck by two different phenomena: the floods of Mandra and the fires of Eastern Attica."
Speaking on the Athenian-Macedonian radio station, Efthimios Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonic and Applied Geology at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Agency and the Hellenic Geological Society made these observations. "For years, criminal actions and procedures have taken place in the locating of our settlements, the locating of towns, because here we are dealing with another Mandra [The scene in Attica last year of catastrophic flooding Ed]."
"Mandra and Rafina taken together are both instances of the same unregulated urban and spatial development, struck by two different phenomena: the floods of Mandra and the fires of Eastern Attica." "The impact on housing and infrastructure is great, but what creates a great deal of concern for us is not only the 1,500 structures that have been destroyed, they will be rebuilt somehow. The great challenge for us is to investigate why so many people have been lost in such a small fire, because the fire was small in terms of size. It is 100 times smaller than the fire that occurred in Ileia in 2007."
"Along the length of the fire’s path were the roads of the town plan and housing development. The crime in the area affected was that there were no escape routes, there were no crossroads, only streets that were traps. Along the whole length of the streets there was no way out either at the coast or at any other point, and this effectively trapped the inhabitants and so we had all these victims," the Professor explained, adding that "These are difficult times, but they require us to be methodical and calm".
Speaking later to ERT1, he said that according to the first estimates the area affected is 15 square kilometres.
"With continuous monitoring by satellite, we are trying to predict the next day, which is very difficult, given the environmental degradation in the area, water pollution, floods, intense erosion, landslides. And these phenomena will not be long coming but will be caused by the first rain."
"It will take a long struggle to prevent future disasters. Let us be prepared to deal with these phenomena. At Athens University there exist the the required resources, since it has 50 departments dealing with the relevant specialisms."
Professor Lekkas underlined the urgency of mapping the situation so that we do not experience worse problems. "If the actions are targeted and environmentally acceptable, the State has time."
"In the records this will be recorded as the only fire with so many victims in such a short time. We should never in any circumstances have so many victims. This is what we are looking at at the University to see how this disaster came about. Basically, it was something similar to Mandra. Mainly, wrong spatial planning and town planning. It is just that in Mandra we had a flood while here a fire."
The research team of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was in the area immediately after the fire of July 23rd in the area of Eastern Attica and collected data and witness statements.
Professor Efthimis Lekkas, indicating that the systematic analysis of the data is still in progress, gave the first data and conclusions about the phenomenon and its devastating effects.
Data – Initial Conclusions
1. This is a typical case of a fire in a zone of mixed “wildland urban interface (WUI)”, where the highest probability of human losses is recorded in the Greek world and globally. Especially in Greece such cases are numerous.
2. Powerful west winds, speeds by location and distance of more than 90 kilometres an hour have played a very important role in the rapid downward spread of the fire.
3. The rapid lateral spread of the fire was probably the main reason for the lack of early warning, which contributed to the large number of casualties.
4. It was observed that mainly houses and buildings raised up or on first floors were affected, with less recorded damage to the ground floors and below ground floors, a typical example of a “crown fire”.
5. Based on testimonies currently being analyzed, it appears that the population near the beach was informed of the fire by people who evacuated the western part of the settlement of Mati, which was already affected and not in the form of early warning from any official body. This indicates that there was almost zero warning and no time to react.
6. The field research revealed weaknesses in the construction of houses with vulnerable points on the roof, the window frames and other parts that contributed to their destruction. Their improvement may have had positive effects in terms of their vulnerability to fires.
7. Importantly, it is considered to be the particular urban design of the settlement, which has acted as a "trap" for the population that tried to evacuate. Some of its important features were: narrow streets, numerous dead ends, particularly elongated building blocks, without the possibility of lateral escape.
8. On the basis of testimonies that are currently being analyzed systematically, the congestion has contributed to the effects due to panic as well as the large concentration of a population -residents and visitors / tourists - who probably did not know the geography of the area.
9. The morphology of the coastline made it difficult to get to the beach in most places (crumbling edges), limited access to beaches, which combined with low visibility and a smoke-filled atmosphere contributed to the entrapment.
10. The likely unexpected behaviour of the fire due to a change in the type of vegetation. The fire started from areas that had been burned in the past and moved to an area that had not been burned recently so had a high concentration of combustible material and therefore the fire’s behaviour was far more explosive.
Reactions
Rafina Mayor Evangelos Bournous blamed the layout of the settlements for making the situation much worse. Many of the houses appear to have sprung up in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with no consideration for escape routes, particularly down to the beach. He said an evacuation would not have been an option, given the speed at which the fire spread and the haphazard layout of the area, which featured small winding roads and cliffs next to the sea.
"They talk about an evacuation plan. How can an evacuation plan be implemented on a settlement [built] outside of town planning, which does not have places for people to gather?" the Mayor said.
"Everyone tried to leave all together and they got trapped on the coastal road."
Maria Spyraki, spokesperson for the New Democracy party said "This Government has just added unbridled cheek to its abject failure in protecting lives and people's property." New Democracy
said questions had been raised over the number of firefighters available and evacuation procedures.
Fofi Gennimata, President of the Movement for Change, called for the Government to resign over the disaster. "This Government is dangerous and must go."
Senior Cleric Bishop Ambrosios of Kalavryta linked the wildfire tragedy to the wrath of God in a blog he wrote on Tuesday. He suggested the fires were God’s punishment because of Greece’s “atheist Prime Minister”.
“Atheist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras draws the wrath of God,” Bishop Ambrosios wrote.
“The atheists of SYRIZA are the causes of the general disaster! Their atheism draws the wrath of God!” he added.
The statements were criticised by Archbishop Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, on Wednesday who called Bishop Ambrosios’ words a ‘sad phenomenon’.
Investigation
Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, visiting the area, stated that engineers will check the files to see how building licences were granted in the affected areas. He pledged that engineers will check on the planning permissions of all the buildings located 100 metres from the beach.
He said that there were luxurious houses and buildings right next to the beach. "Of special significance is the particular urban planning of the settlement, which has acted as a " trap" for the population that tried to evacuate".
Officials citing information from satellite maps have said that 13 fires broke out at the same time across the region of Attica on Monday.
Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas on Thursday suggested that arson had played a role in the tragedy in the Rafina area. "A serious piece of information has led to us opening an investigation into possible criminal acts".
Speaking on the Athenian-Macedonian radio station, Efthimios Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonic and Applied Geology at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Agency and the Hellenic Geological Society made these observations. "For years, criminal actions and procedures have taken place in the locating of our settlements, the locating of towns, because here we are dealing with another Mandra [The scene in Attica last year of catastrophic flooding Ed]."
"Mandra and Rafina taken together are both instances of the same unregulated urban and spatial development, struck by two different phenomena: the floods of Mandra and the fires of Eastern Attica." "The impact on housing and infrastructure is great, but what creates a great deal of concern for us is not only the 1,500 structures that have been destroyed, they will be rebuilt somehow. The great challenge for us is to investigate why so many people have been lost in such a small fire, because the fire was small in terms of size. It is 100 times smaller than the fire that occurred in Ileia in 2007."
"Along the length of the fire’s path were the roads of the town plan and housing development. The crime in the area affected was that there were no escape routes, there were no crossroads, only streets that were traps. Along the whole length of the streets there was no way out either at the coast or at any other point, and this effectively trapped the inhabitants and so we had all these victims," the Professor explained, adding that "These are difficult times, but they require us to be methodical and calm".
Speaking later to ERT1, he said that according to the first estimates the area affected is 15 square kilometres.
"With continuous monitoring by satellite, we are trying to predict the next day, which is very difficult, given the environmental degradation in the area, water pollution, floods, intense erosion, landslides. And these phenomena will not be long coming but will be caused by the first rain."
"It will take a long struggle to prevent future disasters. Let us be prepared to deal with these phenomena. At Athens University there exist the the required resources, since it has 50 departments dealing with the relevant specialisms."
Professor Lekkas underlined the urgency of mapping the situation so that we do not experience worse problems. "If the actions are targeted and environmentally acceptable, the State has time."
"In the records this will be recorded as the only fire with so many victims in such a short time. We should never in any circumstances have so many victims. This is what we are looking at at the University to see how this disaster came about. Basically, it was something similar to Mandra. Mainly, wrong spatial planning and town planning. It is just that in Mandra we had a flood while here a fire."
The research team of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was in the area immediately after the fire of July 23rd in the area of Eastern Attica and collected data and witness statements.
Professor Efthimis Lekkas, indicating that the systematic analysis of the data is still in progress, gave the first data and conclusions about the phenomenon and its devastating effects.
Data – Initial Conclusions
1. This is a typical case of a fire in a zone of mixed “wildland urban interface (WUI)”, where the highest probability of human losses is recorded in the Greek world and globally. Especially in Greece such cases are numerous.
2. Powerful west winds, speeds by location and distance of more than 90 kilometres an hour have played a very important role in the rapid downward spread of the fire.
3. The rapid lateral spread of the fire was probably the main reason for the lack of early warning, which contributed to the large number of casualties.
4. It was observed that mainly houses and buildings raised up or on first floors were affected, with less recorded damage to the ground floors and below ground floors, a typical example of a “crown fire”.
5. Based on testimonies currently being analyzed, it appears that the population near the beach was informed of the fire by people who evacuated the western part of the settlement of Mati, which was already affected and not in the form of early warning from any official body. This indicates that there was almost zero warning and no time to react.
6. The field research revealed weaknesses in the construction of houses with vulnerable points on the roof, the window frames and other parts that contributed to their destruction. Their improvement may have had positive effects in terms of their vulnerability to fires.
7. Importantly, it is considered to be the particular urban design of the settlement, which has acted as a "trap" for the population that tried to evacuate. Some of its important features were: narrow streets, numerous dead ends, particularly elongated building blocks, without the possibility of lateral escape.
8. On the basis of testimonies that are currently being analyzed systematically, the congestion has contributed to the effects due to panic as well as the large concentration of a population -residents and visitors / tourists - who probably did not know the geography of the area.
9. The morphology of the coastline made it difficult to get to the beach in most places (crumbling edges), limited access to beaches, which combined with low visibility and a smoke-filled atmosphere contributed to the entrapment.
10. The likely unexpected behaviour of the fire due to a change in the type of vegetation. The fire started from areas that had been burned in the past and moved to an area that had not been burned recently so had a high concentration of combustible material and therefore the fire’s behaviour was far more explosive.
Reactions
Rafina Mayor Evangelos Bournous blamed the layout of the settlements for making the situation much worse. Many of the houses appear to have sprung up in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with no consideration for escape routes, particularly down to the beach. He said an evacuation would not have been an option, given the speed at which the fire spread and the haphazard layout of the area, which featured small winding roads and cliffs next to the sea.
"They talk about an evacuation plan. How can an evacuation plan be implemented on a settlement [built] outside of town planning, which does not have places for people to gather?" the Mayor said.
"Everyone tried to leave all together and they got trapped on the coastal road."
Maria Spyraki, spokesperson for the New Democracy party said "This Government has just added unbridled cheek to its abject failure in protecting lives and people's property." New Democracy
said questions had been raised over the number of firefighters available and evacuation procedures.
Fofi Gennimata, President of the Movement for Change, called for the Government to resign over the disaster. "This Government is dangerous and must go."
Senior Cleric Bishop Ambrosios of Kalavryta linked the wildfire tragedy to the wrath of God in a blog he wrote on Tuesday. He suggested the fires were God’s punishment because of Greece’s “atheist Prime Minister”.
“Atheist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras draws the wrath of God,” Bishop Ambrosios wrote.
“The atheists of SYRIZA are the causes of the general disaster! Their atheism draws the wrath of God!” he added.
The statements were criticised by Archbishop Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, on Wednesday who called Bishop Ambrosios’ words a ‘sad phenomenon’.
Investigation
Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, visiting the area, stated that engineers will check the files to see how building licences were granted in the affected areas. He pledged that engineers will check on the planning permissions of all the buildings located 100 metres from the beach.
He said that there were luxurious houses and buildings right next to the beach. "Of special significance is the particular urban planning of the settlement, which has acted as a " trap" for the population that tried to evacuate".
Officials citing information from satellite maps have said that 13 fires broke out at the same time across the region of Attica on Monday.
Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas on Thursday suggested that arson had played a role in the tragedy in the Rafina area. "A serious piece of information has led to us opening an investigation into possible criminal acts".
Tourism: Record Increases in Turnover, Arrivals, Tours
21.7.2018
In the wide range of activities of the national economy from turnover to the number of tickets issued by museums and archaeological sites and from the demand for labour at the holiday resorts to the traffic at the airports, the benefits of the records that are being broken this year by Greek tourism .
All elements of state and business entities directly and indirectly involved with tourism (Hellenic Statistical Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Fraport, Athens International Airport, National Air Navigation Authority, Bank of Greece, Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers, Ergani) attest to an impressive growth rate of Greek tourism in 2018.
Significant benefits for all productive sectors from the spectacular growth of tourism were also mentioned by the Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura with her speech at the recent meeting of the Board of Directors. of the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
From the data gathered from these institutions, the Minister reported:
* 12.4% growth was recorded in foreign tourism in the first quarter, exceeding 1.8 million visitors - not only a record but showing that for the first time Greece had significant foreign tourist activity during the winter season as well.
* Also there was a 13.2% annual increase in net tourism revenues in the first quarter, amounting to 554€ million euros.
* An increase of 8.7% was recorded in the first quarter compared to the same period last year in the travel to Attica, which remained the top Greek destination with more than 751,000 foreign visitors.
The diffusion of benefits is geographically universal, as for the first time all regions of Greece have benefited from the rise of tourism. The destinations of Western Greece recorded an increase of 147.4% in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 91% in the Anatolian Macedonia - Thrace, 71.6% in West Macedonia, 58.6% in the region of Epirus, 47% in Thessaly, in the North Aegean 41%. At the same time, the most popular destinations, such as the South Aegean (up 17.2%), Crete (up 15%) and Sterea Hellas (up 12.6%) recorded an increase in revenues.
Increased traffic at airports
An impressive increase of 20.4% was recorded in the five-month period of international aviation arrivals compared to last year, surpassing 4.5 million visitors.
In the January-June period, an increase of 16.8% was recorded of international passenger traffic in the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport.
An increase of 15.7% was recorded in international passenger traffic in Athens International Airport in the first six months compared to last year.
An additional 1.2 million extra visitors (totaling more than 10 million visitors) are projected to visit Greece between July and October compared to last year, with direct connections from foreign airports to 19 Greek regional destinations.
Over 30% more tickets to museums and archaeological sites sold
An increase of 31.4% was recorded in the sale of tickets at museums and archaeological sites in the first quarter of the year compared to the corresponding period of 2017 and total visitors by 22.2%.
Compared to the same quarter last year, turnover in accommodation and catering services in the first quarter increased by 10.9% versus last year’s increase of 0.9%.
Revenue growth of over 12% was recorded by hotels in each category in the first five months of 2018 compared to 2017. For example, May saw a rise of 15.7%, compared to May 2017.
Occupancy of hotels in Athens and Thessaloniki increased by 2.4% in the period January - May 2018 compared to the corresponding period of 2017, reaching an average of 70.4%. This May the occupancy rate exceeded 85%. In the holiday 'resorts' of all categories across Greece, occupancy rates in the first five months of the year increased by 13.7%, averaging 63.5%.
An increase of 10.6% in revenue per available room was recorded in Athens and Thessaloniki hotels during the first five months of 2017 and 25.8% in resorts.
An extra 298,171 jobs were created in the first half of 2018.
All elements of state and business entities directly and indirectly involved with tourism (Hellenic Statistical Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Fraport, Athens International Airport, National Air Navigation Authority, Bank of Greece, Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers, Ergani) attest to an impressive growth rate of Greek tourism in 2018.
Significant benefits for all productive sectors from the spectacular growth of tourism were also mentioned by the Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura with her speech at the recent meeting of the Board of Directors. of the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
From the data gathered from these institutions, the Minister reported:
* 12.4% growth was recorded in foreign tourism in the first quarter, exceeding 1.8 million visitors - not only a record but showing that for the first time Greece had significant foreign tourist activity during the winter season as well.
* Also there was a 13.2% annual increase in net tourism revenues in the first quarter, amounting to 554€ million euros.
* An increase of 8.7% was recorded in the first quarter compared to the same period last year in the travel to Attica, which remained the top Greek destination with more than 751,000 foreign visitors.
The diffusion of benefits is geographically universal, as for the first time all regions of Greece have benefited from the rise of tourism. The destinations of Western Greece recorded an increase of 147.4% in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 91% in the Anatolian Macedonia - Thrace, 71.6% in West Macedonia, 58.6% in the region of Epirus, 47% in Thessaly, in the North Aegean 41%. At the same time, the most popular destinations, such as the South Aegean (up 17.2%), Crete (up 15%) and Sterea Hellas (up 12.6%) recorded an increase in revenues.
Increased traffic at airports
An impressive increase of 20.4% was recorded in the five-month period of international aviation arrivals compared to last year, surpassing 4.5 million visitors.
In the January-June period, an increase of 16.8% was recorded of international passenger traffic in the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport.
An increase of 15.7% was recorded in international passenger traffic in Athens International Airport in the first six months compared to last year.
An additional 1.2 million extra visitors (totaling more than 10 million visitors) are projected to visit Greece between July and October compared to last year, with direct connections from foreign airports to 19 Greek regional destinations.
Over 30% more tickets to museums and archaeological sites sold
An increase of 31.4% was recorded in the sale of tickets at museums and archaeological sites in the first quarter of the year compared to the corresponding period of 2017 and total visitors by 22.2%.
Compared to the same quarter last year, turnover in accommodation and catering services in the first quarter increased by 10.9% versus last year’s increase of 0.9%.
Revenue growth of over 12% was recorded by hotels in each category in the first five months of 2018 compared to 2017. For example, May saw a rise of 15.7%, compared to May 2017.
Occupancy of hotels in Athens and Thessaloniki increased by 2.4% in the period January - May 2018 compared to the corresponding period of 2017, reaching an average of 70.4%. This May the occupancy rate exceeded 85%. In the holiday 'resorts' of all categories across Greece, occupancy rates in the first five months of the year increased by 13.7%, averaging 63.5%.
An increase of 10.6% in revenue per available room was recorded in Athens and Thessaloniki hotels during the first five months of 2017 and 25.8% in resorts.
An extra 298,171 jobs were created in the first half of 2018.
"I would not say that it was one of the easiest meetings. But I am more optimistic than before the meeting." PM Tsipras
The President of Turkey spoke about his talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Brussels on Thursday.
"At our meeting we talked about the 8 military coup instigators, the issue of security in the Aegean, immigration and cooperation on this issue, the mosque in Athens, the Muslim minority, the Cyprus issue, and the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral actions. Mr Tsipras moves with good attitude and intends to improve our relations. But we have to work harder.
At our meeting we talked about the military issues, as well as about the investments of Turkish investors in Greece. Greece is always waiting for Turkish investors.
We also spoke about the 8 FETO members who fled in Greece, as well as the two Greek soldiers under trial in Turkey because they violated the borders.
We also talked about the Fethiye Mosque, the issue of the mosques in Athens, their restoration. We examined in detail the issue of western Thrace. We reiterated the issue of electing a mufti not by appointment but through elections.
If God wants, the mufti will be elected. He does not say no. He tells us "we will move into a new system". He tells us "we will abolish the mufti's appointment". Let's say that green light has turned on this issue, but we can not say that the job has been finished.
Everybody knows our determination to fight the Gülenists (FETO). Mr. Tsipras knows that. I explained to him our persistence about the extradition of the 8 coup fugitives who fled to Greece after the 15 July coup attempt. Of course, he also stands on the issue of the soldiers who have violated the border in Adrianople. To sort out these issues, we have agreed to make a good effort.
We also talked about Cyprus. As part of developments in the northern and southern parts of the island, we discussed the Guterres framework. He will send his representative. There will be contacts. We must make our talks with Tsipras. Also, our Foreign Ministers, our intelligence services, the heads of our armed forces should discuss the Aegean issues in order to prepare matters. We will then discuss them".
After the meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit, PM Tsipras said "I would not say that it was one of the easiest meetings. But I am more optimistic than before the meeting."
The President of Turkey spoke about his talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Brussels on Thursday.
"At our meeting we talked about the 8 military coup instigators, the issue of security in the Aegean, immigration and cooperation on this issue, the mosque in Athens, the Muslim minority, the Cyprus issue, and the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral actions. Mr Tsipras moves with good attitude and intends to improve our relations. But we have to work harder.
At our meeting we talked about the military issues, as well as about the investments of Turkish investors in Greece. Greece is always waiting for Turkish investors.
We also spoke about the 8 FETO members who fled in Greece, as well as the two Greek soldiers under trial in Turkey because they violated the borders.
We also talked about the Fethiye Mosque, the issue of the mosques in Athens, their restoration. We examined in detail the issue of western Thrace. We reiterated the issue of electing a mufti not by appointment but through elections.
If God wants, the mufti will be elected. He does not say no. He tells us "we will move into a new system". He tells us "we will abolish the mufti's appointment". Let's say that green light has turned on this issue, but we can not say that the job has been finished.
Everybody knows our determination to fight the Gülenists (FETO). Mr. Tsipras knows that. I explained to him our persistence about the extradition of the 8 coup fugitives who fled to Greece after the 15 July coup attempt. Of course, he also stands on the issue of the soldiers who have violated the border in Adrianople. To sort out these issues, we have agreed to make a good effort.
We also talked about Cyprus. As part of developments in the northern and southern parts of the island, we discussed the Guterres framework. He will send his representative. There will be contacts. We must make our talks with Tsipras. Also, our Foreign Ministers, our intelligence services, the heads of our armed forces should discuss the Aegean issues in order to prepare matters. We will then discuss them".
After the meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit, PM Tsipras said "I would not say that it was one of the easiest meetings. But I am more optimistic than before the meeting."
Supreme Court Ruling on Prespa Agreement
Yesterday the Greek Supreme Court [ΣτΕ], chaired by Vice President Athanasios Rantos and the rapporteur Mr Skaltsounis, rejected the petition of the Pan-Macedonian Organisations for the suspension of the Prespa Agreement, at the same overturning a number of arguments put forward by New Democracy with regard to the effects of the agreement.
Specifically, the Supreme Court scrutinised the organizations’ claims that by notifying NATO and the EU that Greece supports the accession of FYROM to the two organizations, "a situation will be created that will face the Greek Parliament with a fait accompli when it is called upon to ratify the accession acts, just as the danger lies in wait of the country being held responsible internationally if it does not do so." The Judges responded that it does not appear that these accession procedures will have been completed before the agreement comes into force nor does it appear that irreversible legal situations have been created. In addition, the Judges referred to the fact that, in the event that the agreement does not come into force both as a whole and "as regards its provisions separately, it will not bind any of the parties in any way".
The Supreme Court also rejected the danger of losing the name "Macedonian" for Greek products, on the one hand because the applicants did not have a legitimate interest in the issue, but mainly because they noted that this claim refers to "possible, future and uncertain situations which, moreover, are not directly caused by text of the agreement".
Accordingly, citing the danger of a revision of school textbooks in the direction of the falsification of Greek History, the Supreme Court responded that this consequence "is future and uncertain, mainly because it does not appear that any revision of textbooks is inevitable, but also much more importantly, any move in such a direction would of necessity be decided by the multidisciplinary committee that would be set up."
In addition, the court decision adds, "the legality of school curriculum can be challenged before the Supreme Court at a later stage".
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis issued this statement: "The decision by the Committee of Suspensions of the Supreme Court is not just a blow for the far-right and the jingoists, who for weeks have traded in violence and excesses with allegations of "surrender"and "betrayal". Mostly it is a complete and thoroughly detailed scientific response by the Supreme Court against unfounded allegations of New Democracy and PASOK about completed facts, even in the event of the non-ratification of the Agreement."
"The violent propaganda has fallen into the void with the stamp of Justice and it is demonstrated in the most fervent way that the Government has fully safeguarded national interests both in substance and as regards the procedure to be followed."
He stressed that the following statements are also mentioned in the court’s decision:
-The decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague of 5.12.2011 on violation of the Interim Agreement by Greece on the nomination of FYROM to NATO at the 2008 Bucharest Summit.
-There is no mention of the Macedonian Ethnicity just of Citizenship in the Prespa Agreement.
- It does not appear that a revision of the school manuals is inevitable.
- There is no risk of losing the name "Macedonian" for Greek products.
"We expect New Democracy, following the decision of the Committee of Suspensions of the Supreme Court, to cease unreasonable misinformation and misinformation if it wants to demonstrate in practice that it respects the judgments and the independence of the Judiciary.
Otherwise, let them declare that they disagree with the decision, putting forward arguments rather than inarticulate cries and lies that have nothing to do with the text of the Prespa Agreement and its provisions."
Yesterday the Greek Supreme Court [ΣτΕ], chaired by Vice President Athanasios Rantos and the rapporteur Mr Skaltsounis, rejected the petition of the Pan-Macedonian Organisations for the suspension of the Prespa Agreement, at the same overturning a number of arguments put forward by New Democracy with regard to the effects of the agreement.
Specifically, the Supreme Court scrutinised the organizations’ claims that by notifying NATO and the EU that Greece supports the accession of FYROM to the two organizations, "a situation will be created that will face the Greek Parliament with a fait accompli when it is called upon to ratify the accession acts, just as the danger lies in wait of the country being held responsible internationally if it does not do so." The Judges responded that it does not appear that these accession procedures will have been completed before the agreement comes into force nor does it appear that irreversible legal situations have been created. In addition, the Judges referred to the fact that, in the event that the agreement does not come into force both as a whole and "as regards its provisions separately, it will not bind any of the parties in any way".
The Supreme Court also rejected the danger of losing the name "Macedonian" for Greek products, on the one hand because the applicants did not have a legitimate interest in the issue, but mainly because they noted that this claim refers to "possible, future and uncertain situations which, moreover, are not directly caused by text of the agreement".
Accordingly, citing the danger of a revision of school textbooks in the direction of the falsification of Greek History, the Supreme Court responded that this consequence "is future and uncertain, mainly because it does not appear that any revision of textbooks is inevitable, but also much more importantly, any move in such a direction would of necessity be decided by the multidisciplinary committee that would be set up."
In addition, the court decision adds, "the legality of school curriculum can be challenged before the Supreme Court at a later stage".
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis issued this statement: "The decision by the Committee of Suspensions of the Supreme Court is not just a blow for the far-right and the jingoists, who for weeks have traded in violence and excesses with allegations of "surrender"and "betrayal". Mostly it is a complete and thoroughly detailed scientific response by the Supreme Court against unfounded allegations of New Democracy and PASOK about completed facts, even in the event of the non-ratification of the Agreement."
"The violent propaganda has fallen into the void with the stamp of Justice and it is demonstrated in the most fervent way that the Government has fully safeguarded national interests both in substance and as regards the procedure to be followed."
He stressed that the following statements are also mentioned in the court’s decision:
-The decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague of 5.12.2011 on violation of the Interim Agreement by Greece on the nomination of FYROM to NATO at the 2008 Bucharest Summit.
-There is no mention of the Macedonian Ethnicity just of Citizenship in the Prespa Agreement.
- It does not appear that a revision of the school manuals is inevitable.
- There is no risk of losing the name "Macedonian" for Greek products.
"We expect New Democracy, following the decision of the Committee of Suspensions of the Supreme Court, to cease unreasonable misinformation and misinformation if it wants to demonstrate in practice that it respects the judgments and the independence of the Judiciary.
Otherwise, let them declare that they disagree with the decision, putting forward arguments rather than inarticulate cries and lies that have nothing to do with the text of the Prespa Agreement and its provisions."
Thessaloniki Takes Action on Environmental Protection
A prosecutor in the northern port city of Thessaloniki has requested that the head of the city’s environmental monitoring agency and eight more inspectors should stand trial after an investigation revealed a high number of administrative violations.
The investigation was launched in 2015 on the orders of the country’s general inspector for public administration to scrutinise the work done by environmental inspectors in northern Greece back to 2010.
However, the authorities were only able to collect data on the period from 2010 to 2011, as the head of the Thessaloniki agency refused to provide any details for the remaining four-year period.
Nevertheless, the Authorities still found many environmental violations had been “covered up, either through unjustified delays or by direct administrative orders”.
In 63 out of the 122 cases between 2010 and 2011 that were checked, significant delays, in some cases up to five years, were found. In many cases, no fines had been imposed on violators.
The delays concerned violations of environmental regulations at landfills, biological waste treatment facilities, private businesses and even hospitals.
According to the report, in the five-and-a-half years since the environmental monitoring agency’s inspection at nine hospitals, none of the cases has been brought to a conclusion.
A prosecutor in the northern port city of Thessaloniki has requested that the head of the city’s environmental monitoring agency and eight more inspectors should stand trial after an investigation revealed a high number of administrative violations.
The investigation was launched in 2015 on the orders of the country’s general inspector for public administration to scrutinise the work done by environmental inspectors in northern Greece back to 2010.
However, the authorities were only able to collect data on the period from 2010 to 2011, as the head of the Thessaloniki agency refused to provide any details for the remaining four-year period.
Nevertheless, the Authorities still found many environmental violations had been “covered up, either through unjustified delays or by direct administrative orders”.
In 63 out of the 122 cases between 2010 and 2011 that were checked, significant delays, in some cases up to five years, were found. In many cases, no fines had been imposed on violators.
The delays concerned violations of environmental regulations at landfills, biological waste treatment facilities, private businesses and even hospitals.
According to the report, in the five-and-a-half years since the environmental monitoring agency’s inspection at nine hospitals, none of the cases has been brought to a conclusion.
Alexis Tsipras
at the Industrial Association
of Northern Greece
14.7.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, speaking at the Industrial Association of Northern Greece, announced the Ministry of Industry’s target of increasing industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP to 12%.
The Prime Minister criticized the Association of Enterprises and Industries [ΣΕΒ] for "its political interventions" distinguishing that from the stance of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece [ΣΒΕΕ]. "I know that all of you here, you are people who have everyday contact with the market and have your own opinions about what needs to change. And you have proved that behind your public positions, there are no other motives. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with the ΣΕΒ leadership, which, while there is a great deal of doubt about exactly which productive forces it represents, its motives are purely political and have nothing to do with the anxieties of either the business world or Greek society."
Alexis Tsipras accused ΣΕΒ that in its recent report "basically it is attempting to intervene in the public debate on the 2019 and 2020 measures, signalling the necessity of implementing them, whether or not we meet the targets. It is extremely interesting that ΣΕΒ almost always favours any anti-social and anti-development measure, in this case the pension cuts. Rushing this time to defend the position publicly expressed by New Democracy, and even reprimanding EU Commissioner Moskovic, who talked about non-fixed obligations that we can re-examine when the time comes."
"I would advise the ΣΕΒ leadership, to stop showing themselves up and to follow the example of your attitude, an attitude of responsibility accompanied by an inclination to make a real contribution to the country's recovery. And not adopt an attitude that serves exclusively the plans of the oligarchy of wealth and of a political-economic elite, which has a profound responsibility for the bankruptcy, for the sinking of the economy into the recession, and Greek society into despair."
Speaking as he was in Thessaloniki, PM Tsipras also referred to the FYROM name agreement. He noted the stance of the ΣΒΕΕ and its President and pointed out that "prospects for investment in the neighbouring country are opening up".
"I recognize and respect the citizens' sensitivities, particularly in northern Greece, about the FYROM nomenclature but I can not allow these sensitivities to fall victim to wilful falsifications and to a miserable political propaganda of political and petty party expediency that ultimately undermine the national interest," he said, reminding his audience that the Government had not deviated from the national line that has been shaped 20 years ago. He noted that Skopje's leadership "are no longer the nationalists and counterfeiters of history, but an honest and sincere leadership that seeks to establish strong ties of friendship and cooperation with our country - that considers Greece as the leading power of the Balkans, on which it relies for its economic recovery and its European prospects."
"The alternative was for us to continue to call them the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia while, however, the rest of the world recognizes them as Macedonia without the politically correct and enduring "former Yugoslavia". And this is not hypothetical, it is the reality of almost 25 years, with 140 countries having already recognised the neighbouring country by its constitutional name."
The Prime Minister specifically referred to the question of the name “Macedonian” on Greek products saying that "before the agreement, this naming was internationally monopolized by FYROM", but this "has been set aside because the agreement provides for the establishment of a UN-mandated committee to finally solve these issues by protecting the production and products of our Macedonia."
Alexis Tsipras called for "all the productive forces of the country to join in our plan to exit the crisis." He pointed out that the ΣΒΒΕ is the first social partner to talk about "after the debt agreement and the final end of the Memoranda" and stressed that the focus now is
- achieving high growth rates
- the further decline in unemployment
- raising the standard of living of working people
- the means needed for these purposes.
The growth sectors of the economy are those of tourism and culture, shipping, transport, agri-food production and processing, and industry that is "traditionally strong and established in the wider Balkan region".
"On the burning issue of taxation - I appreciate how much you care about it - especially since the President has mentioned it, I can now confidently tell you that, thanks to the current credibility of our public finances, there is a road map for targeted tax relief starting from the budget of 2019.".
"We have managed to achieve primary surpluses that have surpassed all estimates for three years in a row and we are heading for a fourth, starting from empty coffers. Today we are in a position to make tax deductions, calculated and planned rather than piecemeal. The more the economy stabilizes at high positive growth rates, the more we will be able to proceed with targetted tax relief. "
The Prime Minister criticized the Association of Enterprises and Industries [ΣΕΒ] for "its political interventions" distinguishing that from the stance of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece [ΣΒΕΕ]. "I know that all of you here, you are people who have everyday contact with the market and have your own opinions about what needs to change. And you have proved that behind your public positions, there are no other motives. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with the ΣΕΒ leadership, which, while there is a great deal of doubt about exactly which productive forces it represents, its motives are purely political and have nothing to do with the anxieties of either the business world or Greek society."
Alexis Tsipras accused ΣΕΒ that in its recent report "basically it is attempting to intervene in the public debate on the 2019 and 2020 measures, signalling the necessity of implementing them, whether or not we meet the targets. It is extremely interesting that ΣΕΒ almost always favours any anti-social and anti-development measure, in this case the pension cuts. Rushing this time to defend the position publicly expressed by New Democracy, and even reprimanding EU Commissioner Moskovic, who talked about non-fixed obligations that we can re-examine when the time comes."
"I would advise the ΣΕΒ leadership, to stop showing themselves up and to follow the example of your attitude, an attitude of responsibility accompanied by an inclination to make a real contribution to the country's recovery. And not adopt an attitude that serves exclusively the plans of the oligarchy of wealth and of a political-economic elite, which has a profound responsibility for the bankruptcy, for the sinking of the economy into the recession, and Greek society into despair."
Speaking as he was in Thessaloniki, PM Tsipras also referred to the FYROM name agreement. He noted the stance of the ΣΒΕΕ and its President and pointed out that "prospects for investment in the neighbouring country are opening up".
"I recognize and respect the citizens' sensitivities, particularly in northern Greece, about the FYROM nomenclature but I can not allow these sensitivities to fall victim to wilful falsifications and to a miserable political propaganda of political and petty party expediency that ultimately undermine the national interest," he said, reminding his audience that the Government had not deviated from the national line that has been shaped 20 years ago. He noted that Skopje's leadership "are no longer the nationalists and counterfeiters of history, but an honest and sincere leadership that seeks to establish strong ties of friendship and cooperation with our country - that considers Greece as the leading power of the Balkans, on which it relies for its economic recovery and its European prospects."
"The alternative was for us to continue to call them the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia while, however, the rest of the world recognizes them as Macedonia without the politically correct and enduring "former Yugoslavia". And this is not hypothetical, it is the reality of almost 25 years, with 140 countries having already recognised the neighbouring country by its constitutional name."
The Prime Minister specifically referred to the question of the name “Macedonian” on Greek products saying that "before the agreement, this naming was internationally monopolized by FYROM", but this "has been set aside because the agreement provides for the establishment of a UN-mandated committee to finally solve these issues by protecting the production and products of our Macedonia."
Alexis Tsipras called for "all the productive forces of the country to join in our plan to exit the crisis." He pointed out that the ΣΒΒΕ is the first social partner to talk about "after the debt agreement and the final end of the Memoranda" and stressed that the focus now is
- achieving high growth rates
- the further decline in unemployment
- raising the standard of living of working people
- the means needed for these purposes.
The growth sectors of the economy are those of tourism and culture, shipping, transport, agri-food production and processing, and industry that is "traditionally strong and established in the wider Balkan region".
"On the burning issue of taxation - I appreciate how much you care about it - especially since the President has mentioned it, I can now confidently tell you that, thanks to the current credibility of our public finances, there is a road map for targeted tax relief starting from the budget of 2019.".
"We have managed to achieve primary surpluses that have surpassed all estimates for three years in a row and we are heading for a fourth, starting from empty coffers. Today we are in a position to make tax deductions, calculated and planned rather than piecemeal. The more the economy stabilizes at high positive growth rates, the more we will be able to proceed with targetted tax relief. "
PM Tsipras at the West Balkans Summit in London
"Today Greece is back. Today Greece is emerging from the crisis and is regaining its leading role in the Balkans,"Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement after the conclusion of the Western Balkans Summit in London.
"Greece is now the force that can guarantee the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, their security, peace, stability and impetus for growth."
Referring to the summit's debates, the Prime Minister said that "beyond the fact that everyone now recognizes this leading role that Greece is recovering in the region, we have discussed and proposed very important projects concerning the connectivity of Northern Greece in terms of transport, energy, and information technology with the Balkans. Plans for projects have already been made during the recent four-day meeting of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania on the interconnection of the ports of Northern Greece with those of the Black Sea and the Danube, the energy projects, the IGB vertical axis, the TAP, rail and road links between Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Belgrade and Budapest."
Mr Tsipras also said "ideas on the financial support for these projects were discussed and proposed, as well as the financial support for projects related to Greece's border with Macedonia in order to strengthen cross-border infrastructure and entrepreneurship on both sides".
"I want to say in a few words that this Summit shows the possibility and the perspective that the country can have as a leading force in the region," the Greek Prime Minister said. "But most of all, the prospect of Northern Greece , our Macedonia, Thessaloniki, as a focus of the economic development of the Balkan region. Thessaloniki can become the economic capital of the Balkans; Northern Greece can become a lever for growth in the region that can be the engine of growth for the whole Balkans."
"Today Greece is back. Today Greece is emerging from the crisis and is regaining its leading role in the Balkans,"Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement after the conclusion of the Western Balkans Summit in London.
"Greece is now the force that can guarantee the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, their security, peace, stability and impetus for growth."
Referring to the summit's debates, the Prime Minister said that "beyond the fact that everyone now recognizes this leading role that Greece is recovering in the region, we have discussed and proposed very important projects concerning the connectivity of Northern Greece in terms of transport, energy, and information technology with the Balkans. Plans for projects have already been made during the recent four-day meeting of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania on the interconnection of the ports of Northern Greece with those of the Black Sea and the Danube, the energy projects, the IGB vertical axis, the TAP, rail and road links between Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Belgrade and Budapest."
Mr Tsipras also said "ideas on the financial support for these projects were discussed and proposed, as well as the financial support for projects related to Greece's border with Macedonia in order to strengthen cross-border infrastructure and entrepreneurship on both sides".
"I want to say in a few words that this Summit shows the possibility and the perspective that the country can have as a leading force in the region," the Greek Prime Minister said. "But most of all, the prospect of Northern Greece , our Macedonia, Thessaloniki, as a focus of the economic development of the Balkan region. Thessaloniki can become the economic capital of the Balkans; Northern Greece can become a lever for growth in the region that can be the engine of growth for the whole Balkans."
"No one has the luxury of not adopting a position"
"No one has the luxury of not adopting a position," said Labour Minister Efi Aichioglu during the parliamentary debate on insurance and pension regulations, provisions on undeclared work and protection measures for unaccompanied refugees.
The Minister underlined that the bill raised very specific questions:
"Are you in favour of strengthening the bargaining power and wage growth of working people, or of stifling them? Are you for collective labour agreements or for employers' arbitrariness? Are you for the rules of labour protection, or are you with the offending of the large contractors? Are you for a type of development that respects working people, or are you with the adventurers who go bankrupt and leave hundreds of families unpaid? Are you for legality or are you with the big offenders who hide their workers in commercial refrigerators so that the Labour Inspectorate will not find them? Are you for the public social security system for everyone, or for private insurance for the few and the rest in Καιάδα? [A pit or cavern in ancient Sparta into which were thrown those who did not match the ideal citizen Ed] Are you for the eight hour day or the twelve hour day of Mr. Kurtz? [Chancellor of Austria and Chairman of the Austrian People's Party Ed] " said Labour Minister, addressing the opposition, noting however that New Democracy had already given their answer: "Mr.Vroutsis [ND Spokesman Ed] gave the answer in the debate in Parliament, saying that the reforms he was putting forward would have the effect of reducing unemployment. Those structural and structural reforms were the lowering of the minimum wage, the abolition of collective bargaining and the reduction of redundancy payments."
"We are giving our own response in practice with the reintroduction of Collective Agreements, with Law 4488 in September 2017, with the support of the Labour Inspectorate [ΣΕΠΕ Ed], with the bill that I am presenting to you today, with the development plan."
"It is obvious that New Democracy is in complete alignment with the Association of Enterprises and Industries [ΣΕΒ] and its plan on labour issues is in line with the plan being implemented by the Chancellor in Austria, who is abolishing the eight hour day and turning it into a 12 hour day. This is also evidenced by New Democracy’s actions in the European Parliament's vote on professional drivers' schedules, where it, along with Golden Dawn, voted in favour of abolishing the 8-hour day and the 48-hour week. This is the work model of New Democracy and is quite often presented by ΣΕΒ, or by the President of the main opposition."
Regarding the fight against undeclared work, Ms.Achitsoglou pointed out that during the period of the deregulation of the labour protection legislation, control mechanisms were significantly weakened. "On the other hand," she said, "today's Government is strengthening the Labour Inspectorate so that it can respond to its crucial role by making its presence felt in the workplace. That is precisely why it is possible for us to have a full picture of the real effectiveness of the measures, and we are making the necessary changes."
The Minister for Labour stressed that "changing the architecture of the financial penalties for undeclared work is now linked to the element of justice for the worker, as three months' stamps are secured for the worker, while allowing the employer to conform by taking on the undeclared worker with a full-time contract".
She added that "taking into account the behaviour of the employer, controls and checks are being systematized" and if a repeat offender is found, the fines double or treble.
With regard to the regulation of work contracts, she stressed that "for us, to protect the world of work is clearly a priority. For the first time, we are setting rules on the establishment of work contracts where a number of abuses of employee rights are taking place. We have an integrated system of rules that establishes the joint and several liability of the contracting entity, the contractor and the subcontractor to employees in the performance of an assigned job."
For the provisions regulating internships, the Minister said that "there is a clear limit on the percentage of workers who can do work experience or an apprenticeship in a tourism enterprise. Their total number can not exceed 17% of workers per business or branch, up to a maximum of 40 persons in each case".
Referring to the national insurance system, the Labour Minister underlined the fact that the previous government bequeathed an insurance system with a 1.1€ billion deficit, after 11 successive pension cuts and 400 thousand unpaid pension benefits.
"Today, three years later, we have ensured the viability of the system, ΕΦΚΑ has a surplus of 400€ million. We have substantially reduced the outstanding pension claims. Having achieved the first objective, we are taking initiatives to close old wounds, to correct the social injustices of the past that we inherited. We are demonstrating this with the current draft law, which allows for the deletion of a series of debts,"said Mrs. Atschigoglu.
"Cleisthenes 1"
The Bill on "Cleisthenes 1" was passed by Parliament by 150 votes in favour with 123 against.
Articles 28 and 56, which establish simple proportions in municipal and regional elections, were adopted with 161 votes in favour and 111 against. The amendment on the division of Athens and the Attica Region was passed with 241 votes in favour and 31 votes against.
The amendment on the simultaneous conduct of local elections and European elections was voted by 149 votes against 122, while one MP abstained.
Interior Minister Panos Skourletis accepted the amendment tabled by 16 members of SYRIZA, agreeing that "the transition (from 'Kallikrates' to' Cleisthenes') must be done in a smooth manner '. This will ensure, among other things, that the next municipal elections will be held on the basis of simple proportional representation.
"No one has the luxury of not adopting a position," said Labour Minister Efi Aichioglu during the parliamentary debate on insurance and pension regulations, provisions on undeclared work and protection measures for unaccompanied refugees.
The Minister underlined that the bill raised very specific questions:
"Are you in favour of strengthening the bargaining power and wage growth of working people, or of stifling them? Are you for collective labour agreements or for employers' arbitrariness? Are you for the rules of labour protection, or are you with the offending of the large contractors? Are you for a type of development that respects working people, or are you with the adventurers who go bankrupt and leave hundreds of families unpaid? Are you for legality or are you with the big offenders who hide their workers in commercial refrigerators so that the Labour Inspectorate will not find them? Are you for the public social security system for everyone, or for private insurance for the few and the rest in Καιάδα? [A pit or cavern in ancient Sparta into which were thrown those who did not match the ideal citizen Ed] Are you for the eight hour day or the twelve hour day of Mr. Kurtz? [Chancellor of Austria and Chairman of the Austrian People's Party Ed] " said Labour Minister, addressing the opposition, noting however that New Democracy had already given their answer: "Mr.Vroutsis [ND Spokesman Ed] gave the answer in the debate in Parliament, saying that the reforms he was putting forward would have the effect of reducing unemployment. Those structural and structural reforms were the lowering of the minimum wage, the abolition of collective bargaining and the reduction of redundancy payments."
"We are giving our own response in practice with the reintroduction of Collective Agreements, with Law 4488 in September 2017, with the support of the Labour Inspectorate [ΣΕΠΕ Ed], with the bill that I am presenting to you today, with the development plan."
"It is obvious that New Democracy is in complete alignment with the Association of Enterprises and Industries [ΣΕΒ] and its plan on labour issues is in line with the plan being implemented by the Chancellor in Austria, who is abolishing the eight hour day and turning it into a 12 hour day. This is also evidenced by New Democracy’s actions in the European Parliament's vote on professional drivers' schedules, where it, along with Golden Dawn, voted in favour of abolishing the 8-hour day and the 48-hour week. This is the work model of New Democracy and is quite often presented by ΣΕΒ, or by the President of the main opposition."
Regarding the fight against undeclared work, Ms.Achitsoglou pointed out that during the period of the deregulation of the labour protection legislation, control mechanisms were significantly weakened. "On the other hand," she said, "today's Government is strengthening the Labour Inspectorate so that it can respond to its crucial role by making its presence felt in the workplace. That is precisely why it is possible for us to have a full picture of the real effectiveness of the measures, and we are making the necessary changes."
The Minister for Labour stressed that "changing the architecture of the financial penalties for undeclared work is now linked to the element of justice for the worker, as three months' stamps are secured for the worker, while allowing the employer to conform by taking on the undeclared worker with a full-time contract".
She added that "taking into account the behaviour of the employer, controls and checks are being systematized" and if a repeat offender is found, the fines double or treble.
With regard to the regulation of work contracts, she stressed that "for us, to protect the world of work is clearly a priority. For the first time, we are setting rules on the establishment of work contracts where a number of abuses of employee rights are taking place. We have an integrated system of rules that establishes the joint and several liability of the contracting entity, the contractor and the subcontractor to employees in the performance of an assigned job."
For the provisions regulating internships, the Minister said that "there is a clear limit on the percentage of workers who can do work experience or an apprenticeship in a tourism enterprise. Their total number can not exceed 17% of workers per business or branch, up to a maximum of 40 persons in each case".
Referring to the national insurance system, the Labour Minister underlined the fact that the previous government bequeathed an insurance system with a 1.1€ billion deficit, after 11 successive pension cuts and 400 thousand unpaid pension benefits.
"Today, three years later, we have ensured the viability of the system, ΕΦΚΑ has a surplus of 400€ million. We have substantially reduced the outstanding pension claims. Having achieved the first objective, we are taking initiatives to close old wounds, to correct the social injustices of the past that we inherited. We are demonstrating this with the current draft law, which allows for the deletion of a series of debts,"said Mrs. Atschigoglu.
"Cleisthenes 1"
The Bill on "Cleisthenes 1" was passed by Parliament by 150 votes in favour with 123 against.
Articles 28 and 56, which establish simple proportions in municipal and regional elections, were adopted with 161 votes in favour and 111 against. The amendment on the division of Athens and the Attica Region was passed with 241 votes in favour and 31 votes against.
The amendment on the simultaneous conduct of local elections and European elections was voted by 149 votes against 122, while one MP abstained.
Interior Minister Panos Skourletis accepted the amendment tabled by 16 members of SYRIZA, agreeing that "the transition (from 'Kallikrates' to' Cleisthenes') must be done in a smooth manner '. This will ensure, among other things, that the next municipal elections will be held on the basis of simple proportional representation.
Recep Erdogan sworn in as new Super-President of Turkey
On Monday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for a new five-year mandate to Turkey's strengthened presidential post.
After his re-election on June 24th, securing 52.6% of the vote, Preseident Erdogan was sworn in before the National Assembly, where he committed himself to defend the principles of secular Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and to fulfill his duties in an "impartial" manner.
"As President of the country, I swear on my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation and its history, to work with all my might to protect and extol the glory and honour of the Republic of Turkey and to fulfill my duties which I undertake impartially."
In the past year, food prices increased by nearly 20%, transport tickets by 23%; inflation is over 15% and loan interest rates have climbed above 17%.
President Erdogan "will now have the institutional and legal power to control almost everything" under the new system, says Ayse Ayia, a professor of political science at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.
The position of the Prime Minister is abolished and the President will now concentrate all executive powers in his hands and have the power to issue decrees. He will also appoint six of the thirteen members of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), responsible for appointing and dismissing judicial staff.
As Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), President Erdogan will "have control over his party's MPs, which means he will control the country's executive, judiciary and legislative power," commented Emre Erdogan, a professor of political science at the University of Bilgi, Istanbul. "Such a system creates enormous opportunities for a president (...) to rule the country alone."
In President Erdoğan's "new Turkey", the post of prime minister is abolished and all executive power is now in the hands of the president. The Turkish president will appoint his ministers as well as one or more vice-presidents.
By a decree issued Monday, the Ministry of European Affairs was also abolished. From now on it will be part of the Foreign Ministry. Also, according to the decree, the years of office of officers will be determined by the presidency. At the same time, the law defining the responsibilities of the Chief of the Armed Forces and the National Security Council on security issues was abolished.
Monday was also be a significant day since, on Monday, July 9th, the state of emergency in place since the failed coup of July 2016 came to an end, 10 days ahead of the scheduled time.
However, in a State of Emergency Decree published on July 8th, the Government ordered the dismissal of more than 18,500 state employees including police officers, soldiers and academics.
According to the Official Gazette 18,632 people had been sacked, among them 8,998 police officers for suspected links to terror organisations "and groups 'acting against national security', over 3,000 army, air force and naval personnel, civil servants from the Justice Ministry, gendarmerie and coast guard staff.
Four thousand guests attended the ceremony among them 22 state leaders, vice-presidents, politicians, officials, and ministers.
Those who attended the ceremony were the Presidents of Bulgaria, Georgia, fYROMacedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Somalia, Mauritania, Gabon, Chad, Djibouti, Venezuela, as well as the Emir of Qatar and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci. Present at the ceremony was also the European Commissioner for Immigration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos as well as prominent New Democracy MP, Dora Bakoyannis. The Greek Government was represented by the Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Petros Mavroides.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was among the guests.
"My God, lead us to the right path. He is infallible. Amen! I will be the President not only of those who voted for me but of all 81 million citizens of Turkey", President Erdoğan said, sending a message of unity and giving a religious tone to the way in which the country will be governed.
Russian Relations Strained
The Greek Government has decided to expel two Russian diplomats, and ban the entry into Greece of two more, accusing them of intrusion into domestic affairs and illegal acts against Greece’s national security.
Greece is accusing the Russian diplomats of failed efforts to extract and circulate information, and to bribe Greek state operatives.
According to high-level Greek diplomatic sources, tensions have been brewing between Greece and Russia over the last two years for reasons that have to do with regional security.
Despite this latest development, the same sources note that Greece continues, in line with its long-standing policy, to want good cooperative relations with Russia and to promote friendship between the two peoples, but they add that this can only be the case if both countries respect each other’s sovereignty.
They also point to the careful stance Greece took in the Skripal affair when it did not follow other Western countries that expelled Russian diplomats, a position that was welcomed by Russia.
The same sources note that despite the efforts by the Greek government to keep relations with Russia on a good level, lately various circles that are connected to Russian interests have been meddling in Greek domestic affairs.
Through monetary rewards they are trying to influence municipalities, metropolitans in the Greek Orthodox hierarchy, and to gain influence in Mount Athos.
They point to the effort by Russia to intervene in a sensitive domestic issue like the agreement between Greece and FYROM over its name, and by doing so negatively affect Greece’s role in the Balkans.
On Monday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for a new five-year mandate to Turkey's strengthened presidential post.
After his re-election on June 24th, securing 52.6% of the vote, Preseident Erdogan was sworn in before the National Assembly, where he committed himself to defend the principles of secular Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and to fulfill his duties in an "impartial" manner.
"As President of the country, I swear on my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation and its history, to work with all my might to protect and extol the glory and honour of the Republic of Turkey and to fulfill my duties which I undertake impartially."
In the past year, food prices increased by nearly 20%, transport tickets by 23%; inflation is over 15% and loan interest rates have climbed above 17%.
President Erdogan "will now have the institutional and legal power to control almost everything" under the new system, says Ayse Ayia, a professor of political science at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.
The position of the Prime Minister is abolished and the President will now concentrate all executive powers in his hands and have the power to issue decrees. He will also appoint six of the thirteen members of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), responsible for appointing and dismissing judicial staff.
As Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), President Erdogan will "have control over his party's MPs, which means he will control the country's executive, judiciary and legislative power," commented Emre Erdogan, a professor of political science at the University of Bilgi, Istanbul. "Such a system creates enormous opportunities for a president (...) to rule the country alone."
In President Erdoğan's "new Turkey", the post of prime minister is abolished and all executive power is now in the hands of the president. The Turkish president will appoint his ministers as well as one or more vice-presidents.
By a decree issued Monday, the Ministry of European Affairs was also abolished. From now on it will be part of the Foreign Ministry. Also, according to the decree, the years of office of officers will be determined by the presidency. At the same time, the law defining the responsibilities of the Chief of the Armed Forces and the National Security Council on security issues was abolished.
Monday was also be a significant day since, on Monday, July 9th, the state of emergency in place since the failed coup of July 2016 came to an end, 10 days ahead of the scheduled time.
However, in a State of Emergency Decree published on July 8th, the Government ordered the dismissal of more than 18,500 state employees including police officers, soldiers and academics.
According to the Official Gazette 18,632 people had been sacked, among them 8,998 police officers for suspected links to terror organisations "and groups 'acting against national security', over 3,000 army, air force and naval personnel, civil servants from the Justice Ministry, gendarmerie and coast guard staff.
Four thousand guests attended the ceremony among them 22 state leaders, vice-presidents, politicians, officials, and ministers.
Those who attended the ceremony were the Presidents of Bulgaria, Georgia, fYROMacedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Somalia, Mauritania, Gabon, Chad, Djibouti, Venezuela, as well as the Emir of Qatar and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci. Present at the ceremony was also the European Commissioner for Immigration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos as well as prominent New Democracy MP, Dora Bakoyannis. The Greek Government was represented by the Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Petros Mavroides.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was among the guests.
"My God, lead us to the right path. He is infallible. Amen! I will be the President not only of those who voted for me but of all 81 million citizens of Turkey", President Erdoğan said, sending a message of unity and giving a religious tone to the way in which the country will be governed.
Russian Relations Strained
The Greek Government has decided to expel two Russian diplomats, and ban the entry into Greece of two more, accusing them of intrusion into domestic affairs and illegal acts against Greece’s national security.
Greece is accusing the Russian diplomats of failed efforts to extract and circulate information, and to bribe Greek state operatives.
According to high-level Greek diplomatic sources, tensions have been brewing between Greece and Russia over the last two years for reasons that have to do with regional security.
Despite this latest development, the same sources note that Greece continues, in line with its long-standing policy, to want good cooperative relations with Russia and to promote friendship between the two peoples, but they add that this can only be the case if both countries respect each other’s sovereignty.
They also point to the careful stance Greece took in the Skripal affair when it did not follow other Western countries that expelled Russian diplomats, a position that was welcomed by Russia.
The same sources note that despite the efforts by the Greek government to keep relations with Russia on a good level, lately various circles that are connected to Russian interests have been meddling in Greek domestic affairs.
Through monetary rewards they are trying to influence municipalities, metropolitans in the Greek Orthodox hierarchy, and to gain influence in Mount Athos.
They point to the effort by Russia to intervene in a sensitive domestic issue like the agreement between Greece and FYROM over its name, and by doing so negatively affect Greece’s role in the Balkans.
Hydrousa Project Launched
On Thursday and Friday at Lavrio in Attica, 27 partners, including some leading European universities, presented the HYDROUSA project. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, its aim is to use water from nonconventional sources, including wastewater, to diminish or ideally eliminate the need to bring in fresh water from elsewhere and to reduce the cost of freshwater.
HYDROUSA intends to set up, demonstrate and optimize innovative on-site nature-based solutions to recover fresh water, nutrients and energy from wastewater, rainwater, groundwater, atmospheric water vapour and seawater to produce marketable products. This is seen as helping to increase agricultural production and boost the economic activities of water-scarce Mediterranean areas.
A number of islands and coastal areas in the Mediterranean face significant water shortage problems resulting in environmental problems and a reduction in agricultural activity. Furthermore, the prices people and businesses pay for water are often very high due to desalination and/or transportation costs.
Starting this month on the Greek islands of Lesvos, Myconos and Tinos, the 54-month “Water Loops” project expects to change all this by valorizing nonconventional water resources to be used for multiple purposes that will boost the water, energy and agricultural profile of these regions. Energy will be recovered from wastewater to be used by the local municipalities.
After the wastewater has been treated, the nutrients contained in sewage will be recycled to boost agricultural production. High added-value crops, herbs and essential oils will be produced using such water. The idea is that the project will help Greece and other Mediterranean and EU countries boost their fresh water reserves, enhance agricultural activities and solve chronic water resource problems faced by decentralized communities where fresh water is in short supply. Furthermore, this approach will provide more jobs in the water and agricultural sectors.
The 12€ million project’s stakeholders include the National Technical University of Athens, Brunel University of London, local authorities and technical companies.
On Thursday and Friday at Lavrio in Attica, 27 partners, including some leading European universities, presented the HYDROUSA project. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, its aim is to use water from nonconventional sources, including wastewater, to diminish or ideally eliminate the need to bring in fresh water from elsewhere and to reduce the cost of freshwater.
HYDROUSA intends to set up, demonstrate and optimize innovative on-site nature-based solutions to recover fresh water, nutrients and energy from wastewater, rainwater, groundwater, atmospheric water vapour and seawater to produce marketable products. This is seen as helping to increase agricultural production and boost the economic activities of water-scarce Mediterranean areas.
A number of islands and coastal areas in the Mediterranean face significant water shortage problems resulting in environmental problems and a reduction in agricultural activity. Furthermore, the prices people and businesses pay for water are often very high due to desalination and/or transportation costs.
Starting this month on the Greek islands of Lesvos, Myconos and Tinos, the 54-month “Water Loops” project expects to change all this by valorizing nonconventional water resources to be used for multiple purposes that will boost the water, energy and agricultural profile of these regions. Energy will be recovered from wastewater to be used by the local municipalities.
After the wastewater has been treated, the nutrients contained in sewage will be recycled to boost agricultural production. High added-value crops, herbs and essential oils will be produced using such water. The idea is that the project will help Greece and other Mediterranean and EU countries boost their fresh water reserves, enhance agricultural activities and solve chronic water resource problems faced by decentralized communities where fresh water is in short supply. Furthermore, this approach will provide more jobs in the water and agricultural sectors.
The 12€ million project’s stakeholders include the National Technical University of Athens, Brunel University of London, local authorities and technical companies.
No Holds Barred in Debate on the Economy
7.7.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and New Democracy leader Kyriacos Mitsotakis went head-to-head during a tense parliamentary debate on the economy on Thursday. The debate had been requested by New Democracy following the latest Eurogroup decisions on Greece. In his opening speech, Alexis Tsipras thanked Mitsotakis for requesting the debate on the economy, a request he called a “gift” to the Government, which provided an opportunity to present the significant recent achievements.
The PM went over the record of previous governments in the handling of the economy, stressing the high unemployment rate and recession delivered to the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition in 2015. He also accused the previous governments of failing to address the country’s debt-pile and to put an end to the bailout-era. “Greece was treated by investors as a failed State” Alexis Tsipras charged.
“Greece is safely exiting the Memoranda which you plunged the country into” he told Mr. Mitsotakis.
PM Tsipras hailed the decision of the 21 June Eurogroup as “truly historic”, as it allows Greece to return to the financial markets, secure debt relief and create a path to growth for the next 15 years. The decision had been met positively by the finance markets, he added.
"You are not concerned with the needs of people, only your political survival, the thirst for return to power"
"You desperately want to cut pensions and you tremble at the possibility of that measure not being implemented, that is your big fear. It was revealing, you showed the Greek citizens what your real intentions are. People's needs do not concern you, just your political survival, the thirst for a return to power. Your doctrine is “the worse it is for the people the better it is for you. You completely lose your temper and are exposed."
He continued, saying Kyriakos Mitsotakis organized a trip to Berlin and Brussels to defend his close party interests. "Mr. Mitsotakis was not ashamed to go to Berlin to ask for assurances that Germany would push for the measure of pension cuts to be implemented. Does he not understand that this unethical political sabotage harms not the government but the country itself?"
"They are not interested in anyone’s standard of living; people's needs do not concern them. The only thing that concerns them is their political survival and power. When they see the possibility of things being better for the people, then they lose their temper. You should be ashamed before the Greek citizens. We will tell everything, and every last citizen will see through you."
"You have taken the same embarrassing attitude to the refugee issue. There is no bottom to the barrel of your self-delusion."
The Prime Minister said that Mr. Mitsotakis is "just a political construct of the country's business elite, including your friend, Mr. Frouzis of Novartis, the one you shamelessly told us you do not know. The man you did not know, then, organised dinners in your honour. And in direct consultation with you, he actively participated in your campaign for your election to the leadership of the New Democracy. And you also had the audacity to tell us from this platform, that we set up a plot about Novartis and we smeared innocent people."
"Greece yesterday, bankruptcy, interdependence and corruption, is over. Greece of today and tomorrow is a country that stands again on its own two feet. Together with the great national effort for economic and social reconstruction, it is putting its house in order. And it is cutting the connections to the abscesses of the past. Greece will not go back. Greece has stood on its feet and is going forward."
Continuing his criticism of the ND president, he said he is "trapped in a catastrophic cul-de-sac ... detrimental to the country. The end of the Memoranda makes you feel that the earth is giving way beneath your feet because you know that what you have put forward as a ND programme to appeal to the Greek people at the next election cannot stand up in the absence of a Memorandum. Your catastrophic and anti-social policies can not be justified without the alibi of a Memorandum’s coercion.
"Now is the time to talk about Greece of the future and the choices facing the Greek people are clear, is it going to be an eight-hour day or a twelve-hour day? With the welfare state or with redundancies? With work protection or with its destruction? with collective bargaining or with the jungle of deregulation?"
Referring to the opposition's stance on the agreement with fYROM, the Prime Minister spoke of a very dangerous game. "Driven by the far-right faction of your party, you have decided to play games with a crucial national issue. To divide the Greeks to keep your party united.
"Adopting the speech and practices of a new nationalism, you offer political cover to fascism. You have given the opportunity to all sorts of nationalist and fascist groups to come to the fore. To threaten, to abuse, to assault."
He also accused the ND President on the refugee issue of lining up with "the far right of Orbán and Kurtz, for a fortress Europe that raises walls against the hunted" and "denies co-responsibility and solidarity."
"In a nutshell, you have chosen your camp in the debate on the future of Europe and the world. You are on the wrong side of history. Until recently, you were characterized as a neoliberal. Today, with your attitude to Macedonian and refugee questions, you are also characterized by the international media as a Greek Orbán. The extreme right, Mr. Mitsotakis, is the last haven for political fraudsters who are based only on lies, propaganda and division. And you prove that you are one of them, a political scam artist. Because at the moment you spread divisiveness, you tell barefaced lies to the face of the Greek people."
The Prime Minister described as "a sleight of hand" and "a distortion of reality" Mr. Mitsotakis' assertions against the Prespa Agreement and urged the President of the New Democracy and the MPs to read the their identity cards. In fact, he held in his hand a 2007 police ID and read out that in the space for ethnicity [ιθαγένεια] is written "Nationality". "Nowhere does the Prespa Agreement refer to a Macedonian nation."
Mr. Tsipras presented Kyriakos Mitsotakis with an interview given by Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself, published in the newspaper "Epsilon" of Eleftherotypia on January 17, 1993, with the headline: "No, Macedonia is not a big issue! And the question must be solved by compromise, a composite name, a geographical definition."
He commented that "then Kyriakos Mitsotakis was defending a position that was the official position of New Democracy and of the late Konstantinos Mitsotakis and hence was in a correct attitude and position in relation to his political heritage, a position which he has later repeated many times in public statements but also from this platform here."
"In 2016, I remind you, Mr Mitsotakis, on the Macedonian question, was denouncing us here in Parliament, because you could not the fact that our position is that of Bucharest and the composite name. Of course, later, for reasons that have to do with, and are well-known to have to do with the need for the unity of your party and the hegemony of the extreme-right wing, it changed its position and moved to a view that is not the standing position either of yourself or of your faction."
The Economy
"Mr. Mitsotakis, I accept with great pleasure the gift you make me by us having a thorough discussion on economic issues after the country's historic success."
"In a few days, now, in August, to your great sorrow, the country is definitively and irrevocably emerging from the programme. Where your own Governments failed, ours has succeeded."
"You have been concerned about how to lay mines for the country and how the next government should be faced with economic strangulation."
"The image of the country has changed sharply, unemployment has dropped to a three-year low by seven points and youth unemployment is close to 20 percentage points. 350,000 new jobs have already been created and this figure is expected to increase significantly this year as well as in the coming years. The budgetary targets for each year of the Third Programme have been greatly exceeded. And of course this happened without the need for new rounds of unbearable cuts for the social majority. Also, after almost a decade, Greece has recorded positive growth rates. In 2017, GDP grew by almost 1.5% and in the first quarter of 2018 GDP growth was 2.3%, ie almost six times the Eurozone average which closed at 0.4% for the first quarter."
"The positive image is also reflected in the key indices of domestic production," the prime minister explained, listing items such as the 6.7% increase in the Turnover Index in Industry, the increase of almost 30% of the net inflows of foreign direct investment in Greece for 2017 and the increase in the total value of exports of goods and services in April 2018 by 11.6%.
"And all this, it is only the beginning of a trajectory that will constantly accelerate. Especially after the decisive - and I would say historic - recent decision by the Eurogroup."
As regards the Eurogroup decision, PM Tsipras stressed that it was about finalizing the Third Programme."And of course, the acknowledgement that Greece no longer needs loans from the official sector, but can under its own steam return to the normality of borrowing from the financial markets."
In order to regulate the Greek debt, he noted that it is "a decision that brings debt back onto a viable path, and most importantly, it is shaping a clean corridor for the Greek economy for the next 15 years".
"As you know, the success or otherwise of this decision, whatever we say between ourselves, would be judged by the markets the next day. The recovery recorded by the Greek bond yields on June 22nd shows that this solution has been accepted with great satisfaction. Unless, along with Moskovic and the European officials, the financial markets are part of this international conspiracy in favour of SYRIZA."
About the Eurogroup decision on post-memorandum monitoring, Alexis Tsipras noted: "And what we have not heard about in this Chamber ... about the suffocating supervision, about new Memoranda, about conceding sovereignty until 2060 ... about the notorious 4th Memorandum, these things seem not only to be your hidden fantasy but also your desperate desire. "
"The monitoring of the Greek economy will take the form of reports on its trajectory and possibly the suggestion of some interventions if necessary. Just as it is with all the countries that have emerged from Memoranda. The Greek Government will take into account the data of these reports. However, the first and last word on interventions will be its own."
"Greece will have the first and last word on its present and future. No one other than the elected representatives of the Greek people."
"I did not refer to all these positive developments for the country to convince Mr. Mitsotakis. He has headed off, away from the real anxieties and needs of the citizens."
"I am addressing myself to the Greek people who are listening to us at this moment and who are seeing that after many years the country has prospects, who are seeing that everything we have done to get to this point had a purpose."
"We did not make a difficult compromise three years ago just to prevent the return of those who looted and bankrupted the country. Rather we proceeded with a plan for the recovery of the economy and with the constant, unwavering goal of healing the wounds of the crisis, to create the conditions to improve the standard of living of our fellow citizens."
"The most crucial period is now beginning, and we are now working on the necessary interventions that will gradually restore normality to the country and improve the daily lives of citizens."
"Let us protect the world of work. Strengthen the bargaining power of employees. Improve working conditions, raise wages, reduce employers' arbitrary behaviour. Further strengthen the welfare state. So that none of our fellow citizens is left on the sidelines."
The PM went over the record of previous governments in the handling of the economy, stressing the high unemployment rate and recession delivered to the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition in 2015. He also accused the previous governments of failing to address the country’s debt-pile and to put an end to the bailout-era. “Greece was treated by investors as a failed State” Alexis Tsipras charged.
“Greece is safely exiting the Memoranda which you plunged the country into” he told Mr. Mitsotakis.
PM Tsipras hailed the decision of the 21 June Eurogroup as “truly historic”, as it allows Greece to return to the financial markets, secure debt relief and create a path to growth for the next 15 years. The decision had been met positively by the finance markets, he added.
"You are not concerned with the needs of people, only your political survival, the thirst for return to power"
"You desperately want to cut pensions and you tremble at the possibility of that measure not being implemented, that is your big fear. It was revealing, you showed the Greek citizens what your real intentions are. People's needs do not concern you, just your political survival, the thirst for a return to power. Your doctrine is “the worse it is for the people the better it is for you. You completely lose your temper and are exposed."
He continued, saying Kyriakos Mitsotakis organized a trip to Berlin and Brussels to defend his close party interests. "Mr. Mitsotakis was not ashamed to go to Berlin to ask for assurances that Germany would push for the measure of pension cuts to be implemented. Does he not understand that this unethical political sabotage harms not the government but the country itself?"
"They are not interested in anyone’s standard of living; people's needs do not concern them. The only thing that concerns them is their political survival and power. When they see the possibility of things being better for the people, then they lose their temper. You should be ashamed before the Greek citizens. We will tell everything, and every last citizen will see through you."
"You have taken the same embarrassing attitude to the refugee issue. There is no bottom to the barrel of your self-delusion."
The Prime Minister said that Mr. Mitsotakis is "just a political construct of the country's business elite, including your friend, Mr. Frouzis of Novartis, the one you shamelessly told us you do not know. The man you did not know, then, organised dinners in your honour. And in direct consultation with you, he actively participated in your campaign for your election to the leadership of the New Democracy. And you also had the audacity to tell us from this platform, that we set up a plot about Novartis and we smeared innocent people."
"Greece yesterday, bankruptcy, interdependence and corruption, is over. Greece of today and tomorrow is a country that stands again on its own two feet. Together with the great national effort for economic and social reconstruction, it is putting its house in order. And it is cutting the connections to the abscesses of the past. Greece will not go back. Greece has stood on its feet and is going forward."
Continuing his criticism of the ND president, he said he is "trapped in a catastrophic cul-de-sac ... detrimental to the country. The end of the Memoranda makes you feel that the earth is giving way beneath your feet because you know that what you have put forward as a ND programme to appeal to the Greek people at the next election cannot stand up in the absence of a Memorandum. Your catastrophic and anti-social policies can not be justified without the alibi of a Memorandum’s coercion.
"Now is the time to talk about Greece of the future and the choices facing the Greek people are clear, is it going to be an eight-hour day or a twelve-hour day? With the welfare state or with redundancies? With work protection or with its destruction? with collective bargaining or with the jungle of deregulation?"
Referring to the opposition's stance on the agreement with fYROM, the Prime Minister spoke of a very dangerous game. "Driven by the far-right faction of your party, you have decided to play games with a crucial national issue. To divide the Greeks to keep your party united.
"Adopting the speech and practices of a new nationalism, you offer political cover to fascism. You have given the opportunity to all sorts of nationalist and fascist groups to come to the fore. To threaten, to abuse, to assault."
He also accused the ND President on the refugee issue of lining up with "the far right of Orbán and Kurtz, for a fortress Europe that raises walls against the hunted" and "denies co-responsibility and solidarity."
"In a nutshell, you have chosen your camp in the debate on the future of Europe and the world. You are on the wrong side of history. Until recently, you were characterized as a neoliberal. Today, with your attitude to Macedonian and refugee questions, you are also characterized by the international media as a Greek Orbán. The extreme right, Mr. Mitsotakis, is the last haven for political fraudsters who are based only on lies, propaganda and division. And you prove that you are one of them, a political scam artist. Because at the moment you spread divisiveness, you tell barefaced lies to the face of the Greek people."
The Prime Minister described as "a sleight of hand" and "a distortion of reality" Mr. Mitsotakis' assertions against the Prespa Agreement and urged the President of the New Democracy and the MPs to read the their identity cards. In fact, he held in his hand a 2007 police ID and read out that in the space for ethnicity [ιθαγένεια] is written "Nationality". "Nowhere does the Prespa Agreement refer to a Macedonian nation."
Mr. Tsipras presented Kyriakos Mitsotakis with an interview given by Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself, published in the newspaper "Epsilon" of Eleftherotypia on January 17, 1993, with the headline: "No, Macedonia is not a big issue! And the question must be solved by compromise, a composite name, a geographical definition."
He commented that "then Kyriakos Mitsotakis was defending a position that was the official position of New Democracy and of the late Konstantinos Mitsotakis and hence was in a correct attitude and position in relation to his political heritage, a position which he has later repeated many times in public statements but also from this platform here."
"In 2016, I remind you, Mr Mitsotakis, on the Macedonian question, was denouncing us here in Parliament, because you could not the fact that our position is that of Bucharest and the composite name. Of course, later, for reasons that have to do with, and are well-known to have to do with the need for the unity of your party and the hegemony of the extreme-right wing, it changed its position and moved to a view that is not the standing position either of yourself or of your faction."
The Economy
"Mr. Mitsotakis, I accept with great pleasure the gift you make me by us having a thorough discussion on economic issues after the country's historic success."
"In a few days, now, in August, to your great sorrow, the country is definitively and irrevocably emerging from the programme. Where your own Governments failed, ours has succeeded."
"You have been concerned about how to lay mines for the country and how the next government should be faced with economic strangulation."
"The image of the country has changed sharply, unemployment has dropped to a three-year low by seven points and youth unemployment is close to 20 percentage points. 350,000 new jobs have already been created and this figure is expected to increase significantly this year as well as in the coming years. The budgetary targets for each year of the Third Programme have been greatly exceeded. And of course this happened without the need for new rounds of unbearable cuts for the social majority. Also, after almost a decade, Greece has recorded positive growth rates. In 2017, GDP grew by almost 1.5% and in the first quarter of 2018 GDP growth was 2.3%, ie almost six times the Eurozone average which closed at 0.4% for the first quarter."
"The positive image is also reflected in the key indices of domestic production," the prime minister explained, listing items such as the 6.7% increase in the Turnover Index in Industry, the increase of almost 30% of the net inflows of foreign direct investment in Greece for 2017 and the increase in the total value of exports of goods and services in April 2018 by 11.6%.
"And all this, it is only the beginning of a trajectory that will constantly accelerate. Especially after the decisive - and I would say historic - recent decision by the Eurogroup."
As regards the Eurogroup decision, PM Tsipras stressed that it was about finalizing the Third Programme."And of course, the acknowledgement that Greece no longer needs loans from the official sector, but can under its own steam return to the normality of borrowing from the financial markets."
In order to regulate the Greek debt, he noted that it is "a decision that brings debt back onto a viable path, and most importantly, it is shaping a clean corridor for the Greek economy for the next 15 years".
"As you know, the success or otherwise of this decision, whatever we say between ourselves, would be judged by the markets the next day. The recovery recorded by the Greek bond yields on June 22nd shows that this solution has been accepted with great satisfaction. Unless, along with Moskovic and the European officials, the financial markets are part of this international conspiracy in favour of SYRIZA."
About the Eurogroup decision on post-memorandum monitoring, Alexis Tsipras noted: "And what we have not heard about in this Chamber ... about the suffocating supervision, about new Memoranda, about conceding sovereignty until 2060 ... about the notorious 4th Memorandum, these things seem not only to be your hidden fantasy but also your desperate desire. "
"The monitoring of the Greek economy will take the form of reports on its trajectory and possibly the suggestion of some interventions if necessary. Just as it is with all the countries that have emerged from Memoranda. The Greek Government will take into account the data of these reports. However, the first and last word on interventions will be its own."
"Greece will have the first and last word on its present and future. No one other than the elected representatives of the Greek people."
"I did not refer to all these positive developments for the country to convince Mr. Mitsotakis. He has headed off, away from the real anxieties and needs of the citizens."
"I am addressing myself to the Greek people who are listening to us at this moment and who are seeing that after many years the country has prospects, who are seeing that everything we have done to get to this point had a purpose."
"We did not make a difficult compromise three years ago just to prevent the return of those who looted and bankrupted the country. Rather we proceeded with a plan for the recovery of the economy and with the constant, unwavering goal of healing the wounds of the crisis, to create the conditions to improve the standard of living of our fellow citizens."
"The most crucial period is now beginning, and we are now working on the necessary interventions that will gradually restore normality to the country and improve the daily lives of citizens."
"Let us protect the world of work. Strengthen the bargaining power of employees. Improve working conditions, raise wages, reduce employers' arbitrary behaviour. Further strengthen the welfare state. So that none of our fellow citizens is left on the sidelines."
“We can lay the foundations for a European, democratically-based Balkans”
On Wednesday PM Alexis Tsipras, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and PM Viorica Dancila of Romania held their fourth Quadrilateral Summit in Thessaloniki.
Emerging from the meeting, PM Borissov said that Bulgaria guaranteed that its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018 would turn into a Balkan Presidency. He also said that Romania, Greece and Bulgaria would lobby for Serbia's entry into the EU but it is important that it fulfils
the criteria. "We have to raise the gross domestic product and incomes, and become wealthier nations. Bulgaria used to have a single bridge with Romania [across the Danube] while Budapest alone has seven bridges. The bridge at Vidin-Calafat has four times more traffic than was expected," he said.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that the countries in the region should introduce a uniform tariff for the import of goods and make it payable at а one-stop shop. "Bourgas-Alexandroupolis [railway corridor] is a key project for us аnd I hope the Ministers will prepare the projects and the financing by the end of September. We are also working on the gas interconnectors with Serbia and Greece and on a gas hub
which will bring Russian natural gas," said Borissov. "We will ask EU commissioners to help us with this idea."
PM Tsipras called the Bulgarian EU Presidency "very successful", adding that in essence, it was a Balkan EU Presidency. He said the upcoming 16+1 Summit in Sofia, in which Greece is to participate, was also on the agenda of the Thessaloniki meeting. He stressed that being located at the crossroads of three
continents, the Balkans will play a significant geopolitical and economic role in the future. The Greek Prime Minister stated that the steps taken during the Bulgarian EU Presidency opened up new prospects for the Balkans.
"It closes a cycle of progress and opens another, new cycle, even more promising"
Alexis Tsipras said "I think we have a new, dynamic future ahead of us, as long as we have a vision for our region and dare to make progress even if it is often against the current." " Just with these steps, we can lay the foundations for a European, democratically-based Balkans that is not based on nationalism, fear and introversion or inertia but on co-development and cooperation. "
As the Greek Prime Minister said, the four leaders underlined their support for International Law as the framework on which their cooperation and dialogue should be built.
In this context, they stressed:
-The importance they attach to the accession course [ to join the EU Ed] of all the Western Balkans and, in particular, Serbia, for which they note that it has taken significant steps in this direction and is a country with a crucial role in the stability and security of the Western Balkans .
- Their support for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area as well sine the two countries have fulfilled the relevant criteria, as stressed in the March 2012 European Council Conclusions.
Above all, the four leaders talked about the positive prospects in the wider region in the areas of economy, transport and infrastructure.
With the support of the relevant ministers who participated in the Summit, they discussed the creation of a "ring" of combined road, rail and sea transport and transport and specific projects that will advance in the next period, such as:
1. The rail links between Thessaloniki and Rousse and Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade.
2. The energy projects such as the Greek-Bulgarian gas pipeline IGB and the Vertical Corridor.
3. The role of not only the port of Thessaloniki but also of Kavala and Alexandroupolis for the region as well as the ports of the Black Sea.
4. The important opportunities open to companies in the four countries that will undertake the projects.
The Greek Prime Minister made a flashback of what happened last year to show the progress that has been made by saying that "no one expected that they would change so much in our region and that this initiative would be widened - with the participation of her prime minister Romania - and would make a significant contribution to developments by promoting and promoting a new era of regional cooperation and development in the Balkans. "
He recalled the situation in previous years and said:
-In 2014, when - unfortunately - the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Summit failed to re-launch the Thessaloniki Agenda, President Juncker announced that for 5 years there would be no enlargement of the EU, and Chancellor Merkel was promoting a Berlin Process excluded European countries in the region from the dialogue.
-2015-2016 with all the difficulties we have experienced with the refugee crisis and the financial crisis in Greece.
-2017 with the very serious political crises in Albania and FYROM.
At this point he remarked that in the last year we had the complete reversal of this course and more specifically:
-The signing of the Bulgaria-FYROM agreement.
-The successful Bulgarian Presidency and the extremely important EU-Western Balkans Summit
-The historic Prespa Agreement, which a year ago was something unthinkable, laying the groundwork for solving an extremely important issue and giving a new perspective to the whole region.
-The important decisions on Serbia-Montenegro's accession pathways (the prospect of them joining in 2025), as well as FYROM (if there is a positive outcome and a commonly accepted name) and Albania.
For his part, President Vucic said the Thessaloniki meeting was very important for Serbia, which sets great store by the support from Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. He explained that this was the first time the four leaders had talked about a joint venture that will manage the transport infrastructure projects and the trade revenues generated by the four countries.
PM Dancila congratulated PM Borissov on the successful completion of the EU Presidency, adding that Romania's stint starts in January 2019. She said the Western Balkans would stay in the focus of the EU Council Presidency.
The next quadrilateral meeting will be held in Varna in late September.
On Wednesday PM Alexis Tsipras, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and PM Viorica Dancila of Romania held their fourth Quadrilateral Summit in Thessaloniki.
Emerging from the meeting, PM Borissov said that Bulgaria guaranteed that its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018 would turn into a Balkan Presidency. He also said that Romania, Greece and Bulgaria would lobby for Serbia's entry into the EU but it is important that it fulfils
the criteria. "We have to raise the gross domestic product and incomes, and become wealthier nations. Bulgaria used to have a single bridge with Romania [across the Danube] while Budapest alone has seven bridges. The bridge at Vidin-Calafat has four times more traffic than was expected," he said.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that the countries in the region should introduce a uniform tariff for the import of goods and make it payable at а one-stop shop. "Bourgas-Alexandroupolis [railway corridor] is a key project for us аnd I hope the Ministers will prepare the projects and the financing by the end of September. We are also working on the gas interconnectors with Serbia and Greece and on a gas hub
which will bring Russian natural gas," said Borissov. "We will ask EU commissioners to help us with this idea."
PM Tsipras called the Bulgarian EU Presidency "very successful", adding that in essence, it was a Balkan EU Presidency. He said the upcoming 16+1 Summit in Sofia, in which Greece is to participate, was also on the agenda of the Thessaloniki meeting. He stressed that being located at the crossroads of three
continents, the Balkans will play a significant geopolitical and economic role in the future. The Greek Prime Minister stated that the steps taken during the Bulgarian EU Presidency opened up new prospects for the Balkans.
"It closes a cycle of progress and opens another, new cycle, even more promising"
Alexis Tsipras said "I think we have a new, dynamic future ahead of us, as long as we have a vision for our region and dare to make progress even if it is often against the current." " Just with these steps, we can lay the foundations for a European, democratically-based Balkans that is not based on nationalism, fear and introversion or inertia but on co-development and cooperation. "
As the Greek Prime Minister said, the four leaders underlined their support for International Law as the framework on which their cooperation and dialogue should be built.
In this context, they stressed:
-The importance they attach to the accession course [ to join the EU Ed] of all the Western Balkans and, in particular, Serbia, for which they note that it has taken significant steps in this direction and is a country with a crucial role in the stability and security of the Western Balkans .
- Their support for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area as well sine the two countries have fulfilled the relevant criteria, as stressed in the March 2012 European Council Conclusions.
Above all, the four leaders talked about the positive prospects in the wider region in the areas of economy, transport and infrastructure.
With the support of the relevant ministers who participated in the Summit, they discussed the creation of a "ring" of combined road, rail and sea transport and transport and specific projects that will advance in the next period, such as:
1. The rail links between Thessaloniki and Rousse and Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade.
2. The energy projects such as the Greek-Bulgarian gas pipeline IGB and the Vertical Corridor.
3. The role of not only the port of Thessaloniki but also of Kavala and Alexandroupolis for the region as well as the ports of the Black Sea.
4. The important opportunities open to companies in the four countries that will undertake the projects.
The Greek Prime Minister made a flashback of what happened last year to show the progress that has been made by saying that "no one expected that they would change so much in our region and that this initiative would be widened - with the participation of her prime minister Romania - and would make a significant contribution to developments by promoting and promoting a new era of regional cooperation and development in the Balkans. "
He recalled the situation in previous years and said:
-In 2014, when - unfortunately - the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Summit failed to re-launch the Thessaloniki Agenda, President Juncker announced that for 5 years there would be no enlargement of the EU, and Chancellor Merkel was promoting a Berlin Process excluded European countries in the region from the dialogue.
-2015-2016 with all the difficulties we have experienced with the refugee crisis and the financial crisis in Greece.
-2017 with the very serious political crises in Albania and FYROM.
At this point he remarked that in the last year we had the complete reversal of this course and more specifically:
-The signing of the Bulgaria-FYROM agreement.
-The successful Bulgarian Presidency and the extremely important EU-Western Balkans Summit
-The historic Prespa Agreement, which a year ago was something unthinkable, laying the groundwork for solving an extremely important issue and giving a new perspective to the whole region.
-The important decisions on Serbia-Montenegro's accession pathways (the prospect of them joining in 2025), as well as FYROM (if there is a positive outcome and a commonly accepted name) and Albania.
For his part, President Vucic said the Thessaloniki meeting was very important for Serbia, which sets great store by the support from Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. He explained that this was the first time the four leaders had talked about a joint venture that will manage the transport infrastructure projects and the trade revenues generated by the four countries.
PM Dancila congratulated PM Borissov on the successful completion of the EU Presidency, adding that Romania's stint starts in January 2019. She said the Western Balkans would stay in the focus of the EU Council Presidency.
The next quadrilateral meeting will be held in Varna in late September.
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos: Next Steps
"We have all the pieces of the puzzle about the debt and I think they can give the confidence that investors need," the Finance Minister said on Wednesday. "They should be much more confident about Greece after August 21st".
"Greece is in a position to self-finance its debt after the relief measures which have been agreed."
Ahead of next week's meetings with investors in New York and Boston, Minister Tsakalotos stressed that the debt deal offers a clear corridor to investors "whether we are talking about a 10-year bond or direct foreign investment".
"I told them that all the pieces of the puzzle would come together on June 21 and that was done."
"We have all the pieces of the debt puzzle and I think they can give the confidence that investors need," he said. "I want to meet them, listen to their opinions, tell them my views, and explain why they should be much more confident about Greece after 21st August when we get out of the programme." Asked if Greece will need further debt relief to maintain its market access and service its debt in the long run, as the IMF said last week, Minister Tsakalotos said it is too early for such long-term assessments.
The promise of Eurozone Finance Ministers in 2017 to look at the issue again and do more if necessary is an additional safety net, he said.
"As things stand, with a serious government policy for sustainable growth, then I think everything points to sustainability," he said.
He added that the government is aiming to manage the debt not only through relief measures but also through development policies and reforms such as improving the business climate and improving the public sector.
Greece has exceeded its fiscal targets. But it is committed to achieving a primary surplus of 3.5% of GDP by 2022 and 2.2% of GDP between 2023 and 2060, which the IMF has described as "very ambitious" and "extremely high".
Minister Tsakalotos said that both the government and the partners may be re-examining the issue in the future.
"If you ask me as an economist, the primary surplus is too high," he said. "European economies in general have a framework that places great emphasis on budgetary discipline."
"The Greek Government will examine it and the Finance Ministers will do so to see if the IMF's opinion is correct and if there is a problem with its sustainability (the objective of a surplus in the long run)."
The Government estimates the 3.5% target overrun this year and distribution of the social dividend. By the end of July, the ministry's ministry will have to come up with proposals on how to allocate the surplus.
Asked whether he will proceed with tax reductions, he acknowledged that the sharing of the tax burden needs a review. Consideration is also to be given to reducing social security contributions together with raising the minimum wage.
"The real problem in Greece is who pays these taxes, that is what we are focussing on, that is why I said we are thinking perhaps to reduce the insurance contributions."
"Because there are clearly many self-employed people and small businesses that have been hit by both tax increases and insurance contributions," the Finance Minister added.
IMF Report on Greece
IMF Spokesman on Greece, Michalis Psalidopoulos, reported to the House of Representatives [USA] the conclusions of IMF officers following their visit to Greece:
* First: Greece will leave the programmes, having largely eliminated its macroeconomic imbalances.
* Second: Some major reforms have already been implemented.
* Third: Unemployment is falling, even if it is still high.
* Fourth: The recent debt relief agreement will ensure its medium-term viability.
* Fifth: Development has returned to Greece.
* Sixth: The country must be given credit for "significant fiscal adjustment".
* Seventh: The "current account adjustment" should also be given credit.
IMF spokesman, Michalis Psalidopoulos, left open the possibility of renegotiating pension cuts. He noted that the Eurogroup agreement ensures debt sustainability at least in the medium term and added that the IMF's definitive report on Greece containing the debt sustainability analysis will be more positive than the previous one. "The deal puts the debt issue in a more secure course, at least until 2032-2033," he said.
Referring to the high primary surpluses, he stressed that "as Greece applies the agreed measures and proves to the European partners that it is not going to end up in the situations of the first decade of the 21st century, it will be able to convince them that their insistence on high primary surpluses is excessive and is very likely to be discussed again in the future."
T-Bill Auction
On Wednesday Greece sold 26-week treasury bills at a yield of 0.85 percent, unchanged from the previous similar auction last month.
Wednesday’s auction amounted to 1.625€ billion, the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announced. Total bids of 1.729€ billion were submitted, exceeding the required amount by 1.38 times.
"We have all the pieces of the puzzle about the debt and I think they can give the confidence that investors need," the Finance Minister said on Wednesday. "They should be much more confident about Greece after August 21st".
"Greece is in a position to self-finance its debt after the relief measures which have been agreed."
Ahead of next week's meetings with investors in New York and Boston, Minister Tsakalotos stressed that the debt deal offers a clear corridor to investors "whether we are talking about a 10-year bond or direct foreign investment".
"I told them that all the pieces of the puzzle would come together on June 21 and that was done."
"We have all the pieces of the debt puzzle and I think they can give the confidence that investors need," he said. "I want to meet them, listen to their opinions, tell them my views, and explain why they should be much more confident about Greece after 21st August when we get out of the programme." Asked if Greece will need further debt relief to maintain its market access and service its debt in the long run, as the IMF said last week, Minister Tsakalotos said it is too early for such long-term assessments.
The promise of Eurozone Finance Ministers in 2017 to look at the issue again and do more if necessary is an additional safety net, he said.
"As things stand, with a serious government policy for sustainable growth, then I think everything points to sustainability," he said.
He added that the government is aiming to manage the debt not only through relief measures but also through development policies and reforms such as improving the business climate and improving the public sector.
Greece has exceeded its fiscal targets. But it is committed to achieving a primary surplus of 3.5% of GDP by 2022 and 2.2% of GDP between 2023 and 2060, which the IMF has described as "very ambitious" and "extremely high".
Minister Tsakalotos said that both the government and the partners may be re-examining the issue in the future.
"If you ask me as an economist, the primary surplus is too high," he said. "European economies in general have a framework that places great emphasis on budgetary discipline."
"The Greek Government will examine it and the Finance Ministers will do so to see if the IMF's opinion is correct and if there is a problem with its sustainability (the objective of a surplus in the long run)."
The Government estimates the 3.5% target overrun this year and distribution of the social dividend. By the end of July, the ministry's ministry will have to come up with proposals on how to allocate the surplus.
Asked whether he will proceed with tax reductions, he acknowledged that the sharing of the tax burden needs a review. Consideration is also to be given to reducing social security contributions together with raising the minimum wage.
"The real problem in Greece is who pays these taxes, that is what we are focussing on, that is why I said we are thinking perhaps to reduce the insurance contributions."
"Because there are clearly many self-employed people and small businesses that have been hit by both tax increases and insurance contributions," the Finance Minister added.
IMF Report on Greece
IMF Spokesman on Greece, Michalis Psalidopoulos, reported to the House of Representatives [USA] the conclusions of IMF officers following their visit to Greece:
* First: Greece will leave the programmes, having largely eliminated its macroeconomic imbalances.
* Second: Some major reforms have already been implemented.
* Third: Unemployment is falling, even if it is still high.
* Fourth: The recent debt relief agreement will ensure its medium-term viability.
* Fifth: Development has returned to Greece.
* Sixth: The country must be given credit for "significant fiscal adjustment".
* Seventh: The "current account adjustment" should also be given credit.
IMF spokesman, Michalis Psalidopoulos, left open the possibility of renegotiating pension cuts. He noted that the Eurogroup agreement ensures debt sustainability at least in the medium term and added that the IMF's definitive report on Greece containing the debt sustainability analysis will be more positive than the previous one. "The deal puts the debt issue in a more secure course, at least until 2032-2033," he said.
Referring to the high primary surpluses, he stressed that "as Greece applies the agreed measures and proves to the European partners that it is not going to end up in the situations of the first decade of the 21st century, it will be able to convince them that their insistence on high primary surpluses is excessive and is very likely to be discussed again in the future."
T-Bill Auction
On Wednesday Greece sold 26-week treasury bills at a yield of 0.85 percent, unchanged from the previous similar auction last month.
Wednesday’s auction amounted to 1.625€ billion, the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announced. Total bids of 1.729€ billion were submitted, exceeding the required amount by 1.38 times.
"Kleisthenes I" Goes to Parliament
Simple proportional representation as the electoral system in municipal and regional elections
The Ministry of Interior’s bill for the reform of the institutional framework of local government – the "Kleisthenes I" programme - was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.
The main provisions of the draft law are the following:
All municipal and regional council seats to be allocated to the Combinations that participate in the elections, depending on the number of valid ballots received in the first round. If no Combination gets 50% plus 1, the vote is repeated the following Sunday (2nd round), between just the mayoral candidates of the two Combinations that received the most votes.
Local Government elections will be seperated from the European elections and will be held on the second Sunday of October (the upcoming will take place on 13 October), while municipal and regional term of office will return to the four-year period from the five years of the Kallikratis programme. The establishment of the new authorities shall take place on 1 January of the following year following the election and their term of office shall end on 31 December of the fourth year.
The number of candidate municipal councilors must be at least equal to the number of seats in each constituency.
"Kleisthenes 1" also includes arrangements for strengthening citizen participation by means of local and regional referenda on local issues.
The institution of the Municipal and Regional Support of the Citizen, which was provided by "Kallikratis" and did not have the expected results, is replaced by the Municipal and Regional Ombudsman.
The Municipalities are divided into five categories based on their population, their special geographical characteristics, the basic characteristics of the economic activity within their boundaries, their degree of urbanization, their inclusion or not in larger metropolitan urban planning complexes and their place in the administrative division of the country.
The allocation of state funding to municipalities will not only take into account their inclusion in the relevant category but also other criteria such as the length of water supply and sewerage networks as well as the municipal and rural road network, the level of availability of local resources, population variations by season, demographic trends, etc.
The bill is complemented by arrangements for the modernization of the institutional framework for the organization and operation of the Solid Waste Management Facility (FODSA) in the country, as well as provisions for the quicker allocation of citizenship and naturalization.
Simple proportional representation as the electoral system in municipal and regional elections
The Ministry of Interior’s bill for the reform of the institutional framework of local government – the "Kleisthenes I" programme - was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.
The main provisions of the draft law are the following:
All municipal and regional council seats to be allocated to the Combinations that participate in the elections, depending on the number of valid ballots received in the first round. If no Combination gets 50% plus 1, the vote is repeated the following Sunday (2nd round), between just the mayoral candidates of the two Combinations that received the most votes.
Local Government elections will be seperated from the European elections and will be held on the second Sunday of October (the upcoming will take place on 13 October), while municipal and regional term of office will return to the four-year period from the five years of the Kallikratis programme. The establishment of the new authorities shall take place on 1 January of the following year following the election and their term of office shall end on 31 December of the fourth year.
The number of candidate municipal councilors must be at least equal to the number of seats in each constituency.
"Kleisthenes 1" also includes arrangements for strengthening citizen participation by means of local and regional referenda on local issues.
The institution of the Municipal and Regional Support of the Citizen, which was provided by "Kallikratis" and did not have the expected results, is replaced by the Municipal and Regional Ombudsman.
The Municipalities are divided into five categories based on their population, their special geographical characteristics, the basic characteristics of the economic activity within their boundaries, their degree of urbanization, their inclusion or not in larger metropolitan urban planning complexes and their place in the administrative division of the country.
The allocation of state funding to municipalities will not only take into account their inclusion in the relevant category but also other criteria such as the length of water supply and sewerage networks as well as the municipal and rural road network, the level of availability of local resources, population variations by season, demographic trends, etc.
The bill is complemented by arrangements for the modernization of the institutional framework for the organization and operation of the Solid Waste Management Facility (FODSA) in the country, as well as provisions for the quicker allocation of citizenship and naturalization.
Tripartite Agreement on Migrant Issue
Alexis Tsipras met with Pedro Sanchez (Spain) and Angela Merkel of Germany with a view to establishing a rationale for the management of the refugee cisis in Europe “in the face of the forces of far-right populism”. They made an agreement with a key axis on minimizing unlawful secondary flows in favour of the immediate acceleration of the reunification of refugee families in Germany.
The three leaders expressed their support for completing the revision of the Common European Asylum System in 2018 with the aim of striking the right balance between a fair sharing of responsibilities and solidarity.
"Until the implementation of the new Common European Asylum System, the interim measures imposed by those member countries who are willing to move forward collectively at European level are the best way to move forward," PM Tsipras said.
At the same time, the positive attitude of Greece and Spain has been agreed upon for the reception of asylum seekers identified in the future at the German border with Austria by the German authorities and their entry is recorded by Eurodac, while Germany will gradually accept and will complete the reunification of families from Greece and Spain. In particular, Germany has pledged to immediately process 2,900 requests for family reunification from Greece, and also to examine positively hundreds of other requests.
"On the basis of the reunions, the final balance for Greece will be extremely positive," said the Greek Prime Minister, stressing that "it is an act of solidarity and humanity, especially in a period that, unfortunately, as we have seen in the session, some people forget that the term “refugee” it does not refer to statistics and numbers but to human souls that have been parted under harsh conditions. "
PM Tsipras announced that in the next few years there will be similar agreements with other countries in order to include all the countries with progressive government along with France and Germany.
In this context, at the press conference, the Greek Prime Minister pointed out the deep divisions in the European Union between the democratic humanistic and the extreme conservative, chauvinistic and anti-immigrant perceptions. "What we knew as the founding principles and values of the EU, solidarity, humanism, respect for human rights and international law, are not common place for all 28," he said.
"Greece has put in first place the values of solidarity and co-responsibility, of humanity that constitute, or should constitute, the foundation of Europe."
Alexis Tsipras met with Pedro Sanchez (Spain) and Angela Merkel of Germany with a view to establishing a rationale for the management of the refugee cisis in Europe “in the face of the forces of far-right populism”. They made an agreement with a key axis on minimizing unlawful secondary flows in favour of the immediate acceleration of the reunification of refugee families in Germany.
The three leaders expressed their support for completing the revision of the Common European Asylum System in 2018 with the aim of striking the right balance between a fair sharing of responsibilities and solidarity.
"Until the implementation of the new Common European Asylum System, the interim measures imposed by those member countries who are willing to move forward collectively at European level are the best way to move forward," PM Tsipras said.
At the same time, the positive attitude of Greece and Spain has been agreed upon for the reception of asylum seekers identified in the future at the German border with Austria by the German authorities and their entry is recorded by Eurodac, while Germany will gradually accept and will complete the reunification of families from Greece and Spain. In particular, Germany has pledged to immediately process 2,900 requests for family reunification from Greece, and also to examine positively hundreds of other requests.
"On the basis of the reunions, the final balance for Greece will be extremely positive," said the Greek Prime Minister, stressing that "it is an act of solidarity and humanity, especially in a period that, unfortunately, as we have seen in the session, some people forget that the term “refugee” it does not refer to statistics and numbers but to human souls that have been parted under harsh conditions. "
PM Tsipras announced that in the next few years there will be similar agreements with other countries in order to include all the countries with progressive government along with France and Germany.
In this context, at the press conference, the Greek Prime Minister pointed out the deep divisions in the European Union between the democratic humanistic and the extreme conservative, chauvinistic and anti-immigrant perceptions. "What we knew as the founding principles and values of the EU, solidarity, humanism, respect for human rights and international law, are not common place for all 28," he said.
"Greece has put in first place the values of solidarity and co-responsibility, of humanity that constitute, or should constitute, the foundation of Europe."
Prespa Agreement
In a second vote on the law ratifying the Prespa Agreement with Greece on the name of the country following President Georges Ivanov’s refusal to sign-off the decree, FYROM's parliament voted with 69 votes in favour with one abstention. The opposition had left the parliament.
FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said that the President is obliged by the Constitution to sign-off the decree after the second parliamentary vote.
Parliament Speaker, Talat Tseferi, announced that the law can be sent for publication in the Government Gazette under his own signature.
In a second vote on the law ratifying the Prespa Agreement with Greece on the name of the country following President Georges Ivanov’s refusal to sign-off the decree, FYROM's parliament voted with 69 votes in favour with one abstention. The opposition had left the parliament.
FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said that the President is obliged by the Constitution to sign-off the decree after the second parliamentary vote.
Parliament Speaker, Talat Tseferi, announced that the law can be sent for publication in the Government Gazette under his own signature.
"Europe is called upon to face the spectre of its history - the need for solidarity and collective decisions in the EU"
30.6.2018
"The brightest days are ahead of us. Following a substantial Eurogroup debt relief decision, Greece is now ready to go out into the international markets. And to stand again on its own two feet," said Alexis Tsipras speaking at the London Business School on Wednesday.
He described the country's situation when his Government took over and what has changed in the last years of its governance. He focused on the dilemmas Europe faces and its proposals for a more open, democratic, solidarity-based Europe as the answer to the tidal wave of extreme right, right-wing populism, isolationism, racism and xenophobia that threaten it.
He stressed that unemployment, poverty, inequalities, and marginalization are part of European reality and policies are needed to tackle them. While pointing to the need for solidarity and collective decisions in the EU, he castigated the idea that everyone can do it on their own, noting that it is offensive and deceitful to think that we can hide in our shell and see others stumble.
He stressed that "even in the most difficult times, we did not lose our dedication to Europe, because we believe that Europe can and will change". We must, he emphasized, strengthen solidarity and block right-wing populism. "We have to shape the new face of Europe and let the world see the changes we have made."
Starting his speech, Alexis Tsipras said: "I bring good news from a place that was synonymous with bad news or even worse, depressing news." He said it had taken eight years to reverse things, and that, in fact, it took about 4 years for the government to reverse the path towards endless austerity and a recession that seemed irreversible. He stressed that from 2015 to 2018, "Greece has been transformed from an example of a monumental fiscal failure into a" subject of study "for exceeding fiscal targets and economic recovery," noting that for three years not only were the primary surplus targets achieved but those targets were exceeded by about 2% on average. "In addition to that, the goal was to put an end to the unprecedented recession spiral in which my country had fallen since 2009," he noted. He said that after 2016, which was the year of stabilization, it ended 2017 with a growth rate of 1.4% and in 2018 the figures would be higher. In fact, he said, in the first four months of 2018 we had a decade-long record of growth of 2.3%. The same applies to foreign direct investment. He also noted that the 4€ billion invested last year in Greece is also the highest amount of foreign direct investment since 2008.
The Prime Minister added that the same is true of all key sectors of the economy: exports are blossonimg, production is on a steady growth path, the banking sector is stable, with capital adequacy and an ongoing plan to reduce non-performing loans. He pointed out that tourism is one of the most powerful industries in the country, breaking one record after another, and that in 2018 it will be a record year of 32 million visitors.
Mr. Tsipras said that "these elements are beginning to leave their mark on the recovery, which affects all social aspects and, above all, unemployment." He said that Greece 4 years ago was a country with 27% unemployment and 60% unemployment among young people in particular. "That was Greece in 2014. We are now on a steady path to tackling this terrible consequence of unrestrained austerity and recession. 350,000 new jobs have been created, leading to a total 7% reduction over the last three years."
"Nothing went well when Europe decided to face an upcoming crisis by creating discrimination"
Speaking about Europe and the challenges it faces, Mr Tsipras pointed out that particular importance can be given to fiscal stability, which is key to avoiding potential threats to the European economy. "But what about growth? Investment? New Jobs? Social Protection? ," criticising the fact that Europe and the Eurozone in particular have decided to put these issues on hold and focus primarily on the budgetary strand."
He commented that austerity had been imposed as a punishment. He emphasised that as history reveals, however, nothing good happens when countries are treated as scapegoats and forced to endure such punishment. "Nothing went well when Europe decided to cope with an upcoming crisis, discriminating between the 'hardworking' and 'lazy' between North and South. And when you legitimise such discrimination it is transformed into a rule that is applied to every other situation and not just to the economy."
He pointed out that the refugee crisis proved this, as some Member States chose to avoid responsibility. "They even built walls and fences against the people trying to escape from war and terrorism," he commented, pointing out that "their attitude has created burdens on other countries, such as Greece, which dealt with the issue with respect for our shared responsibility and with humanity and solidarity."
"Europe has to face the spectre of its history"
The Prime Minister stressed that now Europe is harvesting the bitter fruits of its hesitation to bridge the gap of the discrimination which it itself created and that "Europe is now faced with the spectre of its history - nationalists, the far-right, neo-Nazis, who benefit from our collective hesitation to deal with the real issues," he said. He noted that unemployment, poverty, inequality, marginalisation are part of European reality "and we need responses and policies to deal with them because they have been shifted from the European ideals which united us."
The Greek Prime Minister condemned the logic that everyone can manage things on their own, noting that it is offensive and deceitful to think that we can hide in our shell and watch others stumble. He said it was offensive "because it forces the clock of history to turn back to its most turbulent period: when every nation was trying to impose its will on others." It is deceitful because in the era of globalization everything is connected, markets, trade, industry and people.
He commented that he understood that he was talking to a country where her people have chosen the lonely path away from the European family and that although he deeply respects this, he disagrees emphatically. Because, as he explained, although he comes from a country that has suffered terribly from the crisis and has paid the price of the EU's hesitation to show its solidarity, we have never lost our devotion to Europe, even at the most difficult times. "Because we think Europe can and must change," he said, but it is a long process. It is a marathon rather than a sprint.
He stressed that "this does not mean that we have all the time in the world at our disposal. On the contrary, we have to start today. " He stressed in particular that "we need to reform many aspects of the EU. We need more Europe but a more open and democratic Europe".
He set the dilemma: "We must decide whether to insist on the European ideal of solidarity or to let the EU get swept away by the tidal wave of right-wing populism and isolationism." He noted that "the answer is simple: we must strengthen solidarity and block right-wing populism at the same time. We need to show our solidarity on critical issues." In particular, he stressed that there could be no deep-seated recovery without a combination of public and private and social investment. "Fighting unemployment, securing a network of protection for the most vulnerable, safeguarding social welfare, deepening the development of the social and cooperative economy, investing in research and development are priorities that ensure that no one will get left behind in its new era of development,
The Prime Minister stressed that in order to curb racism and xenophobia, we need a fundamental renewal of European institutions and decision-making. "We must check the democratic deficit in Europe. This is of vital importance if we want citizens to see the EU not as a well oiled bureaucratic machine but as a democratic force that respects the will of its peoples." "We must shape the new face of Europe and let the world see the changes we have made. Europe must become a pillar of stability and a world leader, he noted.
He added that a new, effective peace-oriented model of European and global security must emerge. "Europe has no room to look back to the miserable past of conflicts and divisions. Europe must be a strong, open, democratic force that aims to change the world as a ray of progress - an example to be imitated, "said Alexis Tsipras, saying optimistically that "In the end we will achieve it".
He described the country's situation when his Government took over and what has changed in the last years of its governance. He focused on the dilemmas Europe faces and its proposals for a more open, democratic, solidarity-based Europe as the answer to the tidal wave of extreme right, right-wing populism, isolationism, racism and xenophobia that threaten it.
He stressed that unemployment, poverty, inequalities, and marginalization are part of European reality and policies are needed to tackle them. While pointing to the need for solidarity and collective decisions in the EU, he castigated the idea that everyone can do it on their own, noting that it is offensive and deceitful to think that we can hide in our shell and see others stumble.
He stressed that "even in the most difficult times, we did not lose our dedication to Europe, because we believe that Europe can and will change". We must, he emphasized, strengthen solidarity and block right-wing populism. "We have to shape the new face of Europe and let the world see the changes we have made."
Starting his speech, Alexis Tsipras said: "I bring good news from a place that was synonymous with bad news or even worse, depressing news." He said it had taken eight years to reverse things, and that, in fact, it took about 4 years for the government to reverse the path towards endless austerity and a recession that seemed irreversible. He stressed that from 2015 to 2018, "Greece has been transformed from an example of a monumental fiscal failure into a" subject of study "for exceeding fiscal targets and economic recovery," noting that for three years not only were the primary surplus targets achieved but those targets were exceeded by about 2% on average. "In addition to that, the goal was to put an end to the unprecedented recession spiral in which my country had fallen since 2009," he noted. He said that after 2016, which was the year of stabilization, it ended 2017 with a growth rate of 1.4% and in 2018 the figures would be higher. In fact, he said, in the first four months of 2018 we had a decade-long record of growth of 2.3%. The same applies to foreign direct investment. He also noted that the 4€ billion invested last year in Greece is also the highest amount of foreign direct investment since 2008.
The Prime Minister added that the same is true of all key sectors of the economy: exports are blossonimg, production is on a steady growth path, the banking sector is stable, with capital adequacy and an ongoing plan to reduce non-performing loans. He pointed out that tourism is one of the most powerful industries in the country, breaking one record after another, and that in 2018 it will be a record year of 32 million visitors.
Mr. Tsipras said that "these elements are beginning to leave their mark on the recovery, which affects all social aspects and, above all, unemployment." He said that Greece 4 years ago was a country with 27% unemployment and 60% unemployment among young people in particular. "That was Greece in 2014. We are now on a steady path to tackling this terrible consequence of unrestrained austerity and recession. 350,000 new jobs have been created, leading to a total 7% reduction over the last three years."
"Nothing went well when Europe decided to face an upcoming crisis by creating discrimination"
Speaking about Europe and the challenges it faces, Mr Tsipras pointed out that particular importance can be given to fiscal stability, which is key to avoiding potential threats to the European economy. "But what about growth? Investment? New Jobs? Social Protection? ," criticising the fact that Europe and the Eurozone in particular have decided to put these issues on hold and focus primarily on the budgetary strand."
He commented that austerity had been imposed as a punishment. He emphasised that as history reveals, however, nothing good happens when countries are treated as scapegoats and forced to endure such punishment. "Nothing went well when Europe decided to cope with an upcoming crisis, discriminating between the 'hardworking' and 'lazy' between North and South. And when you legitimise such discrimination it is transformed into a rule that is applied to every other situation and not just to the economy."
He pointed out that the refugee crisis proved this, as some Member States chose to avoid responsibility. "They even built walls and fences against the people trying to escape from war and terrorism," he commented, pointing out that "their attitude has created burdens on other countries, such as Greece, which dealt with the issue with respect for our shared responsibility and with humanity and solidarity."
"Europe has to face the spectre of its history"
The Prime Minister stressed that now Europe is harvesting the bitter fruits of its hesitation to bridge the gap of the discrimination which it itself created and that "Europe is now faced with the spectre of its history - nationalists, the far-right, neo-Nazis, who benefit from our collective hesitation to deal with the real issues," he said. He noted that unemployment, poverty, inequality, marginalisation are part of European reality "and we need responses and policies to deal with them because they have been shifted from the European ideals which united us."
The Greek Prime Minister condemned the logic that everyone can manage things on their own, noting that it is offensive and deceitful to think that we can hide in our shell and watch others stumble. He said it was offensive "because it forces the clock of history to turn back to its most turbulent period: when every nation was trying to impose its will on others." It is deceitful because in the era of globalization everything is connected, markets, trade, industry and people.
He commented that he understood that he was talking to a country where her people have chosen the lonely path away from the European family and that although he deeply respects this, he disagrees emphatically. Because, as he explained, although he comes from a country that has suffered terribly from the crisis and has paid the price of the EU's hesitation to show its solidarity, we have never lost our devotion to Europe, even at the most difficult times. "Because we think Europe can and must change," he said, but it is a long process. It is a marathon rather than a sprint.
He stressed that "this does not mean that we have all the time in the world at our disposal. On the contrary, we have to start today. " He stressed in particular that "we need to reform many aspects of the EU. We need more Europe but a more open and democratic Europe".
He set the dilemma: "We must decide whether to insist on the European ideal of solidarity or to let the EU get swept away by the tidal wave of right-wing populism and isolationism." He noted that "the answer is simple: we must strengthen solidarity and block right-wing populism at the same time. We need to show our solidarity on critical issues." In particular, he stressed that there could be no deep-seated recovery without a combination of public and private and social investment. "Fighting unemployment, securing a network of protection for the most vulnerable, safeguarding social welfare, deepening the development of the social and cooperative economy, investing in research and development are priorities that ensure that no one will get left behind in its new era of development,
The Prime Minister stressed that in order to curb racism and xenophobia, we need a fundamental renewal of European institutions and decision-making. "We must check the democratic deficit in Europe. This is of vital importance if we want citizens to see the EU not as a well oiled bureaucratic machine but as a democratic force that respects the will of its peoples." "We must shape the new face of Europe and let the world see the changes we have made. Europe must become a pillar of stability and a world leader, he noted.
He added that a new, effective peace-oriented model of European and global security must emerge. "Europe has no room to look back to the miserable past of conflicts and divisions. Europe must be a strong, open, democratic force that aims to change the world as a ray of progress - an example to be imitated, "said Alexis Tsipras, saying optimistically that "In the end we will achieve it".
EU Debate Response to Migration
On behalf of Greece, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented four proposals at the Informal Migration / Refugee Summit held in Brussels last Sunday 24th June on the initiative of the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
According to government sources, these proposals were:
1. Revise the European asylum system with a fair sharing of the burden of hosting.
2. Reinforcement of European first host countries.
3. Support for countries of transit and origin.
4. Replacement of Frontex by strong European Coast Guard and Brigade forces.
PM Tsipras expressed serious reservations about the creation of closed centres for refugees outside the European Union.
Following the meeting, he made the following statement:
"We had the opportunity today to have a substantive debate, preparatory to the Summit in a few days - next Thursday and Friday - on the crucial issue of the immigration and refugee crisis. This crisis, as you know, is not a conjunctural crisis. It is not a temporary affair. Europe will face it for some years to come. I therefore think - and this is particularly important - the great dilemma ahead of us is whether we will face this crisis by looking for European collective solutions, treating it as a European collective challenge or by treating it as a crisis that concerns those countries where the symptoms occur, and so each country would seek separate national solutions to tackle the problem.
In today's debate, because most of the participants - not everyone but most - are inclined to the first view that it is a European crisis and a European solution has to be sought, thoughts and opinions were heard. We did not end up with specifics and this meeting was preparatory. But I think I can at least tell you what we put forward from our side. So I set out the need not to proceed, not to deal with this problem in a fragmentary way. Unilateral actions in no way solve problems, but they create even more and I asked for the revision of the European Asylum System, which has passed its sell by date, the Dublin Agreement, to be revised as soon as possible.
I asked for support for the front-line host countries, for the countries of origin and transit. I also asked that we immediately set up a European return mechanism, but also to upgrade Frontex to a European coastguard and border guard. I have put forward the view that we should see as equally seriously both the issue of protecting European borders and the internal and external dimensions of the immigration crisis. This means that Europe should be guided by a policy of sharing responsibility, solidarity and mutual support rather than a policy that will only apply to those countries that are receiving refugee flows.
Regarding where this debate will end, I repeat that it is open. The Council will take place in a few days, where we may get a first picture, given - I repeat - that there are disagreements. In any case, I have expressed the view that countries which agree on the need to tackle this problem collectively and in a coordinated way should jointly go ahead with multilateral cooperation initiatives to tackle the problem. And those countries that do not agree with this approach obviously can not be forced, but it is certain that at some point they will find themselves facing other kinds of problems, and then, possibly, they may get a corresponding response also from all the other countries that they are showing towards the refugee problem.
As far as the issue of secondary flows is concerned, I would like to express my view, as I have expressed within the Council, that, as far as Greece is concerned, unilaterally, they closed our northern borders a long time ago. Therefore, we believe that secondary flows from Greece do not exist and, if they exist, some will be by illegal routes, they will be extremely limited. Therefore, this is not an issue that we consider to be a major issue. We want, we have no objection, there to be a co-ordinated effort to reduce the secondary flows but a priority for us of value and importance is for us to eradicate, if possible, the primary flows by the implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement. Because, you know, reducing these illegal primary flows can enable this EU-Turkey agreement to work constructively and creatively, which I want to remind you does not mean that we are closing the doors and windows to legal immigration. On the contrary, it means closing the door to the traffickers' illegal activity and allowing legal flows through the asylum procedure, which is of course a process that respects international treaties and international law.
Finally, I stressed that I raised the issue of family reunification with great emphasis and expressed the view that Europe should not show an odious face in complete contradiction to its principles and values. A face which, unfortunately, other countries are showing at this time, something which has been commented on in the international press, but it is, I would say, a scourge in terms of the universal values that must govern our culture . Therefore, and this is particularly true of Greece, as we currently have a large number of cases of separated families that need reunification, we must immediately take the necessary steps to achieve this. "
Question: How important was this meeting for you? Was the EU-Turkey agreement discussed? Have there been bilateral agreements?
Prime Minister: "First of all, I want to repeat that today we have not made decisions. We have prepared for the [European] Council. I think there is a great dilemma that we have had to face. This concerns whether we want European solutions to a European problem or whether we believe that each country should solve the problem on its own. And this is an idea that some Member States believe, if the problem is not in their back yard, they do not have to deal with it, resolve it and show solidarity for common solutions. I line up with the first idea, with the first proposition. I think it is indeed a European problem and we need to find European solutions. The EU-Turkey agreement is a difficult agreement, but it is necessary. We are working hard to implement this agreement."
On behalf of Greece, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented four proposals at the Informal Migration / Refugee Summit held in Brussels last Sunday 24th June on the initiative of the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
According to government sources, these proposals were:
1. Revise the European asylum system with a fair sharing of the burden of hosting.
2. Reinforcement of European first host countries.
3. Support for countries of transit and origin.
4. Replacement of Frontex by strong European Coast Guard and Brigade forces.
PM Tsipras expressed serious reservations about the creation of closed centres for refugees outside the European Union.
Following the meeting, he made the following statement:
"We had the opportunity today to have a substantive debate, preparatory to the Summit in a few days - next Thursday and Friday - on the crucial issue of the immigration and refugee crisis. This crisis, as you know, is not a conjunctural crisis. It is not a temporary affair. Europe will face it for some years to come. I therefore think - and this is particularly important - the great dilemma ahead of us is whether we will face this crisis by looking for European collective solutions, treating it as a European collective challenge or by treating it as a crisis that concerns those countries where the symptoms occur, and so each country would seek separate national solutions to tackle the problem.
In today's debate, because most of the participants - not everyone but most - are inclined to the first view that it is a European crisis and a European solution has to be sought, thoughts and opinions were heard. We did not end up with specifics and this meeting was preparatory. But I think I can at least tell you what we put forward from our side. So I set out the need not to proceed, not to deal with this problem in a fragmentary way. Unilateral actions in no way solve problems, but they create even more and I asked for the revision of the European Asylum System, which has passed its sell by date, the Dublin Agreement, to be revised as soon as possible.
I asked for support for the front-line host countries, for the countries of origin and transit. I also asked that we immediately set up a European return mechanism, but also to upgrade Frontex to a European coastguard and border guard. I have put forward the view that we should see as equally seriously both the issue of protecting European borders and the internal and external dimensions of the immigration crisis. This means that Europe should be guided by a policy of sharing responsibility, solidarity and mutual support rather than a policy that will only apply to those countries that are receiving refugee flows.
Regarding where this debate will end, I repeat that it is open. The Council will take place in a few days, where we may get a first picture, given - I repeat - that there are disagreements. In any case, I have expressed the view that countries which agree on the need to tackle this problem collectively and in a coordinated way should jointly go ahead with multilateral cooperation initiatives to tackle the problem. And those countries that do not agree with this approach obviously can not be forced, but it is certain that at some point they will find themselves facing other kinds of problems, and then, possibly, they may get a corresponding response also from all the other countries that they are showing towards the refugee problem.
As far as the issue of secondary flows is concerned, I would like to express my view, as I have expressed within the Council, that, as far as Greece is concerned, unilaterally, they closed our northern borders a long time ago. Therefore, we believe that secondary flows from Greece do not exist and, if they exist, some will be by illegal routes, they will be extremely limited. Therefore, this is not an issue that we consider to be a major issue. We want, we have no objection, there to be a co-ordinated effort to reduce the secondary flows but a priority for us of value and importance is for us to eradicate, if possible, the primary flows by the implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement. Because, you know, reducing these illegal primary flows can enable this EU-Turkey agreement to work constructively and creatively, which I want to remind you does not mean that we are closing the doors and windows to legal immigration. On the contrary, it means closing the door to the traffickers' illegal activity and allowing legal flows through the asylum procedure, which is of course a process that respects international treaties and international law.
Finally, I stressed that I raised the issue of family reunification with great emphasis and expressed the view that Europe should not show an odious face in complete contradiction to its principles and values. A face which, unfortunately, other countries are showing at this time, something which has been commented on in the international press, but it is, I would say, a scourge in terms of the universal values that must govern our culture . Therefore, and this is particularly true of Greece, as we currently have a large number of cases of separated families that need reunification, we must immediately take the necessary steps to achieve this. "
Question: How important was this meeting for you? Was the EU-Turkey agreement discussed? Have there been bilateral agreements?
Prime Minister: "First of all, I want to repeat that today we have not made decisions. We have prepared for the [European] Council. I think there is a great dilemma that we have had to face. This concerns whether we want European solutions to a European problem or whether we believe that each country should solve the problem on its own. And this is an idea that some Member States believe, if the problem is not in their back yard, they do not have to deal with it, resolve it and show solidarity for common solutions. I line up with the first idea, with the first proposition. I think it is indeed a European problem and we need to find European solutions. The EU-Turkey agreement is a difficult agreement, but it is necessary. We are working hard to implement this agreement."
Debt Relief : The Details
A SYRIZA Spokesman provided the following commentary on the significance of the agreed Debt Relief Measures:
“Debt relief totalling around 95€ billion has been achieved by the Greek Government, following the latest Eurogroup decision of 21st June. At the same time, the Greek State has been granted a security cushion for the next two years, which reaches 24.1€ billion. With the 3.3€ billion earmarked for the acquisition of part of Greece's debt to the IMF, this cushion amounts to 20.8€ billion.
While these figures can seem irrelevant to the everyday life of citizens, it is important to note that this restructuring leads our country out of the Memoranda, giving the Government the opportunity to pursue the policy it wants if the targets for surpluses are met. In addition, the Medium-term Strategy Framework 2019-2022 provides for tax cuts and an increase in social spending in the coming years, amounting to 3.5€ billion.
Moreover, the Government can now pursue its own development plan, which is already in the public sphere, and which was also mentioned by the Institutions in the recent Eurogroup, in terms of boosting growth for the coming years.
Already the next day's degree of freedom is also reflected in an annex to the latest decision of the eurozone finance ministers, which explicitly states the possibility of raising the minimum wage, while the return of collective agreements has already been agreed.
The Details
The debt relief is close to 95€ billion. Last Thursday's decision concerns the implementation of medium-term measures to alleviate Greek debt.
As ESM said in a recent announcement, this decision will reduce debt-to-GDP ratio by about 25% by 2060 and will reduce annual financing needs to GDP by 6%. The above translates to an amount of around 50€ billion.
With regard to the implementation of the medium-term measures, which will be analysed below, there is a reduction of 2.3€ billion from the postponement of payments, about 500€ million from the extensions in the loan period up to 2032, and the return of the European Central Bank's profits from Greek bonds will be in the order of 1.2€ billion for the period 2019-2022. Also, there will be a gain made from both the acquisition of part of our debt to the IMF. The above sums amount to 45€ billion.
Regarding the gains from the debt relief decision, it is important that a ten-year grace period is given for the EFSF loan, ie freezing capital and interest payments until 2032. Even more importantly, the decision provides for a ten-year extension of the maturing of EFSF loan bonds (ie about 100€ billion). This means that the weighted average maturity of the bonds on this loan rises from 22 to about 32 years. These bonds would begin to repay in 2023 and will begin to expire in 2033.
24.1€ billion"Cushion"
The 15€ billion disbursement increases the Greek Government's cash reserve to 24.1€ billion.
As Government sources said, "this means that the country's financing needs are covered for at least the next two years even in the worst-case scenario of not issuing new bonds. So, the Greek State can design its accessing of the markets without any pressure and only on the criterion of optimal management of Greek debt and not to service debt obligations. This development marks the definitive end of the credit line debate, as the line of support is already in the public fund without any pledges for conditional disbursements. "It is worth noting that out of the 24.1€ billion, an amount of 3.3€ billion is expected to be directed to the repayment of our country's debt to the IMF. At the moment our debts to the IMF are of the order of 10.4€ billion.
Return of profits
At the same time, a return from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and
from other Eurozone Central Banks of 4.8€
billion will be disbursed in four annual or eight half-yearly installments. A prerequisite for disbursing these funds is to achieve the objectives and meet the commitments contained in the Eurogroup decision. "Annually reimbursing 1.2€ billion to cover either development or financing expenditure will allow additional budgetary space as the primary surplus target remains at 3.5%, but we will have an annual return of 1.2€ billion."
Lower Primary Surpluses
Until 2022, the target for the primary surplus is 3.5% of GDP and at the last Eurogroup meeting it was clarified just how much "above, but close to 2% of GDP" should be the primary surpluses until 2060 based on of last year's decision. Eventually, it was set at 2.2%. It is noteworthy that this target would be set at 2.6% under the Stability and Growth Pact if there was no final decision.
How will oversight work?
The question now arises as to whether new commitments will emerge from the agreement and whether it is a new Memorandum. "Clearly not," Government sources said, adding that "the Assessment process is over. The monitoring of the Greek economy will consist of missions of Institutions that will result in reports likely to contain recommendations to the Greek authorities, as is the case with all the other countries that have left the programme."
The European Union has “simple” and “increased” oversight for countries that have left a Memorandum. Countries that have already completed programmes have “simple” oversight through semi-annual reports. In the case of Greece, oversight will be “increased” and will be every three months. As long as Greece achieves the goals, there is no question. And it is the Greek Government that chooses the means of achieving the goals, not the Institutions.
IMF and pensions
The IMF remained in the Greek programme as a "technical adviser",while acquiring a portion (3.3€ billion) of Greece's debt (10.4€ billion) from the “cushion”. This particular action also untied the "hands" of the Fund, as its Board of Directors is expected to say that Greek debt is viable in the medium term. Of course, this reduces the activity of the Fund within our country, and from autumn the debate about the non-implementation of the pension reduction measure from 1-1-2019 can be opened.
Minimum wage
The Commission has also published a two-page text covering the post-Memorandum period. According to this: "With regard to the labour market, Greece will ensure competitiveness through annual adjustment of the minimum wage according to the provisions of Law 4172/2012. The implementation of the action plan on undeclared work will be completed by the end of the year 2019 ".
It is a fact that with a Ministerial Act Act in 2012, the minimum wage in our country decreased from 751€ to 586€ for all employees, except for young people up to 25 years, for whom 511€ was set. In September the discussion is expected to start about how to increase it.”
Standard & Poor Give Greece B+
On Monday, the Rating Agency Standard & Poor announced the upgrading of Greece's long-term credit rating from B to B+, signifying that the economic outlook is stable.
The upgrading came less than 96 hours after the recent Eurogroup. The improved assessment came almost three weeks before S & P plans to announce the "rating" it would give to Greece and this is judged to accelerate the country's appeal procedures for borrowing directly from the markets.
The S & P statement referred to reduced risks in servicing Greece's debt and added that the creation of liquidity cushions and further debt extensions will reduce the debt-related risks in the next two years.
At the same time, it noted that the country's banks are making progress in reducing “red loans”, given that it will strengthen the financial environment.
The rationale for the upgrading is also the creation of a significant liquidity cushion in view of Greece's withdrawal from the Memoranda of Understanding in August: "In our estimation, the liquidity cushion significantly reduces the risk of financing for the government and increases accessibility to markets under more favourable conditions for both the state and the banking sector."
A SYRIZA Spokesman provided the following commentary on the significance of the agreed Debt Relief Measures:
“Debt relief totalling around 95€ billion has been achieved by the Greek Government, following the latest Eurogroup decision of 21st June. At the same time, the Greek State has been granted a security cushion for the next two years, which reaches 24.1€ billion. With the 3.3€ billion earmarked for the acquisition of part of Greece's debt to the IMF, this cushion amounts to 20.8€ billion.
While these figures can seem irrelevant to the everyday life of citizens, it is important to note that this restructuring leads our country out of the Memoranda, giving the Government the opportunity to pursue the policy it wants if the targets for surpluses are met. In addition, the Medium-term Strategy Framework 2019-2022 provides for tax cuts and an increase in social spending in the coming years, amounting to 3.5€ billion.
Moreover, the Government can now pursue its own development plan, which is already in the public sphere, and which was also mentioned by the Institutions in the recent Eurogroup, in terms of boosting growth for the coming years.
Already the next day's degree of freedom is also reflected in an annex to the latest decision of the eurozone finance ministers, which explicitly states the possibility of raising the minimum wage, while the return of collective agreements has already been agreed.
The Details
The debt relief is close to 95€ billion. Last Thursday's decision concerns the implementation of medium-term measures to alleviate Greek debt.
As ESM said in a recent announcement, this decision will reduce debt-to-GDP ratio by about 25% by 2060 and will reduce annual financing needs to GDP by 6%. The above translates to an amount of around 50€ billion.
With regard to the implementation of the medium-term measures, which will be analysed below, there is a reduction of 2.3€ billion from the postponement of payments, about 500€ million from the extensions in the loan period up to 2032, and the return of the European Central Bank's profits from Greek bonds will be in the order of 1.2€ billion for the period 2019-2022. Also, there will be a gain made from both the acquisition of part of our debt to the IMF. The above sums amount to 45€ billion.
Regarding the gains from the debt relief decision, it is important that a ten-year grace period is given for the EFSF loan, ie freezing capital and interest payments until 2032. Even more importantly, the decision provides for a ten-year extension of the maturing of EFSF loan bonds (ie about 100€ billion). This means that the weighted average maturity of the bonds on this loan rises from 22 to about 32 years. These bonds would begin to repay in 2023 and will begin to expire in 2033.
24.1€ billion"Cushion"
The 15€ billion disbursement increases the Greek Government's cash reserve to 24.1€ billion.
As Government sources said, "this means that the country's financing needs are covered for at least the next two years even in the worst-case scenario of not issuing new bonds. So, the Greek State can design its accessing of the markets without any pressure and only on the criterion of optimal management of Greek debt and not to service debt obligations. This development marks the definitive end of the credit line debate, as the line of support is already in the public fund without any pledges for conditional disbursements. "It is worth noting that out of the 24.1€ billion, an amount of 3.3€ billion is expected to be directed to the repayment of our country's debt to the IMF. At the moment our debts to the IMF are of the order of 10.4€ billion.
Return of profits
At the same time, a return from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and
from other Eurozone Central Banks of 4.8€
billion will be disbursed in four annual or eight half-yearly installments. A prerequisite for disbursing these funds is to achieve the objectives and meet the commitments contained in the Eurogroup decision. "Annually reimbursing 1.2€ billion to cover either development or financing expenditure will allow additional budgetary space as the primary surplus target remains at 3.5%, but we will have an annual return of 1.2€ billion."
Lower Primary Surpluses
Until 2022, the target for the primary surplus is 3.5% of GDP and at the last Eurogroup meeting it was clarified just how much "above, but close to 2% of GDP" should be the primary surpluses until 2060 based on of last year's decision. Eventually, it was set at 2.2%. It is noteworthy that this target would be set at 2.6% under the Stability and Growth Pact if there was no final decision.
How will oversight work?
The question now arises as to whether new commitments will emerge from the agreement and whether it is a new Memorandum. "Clearly not," Government sources said, adding that "the Assessment process is over. The monitoring of the Greek economy will consist of missions of Institutions that will result in reports likely to contain recommendations to the Greek authorities, as is the case with all the other countries that have left the programme."
The European Union has “simple” and “increased” oversight for countries that have left a Memorandum. Countries that have already completed programmes have “simple” oversight through semi-annual reports. In the case of Greece, oversight will be “increased” and will be every three months. As long as Greece achieves the goals, there is no question. And it is the Greek Government that chooses the means of achieving the goals, not the Institutions.
IMF and pensions
The IMF remained in the Greek programme as a "technical adviser",while acquiring a portion (3.3€ billion) of Greece's debt (10.4€ billion) from the “cushion”. This particular action also untied the "hands" of the Fund, as its Board of Directors is expected to say that Greek debt is viable in the medium term. Of course, this reduces the activity of the Fund within our country, and from autumn the debate about the non-implementation of the pension reduction measure from 1-1-2019 can be opened.
Minimum wage
The Commission has also published a two-page text covering the post-Memorandum period. According to this: "With regard to the labour market, Greece will ensure competitiveness through annual adjustment of the minimum wage according to the provisions of Law 4172/2012. The implementation of the action plan on undeclared work will be completed by the end of the year 2019 ".
It is a fact that with a Ministerial Act Act in 2012, the minimum wage in our country decreased from 751€ to 586€ for all employees, except for young people up to 25 years, for whom 511€ was set. In September the discussion is expected to start about how to increase it.”
Standard & Poor Give Greece B+
On Monday, the Rating Agency Standard & Poor announced the upgrading of Greece's long-term credit rating from B to B+, signifying that the economic outlook is stable.
The upgrading came less than 96 hours after the recent Eurogroup. The improved assessment came almost three weeks before S & P plans to announce the "rating" it would give to Greece and this is judged to accelerate the country's appeal procedures for borrowing directly from the markets.
The S & P statement referred to reduced risks in servicing Greece's debt and added that the creation of liquidity cushions and further debt extensions will reduce the debt-related risks in the next two years.
At the same time, it noted that the country's banks are making progress in reducing “red loans”, given that it will strengthen the financial environment.
The rationale for the upgrading is also the creation of a significant liquidity cushion in view of Greece's withdrawal from the Memoranda of Understanding in August: "In our estimation, the liquidity cushion significantly reduces the risk of financing for the government and increases accessibility to markets under more favourable conditions for both the state and the banking sector."
More Funding For Nurseries, Crèches & Kindergartens
95€ million has been made available to 325 municipalities for operating the total of 1,700 municipal nurseries and kindergartens.
Interior Minister Panos Skourletis has signed off an invitation to the municipalities and their Legal Entities to make proposals for an allocation from the €95 million so that all municipal nurseries, crèches and kindergartens operating throughout the country can be subsidized.
There is funding per station to a maximum of 50,000€. The deadline for the submission of applications is 31st December 2018 for the programme to be implemented until December 31st 2022, with the possibility of extension in justified cases.
"The main concern of the Government and the Interior Ministry is to establish an increasingly safe living environment for infants and children. On the basis of this objective, the Ministry of the Interior, in response to the requirement for continuous improvement of the services provided to the citizens and especially to the young children and their parents, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Social Solidarity, issued the Presidential Decree 99/2017, which sets out the conditions for the licensing and operation of municipal nurseries, kindergartens and crèches."
"With full awareness of the difficulties faced by the country and its impact on Local Authorities, a five-year period for Municipalities is foreseen to fully adapt to the provisions of the Presidential Decree 99/2017, giving priority to security issues. At the same time, an amount of 95€ million was secured in order to strengthen the collective effort to create better conditions for infants and children, despite the financially adverse conditions.
This is another specific initiative to strengthen Local Government at the local level by the Government and the Ministry of the Interior, which is part of the ongoing efforts to harmonize social infrastructure with modern needs and requirements. "
Tackling Child Poverty
Child poverty declined by 1.8 percentage points in 2017 ( calculated on 2016 earnings), reaching pre-crisis levels, according to figures released today by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Overall, all indicators are improving, as poverty, poverty and social exclusion, material deprivation and physical deprivation of children record a significant reduction.
In particular, child poverty and the material deprivation of children have fallen more than in the general population, while material deprivation is declining for the first time since 2009 and the poverty threshold is rising for the first time since 2008.
According to ELSTAT (Figures for 2017 income with 2016 incomes):
• The risk of poverty or social exclusion declined to 34.8% in 2017 from 35.7% in 2015 (2014 incomes). That is, in the two years of SYRIZA governance, the risk of poverty has fallen more than 1%.
• Child poverty declined by 2.1 percentage points to 24.5% in 2017 from 26.6% in 2015
• Material deprivation declined by 1.1% over the same period, declining for the first time since 2009
• In 2008, the poverty line was 6480€ annual income per person, and through gradual annual reductions, this reached 4500€ in 2016. In 2017, it is rising for the first time, with an annual income of 4560€.
• Also, in 2008, the poverty threshold for a family with 2 adults and 2 children under 14 was 13,608 euro and went down to 9450€ in 2016. In 2017 it rose to 9576€.
Welcoming the figures, the Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, Theano Photiou, said:
"The planning of our government to combat poverty, child poverty and social exclusion is bringing tangible results and the official figures of the Greek Statistical Authority are an irrefutable witness.
Measures such as the Humanitarian Crisis Law, the solidarity card, rent subsidy, free electricity, school meals, the ever-expanding free access of poor children to nursery schools create a cushion of solidarity to those of our fellow citizens who are in need. At the same time, every euro given for social solidarity has a fiscal multiplier, as the investment involved means, among other things, new jobs.
We are confident that the ELSTAT figures of the year will be even more spectacular as they are basically recording the results of the humanitarian crisis law without counting our key political interventions such as the Social Solidarity Allowance and the family allowances we instituted in 2017. The focus of our policy is our children and our fellow citizens in need. The reduction, especially of child poverty, gives us extra courage to continue. We have a long way to go yet but we will persist."
95€ million has been made available to 325 municipalities for operating the total of 1,700 municipal nurseries and kindergartens.
Interior Minister Panos Skourletis has signed off an invitation to the municipalities and their Legal Entities to make proposals for an allocation from the €95 million so that all municipal nurseries, crèches and kindergartens operating throughout the country can be subsidized.
There is funding per station to a maximum of 50,000€. The deadline for the submission of applications is 31st December 2018 for the programme to be implemented until December 31st 2022, with the possibility of extension in justified cases.
"The main concern of the Government and the Interior Ministry is to establish an increasingly safe living environment for infants and children. On the basis of this objective, the Ministry of the Interior, in response to the requirement for continuous improvement of the services provided to the citizens and especially to the young children and their parents, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Social Solidarity, issued the Presidential Decree 99/2017, which sets out the conditions for the licensing and operation of municipal nurseries, kindergartens and crèches."
"With full awareness of the difficulties faced by the country and its impact on Local Authorities, a five-year period for Municipalities is foreseen to fully adapt to the provisions of the Presidential Decree 99/2017, giving priority to security issues. At the same time, an amount of 95€ million was secured in order to strengthen the collective effort to create better conditions for infants and children, despite the financially adverse conditions.
This is another specific initiative to strengthen Local Government at the local level by the Government and the Ministry of the Interior, which is part of the ongoing efforts to harmonize social infrastructure with modern needs and requirements. "
Tackling Child Poverty
Child poverty declined by 1.8 percentage points in 2017 ( calculated on 2016 earnings), reaching pre-crisis levels, according to figures released today by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Overall, all indicators are improving, as poverty, poverty and social exclusion, material deprivation and physical deprivation of children record a significant reduction.
In particular, child poverty and the material deprivation of children have fallen more than in the general population, while material deprivation is declining for the first time since 2009 and the poverty threshold is rising for the first time since 2008.
According to ELSTAT (Figures for 2017 income with 2016 incomes):
• The risk of poverty or social exclusion declined to 34.8% in 2017 from 35.7% in 2015 (2014 incomes). That is, in the two years of SYRIZA governance, the risk of poverty has fallen more than 1%.
• Child poverty declined by 2.1 percentage points to 24.5% in 2017 from 26.6% in 2015
• Material deprivation declined by 1.1% over the same period, declining for the first time since 2009
• In 2008, the poverty line was 6480€ annual income per person, and through gradual annual reductions, this reached 4500€ in 2016. In 2017, it is rising for the first time, with an annual income of 4560€.
• Also, in 2008, the poverty threshold for a family with 2 adults and 2 children under 14 was 13,608 euro and went down to 9450€ in 2016. In 2017 it rose to 9576€.
Welcoming the figures, the Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, Theano Photiou, said:
"The planning of our government to combat poverty, child poverty and social exclusion is bringing tangible results and the official figures of the Greek Statistical Authority are an irrefutable witness.
Measures such as the Humanitarian Crisis Law, the solidarity card, rent subsidy, free electricity, school meals, the ever-expanding free access of poor children to nursery schools create a cushion of solidarity to those of our fellow citizens who are in need. At the same time, every euro given for social solidarity has a fiscal multiplier, as the investment involved means, among other things, new jobs.
We are confident that the ELSTAT figures of the year will be even more spectacular as they are basically recording the results of the humanitarian crisis law without counting our key political interventions such as the Social Solidarity Allowance and the family allowances we instituted in 2017. The focus of our policy is our children and our fellow citizens in need. The reduction, especially of child poverty, gives us extra courage to continue. We have a long way to go yet but we will persist."
Municipality Criticised
Fire broke out last Friday at an illegal dump in the Municipality of Maroussi, a suburb of Athens.
The Attica Regional Inspectorate identified a worsened situation compared to the findings of checks they had carried out a year earlier. In the two new post mortems after the fire, it is noted that "in the location and in the wider area, there was still intense smell from Friday’s fire, which reached as far as the junction of the streets of Soros and Mesogeion where there is a large private school building."
"The situation in the location has not only not improved, but it has deteriorated compared to previous checks. It was also noted that due to the "deposits of bio-waste, household waste and all sorts of non-degradable materials, combined with the vegetation that exists all over the place, breeding grounds for rats and insects have been created constituting the growth of a significant health risk, resulting in unfavourable conditions to the detriment of local people, public health and the environment in general."
The post mortems show that, despite the fines of €22,000 imposed by the Auditing Services of the Attica Region on the Municipality of Maroussi, the New Democracy administration "has not taken any environmental protection measures such as rainwater management system or a system for the collection and treatment of liquid waste." It is also noted that despite the recommendations made in 2013, the Municipality of Maroussi has not proceeded with any licencing process for waste disposal, resulting in the location being an illegal dump inside the urban area.
Footnote:
"A great and painful circle has closed, a new era for the country begun, we return to normality, we regain our economic sovereignty.
However, the benefits of this return must be felt in society as quickly as possible. Our first concern, therefore, is to support labour and the welfare state, tax relief for those who have shouldered the burden of the crisis, aid targeted at the weakest social strata. But our aim is also to consolidate democracy and transparency in our country, which, due to the corruption of the old political system, led to a deep and protracted crisis.
So we continue to struggle. We have won a crucial battle, we still have a lot more ahead of us."
Alexis Tsipras
Fire broke out last Friday at an illegal dump in the Municipality of Maroussi, a suburb of Athens.
The Attica Regional Inspectorate identified a worsened situation compared to the findings of checks they had carried out a year earlier. In the two new post mortems after the fire, it is noted that "in the location and in the wider area, there was still intense smell from Friday’s fire, which reached as far as the junction of the streets of Soros and Mesogeion where there is a large private school building."
"The situation in the location has not only not improved, but it has deteriorated compared to previous checks. It was also noted that due to the "deposits of bio-waste, household waste and all sorts of non-degradable materials, combined with the vegetation that exists all over the place, breeding grounds for rats and insects have been created constituting the growth of a significant health risk, resulting in unfavourable conditions to the detriment of local people, public health and the environment in general."
The post mortems show that, despite the fines of €22,000 imposed by the Auditing Services of the Attica Region on the Municipality of Maroussi, the New Democracy administration "has not taken any environmental protection measures such as rainwater management system or a system for the collection and treatment of liquid waste." It is also noted that despite the recommendations made in 2013, the Municipality of Maroussi has not proceeded with any licencing process for waste disposal, resulting in the location being an illegal dump inside the urban area.
Footnote:
"A great and painful circle has closed, a new era for the country begun, we return to normality, we regain our economic sovereignty.
However, the benefits of this return must be felt in society as quickly as possible. Our first concern, therefore, is to support labour and the welfare state, tax relief for those who have shouldered the burden of the crisis, aid targeted at the weakest social strata. But our aim is also to consolidate democracy and transparency in our country, which, due to the corruption of the old political system, led to a deep and protracted crisis.
So we continue to struggle. We have won a crucial battle, we still have a lot more ahead of us."
Alexis Tsipras
Agreement reached on the Greek Debt
23.6.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wore a tie during his speech, fulfilling the promise he had given that he would wear a tie only when he got a good deal on the debt.
"Following the Greek debt decisions, our country is definitely turning the page. And it is entering a new period. Where, in the place of austerity, social justice will take over every day more and more. In place of impositions, there will be democracy. In place of uncertainty, there will be stability." Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stressed in his speech to the SYRIZA and ANEL MPs.
The Prime Minister announced "targetted relief, tax cuts, raising the minimum wage to support those who fought for us to get out of the Memoranda."
"We undertook the difficult but necessary task of transforming the country. In this effort, we faced strongly conflict, we compromised painfully, we worked hard but we did not shrink from the task. We did not hesitate in the face of difficulties and obstacles. We have arrived here. We are at the end of the Memoranda.
We do not intend to return to the Greece of yesterday. To the Greece of waste, clientelist relationships, widespread tax evasion, and corruption. Quite the opposite. This means that we can, with our own strength, build the Greece of the future.
The performance of the economy makes it possible for us to move towards a tax cut in 2019 but also to support the welfare state. For us to move forward to democratising reforms in the public administration and to reforms that improve the investment climate.
We succeeded where all previous governments failed.
We are in a position to proceed on the road to reconfiguring the labour market reshuffle by restoring collective bargaining and raising the minimum wage. To focus on the world of work and its needs.
"We have managed to solve the problem of the Greek debt - a debt we inherited from old Greece." "We have taken a country on the edge of a cliff with 1.5 million unemployed people with empty coffers and we undertook the task of building on the ruins to transform structures to build the country."
In this endeavor, sometimes we put up a fight, at other times we compromised, but we did not cower in the face of the difficulties and obstacles. Greece is again a normal country and is again written on the world map, standing on its own two feet. "We have succeeded where all previous governments failed."
"The regime of loss of sovereignty that was imposed on the country from 2010 onwards, the duress of the Memoranda, known to us all, has come to an end. The oversight as provided by the EU mechanisms bears no relation to the duress of the Memoranda that we have lived through."
"Greece returns exclusively to the Greeks."
The debt relief measures we agreed with our partners yesterday at the Eurogroup ensure a smooth and stable refinancing of the Greek debt, minimizing or even eliminating the risks of potential turbulence.
June 21st rightfully can stand in history as a great day.for Greece and Europe. SYRIZA & ANEL reached this historic day together. With an honest alliance that was jeered at, slandered, fought against by all the forces of the old regime.
If the exit from the Memorandums was the first goal of the alliance and has been achieved, for the second goal we still have the road ahead of us. We have many battles to wage to bring justice. Against the party political networks of power, the moral degeneracy of the rake-off and the bribe."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wore a tie during his speech, fulfilling the promise he had given that he would wear a tie only when he got a good deal on the debt.
The Prime Minister announced "targetted relief, tax cuts, raising the minimum wage to support those who fought for us to get out of the Memoranda."
"We undertook the difficult but necessary task of transforming the country. In this effort, we faced strongly conflict, we compromised painfully, we worked hard but we did not shrink from the task. We did not hesitate in the face of difficulties and obstacles. We have arrived here. We are at the end of the Memoranda.
We do not intend to return to the Greece of yesterday. To the Greece of waste, clientelist relationships, widespread tax evasion, and corruption. Quite the opposite. This means that we can, with our own strength, build the Greece of the future.
The performance of the economy makes it possible for us to move towards a tax cut in 2019 but also to support the welfare state. For us to move forward to democratising reforms in the public administration and to reforms that improve the investment climate.
We succeeded where all previous governments failed.
We are in a position to proceed on the road to reconfiguring the labour market reshuffle by restoring collective bargaining and raising the minimum wage. To focus on the world of work and its needs.
"We have managed to solve the problem of the Greek debt - a debt we inherited from old Greece." "We have taken a country on the edge of a cliff with 1.5 million unemployed people with empty coffers and we undertook the task of building on the ruins to transform structures to build the country."
In this endeavor, sometimes we put up a fight, at other times we compromised, but we did not cower in the face of the difficulties and obstacles. Greece is again a normal country and is again written on the world map, standing on its own two feet. "We have succeeded where all previous governments failed."
"The regime of loss of sovereignty that was imposed on the country from 2010 onwards, the duress of the Memoranda, known to us all, has come to an end. The oversight as provided by the EU mechanisms bears no relation to the duress of the Memoranda that we have lived through."
"Greece returns exclusively to the Greeks."
The debt relief measures we agreed with our partners yesterday at the Eurogroup ensure a smooth and stable refinancing of the Greek debt, minimizing or even eliminating the risks of potential turbulence.
June 21st rightfully can stand in history as a great day.for Greece and Europe. SYRIZA & ANEL reached this historic day together. With an honest alliance that was jeered at, slandered, fought against by all the forces of the old regime.
If the exit from the Memorandums was the first goal of the alliance and has been achieved, for the second goal we still have the road ahead of us. We have many battles to wage to bring justice. Against the party political networks of power, the moral degeneracy of the rake-off and the bribe."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wore a tie during his speech, fulfilling the promise he had given that he would wear a tie only when he got a good deal on the debt.
Government spokesman, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos characterised Thursday’s agreement at the Eurogroup as a "great negotiating and political success".
He called it an historic decision, which gives shape to a situation of viability for the Greek debt.
It came after major difficulties for eight years and three programmes and it is worth all the efforts that have been made, noted Mr. Tzanakopoulos, because "a new situation for the society and the economy is taking shape".
"There is taking shape a new situation for Greek society and the economy without the incubus of the debt as a constant vexation. Yesterday's decisions ensure its extension together with a ten-year period of grace. With the “pillow” of liquidity we have the ability to secure the financing of the Greek State without stress and pressure. "
"The criterion we had set for this agreement was for it to be convincing in the markets that the debt, after changing its profile, would be viable and that there is no risk for those investing in Greek bonds. This criterion has been completely satisfied."
As the Government spokesman said, "the Greek people can smile" once again.
Mr.Tzanakopoulos continued, explaining that:
" In 2010, PASOK and New Democracy had to manage a debt that was at 110-115% [of GDP Ed]; in the course of their own government from 2012 to 2015, the Greek debt jumped to 180%. The results cited by the Official Opposition did not solve the problems of the Greek economy, but instead they sank it further down."
"Today we are talking about the final termination of the Memorandums and let us not forget that today's results were considered impossible as, as Mr. Mitsotakis said in Parliament, that Greece has no possibility of accessing the financial markets because it would be a minefield."
"We have managed to secure the financing of the Greek Government at least until the end of 2020."
Referring to the post-memorandum oversight, the Government Spokesman pointed out that the Eurogroup decision says "spending decisions are no longer dependent on the completion of reforms. That is to say, there is no longer a coercive mechanism, the Greek government undertakes the reforms according to its own prioritisation. Of course, there is the 3.5% [Primary Surplus Ed] target that is the Government's commitment and there is no ambivalence about the reforms to the insurance system or to objective values.
On pensions and the tax-free allowance, everything depends on the country's fiscal trajectory. And I would suggest to New Democracy not to bet all its money to this type of opposition because it will lose it."
"Over recent days, there have been fringe incidents that reveal co-operation between officers and members of New Democracy and members and officers of Golden Dawn. New Democracy has shifted its position and has degenerated from being a liberal centre-right party to a party flirting dangerously with the nationalist far right.
Mr. Mitsotakis is a political fraudster. He commits himself to European and German officials that he will not renege on the Agreement and then comes here and makes trade with patriotism, flirts with far-right political forces, allows his officers to talk about purges against the left and returns to the traditional language of nationalism. He is a completely failed leader of the Official Opposition."
The agreement includes:
* A 10 year grace period free from interest payments and a 10 years extension to the loan period for EFSF loans going from 2023 to 2033.
*Greece is to receive 15€ billion and a refund of 1.2€ billion a year from 2019-2022 on assets held by the ECB [ANFAS]
*With a 24.1€ billion “cushion” as a protective mechanism against any risk, Greece can access the financial markets.
So in each of these years, Greece will save 2.3€ billion from deferred payments, 0.5€ billion from non-payment of interest and receive 1.2€ from ANFAS. It will benefit from better interest rates with regard to the ECB's and the IMF's bonds
He called it an historic decision, which gives shape to a situation of viability for the Greek debt.
It came after major difficulties for eight years and three programmes and it is worth all the efforts that have been made, noted Mr. Tzanakopoulos, because "a new situation for the society and the economy is taking shape".
"There is taking shape a new situation for Greek society and the economy without the incubus of the debt as a constant vexation. Yesterday's decisions ensure its extension together with a ten-year period of grace. With the “pillow” of liquidity we have the ability to secure the financing of the Greek State without stress and pressure. "
"The criterion we had set for this agreement was for it to be convincing in the markets that the debt, after changing its profile, would be viable and that there is no risk for those investing in Greek bonds. This criterion has been completely satisfied."
As the Government spokesman said, "the Greek people can smile" once again.
Mr.Tzanakopoulos continued, explaining that:
" In 2010, PASOK and New Democracy had to manage a debt that was at 110-115% [of GDP Ed]; in the course of their own government from 2012 to 2015, the Greek debt jumped to 180%. The results cited by the Official Opposition did not solve the problems of the Greek economy, but instead they sank it further down."
"Today we are talking about the final termination of the Memorandums and let us not forget that today's results were considered impossible as, as Mr. Mitsotakis said in Parliament, that Greece has no possibility of accessing the financial markets because it would be a minefield."
"We have managed to secure the financing of the Greek Government at least until the end of 2020."
Referring to the post-memorandum oversight, the Government Spokesman pointed out that the Eurogroup decision says "spending decisions are no longer dependent on the completion of reforms. That is to say, there is no longer a coercive mechanism, the Greek government undertakes the reforms according to its own prioritisation. Of course, there is the 3.5% [Primary Surplus Ed] target that is the Government's commitment and there is no ambivalence about the reforms to the insurance system or to objective values.
On pensions and the tax-free allowance, everything depends on the country's fiscal trajectory. And I would suggest to New Democracy not to bet all its money to this type of opposition because it will lose it."
"Over recent days, there have been fringe incidents that reveal co-operation between officers and members of New Democracy and members and officers of Golden Dawn. New Democracy has shifted its position and has degenerated from being a liberal centre-right party to a party flirting dangerously with the nationalist far right.
Mr. Mitsotakis is a political fraudster. He commits himself to European and German officials that he will not renege on the Agreement and then comes here and makes trade with patriotism, flirts with far-right political forces, allows his officers to talk about purges against the left and returns to the traditional language of nationalism. He is a completely failed leader of the Official Opposition."
The agreement includes:
* A 10 year grace period free from interest payments and a 10 years extension to the loan period for EFSF loans going from 2023 to 2033.
*Greece is to receive 15€ billion and a refund of 1.2€ billion a year from 2019-2022 on assets held by the ECB [ANFAS]
*With a 24.1€ billion “cushion” as a protective mechanism against any risk, Greece can access the financial markets.
So in each of these years, Greece will save 2.3€ billion from deferred payments, 0.5€ billion from non-payment of interest and receive 1.2€ from ANFAS. It will benefit from better interest rates with regard to the ECB's and the IMF's bonds
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos’ view
“The Government is pleased with the deal. The debt is now viable” said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos speaking at a press conference after the Eurogroup agreement.
He noted that with the agreement it had been made clear that there was no Fourth Memorandum and stressed that the Eurogroup ended on very good terms, since there are no new strings.
"The Eurogroup ended in a very good way, the four pieces of the puzzle had to be fitted together today on June 21st. All four were completed. The completion of the Assessment, the overall strategy, the post- Memoranda monitoring programme after."
"We can access the financial markets. This government will never forget what the Greek people have been through these 8 years. This nation must very quickly see results. Everybody was talking about it being an important moment."
"What we got is an immediate 10 year period of grace for interest payments and a ten year maturity extension for our bonds plus extra finance for the safety cushion."
Growth will not be for the few but for everyone, and this is the promise the Greek government gives.
I think we have reached the end of the Greek crisis, Greece is turning the page, and the Greek people will see that the agenda is changing."
“The Government is pleased with the deal. The debt is now viable” said Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos speaking at a press conference after the Eurogroup agreement.
He noted that with the agreement it had been made clear that there was no Fourth Memorandum and stressed that the Eurogroup ended on very good terms, since there are no new strings.
"The Eurogroup ended in a very good way, the four pieces of the puzzle had to be fitted together today on June 21st. All four were completed. The completion of the Assessment, the overall strategy, the post- Memoranda monitoring programme after."
"We can access the financial markets. This government will never forget what the Greek people have been through these 8 years. This nation must very quickly see results. Everybody was talking about it being an important moment."
"What we got is an immediate 10 year period of grace for interest payments and a ten year maturity extension for our bonds plus extra finance for the safety cushion."
Growth will not be for the few but for everyone, and this is the promise the Greek government gives.
I think we have reached the end of the Greek crisis, Greece is turning the page, and the Greek people will see that the agenda is changing."
New Democracy’s No-Confidence Motion Defeated
“Future historians will struggle to comprehend why, at such a positive moment for the country, New Democracy chose to try and topple the government.”
The Government on Saturday survived a no-confidence vote brought against it by New Democracy.
The motion received 127 votes with 153 against. Coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL) backed the Government despite its opposition to the name deal with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM).
Addressing Parliament, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras slammed the opposition for bringing the motion of no confidence, remarking that “future historians will struggle to comprehend why, at such a positive moment for the country, New Democracy chose to try and topple the government.”
"You have chosen with your irresponsible attitude on the Macedonian Question to open Pandora's box," said PM Tsipras, adding: "You have legitimated the extreme, incendiary nationalist discourse and the extreme nationalist terminology in order to fish in the cloudy waters of the nationalist audience."
"These days could be described as historic", the Prime Minister said, referring to developments in the economy and the agreement on the name issue. "The country has agreed with fYROM to finally resolve a three-decade-long conflict. Greece's transition from a period of economic sickliness and international isolation to the era of dynamic economic recovery and the strengthening of its international position has been sealed."
"I honestly find it hard to understand your eagerness, as a future historian may find it difficult to understand why in such positive circumstances for the country New Democracy has chosen to attempt to throw out the Government. Especially by making use of the strongest institutional weapon."
"The last thing that Mr Mitsotakis and New Democracy are concerned about in this proposal are the enterprises you are invoking. Nor is the strengthening of the international position of the country of interest to you. Neither are you interested in the restoration of Greece's leading role in the Balkans. Nor does the recovery of the economy interest you. Nor does the definitive debt adjustment interest you. None of all these things is of interest to you."
"All you want is the fall of the Government"
"The only thing you seek is the fall of the Government before the country's exit from the Memorandums that you yourselves led the country into."
"Because you know that the starting point of the new era for the country is the start of the reversal of judgement about your political project," he said, adding that Kyriakos Mitsotakis was a political opportunist.
"What did you say about Macedonia? What was the position?" Alexis Tsipras asked the leader of the official opposition.
"You came out and told us that, with the Agreement “we are dividing the Greeks in order to unite the Skopjeans”. But it was your bad luck that at the same time in the neighbouring country, Mr. Gruevski, Mr Ivanov and those with them, are saying exactly the same about Mr Zaev. That it divides his people to unite the Greeks. The truth is that neither of the two is true."
"You chose with your irresponsible attitude on the Macedonian Question to open Pandora's box," said Mr. Tsipras, adding: "You are legitimising the extreme, incendiary nationalist discourse and the extreme nationalist terminology in order to fish in the cloudy waters of the nationalist audience."
"You have the full responsibility, Mr. Mitsotakis, for giving legitimacy to the snake to emerge from its egg within the dark caverns of the Republic."
"You have not denounced nationalism in your speech, obviously because you have it in your party."
"You allowed your MPs, even if you did not motivate them to do so, to speak about traitors and high treason, with the result that you are leaving the back door wide open to the nationalist swarm of Golden Dawn, to the eulogists of the Junta and of the Nazis, to come to the Greek Parliament and to agitate for the abolition of the government and the demolition of democracy."
Continuing his criticism, Alexis Tsipras said: "You have the awful responsibility of being the one that finally chose to divide the Greeks in your effort to unite your party that is so split. And you did not hesitate, even to involve the President of the Republic in the destabilization attempt you tried to set up. However, Mr. Mitsotakis, I will tell you honestly that despite the ill-defined institutional derailment you have staged for the Macedonian Question, your big problem is that you are all pretence."
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared that “a vote against the motion of no confidence is a vote in favour of the Tsipras-Zaev agreement tomorrow.” “I want all Greeks to understand the theatre of hypocrisy that has been staged.”
Tsipras’s coalition partner Panos Kammenos reiterated his party’s opposition to the FYROM name deal, saying that ANEL will oppose it, when it comes to Parliament, “not just with our vote” but by any means possible. He stressed, however, that he remains allied to Tsipras for his declared fight against corruption and to get the country out of the bailout era.
The leader of To Potami, Stavros Theodorakis, pointed to the positive aspects of the deal. “Helping our country doesn’t mean supporting the SYRIZA-ANEL Government,” he added. The leader of Movement for Change, Fofi Gennimata, in which Theodorakis is a partner, opposed the deal, saying she trusts the Government with “nothing”.
Former New Democracy PM Antonis Samaras condemned the Government for conceding too much to fYROM. In his speech to MPs, Mr. Samaras criticized the administration for recognizing a Macedonian nationality and language, and warned that the deal will fuel “aggressive irredentism,” creating instability in the wider region. “Either the deal will not last or it will cause turmoil,” Mr. Samaras said. “I fought for the Macedonia issue, you gave it all away,” he said.
fYROM’s Parliament ratifies the name agreement
fYROM’s Parliament ratified the name agreement with Greece on Wednesday and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Greek counterpart institution, saying that the name agreement had been ratified by the Macedonian Parliament. After receiving the note, the Greek authorities will inform the European Council that there are no further obstacles in the process of fYROM's EU accession.
fYROM’s Parliament adopted the law on the ratification of the Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995 and the establishment of a strategic partnership.
fYROM MPs voted 69-0 to ratify the agreement, while the opposition VMRO-DPMNE did not attend the parliament’s session.
“We have an agreement with a clear mark of our Macedonian identity, of our Macedonian language, forever. We did not give anything to anyone, nor did anyone take anything when we agreed on a geographical qualifier. This is a bold step in the interest of the future of citizens and our children for a peaceful future. Let's dismiss the manipulations, elimination and xenophobia and offer the agreement a chance. The citizens will have the final say,” PM Zaev said.
After signing the bill, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi sent it to the Cabinet of President Gjorge Ivanov to sign off. The President has seven days to decide to sign it or not. However, President Ivanov has repeatedly said he would neither support nor sign the agreement because, in his opinion, it is harmful.
If he vetoes it, Parliament will hold another vote on the bill, which would require an absolute majority—61 MPs—to become law.
If the law is passed for the second time, the President is bound by the Constitution to sign it off.
President Gjorge Ivanov called on PM Zoran Zaev to immediately initiate the impeachment procedure against him: “I call on Zaev to immediately initiate the impeachment procedure i.e. the procedure for determining the President of the Republic's accountability by the same two-thirds parliamentary majority vote necessary to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.”
According to the agreement, after Parliament ratifies it, Greece is obliged to inform the European Council President Donald Tusk that it supports the start of fYROM’s EU membership negotiations and to inform NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that it supports the NATO invitation. The EU foreign ministers will meet on June 25-26 while the EU Summit will be held on June 28.
The North Atlantic Alliance reached a unanimous political decision today to officially discuss North Macedonia's NATO invitation during the Alliance's Summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said in Parliament on Wednesday.
Previously, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said NATO hoped to start accession talks at the Summit after Macedonia reached name agreement with Greece. “I hope that there will be progress with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because they have reached an agreement with Greece on the name issue. If that agreement is finalized and fully implemented, the new name will be the Republic of North Macedonia, and then we can move on when it comes to the membership for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to NATO. I really hope that we can do so,” Mr. Stoltenberg said in an interview with France 24.
Following the signing of the Prespa agreement, Greece and fYROM start a new era of friendship, cooperation and stability, Greek Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told Wednesday's regular press briefing.
"We support the efforts by Mr. Zaev for the agreement's ratification, followed by the referendum and the constitutional revision, as stipulated so that the deal enters into force. This will be followed by the Greek parliament's ratification," said Mr.Tzanakopoulos.
Asked about how the Greek Government will support the fYROM authorities, Mr.Tzanakopoulos said "the support always comes through words and efforts to convince the citizens of the neighboring country that the agreement benefits both states."
He criticized New Democracy over its stance regarding the name agreement, adding that oppositions in both countries have identical positions of playing the card of "alleged patriots and alleged traitors".
"Both oppositions consider the deal as treason. On one hand, Mr. Mitsotakis says PM Tsipras is the traitor, on the other VMRO-DPMNE says PM Zaev is the traitor. No one is a traitor. We are simply talking about two leaders and two governments that have, for the first time, trod the path of cooperation, friendship and solidarity, and of the joint development of the Balkans by solving a 26-year-old dispute," said MR. Tzanakopoulos.
On Wednesday, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn welcomed the fYROM Parliament's ratification of the name agreement.
"I welcome the Parliament's ratification of the name deal. It is the first step of many towards full implementation. I trust all political leaders to show leadership and courage for the next steps."
The agreement will be finally put up for referendum in Macedonia, which should be organized either in September or October.
“Future historians will struggle to comprehend why, at such a positive moment for the country, New Democracy chose to try and topple the government.”
The Government on Saturday survived a no-confidence vote brought against it by New Democracy.
The motion received 127 votes with 153 against. Coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL) backed the Government despite its opposition to the name deal with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM).
Addressing Parliament, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras slammed the opposition for bringing the motion of no confidence, remarking that “future historians will struggle to comprehend why, at such a positive moment for the country, New Democracy chose to try and topple the government.”
"You have chosen with your irresponsible attitude on the Macedonian Question to open Pandora's box," said PM Tsipras, adding: "You have legitimated the extreme, incendiary nationalist discourse and the extreme nationalist terminology in order to fish in the cloudy waters of the nationalist audience."
"These days could be described as historic", the Prime Minister said, referring to developments in the economy and the agreement on the name issue. "The country has agreed with fYROM to finally resolve a three-decade-long conflict. Greece's transition from a period of economic sickliness and international isolation to the era of dynamic economic recovery and the strengthening of its international position has been sealed."
"I honestly find it hard to understand your eagerness, as a future historian may find it difficult to understand why in such positive circumstances for the country New Democracy has chosen to attempt to throw out the Government. Especially by making use of the strongest institutional weapon."
"The last thing that Mr Mitsotakis and New Democracy are concerned about in this proposal are the enterprises you are invoking. Nor is the strengthening of the international position of the country of interest to you. Neither are you interested in the restoration of Greece's leading role in the Balkans. Nor does the recovery of the economy interest you. Nor does the definitive debt adjustment interest you. None of all these things is of interest to you."
"All you want is the fall of the Government"
"The only thing you seek is the fall of the Government before the country's exit from the Memorandums that you yourselves led the country into."
"Because you know that the starting point of the new era for the country is the start of the reversal of judgement about your political project," he said, adding that Kyriakos Mitsotakis was a political opportunist.
"What did you say about Macedonia? What was the position?" Alexis Tsipras asked the leader of the official opposition.
"You came out and told us that, with the Agreement “we are dividing the Greeks in order to unite the Skopjeans”. But it was your bad luck that at the same time in the neighbouring country, Mr. Gruevski, Mr Ivanov and those with them, are saying exactly the same about Mr Zaev. That it divides his people to unite the Greeks. The truth is that neither of the two is true."
"You chose with your irresponsible attitude on the Macedonian Question to open Pandora's box," said Mr. Tsipras, adding: "You are legitimising the extreme, incendiary nationalist discourse and the extreme nationalist terminology in order to fish in the cloudy waters of the nationalist audience."
"You have the full responsibility, Mr. Mitsotakis, for giving legitimacy to the snake to emerge from its egg within the dark caverns of the Republic."
"You have not denounced nationalism in your speech, obviously because you have it in your party."
"You allowed your MPs, even if you did not motivate them to do so, to speak about traitors and high treason, with the result that you are leaving the back door wide open to the nationalist swarm of Golden Dawn, to the eulogists of the Junta and of the Nazis, to come to the Greek Parliament and to agitate for the abolition of the government and the demolition of democracy."
Continuing his criticism, Alexis Tsipras said: "You have the awful responsibility of being the one that finally chose to divide the Greeks in your effort to unite your party that is so split. And you did not hesitate, even to involve the President of the Republic in the destabilization attempt you tried to set up. However, Mr. Mitsotakis, I will tell you honestly that despite the ill-defined institutional derailment you have staged for the Macedonian Question, your big problem is that you are all pretence."
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared that “a vote against the motion of no confidence is a vote in favour of the Tsipras-Zaev agreement tomorrow.” “I want all Greeks to understand the theatre of hypocrisy that has been staged.”
Tsipras’s coalition partner Panos Kammenos reiterated his party’s opposition to the FYROM name deal, saying that ANEL will oppose it, when it comes to Parliament, “not just with our vote” but by any means possible. He stressed, however, that he remains allied to Tsipras for his declared fight against corruption and to get the country out of the bailout era.
The leader of To Potami, Stavros Theodorakis, pointed to the positive aspects of the deal. “Helping our country doesn’t mean supporting the SYRIZA-ANEL Government,” he added. The leader of Movement for Change, Fofi Gennimata, in which Theodorakis is a partner, opposed the deal, saying she trusts the Government with “nothing”.
Former New Democracy PM Antonis Samaras condemned the Government for conceding too much to fYROM. In his speech to MPs, Mr. Samaras criticized the administration for recognizing a Macedonian nationality and language, and warned that the deal will fuel “aggressive irredentism,” creating instability in the wider region. “Either the deal will not last or it will cause turmoil,” Mr. Samaras said. “I fought for the Macedonia issue, you gave it all away,” he said.
fYROM’s Parliament ratifies the name agreement
fYROM’s Parliament ratified the name agreement with Greece on Wednesday and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Greek counterpart institution, saying that the name agreement had been ratified by the Macedonian Parliament. After receiving the note, the Greek authorities will inform the European Council that there are no further obstacles in the process of fYROM's EU accession.
fYROM’s Parliament adopted the law on the ratification of the Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995 and the establishment of a strategic partnership.
fYROM MPs voted 69-0 to ratify the agreement, while the opposition VMRO-DPMNE did not attend the parliament’s session.
“We have an agreement with a clear mark of our Macedonian identity, of our Macedonian language, forever. We did not give anything to anyone, nor did anyone take anything when we agreed on a geographical qualifier. This is a bold step in the interest of the future of citizens and our children for a peaceful future. Let's dismiss the manipulations, elimination and xenophobia and offer the agreement a chance. The citizens will have the final say,” PM Zaev said.
After signing the bill, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi sent it to the Cabinet of President Gjorge Ivanov to sign off. The President has seven days to decide to sign it or not. However, President Ivanov has repeatedly said he would neither support nor sign the agreement because, in his opinion, it is harmful.
If he vetoes it, Parliament will hold another vote on the bill, which would require an absolute majority—61 MPs—to become law.
If the law is passed for the second time, the President is bound by the Constitution to sign it off.
President Gjorge Ivanov called on PM Zoran Zaev to immediately initiate the impeachment procedure against him: “I call on Zaev to immediately initiate the impeachment procedure i.e. the procedure for determining the President of the Republic's accountability by the same two-thirds parliamentary majority vote necessary to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.”
According to the agreement, after Parliament ratifies it, Greece is obliged to inform the European Council President Donald Tusk that it supports the start of fYROM’s EU membership negotiations and to inform NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that it supports the NATO invitation. The EU foreign ministers will meet on June 25-26 while the EU Summit will be held on June 28.
The North Atlantic Alliance reached a unanimous political decision today to officially discuss North Macedonia's NATO invitation during the Alliance's Summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said in Parliament on Wednesday.
Previously, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said NATO hoped to start accession talks at the Summit after Macedonia reached name agreement with Greece. “I hope that there will be progress with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because they have reached an agreement with Greece on the name issue. If that agreement is finalized and fully implemented, the new name will be the Republic of North Macedonia, and then we can move on when it comes to the membership for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to NATO. I really hope that we can do so,” Mr. Stoltenberg said in an interview with France 24.
Following the signing of the Prespa agreement, Greece and fYROM start a new era of friendship, cooperation and stability, Greek Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told Wednesday's regular press briefing.
"We support the efforts by Mr. Zaev for the agreement's ratification, followed by the referendum and the constitutional revision, as stipulated so that the deal enters into force. This will be followed by the Greek parliament's ratification," said Mr.Tzanakopoulos.
Asked about how the Greek Government will support the fYROM authorities, Mr.Tzanakopoulos said "the support always comes through words and efforts to convince the citizens of the neighboring country that the agreement benefits both states."
He criticized New Democracy over its stance regarding the name agreement, adding that oppositions in both countries have identical positions of playing the card of "alleged patriots and alleged traitors".
"Both oppositions consider the deal as treason. On one hand, Mr. Mitsotakis says PM Tsipras is the traitor, on the other VMRO-DPMNE says PM Zaev is the traitor. No one is a traitor. We are simply talking about two leaders and two governments that have, for the first time, trod the path of cooperation, friendship and solidarity, and of the joint development of the Balkans by solving a 26-year-old dispute," said MR. Tzanakopoulos.
On Wednesday, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn welcomed the fYROM Parliament's ratification of the name agreement.
"I welcome the Parliament's ratification of the name deal. It is the first step of many towards full implementation. I trust all political leaders to show leadership and courage for the next steps."
The agreement will be finally put up for referendum in Macedonia, which should be organized either in September or October.
Greece-fYROM Name Dispute Agreement Reached
16.6.2018
On Wednesday,the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, after informing the President of the Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, about the Agreement, made a televised speech:
“A few hours ago and after many months of persistent negotiations, we managed to reach an agreement with the fYROM Prime Minister to resolve our longstanding dispute over the neighbour’s name.
For more than seventy years, since the establishment of the neighbouring state of Yugoslavia, and particularly after its independence in 1992, the neighbouring country has been called the "Republic of Macedonia", with all that this implies for the appropriation of the weighty cultural heritage of Greek Macedonia.
I would like to inform you that in order to establish constructive cooperative relations and sincere friendship between our peoples and so that Greece not only accepts, but also takes the lead in, the European and Euro-Atlantic prospects of our neighbours, they have agreed to change their constitutional name for all uses and for everyone [omnes erga].
They agreed to renaming their country “The Republic of Severna Makedonija”, that is in our language “The Republic of Northern Macedonia.”
The change of name will come into effect both in terms of their international and bilateral relations, but also internally.
In short, this name will be erga omnes - for everything, both abroad and internally, which means that our neighbours have undertaken to revise their Constitution.
In this way and under the terms of the agreement, the 140 countries that today recognize our neighbours as Macedonia will now recognize them as "The Republic of Northern Macedonia".
This achieves a clear distinction between Greek Macedonia and our North Neighbours and finally puts an end to the irredentism of their current constitutional name.
At the same time - and perhaps this may have the greatest historical weight and value for Greece - in the Agreement that we have reached there is , for the first time, the provision that our Northern Neighbours do not have and can not claim in the future any relationship with the ancient Greek civilization of Macedonia.
The term Macedonian of Greek historical heritage, which derives its origin from the ancient Greek civilization, is explicitly and categorically distinguished from the term Macedonian as it is used and on the basis of which the citizens of our neighbour are identified.
In the same context, the Agreement recognizes the relevant UN decisions since 1977 to record the language of our neighbours as a Macedonian language, with the additional but clear wording that it belongs to the family of South Slavic languages, which is expressly completely separate from the Greek-Macedonian linguistic heritage and the ancient Greek civilization.
The agreement also provides that the nationality to be included in the travel documents of our neighbours will not be simply “Macedonian”, as it is today, but “Macedonian/Citizen of Northern Macedonia”.
Greece will recognize the nationality of neighbouring citizens as "citizens of Northern Macedonia".
But beyond that, the fact that we have agreed with our neighbours that in the forthcoming Constitutional Revision they have undertaken to remove from their Constitution any reference which could be interpreted as irredentist.
Specifically:
References to the Macedonian Minority, as well as the need to protect it, are to be eliminated.
Instead of the article on border protection, references to current problematic borders are deleted.
Finally, any historical and irredentist references are to be removed from the preamble of their Constitution.
With PM Zaef, we also reached a clear timetable for the signing - ratification and implementation of the Agreement.
The Agreement, once signed by the Foreign Ministers, must be ratified by the Parliament of our Neighbours.
Greece will then support a decision on the opening of North Macedonia's accession negotiations with the EU at the forthcoming European Council.
At the same time, Greece will support the sending of an invitation by the NATO Summit for North Macedonia to join the organization.
Both invitations will be conditional on the successful completion of the Constitutional Revision, which guarantees the use of the name for all purposes.
Simply put, if the Constitutional Revision fails, then the invitation to join NATO is automatically void and the accession negotiations with the EU will not be initiated.
Last but not least, Greece will ratify the Agreement in the Greek Parliament by passing it into law along with our neighbours’ NATO Accession Protocol after the successful completion of the constitutional review in the neighbouring country.
In this way our country is fully and completely safeguarding its interests and does not lose its relative negotiating advantage.
Women and Men of Greece,
I am deeply convinced that this Agreement is not only a great victory for diplomacy, but also a great historical opportunity.
The Greek Government has defended in its entirety all its red lines, all the red lines of our national position, as it has been shaped in the last 20 years and more.
Most important, however, is that we are facing a historic opportunity that concerns not only our nation but, more generally, our region.
This is a historic moment for the Balkans and our peoples.
It finally closes a dispute that undermined the common pace of development and stability in the wider region.
And it opens a window to the future.
A window of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, prosperity and co-development between our peoples.
With the Agreement, our homeland establishes itself as a leading force in the Balkans and as a real pillar of stability in a deeply wounded region.
At a time when countries around us are turning in on themselves, badly beaten up by the germ of nationalism, Greece is once again leading the Balkans as the country that paves the way for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the creative coexistence of peoples.
And I am deeply proud of this.
And beyond party political objectives and esoteric calculations, today all of us, all Greek women and all Greek men, can be proud.
Not only about our history and cultural heritage, which we establish with the Agreement, not only about our national past, but also about our present and future.
A strong Greece, a lighthouse of civilization, history and values, a Greek Pillar of stability in the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe.
This is the Greece we are envisaging and today we are making a historic step in this direction.
Thank you.
Below is the full text of the Agreement in English
“A few hours ago and after many months of persistent negotiations, we managed to reach an agreement with the fYROM Prime Minister to resolve our longstanding dispute over the neighbour’s name.
For more than seventy years, since the establishment of the neighbouring state of Yugoslavia, and particularly after its independence in 1992, the neighbouring country has been called the "Republic of Macedonia", with all that this implies for the appropriation of the weighty cultural heritage of Greek Macedonia.
I would like to inform you that in order to establish constructive cooperative relations and sincere friendship between our peoples and so that Greece not only accepts, but also takes the lead in, the European and Euro-Atlantic prospects of our neighbours, they have agreed to change their constitutional name for all uses and for everyone [omnes erga].
They agreed to renaming their country “The Republic of Severna Makedonija”, that is in our language “The Republic of Northern Macedonia.”
The change of name will come into effect both in terms of their international and bilateral relations, but also internally.
In short, this name will be erga omnes - for everything, both abroad and internally, which means that our neighbours have undertaken to revise their Constitution.
In this way and under the terms of the agreement, the 140 countries that today recognize our neighbours as Macedonia will now recognize them as "The Republic of Northern Macedonia".
This achieves a clear distinction between Greek Macedonia and our North Neighbours and finally puts an end to the irredentism of their current constitutional name.
At the same time - and perhaps this may have the greatest historical weight and value for Greece - in the Agreement that we have reached there is , for the first time, the provision that our Northern Neighbours do not have and can not claim in the future any relationship with the ancient Greek civilization of Macedonia.
The term Macedonian of Greek historical heritage, which derives its origin from the ancient Greek civilization, is explicitly and categorically distinguished from the term Macedonian as it is used and on the basis of which the citizens of our neighbour are identified.
In the same context, the Agreement recognizes the relevant UN decisions since 1977 to record the language of our neighbours as a Macedonian language, with the additional but clear wording that it belongs to the family of South Slavic languages, which is expressly completely separate from the Greek-Macedonian linguistic heritage and the ancient Greek civilization.
The agreement also provides that the nationality to be included in the travel documents of our neighbours will not be simply “Macedonian”, as it is today, but “Macedonian/Citizen of Northern Macedonia”.
Greece will recognize the nationality of neighbouring citizens as "citizens of Northern Macedonia".
But beyond that, the fact that we have agreed with our neighbours that in the forthcoming Constitutional Revision they have undertaken to remove from their Constitution any reference which could be interpreted as irredentist.
Specifically:
References to the Macedonian Minority, as well as the need to protect it, are to be eliminated.
Instead of the article on border protection, references to current problematic borders are deleted.
Finally, any historical and irredentist references are to be removed from the preamble of their Constitution.
With PM Zaef, we also reached a clear timetable for the signing - ratification and implementation of the Agreement.
The Agreement, once signed by the Foreign Ministers, must be ratified by the Parliament of our Neighbours.
Greece will then support a decision on the opening of North Macedonia's accession negotiations with the EU at the forthcoming European Council.
At the same time, Greece will support the sending of an invitation by the NATO Summit for North Macedonia to join the organization.
Both invitations will be conditional on the successful completion of the Constitutional Revision, which guarantees the use of the name for all purposes.
Simply put, if the Constitutional Revision fails, then the invitation to join NATO is automatically void and the accession negotiations with the EU will not be initiated.
Last but not least, Greece will ratify the Agreement in the Greek Parliament by passing it into law along with our neighbours’ NATO Accession Protocol after the successful completion of the constitutional review in the neighbouring country.
In this way our country is fully and completely safeguarding its interests and does not lose its relative negotiating advantage.
Women and Men of Greece,
I am deeply convinced that this Agreement is not only a great victory for diplomacy, but also a great historical opportunity.
The Greek Government has defended in its entirety all its red lines, all the red lines of our national position, as it has been shaped in the last 20 years and more.
Most important, however, is that we are facing a historic opportunity that concerns not only our nation but, more generally, our region.
This is a historic moment for the Balkans and our peoples.
It finally closes a dispute that undermined the common pace of development and stability in the wider region.
And it opens a window to the future.
A window of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, prosperity and co-development between our peoples.
With the Agreement, our homeland establishes itself as a leading force in the Balkans and as a real pillar of stability in a deeply wounded region.
At a time when countries around us are turning in on themselves, badly beaten up by the germ of nationalism, Greece is once again leading the Balkans as the country that paves the way for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the creative coexistence of peoples.
And I am deeply proud of this.
And beyond party political objectives and esoteric calculations, today all of us, all Greek women and all Greek men, can be proud.
Not only about our history and cultural heritage, which we establish with the Agreement, not only about our national past, but also about our present and future.
A strong Greece, a lighthouse of civilization, history and values, a Greek Pillar of stability in the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe.
This is the Greece we are envisaging and today we are making a historic step in this direction.
Thank you.
Below is the full text of the Agreement in English
Official Government Statement : Key points from the Agreement
"With the conclusion of the negotiations and the agreement with fYROM, Greece is taking back its history, the history of ancient Macedonia, which had been crushed by neighbours' older governments," say government sources.
The Official Government Statement went on:
“The Greek Government is managing to resolve a problem that has been exercising Greek diplomats (and also Greek society) for more than twenty-five years. At the same time it is promoting stability and cooperation in an extremely critical period for the region, highlighting Greece’s role as a European pillar of peace, security and development in the Balkans.
Advantages of the deal
1. The agreement fully corresponds to the national position in favour of a composite name with a geographical designation for erga omnes use, a position which has been maintained for 20 years.
2. Acceptance of erga omnes is a great diplomatic success for Greece, as, in the past, it has not been accepted as a basis for discussion. This means that our neighbours will not only use the agreed name in their international relations, international organizations, international forums and international documents, but also within the country.
3. The name "Republic of Northern Macedonia", which will be recognized in our country as "Severna Makedonja", ends the irredentism of the name "Republic of Macedonia".
4. The Government, however, succeeded not only in getting accepted the erga omnes usage but also in placing the obligation on the neighbour to proceed directly to a constitutional revision.
5. The constitutional revision is a huge victory for Greece, as it was not part of the national position over the past 20 years which was taken by all the subsequent PASOK and New Democracy Governments. It was the red line of the current Government, and it had never previously been agreed that the neighbouring country should change its constitution under an international agreement.
6. The agreement makes provision for Greece to proceed with ratification only after the constitutional review in the neighbouring country has been completed. The invitation to join NATO and access to EU funds will be occur following ratification by the fYROM parliament of the agreement but its accession to both organizations will take place after the constitutional revision, as the invitation explicitly states that it is void if it the condition of the constitutional revision is not met.
7. With this agreement, we take back our history, symbols and tradition, since, in the agreement, the neighbouring country expressly accepts the distinction between the Greek Macedonians, their ancient Greek culture, their language and the region in which they live on the one hand and the people of that country with their own history, linguistic and cultural characteristics on the other (see Article 7 below).
8. The name will be registered in the new constitution with the necessary revision. At the same time, the more than 140 countries that recognize the country nowadays with the term Macedonia will recognize it as Northern Macedonia.
9. The name completely distinguishes this country from Greek Macedonia and its three regions (Eastern, Central, Western).
10. The end of irredentism is confirmed in the most formal way as guarantees are given in the most explicit and unequivocal way of eliminating, preventing and suppressing all sorts of irredentist rhetoric and actions, whether coming from public or private entities.
11. It was ensured that all irredentist references were deleted from the neighbour's constitution. For example, a) replace the Article concerning support for their expatriots, faithfully copying the corresponding chapter in the Greek Constitution. In this context, references to protection of "Macedonian minorities" in neighboring countries are removed; b) the Article on border protection is replaced by deleting any problematic references; c) any even implicit historical references to irredentist views in the Preamble of the Constitution are to be removed.
12. The agreement provides that “nationality/ citizenship in Northern Macedonia” will become “Macedonian / citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia”. This unified term replaces the simple "Macedonian" currently on travel documents, so it is a clear improvement.
Greece will recognize nationality/citizenship as "citizens of Severna Makedonja".
It is noted that the term "nationality" is different from ethnicity. Consequently, the agreement does not recognize ethnicity/nation, but recognises the right of the neighbour's citizens to self-identification. Article 7 of the agreement states that our citizens have the ability to continue to identify our neighbours with whatever term they use. (see Article 7 below)
13. Our neighbours have already changed their airport name, their motorway and their stadium. There will be either the exchange of statues with the Municipality of Thessaloniki or if the exchange does not take place, the agreement foresees that the neighbouring country will place plaques on statues and monuments to make it clear that they are symbols of Greek culture (eg Skopje's square will have an inscription so that it refers to the Hellenistic period and will be marked as symbolizing the friendship of Greece - fYROM).
14. Despite the fact that the language "Macedonian language" had been recognized by Greece within the UN since 1977, the agreement contains the additional clear wording that it belongs to the family of Slavic languages, as well as the explicit placing on record that this language is separate from ancient Greek culture and the Greek-Macedonian linguistic heritage.
15. All names and titles used by government and wider public institutions, as well as state-funded, expatriot/cultural organisations will be re-defined by the term "of Northern Macedonia", while the definition "Macedonia" is to be abolished.
16. A Working Group of Experts will be established, which from 2019 and within 3 years will have to sort out business trademark issues.
"With the conclusion of the negotiations and the agreement with fYROM, Greece is taking back its history, the history of ancient Macedonia, which had been crushed by neighbours' older governments," say government sources.
The Official Government Statement went on:
“The Greek Government is managing to resolve a problem that has been exercising Greek diplomats (and also Greek society) for more than twenty-five years. At the same time it is promoting stability and cooperation in an extremely critical period for the region, highlighting Greece’s role as a European pillar of peace, security and development in the Balkans.
Advantages of the deal
1. The agreement fully corresponds to the national position in favour of a composite name with a geographical designation for erga omnes use, a position which has been maintained for 20 years.
2. Acceptance of erga omnes is a great diplomatic success for Greece, as, in the past, it has not been accepted as a basis for discussion. This means that our neighbours will not only use the agreed name in their international relations, international organizations, international forums and international documents, but also within the country.
3. The name "Republic of Northern Macedonia", which will be recognized in our country as "Severna Makedonja", ends the irredentism of the name "Republic of Macedonia".
4. The Government, however, succeeded not only in getting accepted the erga omnes usage but also in placing the obligation on the neighbour to proceed directly to a constitutional revision.
5. The constitutional revision is a huge victory for Greece, as it was not part of the national position over the past 20 years which was taken by all the subsequent PASOK and New Democracy Governments. It was the red line of the current Government, and it had never previously been agreed that the neighbouring country should change its constitution under an international agreement.
6. The agreement makes provision for Greece to proceed with ratification only after the constitutional review in the neighbouring country has been completed. The invitation to join NATO and access to EU funds will be occur following ratification by the fYROM parliament of the agreement but its accession to both organizations will take place after the constitutional revision, as the invitation explicitly states that it is void if it the condition of the constitutional revision is not met.
7. With this agreement, we take back our history, symbols and tradition, since, in the agreement, the neighbouring country expressly accepts the distinction between the Greek Macedonians, their ancient Greek culture, their language and the region in which they live on the one hand and the people of that country with their own history, linguistic and cultural characteristics on the other (see Article 7 below).
8. The name will be registered in the new constitution with the necessary revision. At the same time, the more than 140 countries that recognize the country nowadays with the term Macedonia will recognize it as Northern Macedonia.
9. The name completely distinguishes this country from Greek Macedonia and its three regions (Eastern, Central, Western).
10. The end of irredentism is confirmed in the most formal way as guarantees are given in the most explicit and unequivocal way of eliminating, preventing and suppressing all sorts of irredentist rhetoric and actions, whether coming from public or private entities.
11. It was ensured that all irredentist references were deleted from the neighbour's constitution. For example, a) replace the Article concerning support for their expatriots, faithfully copying the corresponding chapter in the Greek Constitution. In this context, references to protection of "Macedonian minorities" in neighboring countries are removed; b) the Article on border protection is replaced by deleting any problematic references; c) any even implicit historical references to irredentist views in the Preamble of the Constitution are to be removed.
12. The agreement provides that “nationality/ citizenship in Northern Macedonia” will become “Macedonian / citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia”. This unified term replaces the simple "Macedonian" currently on travel documents, so it is a clear improvement.
Greece will recognize nationality/citizenship as "citizens of Severna Makedonja".
It is noted that the term "nationality" is different from ethnicity. Consequently, the agreement does not recognize ethnicity/nation, but recognises the right of the neighbour's citizens to self-identification. Article 7 of the agreement states that our citizens have the ability to continue to identify our neighbours with whatever term they use. (see Article 7 below)
13. Our neighbours have already changed their airport name, their motorway and their stadium. There will be either the exchange of statues with the Municipality of Thessaloniki or if the exchange does not take place, the agreement foresees that the neighbouring country will place plaques on statues and monuments to make it clear that they are symbols of Greek culture (eg Skopje's square will have an inscription so that it refers to the Hellenistic period and will be marked as symbolizing the friendship of Greece - fYROM).
14. Despite the fact that the language "Macedonian language" had been recognized by Greece within the UN since 1977, the agreement contains the additional clear wording that it belongs to the family of Slavic languages, as well as the explicit placing on record that this language is separate from ancient Greek culture and the Greek-Macedonian linguistic heritage.
15. All names and titles used by government and wider public institutions, as well as state-funded, expatriot/cultural organisations will be re-defined by the term "of Northern Macedonia", while the definition "Macedonia" is to be abolished.
16. A Working Group of Experts will be established, which from 2019 and within 3 years will have to sort out business trademark issues.
Reactions
Many countries and their leaders formally welcomed and supported the Athens-Skopje agreement, including Germany, Cyprus, USA, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania …
Shortly after 7.00 on Wednesday afternoon, Alexis Tsipras contacted Kyriakos Mitsotakis and all the political leaders by telephone and informed them of the developments on the name issue and the next steps.
New Democracy
The leader of the Main Opposition made the following statement on television, shortly after the speech of Alexis Tsipras:
"After six months of secret diplomacy, Mr Tsipras agreed with Mr Zaev to sign a transnational agreement to resolve the issue with the neighbouring country. He did it after ignoring the Greek people and their sensitivities. And after defiantly ignoring the opposition and Parliament.
I want to be quite clear: Mr.Tsipras has no political legitimacy to bind the country by signing an agreement that does not have the support of his own Government. This has no precedent in Greek politics and constitutional history and constitutes an insult to the parliamentary system. I will immediately inform the President of the Republic, the institutional guarantor of the Government, about this unprecedented development.
As for the substance of the agreement and on what we know so far and heard from Mr Tsipras, I have to say only this: Acceptance of "Macedonian language" and "Macedonian ethnicity" constitute an unacceptable national caving-in.
The solution that was agreed is a bad deal. It contrasts with the majority of Greeks. Some people do not realize it or even worse they are not interested in understanding it. They are the same ones who in the past had no objection for the neighbouring country to be called plain Macedonia.
In addition, a bad deal offers ground to marginal elements to play falsely on nationalism, which unfortunately is happening almost everywhere in Europe.
We have several wounds that have to be healed as a country. We do not need to open another one, especially in Northern Greece. My priority is to contribute with all my might to safeguarding the unity of the Greek people. I repeat: We will not divide the Greeks in order to unite the Skopjians.
The problem of Skopje can not be turned into a problem of Greece. I urge Mr. Tsipras not to sign this agreement."
Movement for Change
"The Movement of Change has repeatedly stressed that it is in favour of a solution, but not of any solution", stressed in the senior governing body. In this context, the conditions are repeated: "A composite name for all purposes, constitutional revision, the cancellation of all forms of irredentism are our standing patriotic positions".
"On the basis of these positions, we will assess the formal draft agreement that the Government has pledged will be made public, to see if it meets the prerequisites for the protection of national interests and the stability in the wider region, as well as promoting European principles", concludes the statement.
On behalf of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), Mr. Koutsoubas said “The agreement gives the "green light" to destabilize the region”. He stressed to the Prime Minister that "with this agreement, he and his government are giving a letter of recommendation to fYROM for its accession to NATO and the EU. In this respect, it gives the 'green light' for the insecurity and destabilization in the region".
He pointed out that all the terms of the agreement are up in the air until the timetable and the procedure set out in the agreement are completed.
Yet, the General Secretary of the KKE pointed out to the Prime Minister that "with this agreement the "seed" of irredentism remains, which consists in the Greek Government accepting the positions of the fYROM Government regarding the terms "Macedonian citizen" and "Macedonian language".
The River
With his post on Twitter, the President of The River, Stavros Theodorakis, announced his positive attitude to a possible agreement between Tsipras and Zaev.
"The River remains unwavering in its position to find a solution, which is a responsible and patriotic beneficial attitude, particularly when the country faces Erdogan's threats. We are waiting for the text of the agreement to take a more concrete position".
Union of Centrists
Vassilis Leventis, for his part, reiterated to the Prime Minister the standing position of the Union of Centrists on giving away the name "Macedonia" and added that his party will do everything it can to cancel this agreement.
..and in fYROM
On Thursday, fYROM President Gjorgi Ivanov said the agreement reached with Greece is unacceptable, he will not support it and will not sign it off.
"The deal with Greece is detrimental to Macedonia and it is a personal decision and responsibility of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and I will not sign it off," he said.
He also stated that this agreement abandoned the positions of the state for not changing the constitution and not accepting an erga omnes name.
"The text is a defeat for "Macedonia", President Ivanov said, explaining that it does not only change the constitutional name, but also the preamble to the Constitution and all the articles referring to the Republic of Macedonia.
Membership of the EU and NATO, he said, should not be the alibi for a damaging agreement and it does not unite society but it polarizes it even more.
"Greece has managed to maximize its demands, detracts from the acquired rights in the UN and violates the ancestry of our ancestors. It violates our right of self-determination for 73 years and 27 years of independence. It violates what is sacred to our Republic," he said.
President Ivanov is strongly connected to the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party that was defeated in the General Elections in 2017. That party nominated him for the Presidency. He has the power to veto the deal - but not indefinitely. Reports suggest that he stormed out of a meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev after just three minutes. However, President Ivanov can only use his veto once - and he has no power to block a referendum.
Next Steps
The Foreign Ministers of fYROM and Greece are expected to sign the accord this weekend. fYROM's parliament will then vote on whether to approve it. If it votes in favour, the President can refuse to sign it off - which would send it back to parliament for a second vote. If it passed again, the President would be obliged to approve the legislation.
Mr Zaev's government needs a two-thirds majority to get the agreement through parliament. At least some VMRO-DPMNE MPs will be needed to gain a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary vote.
The aim is to get fYROM’s parliament to back the agreement before EU leaders meet for a summit on 28 June. Greece will then send a letter to the EU withdrawing its objection to accession talks, and a letter to Nato too. That would be followed by a fYROM referendum in September or October.
Many countries and their leaders formally welcomed and supported the Athens-Skopje agreement, including Germany, Cyprus, USA, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania …
Shortly after 7.00 on Wednesday afternoon, Alexis Tsipras contacted Kyriakos Mitsotakis and all the political leaders by telephone and informed them of the developments on the name issue and the next steps.
New Democracy
The leader of the Main Opposition made the following statement on television, shortly after the speech of Alexis Tsipras:
"After six months of secret diplomacy, Mr Tsipras agreed with Mr Zaev to sign a transnational agreement to resolve the issue with the neighbouring country. He did it after ignoring the Greek people and their sensitivities. And after defiantly ignoring the opposition and Parliament.
I want to be quite clear: Mr.Tsipras has no political legitimacy to bind the country by signing an agreement that does not have the support of his own Government. This has no precedent in Greek politics and constitutional history and constitutes an insult to the parliamentary system. I will immediately inform the President of the Republic, the institutional guarantor of the Government, about this unprecedented development.
As for the substance of the agreement and on what we know so far and heard from Mr Tsipras, I have to say only this: Acceptance of "Macedonian language" and "Macedonian ethnicity" constitute an unacceptable national caving-in.
The solution that was agreed is a bad deal. It contrasts with the majority of Greeks. Some people do not realize it or even worse they are not interested in understanding it. They are the same ones who in the past had no objection for the neighbouring country to be called plain Macedonia.
In addition, a bad deal offers ground to marginal elements to play falsely on nationalism, which unfortunately is happening almost everywhere in Europe.
We have several wounds that have to be healed as a country. We do not need to open another one, especially in Northern Greece. My priority is to contribute with all my might to safeguarding the unity of the Greek people. I repeat: We will not divide the Greeks in order to unite the Skopjians.
The problem of Skopje can not be turned into a problem of Greece. I urge Mr. Tsipras not to sign this agreement."
Movement for Change
"The Movement of Change has repeatedly stressed that it is in favour of a solution, but not of any solution", stressed in the senior governing body. In this context, the conditions are repeated: "A composite name for all purposes, constitutional revision, the cancellation of all forms of irredentism are our standing patriotic positions".
"On the basis of these positions, we will assess the formal draft agreement that the Government has pledged will be made public, to see if it meets the prerequisites for the protection of national interests and the stability in the wider region, as well as promoting European principles", concludes the statement.
On behalf of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), Mr. Koutsoubas said “The agreement gives the "green light" to destabilize the region”. He stressed to the Prime Minister that "with this agreement, he and his government are giving a letter of recommendation to fYROM for its accession to NATO and the EU. In this respect, it gives the 'green light' for the insecurity and destabilization in the region".
He pointed out that all the terms of the agreement are up in the air until the timetable and the procedure set out in the agreement are completed.
Yet, the General Secretary of the KKE pointed out to the Prime Minister that "with this agreement the "seed" of irredentism remains, which consists in the Greek Government accepting the positions of the fYROM Government regarding the terms "Macedonian citizen" and "Macedonian language".
The River
With his post on Twitter, the President of The River, Stavros Theodorakis, announced his positive attitude to a possible agreement between Tsipras and Zaev.
"The River remains unwavering in its position to find a solution, which is a responsible and patriotic beneficial attitude, particularly when the country faces Erdogan's threats. We are waiting for the text of the agreement to take a more concrete position".
Union of Centrists
Vassilis Leventis, for his part, reiterated to the Prime Minister the standing position of the Union of Centrists on giving away the name "Macedonia" and added that his party will do everything it can to cancel this agreement.
..and in fYROM
On Thursday, fYROM President Gjorgi Ivanov said the agreement reached with Greece is unacceptable, he will not support it and will not sign it off.
"The deal with Greece is detrimental to Macedonia and it is a personal decision and responsibility of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and I will not sign it off," he said.
He also stated that this agreement abandoned the positions of the state for not changing the constitution and not accepting an erga omnes name.
"The text is a defeat for "Macedonia", President Ivanov said, explaining that it does not only change the constitutional name, but also the preamble to the Constitution and all the articles referring to the Republic of Macedonia.
Membership of the EU and NATO, he said, should not be the alibi for a damaging agreement and it does not unite society but it polarizes it even more.
"Greece has managed to maximize its demands, detracts from the acquired rights in the UN and violates the ancestry of our ancestors. It violates our right of self-determination for 73 years and 27 years of independence. It violates what is sacred to our Republic," he said.
President Ivanov is strongly connected to the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party that was defeated in the General Elections in 2017. That party nominated him for the Presidency. He has the power to veto the deal - but not indefinitely. Reports suggest that he stormed out of a meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev after just three minutes. However, President Ivanov can only use his veto once - and he has no power to block a referendum.
Next Steps
The Foreign Ministers of fYROM and Greece are expected to sign the accord this weekend. fYROM's parliament will then vote on whether to approve it. If it votes in favour, the President can refuse to sign it off - which would send it back to parliament for a second vote. If it passed again, the President would be obliged to approve the legislation.
Mr Zaev's government needs a two-thirds majority to get the agreement through parliament. At least some VMRO-DPMNE MPs will be needed to gain a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary vote.
The aim is to get fYROM’s parliament to back the agreement before EU leaders meet for a summit on 28 June. Greece will then send a letter to the EU withdrawing its objection to accession talks, and a letter to Nato too. That would be followed by a fYROM referendum in September or October.
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos accused the Opposition of "inaccuracies and statistical alchemy": "You have not understood anything about what is happening"
" In a year’s time, people will vote for the party which promises something better. For the one who promises participation in the development that will take place, "Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos stressed in the House Committees on the multi-bill. "Such a distortion of data and statistics I have not come across. And I have not come across such a gap between the debate in Europe about Greece. You have understood nothing about what is happening,"the Finance Minister underlined, and continued:" Exit from the Programme has been decided. There will not be a precautionary line of credit for you to call a fourth memorandum. You don’t get it that there will be no enhanced oversight without new measures and without money. You have not followed the discussion about the debt which is going better and better and you will see on June 21st. You are not following what is happening in development. You do not see the increase in exports. You talk about investment in the first quarter. But in January 2017, we had increased investment spending, and that's why 2018 saw a drop in relation to 2017. You don’t say anything about the Ergane Information System which showed that after April we regained the record with 109,000 new jobs in May and a total of 265,000 new jobs since the beginning of the year. Do you see the trend? Is this the disaster? "
"We are not talking a lot of hot air"
New Democracy MP Thanassis Bouras shouted out that the Minister was describing everything as being rosy. "No, it's not all rosy, but it's not a disaster," Minister Tsakalotos replied. He continued: "We are not talking a lot of hot air. Go to the 5,000 more businesses that have opened and to the 265,000 who found work and tell them you do not care."
In response to criticism of primary surpluses and fiscal room for manoeuvre, the Finance Minister clarified that "There is not a single extra measure". "Why is there extra fiscal room for manoeuvre? Because unemployment is falling and the Single Social Insurance Agency [ΕΦΚΑ] is doing well and tax evasion is reduced and revenue is going well."The target for the primary surplus is 3.5% and we will get there. That the above will cover it as we will set out. I would have expected PASOK to at least make proposals. We say in 2019 that there will a reduction in taxes and it will be 700€ million and in the years to come there will be a blend of tax cuts and social spending."
Indeed, he pointed out that even with New Democracy’s faulty sums, the measures are worth 15€ billion but the counter measures are worth more. "For the 15€ billion of measures that you are talking about, the explanation is that you do not understand simple arithmetic. And even with your wrong method of counting, you see the countermeasures are more than the measures. The correct method is this. The measures are worth 4,750€ billion and the counter measures are worth 7,650€ billion,"said Minister Tsakalotos lifting up the two tables of figures.
About the Property Tax [ENFIA], the Finance Minister pointed out: "We will surprised by Dora Bakoyannis and the newspapers that write about ENFIA. There will be few differences. Most people will not notice anything. Few will have an increase but they will probably be your voters. Ordinary people will not see an increase."
" In a year’s time, people will vote for the party which promises something better. For the one who promises participation in the development that will take place, "Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos stressed in the House Committees on the multi-bill. "Such a distortion of data and statistics I have not come across. And I have not come across such a gap between the debate in Europe about Greece. You have understood nothing about what is happening,"the Finance Minister underlined, and continued:" Exit from the Programme has been decided. There will not be a precautionary line of credit for you to call a fourth memorandum. You don’t get it that there will be no enhanced oversight without new measures and without money. You have not followed the discussion about the debt which is going better and better and you will see on June 21st. You are not following what is happening in development. You do not see the increase in exports. You talk about investment in the first quarter. But in January 2017, we had increased investment spending, and that's why 2018 saw a drop in relation to 2017. You don’t say anything about the Ergane Information System which showed that after April we regained the record with 109,000 new jobs in May and a total of 265,000 new jobs since the beginning of the year. Do you see the trend? Is this the disaster? "
"We are not talking a lot of hot air"
New Democracy MP Thanassis Bouras shouted out that the Minister was describing everything as being rosy. "No, it's not all rosy, but it's not a disaster," Minister Tsakalotos replied. He continued: "We are not talking a lot of hot air. Go to the 5,000 more businesses that have opened and to the 265,000 who found work and tell them you do not care."
In response to criticism of primary surpluses and fiscal room for manoeuvre, the Finance Minister clarified that "There is not a single extra measure". "Why is there extra fiscal room for manoeuvre? Because unemployment is falling and the Single Social Insurance Agency [ΕΦΚΑ] is doing well and tax evasion is reduced and revenue is going well."The target for the primary surplus is 3.5% and we will get there. That the above will cover it as we will set out. I would have expected PASOK to at least make proposals. We say in 2019 that there will a reduction in taxes and it will be 700€ million and in the years to come there will be a blend of tax cuts and social spending."
Indeed, he pointed out that even with New Democracy’s faulty sums, the measures are worth 15€ billion but the counter measures are worth more. "For the 15€ billion of measures that you are talking about, the explanation is that you do not understand simple arithmetic. And even with your wrong method of counting, you see the countermeasures are more than the measures. The correct method is this. The measures are worth 4,750€ billion and the counter measures are worth 7,650€ billion,"said Minister Tsakalotos lifting up the two tables of figures.
About the Property Tax [ENFIA], the Finance Minister pointed out: "We will surprised by Dora Bakoyannis and the newspapers that write about ENFIA. There will be few differences. Most people will not notice anything. Few will have an increase but they will probably be your voters. Ordinary people will not see an increase."
"Our limit can only be the lines of the horizons of the great seas of the world where our ships sail" PM Tsipras at Posidonia 2018
9.6.2018
With steady steps to ensure the country's exit from the Memoranda and secure access to the financial markets, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stressed during his speech at Posidonia 2018.
By the end of June we will have completed the last prerequisite measures of the final Assessment of the final programme for the country. So we go to the Eurogroup on June 21st where there will be final decisions on debt measures, stressed Mr. Tsipras.
The aim is stable and lasting access to the money markets, he added, stressing that "we are working in partnership with our partners for an efficient and long-term solution", while making sure that the rest of Europe's peoples will not be burdened.
"The credibility will be judged not by the activation or otherwise of the IMF programme in the short time left to complete the programme," he said, but, among other things, by specifying that Greece in a very short space of time will be a country that will be able to stand on its own two feet and rely on her own strengths. Without crutches and preventative credit lines of support.
Speaking about shipping, Alexis Tsipras stressed that: "As the country advances in a new era, with better prospects, with security and stability for the dynamic recovery of the Greek economy, the collective recovery of the country and its people, the potential of Greek shipping is multiplying".
"The shipping industry managed in difficult times and in storms and, now, with calm waters and a clear horizon, it can excel," the Prime Minister stressed, while making a special reference to the people who serve on the ships, the "heroic crews."
As he said, "their demands and their fair requests must be respected, particularly with regard to wages, working hours and working conditions".
POSIDONIA 2018 takes place under the auspices of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, the Hellenic Shipowners' Association and the Hellenic Naval Chamber with the support of the Municipality of Piraeus and the London Greek Committee of Maritime Cooperation.
PM Tsipras’ Speech
“You know that Greece has the largest commercial fleet in the world, with 20% of the world's commercial fleet and 50% of the European capacity in terms of tonnage now belonging to Greek shipping companies whose activity is obviously a heavyweight in terms of the country's GDP. Suffice it to say that just for 2017, shipping exceeded 9€ billion, almost 20% more than in 2016.
The truth is that the activity of the shipping industry in the years of the crisis did not - fortunately, I would say - follow the general course of the Greek economy. However, it is time for this to end. It is time for Greek shipping to no longer be the positive exception, but one example among many sectors of the Greek economy that are developing dynamically.
And you know, we worked hard to bring in this era, the era of recovery for the Greek economy. Very often, under extremely harsh conditions. It took three years of hard and painstaking effort to bring the Greek economy back on course, with our concern to constantly protect the social strata that were most affected by the long-term crisis, and it required particularly difficult and persistent efforts to establish the new,stable and healthy foundations by which the country must be supported for a better tomorrow. Overcoming the structural weaknesses as well as the pathogens of the past that led us to this crisis.
To that end, we have implemented a very ambitious reform programme, with many profound reforms in the whole economic life of the country, reforms which it has not always been easy to implement.
We have balanced the public finances after we have redeveloped them, and so from a country that is still in deficit - almost the last, I would say, in all the countries of the Eurozone - today Greece is one of the first and it is a country in surplus. In this way we managed to recover the most important thing: trust. To regain the trust of our partners in the European Union, but day by day to regain the confidence of the markets. And, if you like, it is also the passport for a definitive exit from support programmes. But at the same time, it is the guarantee of gradual and necessary tax relief in the coming years, since the creation of budgetary margins is what enables us to secure tax relief, and not just in the short-term.
Of course, it is not enough just for me to say the above. What matters is that they have been ratified by international organisations, the OECD, all the institutions that monitor the Greek programme and oversee it, international analysts, and of course the markets as well. And we know, our experience has taught us, but we still see it today with the political turbulence in our neighbouring countries that the recovery of the international community's confidence, unlike its loss, is very difficult and takes a lot of work.
That is why today we need to go steadily and carefully to prepare the next day for the country outside the support programmes, while taking all the necessary steps to ensure our return to the international markets.
And we are, friends, just at that point where all the last pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall into place and completing the big picture.
Within the current month, in June, we are completing the last prerequisites for the last Assessment, the country's last adjustment programme, and so we are going at full speed to the Eurogroup meeting on 21st June, having completed the last Assessment, and at the same time by then intensive consultations on the relief of the Greek debt will have also come to an end. Processes and consultations that have been in progress throughout the recent period. And I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that, as far as the reduction of the Greek debt is concerned, the framework of which has been decided by our partners for about a year, we are working and pursuing not just any solution. But for a solution that will give, as I repeat, as Eurogroup decisions taken over a year ago will give Greece stable and lasting access to the money markets. Not temporary access.
So we are working in partnership with our partners for a solution that can persuade the markets to lend in the long-term and give the Greek economy the time it needs to develop and to reduce the stockpile of accumulated debt through growth. And I assure you, friends, that the technical means for this to happen exist without harming the peoples, the taxpayers of other eurozone countries. And I also assure you that on these technical instruments we have been working intensively lately with our European partners and I am optimistic that the solution will be found. Indeed, all of them are seeking it, and its credibility will not be judged by its activation or otherwise of the IMF programme over the short time remaining until the completion of the third programme. But its credibility will be judged by its own substance and that will gain impetus from the dynamics being developed in the markets themselves.
So Greece, friends, with the successful completion of the fourth and last Assessment and the final and meaningful agreement on the debt, will in a very short time be a country that will be able to stand on its own feet again. A country that can rely on its own strengths. Without crutches, with no credit lines of support, that is without the permanent artificial assistance to her breathing. So a country that can recover, that can plan its future as it deserves after the sacrifices that the Greek people have made over the years. This is our goal and that, I would say, is not the goal just of the Government, it is the goal of all of us. It is a national goal. And this goal, I urge you, every man and every woman, especially Greek shipping and its representatives to contribute to, each according to their capacities, each and every one, to contribute all together to achieve it. Because, I repeat, success will be success for the country and will be worthy of the sacrifices and struggles of the Greek people to keep the country at the hard core of the Member States of the European Union.
Dear friends, throughout the three years of a difficult and often uphill journey and the struggle for the rebuilding of the economy, we had in our minds and we were working to prepare the next day for the country. We knew that a coherent development plan, a national development plan, would be needed for the country to move to a new production model, a production model that would exploit the comparative advantages, the competitive advantages of the country, and would promote the turning outwards of our economy to the world financial system. The old model of consumption of imports bought with borrowed money and the waste of valuable resources on low added value sectors is bankrupt and we should never think about going back to it.
We even have, if you wish, the first encouraging evidence that this transition to a new production model is already happening. These data also come from the balance of payments and, in particular, from the trade balance and the current account. Exports are steadily rising, more than imports, and what I would like to stress is that if the growth in exports continues at this rate, it will soon become the basic component of growth, together with balanced consumption and investment. As you can see, there is a window of great opportunity opening also for the further development of Greek shipping. Our exports to date have been mainly directed to the countries of Europe. We have chosen consciously, for both economic and geopolitical purposes, to exploit our geostrategic position on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean as a meeting point of three continents, connecting three seas, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Indian Ocean. And to deepen our trade ties with emerging Asian powers that are strengthening their presence in the markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The emergence of Piraeus, Europe's main gateway to transit trade with the Asian economies, capitalizes on the geographical advantage of our homeland. Our intention is to further assist in establishing it as a modern, European maritime centre that at least at the service level will reduce the distance between London and Singapore. At the same time, we are strengthening our ties with our traditional allies in the West and through a multidimensional foreign policy, we are becoming a reliable interlocutor, with prestige and influence, just as we are functioning as factor of stabilisation, as a pillar of stability and security in a region objectively difficult and many times over lacking in stability.
This is what I believe explains the constant increase of our Tourism in our country in recent years, every year breaking records and of course it also explains the expansion of investment projects in major projects in the fields of energy, infrastructure and international logistics transport in our country , as well as the increase of the Greek shipping share in the global volume of transactions. The above creates the historical opportunity for the mutual cooperation between the shipping industry and the other dynamic sectors of the Greek economy that will bring us back to the international economic stage.
For our part, we are investing in and upgrading the infrastructure that Greek shipping needs and promoting actions that facilitate its activity, both inside and outside Greece.
Port policy, through selected strategic concession contracts, and spearheaded by the success of Piraeus, I repeat, as an international maritime centre with the necessary structures and infrastructures, can contribute even more to economic development and to the upgrading of the international position of the country.
A relevant strategic goal, which is crucial for attracting investment and creating new jobs, is the revival of the shipbuilding industry.
While in the field of maritime, coastal tourism, the construction of new infrastructures and the modernization of existing ones will boost the development of cruise and recreational tourism.
Greece is known to everyone that as a special country on the global and European map. Its main feature is the sea. It is a maritime country, it is a country of islands, it has the longest coastline in the whole of the EU and has most islands in the EU.
This calls for an important role in the formulation and implementation of both maritime policy, in particular regarding the islands, and the EU's territorial cohesion policy.
Island life is, I would say, a structural characteristic of our homeland.
And of course, it is, no doubt, our strategic asset. From this flows both challenges, such as our anxiety and our struggle to secure equality for our islanders, as well as opportunities, such as the development of niche markets with great added value.
It is also a fact that in today's globalized and competitive environment, there are new - mostly technological - challenges in the field of shipping and the exploitation of the seas.
The use, for example, of space technologies and data from satellite systems is now indispensable for shipping and is increasing daily.
In this context, we asked the European Space Agency to take an initiative on "Space and Shipping" in which our country will have a leading role.
Our goal is to work with other countries to design and implement solutions that will be applied to ships and marine systems.
And I invite you to take part in this initiative, which will highlight the leading role of Greek shipping within the European family.
Friends,
Especially today, where there is a re-emergence of a protectionist tendency but also a risk of a retrenchment of international trade, due to widespread upheavals and trade conflicts, often between traditional partners, it is of great importance that shipping remains at the top of the European development agenda. And the know-how of the Greeks is a guarantee in this direction.
Greece attaches great importance to the role and work of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in creating a framework of agreed rules that are key to the sustainability of shipping in the coming years.
Greece, as an EU member state with an active role in shaping its shipping policy, is always actively contributing to this direction while at the same time ratifying and implementing all IMO Conventions on time.
I would therefore like to assure the IMO Secretary-General, whom we have just heard address this meeting, who honours once again our country and Posidonia with his presence, that Greece as a member of the top tier of the IMO Council will continue to actively support the Agency's priorities and objectives for the benefit of the global maritime community.
But friends, every successful effort can only succeed if it has the means, the equipment, the investment, the proper design, but above all, it requires people who accomplish all the above and carry them out.
In closing, I would therefore like to make a special reference to the people who have brought Greek shipping to such heights. I would like to conclude by referring to the world of nautical service.
It is these, without exaggeration, “heroic crews”, who manage to work under conditions often unthinkable by ordinary human standards.
It is to these people that Greek shipping owes impressive growth and its strong international role.
As far as we are concerned as the State, we consider it our self-evident and absolute obligation to do everything to guarantee the labour rights of these crews. And for their claims and their fair demands to be respected, particularly in terms of salaries, working hours and working conditions.
At the same time, to invest in their skills and to support our seamen is a debt of both the State and the shipping world,
Our country is able to transfer and teach our know-how and become an international centre of attraction for the education of all shipping-related specializations and all stages of its development. From research, planning, building, launching, staffing to business development.
Dear friends,
as the country advances in what we are calling a new era, with better prospects, greater security and stability, with the dynamic recovery of the Greek economy that entails a collective recovery of the country and its people, I believe the potential of Greek shipping is multiplying.
Our limit can only be the lines of the horizons of the great seas of the world where our ships sail.
I am sure that Greek shipping is in a position to do so and will make use of this exceptional momentum for the Greek economy, the excellent momentum for the country.
Besides, Greek shipping did it in difficult times and in tempestuous time. Now, with calm waters and with a clear horizon, I think it can succeed.
So, I welcome you to this year's Posidonia 2018, I wish you good continuity in the work of the conference, and I sincerely wish for successful partnerships that will lead Greek and world shipping to an even better future.
Thank you very much.”
By the end of June we will have completed the last prerequisite measures of the final Assessment of the final programme for the country. So we go to the Eurogroup on June 21st where there will be final decisions on debt measures, stressed Mr. Tsipras.
The aim is stable and lasting access to the money markets, he added, stressing that "we are working in partnership with our partners for an efficient and long-term solution", while making sure that the rest of Europe's peoples will not be burdened.
"The credibility will be judged not by the activation or otherwise of the IMF programme in the short time left to complete the programme," he said, but, among other things, by specifying that Greece in a very short space of time will be a country that will be able to stand on its own two feet and rely on her own strengths. Without crutches and preventative credit lines of support.
Speaking about shipping, Alexis Tsipras stressed that: "As the country advances in a new era, with better prospects, with security and stability for the dynamic recovery of the Greek economy, the collective recovery of the country and its people, the potential of Greek shipping is multiplying".
"The shipping industry managed in difficult times and in storms and, now, with calm waters and a clear horizon, it can excel," the Prime Minister stressed, while making a special reference to the people who serve on the ships, the "heroic crews."
As he said, "their demands and their fair requests must be respected, particularly with regard to wages, working hours and working conditions".
POSIDONIA 2018 takes place under the auspices of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, the Hellenic Shipowners' Association and the Hellenic Naval Chamber with the support of the Municipality of Piraeus and the London Greek Committee of Maritime Cooperation.
PM Tsipras’ Speech
“You know that Greece has the largest commercial fleet in the world, with 20% of the world's commercial fleet and 50% of the European capacity in terms of tonnage now belonging to Greek shipping companies whose activity is obviously a heavyweight in terms of the country's GDP. Suffice it to say that just for 2017, shipping exceeded 9€ billion, almost 20% more than in 2016.
The truth is that the activity of the shipping industry in the years of the crisis did not - fortunately, I would say - follow the general course of the Greek economy. However, it is time for this to end. It is time for Greek shipping to no longer be the positive exception, but one example among many sectors of the Greek economy that are developing dynamically.
And you know, we worked hard to bring in this era, the era of recovery for the Greek economy. Very often, under extremely harsh conditions. It took three years of hard and painstaking effort to bring the Greek economy back on course, with our concern to constantly protect the social strata that were most affected by the long-term crisis, and it required particularly difficult and persistent efforts to establish the new,stable and healthy foundations by which the country must be supported for a better tomorrow. Overcoming the structural weaknesses as well as the pathogens of the past that led us to this crisis.
To that end, we have implemented a very ambitious reform programme, with many profound reforms in the whole economic life of the country, reforms which it has not always been easy to implement.
We have balanced the public finances after we have redeveloped them, and so from a country that is still in deficit - almost the last, I would say, in all the countries of the Eurozone - today Greece is one of the first and it is a country in surplus. In this way we managed to recover the most important thing: trust. To regain the trust of our partners in the European Union, but day by day to regain the confidence of the markets. And, if you like, it is also the passport for a definitive exit from support programmes. But at the same time, it is the guarantee of gradual and necessary tax relief in the coming years, since the creation of budgetary margins is what enables us to secure tax relief, and not just in the short-term.
Of course, it is not enough just for me to say the above. What matters is that they have been ratified by international organisations, the OECD, all the institutions that monitor the Greek programme and oversee it, international analysts, and of course the markets as well. And we know, our experience has taught us, but we still see it today with the political turbulence in our neighbouring countries that the recovery of the international community's confidence, unlike its loss, is very difficult and takes a lot of work.
That is why today we need to go steadily and carefully to prepare the next day for the country outside the support programmes, while taking all the necessary steps to ensure our return to the international markets.
And we are, friends, just at that point where all the last pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fall into place and completing the big picture.
Within the current month, in June, we are completing the last prerequisites for the last Assessment, the country's last adjustment programme, and so we are going at full speed to the Eurogroup meeting on 21st June, having completed the last Assessment, and at the same time by then intensive consultations on the relief of the Greek debt will have also come to an end. Processes and consultations that have been in progress throughout the recent period. And I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that, as far as the reduction of the Greek debt is concerned, the framework of which has been decided by our partners for about a year, we are working and pursuing not just any solution. But for a solution that will give, as I repeat, as Eurogroup decisions taken over a year ago will give Greece stable and lasting access to the money markets. Not temporary access.
So we are working in partnership with our partners for a solution that can persuade the markets to lend in the long-term and give the Greek economy the time it needs to develop and to reduce the stockpile of accumulated debt through growth. And I assure you, friends, that the technical means for this to happen exist without harming the peoples, the taxpayers of other eurozone countries. And I also assure you that on these technical instruments we have been working intensively lately with our European partners and I am optimistic that the solution will be found. Indeed, all of them are seeking it, and its credibility will not be judged by its activation or otherwise of the IMF programme over the short time remaining until the completion of the third programme. But its credibility will be judged by its own substance and that will gain impetus from the dynamics being developed in the markets themselves.
So Greece, friends, with the successful completion of the fourth and last Assessment and the final and meaningful agreement on the debt, will in a very short time be a country that will be able to stand on its own feet again. A country that can rely on its own strengths. Without crutches, with no credit lines of support, that is without the permanent artificial assistance to her breathing. So a country that can recover, that can plan its future as it deserves after the sacrifices that the Greek people have made over the years. This is our goal and that, I would say, is not the goal just of the Government, it is the goal of all of us. It is a national goal. And this goal, I urge you, every man and every woman, especially Greek shipping and its representatives to contribute to, each according to their capacities, each and every one, to contribute all together to achieve it. Because, I repeat, success will be success for the country and will be worthy of the sacrifices and struggles of the Greek people to keep the country at the hard core of the Member States of the European Union.
Dear friends, throughout the three years of a difficult and often uphill journey and the struggle for the rebuilding of the economy, we had in our minds and we were working to prepare the next day for the country. We knew that a coherent development plan, a national development plan, would be needed for the country to move to a new production model, a production model that would exploit the comparative advantages, the competitive advantages of the country, and would promote the turning outwards of our economy to the world financial system. The old model of consumption of imports bought with borrowed money and the waste of valuable resources on low added value sectors is bankrupt and we should never think about going back to it.
We even have, if you wish, the first encouraging evidence that this transition to a new production model is already happening. These data also come from the balance of payments and, in particular, from the trade balance and the current account. Exports are steadily rising, more than imports, and what I would like to stress is that if the growth in exports continues at this rate, it will soon become the basic component of growth, together with balanced consumption and investment. As you can see, there is a window of great opportunity opening also for the further development of Greek shipping. Our exports to date have been mainly directed to the countries of Europe. We have chosen consciously, for both economic and geopolitical purposes, to exploit our geostrategic position on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean as a meeting point of three continents, connecting three seas, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Indian Ocean. And to deepen our trade ties with emerging Asian powers that are strengthening their presence in the markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The emergence of Piraeus, Europe's main gateway to transit trade with the Asian economies, capitalizes on the geographical advantage of our homeland. Our intention is to further assist in establishing it as a modern, European maritime centre that at least at the service level will reduce the distance between London and Singapore. At the same time, we are strengthening our ties with our traditional allies in the West and through a multidimensional foreign policy, we are becoming a reliable interlocutor, with prestige and influence, just as we are functioning as factor of stabilisation, as a pillar of stability and security in a region objectively difficult and many times over lacking in stability.
This is what I believe explains the constant increase of our Tourism in our country in recent years, every year breaking records and of course it also explains the expansion of investment projects in major projects in the fields of energy, infrastructure and international logistics transport in our country , as well as the increase of the Greek shipping share in the global volume of transactions. The above creates the historical opportunity for the mutual cooperation between the shipping industry and the other dynamic sectors of the Greek economy that will bring us back to the international economic stage.
For our part, we are investing in and upgrading the infrastructure that Greek shipping needs and promoting actions that facilitate its activity, both inside and outside Greece.
Port policy, through selected strategic concession contracts, and spearheaded by the success of Piraeus, I repeat, as an international maritime centre with the necessary structures and infrastructures, can contribute even more to economic development and to the upgrading of the international position of the country.
A relevant strategic goal, which is crucial for attracting investment and creating new jobs, is the revival of the shipbuilding industry.
While in the field of maritime, coastal tourism, the construction of new infrastructures and the modernization of existing ones will boost the development of cruise and recreational tourism.
Greece is known to everyone that as a special country on the global and European map. Its main feature is the sea. It is a maritime country, it is a country of islands, it has the longest coastline in the whole of the EU and has most islands in the EU.
This calls for an important role in the formulation and implementation of both maritime policy, in particular regarding the islands, and the EU's territorial cohesion policy.
Island life is, I would say, a structural characteristic of our homeland.
And of course, it is, no doubt, our strategic asset. From this flows both challenges, such as our anxiety and our struggle to secure equality for our islanders, as well as opportunities, such as the development of niche markets with great added value.
It is also a fact that in today's globalized and competitive environment, there are new - mostly technological - challenges in the field of shipping and the exploitation of the seas.
The use, for example, of space technologies and data from satellite systems is now indispensable for shipping and is increasing daily.
In this context, we asked the European Space Agency to take an initiative on "Space and Shipping" in which our country will have a leading role.
Our goal is to work with other countries to design and implement solutions that will be applied to ships and marine systems.
And I invite you to take part in this initiative, which will highlight the leading role of Greek shipping within the European family.
Friends,
Especially today, where there is a re-emergence of a protectionist tendency but also a risk of a retrenchment of international trade, due to widespread upheavals and trade conflicts, often between traditional partners, it is of great importance that shipping remains at the top of the European development agenda. And the know-how of the Greeks is a guarantee in this direction.
Greece attaches great importance to the role and work of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in creating a framework of agreed rules that are key to the sustainability of shipping in the coming years.
Greece, as an EU member state with an active role in shaping its shipping policy, is always actively contributing to this direction while at the same time ratifying and implementing all IMO Conventions on time.
I would therefore like to assure the IMO Secretary-General, whom we have just heard address this meeting, who honours once again our country and Posidonia with his presence, that Greece as a member of the top tier of the IMO Council will continue to actively support the Agency's priorities and objectives for the benefit of the global maritime community.
But friends, every successful effort can only succeed if it has the means, the equipment, the investment, the proper design, but above all, it requires people who accomplish all the above and carry them out.
In closing, I would therefore like to make a special reference to the people who have brought Greek shipping to such heights. I would like to conclude by referring to the world of nautical service.
It is these, without exaggeration, “heroic crews”, who manage to work under conditions often unthinkable by ordinary human standards.
It is to these people that Greek shipping owes impressive growth and its strong international role.
As far as we are concerned as the State, we consider it our self-evident and absolute obligation to do everything to guarantee the labour rights of these crews. And for their claims and their fair demands to be respected, particularly in terms of salaries, working hours and working conditions.
At the same time, to invest in their skills and to support our seamen is a debt of both the State and the shipping world,
Our country is able to transfer and teach our know-how and become an international centre of attraction for the education of all shipping-related specializations and all stages of its development. From research, planning, building, launching, staffing to business development.
Dear friends,
as the country advances in what we are calling a new era, with better prospects, greater security and stability, with the dynamic recovery of the Greek economy that entails a collective recovery of the country and its people, I believe the potential of Greek shipping is multiplying.
Our limit can only be the lines of the horizons of the great seas of the world where our ships sail.
I am sure that Greek shipping is in a position to do so and will make use of this exceptional momentum for the Greek economy, the excellent momentum for the country.
Besides, Greek shipping did it in difficult times and in tempestuous time. Now, with calm waters and with a clear horizon, I think it can succeed.
So, I welcome you to this year's Posidonia 2018, I wish you good continuity in the work of the conference, and I sincerely wish for successful partnerships that will lead Greek and world shipping to an even better future.
Thank you very much.”
Not Plain Sailing at Piraeus
The Chinese Embassy in Athens has filed a complaint with the Greek Government concerning Thursday’s blockade of the cargo terminal run by COSCO at Piraeus by disgruntled port workers.
The complaint called on the Government to protect China’s significant investments in Greece and came after dozens of unionists prevented COSCO employees from getting to work on Thursday by blocking the two entrance gates to the cargo terminal but also the company’s management building at the port.
Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli and PPA CEO Fu Chengqiu met with Shipping Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis, but were unable to secure the mobilisation of the port police to end the blockade.
Last Thursday’s dock workers’strike was “unlawful for formal reasons (the 24-hour warning was not observed), but not a legal abuse”, the Piraeus Court of First Instance ruled.
On Tuesday, the dockers responded to COSCO's challenge with a new strike, leading to the closure of the Container Terminal, while the strikers were also joined by the contractors' union at Piraeus Container Terminal.
On the workers' side, serious complaints have been made that employers and contractors have sought to thwart the strike action by transferring in staff from a small tourist ship, including members of Golden Dawn. It was for this reason, the workers took complaints and demands for interventions both to the Minister of Citizen Protection and to the Minister of Shipping.
However, following Tuesday’s Court decision, it is thought that it is likely to pave the way for the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement that has been delayed for several months by the PPA administration. Workers and unions are calling for the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement, with increases in wages, compliance with health and safety rules and an increase in the size of work teams.
"COSCO has to respect the employees working either in the PPA or for the SEP and to start a meaningful dialogue with their representatives immediately to prove to the Greek society that it respects labour rights as well as Greek and European legislation and practice and is interested in the social impact of its investment," a SYRIZA spokesman said yesterday, adding: "A prerequisite for the fair and sustainable development that is imperative for the Greek economy and society is the labour and trade union rights, decent wages and a working environment that protects the health and safety of workers."
In 2016, COSCO Shipping, a Chinese state-owned enterprise and the world’s largest shipping company took over the management of Piraeus, which it calls the “dragon head” of its European operations. To live up to its motto—“Bridging the East with West”—the company relies on the port as a crucial node in what is perhaps the world’s most sophisticated supply chain.
While the Greek government and Piraeus Port Authority report the quadrupled increase in cargo volume since 2010, Piraeus workers are concerned that COSCO’s use of cheap, subcontracted labour is a threat to their livelihoods—which generations of workers fought to obtain. “Since privatisation, people at the docks feel that our livelihoods and basic labour rights are under threat.… We are dealing with COSCO and the private sector, and our welfare simply is not as important as it was to the Government,” said Thanos Khanatios, a 53-year-old dockworker from Piraeus who has been working at the port over the past 30 years.
In 2015, as a condition of the $100 billion European Union bailout that followed the 2008 financial crisis, the Greek Government agreed to privatise a number of state-held assets including the Piraeus Port Authority, which manages the port’s container and passenger terminals. The Greek State sold a majority stake for $330 million to COSCO. For the Chinese company, the purchase had a clear financial logic. About 80% of China’s imports and exports to and from Europe are transported by sea, and by avoiding the need to sail to busy Northern European ports like Rotterdam or Hamburg, COSCO can offload containers in Piraeus, reducing the time it takes cargo to get to Europe by nearly a week. Plus, by owning the port authority, COSCO can help determine how much its own ships would have to pay itself in port fees.
As part of the deal, COSCO pledged to participate in financing €350 million worth of investment in the port, including a repair of port equipment and the dredging of Piraeus’s central port. Supporters of privatisation argue these improvements signal a coming maritime renaissance at Piraeus—already the busiest port in the eastern Mediterranean. Nektarios Demenopolous, the deputy manager for investor relations at Piraeus Port Authority, told me, “There are 300€ million of investment to come in the next five years, followed by another 50€ million. Privatisation has made the port much more dynamic and will reboot activities at the port like ship repair that have been in recession. It will be remembered as a success story.”
But a “success story” for whom? The dockworkers of Piraeus say they and their families have seen little of the alleged gains brought by COSCO. As Piraeus Port Authority boasts of widening profit margins and increasing maritime traffic, wages for dockworkers have not changed since they were slashed from 1500€ per month to 600€ after the financial crisis. Beyond that, COSCO now hires few dockworkers as full-time employees, and tends to enlist unskilled labourers for complex container unloading. COSCO also primarily remunerates people on an ad hoc basis as subcontractors, leaving dockworkers and their families entirely dependent on the ebb and flow of traffic into Piraeus. It also means their traditional retirement benefits have disappeared.
“There is a lot to be worried about. Health and safety conditions have worsened for us. Wages are stagnant. The complex system of subcontractors is a blow to labour relations, as the company brings in unskilled workers but then says it is not liable for safety risks,” Mr. Khanatios said.
The Chinese Embassy in Athens has filed a complaint with the Greek Government concerning Thursday’s blockade of the cargo terminal run by COSCO at Piraeus by disgruntled port workers.
The complaint called on the Government to protect China’s significant investments in Greece and came after dozens of unionists prevented COSCO employees from getting to work on Thursday by blocking the two entrance gates to the cargo terminal but also the company’s management building at the port.
Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli and PPA CEO Fu Chengqiu met with Shipping Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis, but were unable to secure the mobilisation of the port police to end the blockade.
Last Thursday’s dock workers’strike was “unlawful for formal reasons (the 24-hour warning was not observed), but not a legal abuse”, the Piraeus Court of First Instance ruled.
On Tuesday, the dockers responded to COSCO's challenge with a new strike, leading to the closure of the Container Terminal, while the strikers were also joined by the contractors' union at Piraeus Container Terminal.
On the workers' side, serious complaints have been made that employers and contractors have sought to thwart the strike action by transferring in staff from a small tourist ship, including members of Golden Dawn. It was for this reason, the workers took complaints and demands for interventions both to the Minister of Citizen Protection and to the Minister of Shipping.
However, following Tuesday’s Court decision, it is thought that it is likely to pave the way for the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement that has been delayed for several months by the PPA administration. Workers and unions are calling for the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement, with increases in wages, compliance with health and safety rules and an increase in the size of work teams.
"COSCO has to respect the employees working either in the PPA or for the SEP and to start a meaningful dialogue with their representatives immediately to prove to the Greek society that it respects labour rights as well as Greek and European legislation and practice and is interested in the social impact of its investment," a SYRIZA spokesman said yesterday, adding: "A prerequisite for the fair and sustainable development that is imperative for the Greek economy and society is the labour and trade union rights, decent wages and a working environment that protects the health and safety of workers."
In 2016, COSCO Shipping, a Chinese state-owned enterprise and the world’s largest shipping company took over the management of Piraeus, which it calls the “dragon head” of its European operations. To live up to its motto—“Bridging the East with West”—the company relies on the port as a crucial node in what is perhaps the world’s most sophisticated supply chain.
While the Greek government and Piraeus Port Authority report the quadrupled increase in cargo volume since 2010, Piraeus workers are concerned that COSCO’s use of cheap, subcontracted labour is a threat to their livelihoods—which generations of workers fought to obtain. “Since privatisation, people at the docks feel that our livelihoods and basic labour rights are under threat.… We are dealing with COSCO and the private sector, and our welfare simply is not as important as it was to the Government,” said Thanos Khanatios, a 53-year-old dockworker from Piraeus who has been working at the port over the past 30 years.
In 2015, as a condition of the $100 billion European Union bailout that followed the 2008 financial crisis, the Greek Government agreed to privatise a number of state-held assets including the Piraeus Port Authority, which manages the port’s container and passenger terminals. The Greek State sold a majority stake for $330 million to COSCO. For the Chinese company, the purchase had a clear financial logic. About 80% of China’s imports and exports to and from Europe are transported by sea, and by avoiding the need to sail to busy Northern European ports like Rotterdam or Hamburg, COSCO can offload containers in Piraeus, reducing the time it takes cargo to get to Europe by nearly a week. Plus, by owning the port authority, COSCO can help determine how much its own ships would have to pay itself in port fees.
As part of the deal, COSCO pledged to participate in financing €350 million worth of investment in the port, including a repair of port equipment and the dredging of Piraeus’s central port. Supporters of privatisation argue these improvements signal a coming maritime renaissance at Piraeus—already the busiest port in the eastern Mediterranean. Nektarios Demenopolous, the deputy manager for investor relations at Piraeus Port Authority, told me, “There are 300€ million of investment to come in the next five years, followed by another 50€ million. Privatisation has made the port much more dynamic and will reboot activities at the port like ship repair that have been in recession. It will be remembered as a success story.”
But a “success story” for whom? The dockworkers of Piraeus say they and their families have seen little of the alleged gains brought by COSCO. As Piraeus Port Authority boasts of widening profit margins and increasing maritime traffic, wages for dockworkers have not changed since they were slashed from 1500€ per month to 600€ after the financial crisis. Beyond that, COSCO now hires few dockworkers as full-time employees, and tends to enlist unskilled labourers for complex container unloading. COSCO also primarily remunerates people on an ad hoc basis as subcontractors, leaving dockworkers and their families entirely dependent on the ebb and flow of traffic into Piraeus. It also means their traditional retirement benefits have disappeared.
“There is a lot to be worried about. Health and safety conditions have worsened for us. Wages are stagnant. The complex system of subcontractors is a blow to labour relations, as the company brings in unskilled workers but then says it is not liable for safety risks,” Mr. Khanatios said.
The Economy : some figures
Greek factory activity grew at a faster pace in May, with sharp increases in new orders and production leading companies to hire more workers, a survey showed on Friday.
Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, rose to 54.2 from 52.9 in April. Readings above 50 denote expansions in activity; below 50, a contraction.
“May saw the recovery in the Greek manufacturing sector reach an important milestone, with output now having risen on a monthly basis throughout a year,” said Andrew Harker, IHS Markit associate director.
Driving the expansion in output was a rise in new orders at home and from abroad. Growth in export business hit a three-month high in May.
“Encouragingly, rates of growth in production, new orders and employment all picked up from the previous month. The road to recovery remains long, however, after a number of years of decline,” Mr. Harker said.
The country's jobless rate, at 20.8% in February, remains the highest in the eurozone.
Greek manufacturers continued to take on new workers in May, responding to higher output requirements, with the pace of job creation just below a record high hit in March.
Inflationary pressures intensified in May, the survey showed, as both input costs and output prices rose at sharper rates compared to April. Firms reported higher costs for raw materials such as metals and oil.
Tourism employment
Tourism employment reached a record high of 400,000 people last summer, according to data compiled by the Greek Tourism Confederation Institute (SETE Intelligence).
In the period from July to September 2017, tourism employed 19,000 more people than a year earlier – an annual increase of 5% from the 381,000 employed in the summer of 2016.
In the last decade (from 2008 to 2017) employment in tourism recorded an average annual growth of just 0.9 percent. Tourism’s contribution to employment in Greece climbed from 7.5% in 2008 to an all-time high of 10.4% in 2017. The main age group employed in tourism is 30- to 44-year-olds.
The increase in part-time employment in tourism observed since the industry’s recovery in 2013, due to structural changes in the labour market, has not taken place at the expense of full-time employment but is complementing it, SETE Intelligence explained.
Exports
The upward trend of Greek exports continued, rising by 11.6% in April, faster than 4.4% rate of increase in imports. According to ELSTAT, the total value of Greek exports in April amounted to € 2,589.1 million compared to € 2,320.8 million in the same month of 2017.
Greek factory activity grew at a faster pace in May, with sharp increases in new orders and production leading companies to hire more workers, a survey showed on Friday.
Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing, which accounts for about 10 percent of the Greek economy, rose to 54.2 from 52.9 in April. Readings above 50 denote expansions in activity; below 50, a contraction.
“May saw the recovery in the Greek manufacturing sector reach an important milestone, with output now having risen on a monthly basis throughout a year,” said Andrew Harker, IHS Markit associate director.
Driving the expansion in output was a rise in new orders at home and from abroad. Growth in export business hit a three-month high in May.
“Encouragingly, rates of growth in production, new orders and employment all picked up from the previous month. The road to recovery remains long, however, after a number of years of decline,” Mr. Harker said.
The country's jobless rate, at 20.8% in February, remains the highest in the eurozone.
Greek manufacturers continued to take on new workers in May, responding to higher output requirements, with the pace of job creation just below a record high hit in March.
Inflationary pressures intensified in May, the survey showed, as both input costs and output prices rose at sharper rates compared to April. Firms reported higher costs for raw materials such as metals and oil.
Tourism employment
Tourism employment reached a record high of 400,000 people last summer, according to data compiled by the Greek Tourism Confederation Institute (SETE Intelligence).
In the period from July to September 2017, tourism employed 19,000 more people than a year earlier – an annual increase of 5% from the 381,000 employed in the summer of 2016.
In the last decade (from 2008 to 2017) employment in tourism recorded an average annual growth of just 0.9 percent. Tourism’s contribution to employment in Greece climbed from 7.5% in 2008 to an all-time high of 10.4% in 2017. The main age group employed in tourism is 30- to 44-year-olds.
The increase in part-time employment in tourism observed since the industry’s recovery in 2013, due to structural changes in the labour market, has not taken place at the expense of full-time employment but is complementing it, SETE Intelligence explained.
Exports
The upward trend of Greek exports continued, rising by 11.6% in April, faster than 4.4% rate of increase in imports. According to ELSTAT, the total value of Greek exports in April amounted to € 2,589.1 million compared to € 2,320.8 million in the same month of 2017.
"The increase in tourism and the exit from the Memoranda are important successes that no one can ignore or belittle"
2.6.2018
"The rise of tourism and the exit from the Memoranda are important successes that no one can ignore or belittle," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stressed in the speech at the Opening Meeting of the 26th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises.
The full speech of the Prime Minister at SETE
Dear President of SETE,
Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I address today's greetings to SETE's annual meeting because I am given the opportunity to share positive news with you and to describe the optimistic situation that is shaped for the next day of the Greek economy and the country after an unjustifiably prolonged period of grievance .
To date, the tourism industry may have been the only one that has not only resisted the sweeping wave of the deep recession that hit us, but managed to grow. Surely you were the best example of what we can do even in difficult times. You supported employment when the general level of unemployment stood at 27% and you continued to invest in the country's positive outlook when others abandoned it.
Today, the situation is changing.
We promised a difficult but remedial path for the country and the economy, and three years later we are finally seeing that we are emerging into the clearing. We stopped the collapse, we reversed the downward trend of the Greek economy and we are moving ahead and planning for the next day. Now the whole economy is growing and that goes hand in hand with your dynamic example.
This year we will break the record for Greek tourism, with the forecasts talking about 32 million visitors. The best year in the history of Greek tourism.
Already according to recent data on tourist receipts, the incoming tourist traffic has increased by 12.8% compared to last year. I do not know whether anyone can belittle such a great success. Of course, you will tell me, some are trying to downplay the fact that after 8 whole years, this summer we are exiting the Memoranda, the record in tourism will not be belittled.
However, both events are of great importance, for the country, for the Greek economy, but also for the psychology of each individual citizen. For the 32 million visitors who will come to Greece this year, that is to say about 3 for each Greek, they should leave with the best impressions of our country and this is not only about the people in tourism but also about each of us individually.
And the benefits to the economy will not just be reaped by the people in tourism. This summer, therefore, we have many reasons to be happier and more prosperous. Because if one reason is our image and our good hospitality to the foreign visitors, the other is that we have succeeded, we endured and at last we are exiting the Memoranda.
In less than a month from today, we will have finished with the latest pending reviews of the Fourth Assessment and thus the completion of the obligations flowing from the Third and final programme.
We are all working hard for this, and in mid-June the latest bill on the last prerequisites will be ready for voting on. At the same time, by the end of June, the final, definitive decisions concerning the alleviation of the Greek debt will have been completed. So we expect a deal that is well-tailored in terms of its characteristics, to an ambitious perspective and tailored to the long-term needs of the Greek economy.
An agreement sufficient to convince the markets and the international community that Greece is returning dynamically to the global economic system. And above all an agreement worthy of the efforts of the Greek people after eight years of painful adjustment.
This is also the solution demanded by the criticality of the moment for the euro and for the whole European project, given the recent turbulence from the political crisis in Italy, which suggests that everyone ought not to be overwhelmed by the positive figures of the Greek economy, but should provide a solution that will guarantee the confidence of the markets in the Greek economy.
And it will finalize the Greek crisis, so that we all work hard to make it the end of the European crisis, that is to work to prevent the political crisis in Italy from becoming a new economic crisis in the eurozone.
And I believe that everyone will show the maturity required to avoid this. On the other hand, however, Europe must understand two important truths. One is that persistence in austerity for a long time, without horizons of hope, erodes the legitimacy of economic goals and causes division within societies.
And secondly, contempt for democracy raises dangerous but justified reactions from the people. Because it is equally dangerous and unacceptable for some people to shake their finger at the people and show them how to vote. And we should never forget that the path of European integration is based on the concept of the consensus of its peoples, and if it is withdrawn, we can find ourselves facing phenomena that are dangerous with negative consequences for all.
The times, therefore, require us to be very careful. At this difficult juncture, however, Greece is a positive news factor. It is no longer part of the problem but part of the solution.
After eight difficult years, the country has returned to a page of trust and trustworthiness in relation to both its partners and the markets. We have returned to positive growth rates, even at levels that have reached a decade high. Unemployment is declining at a steady pace, investment is similar to a decade high and the current account is in balance. To the latter specifically, it should be noted that your industry has contributed to the maximum extent.
We have made an unquestionable and consistent fiscal adjustment. We have implemented a demanding reform programme that has changed the image of the country both internally and abroad. This is clearly reflected in the indicators of the economic climate and business confidence, production indicators and investment orders.
This is also the image of the Greek economy abroad.
Our international firms are upgrading, markets are welcoming Greek bonds and are preparing our definitive return to the self-financing of our obligations, while international organizations and institutions in all tones are ratifying our reform effort and the serious work that has been done.
This strengthening of the Greek economy has been accompanied by the corresponding strengthening of our geopolitical position. It is a fact of international relations that when a country folds up economically, it reduces to a certain extent its geo-strategic influence or at least that is how it is perceived, and that has the consequence increased external challenges.
Without wild speeches and with proper preparation, we have set as our ultimate goal the reversal of our economy by the restoration of our prestige in the international political arena. We have deepened our strategic alliances, we took the initiative, and we are acting as a pillar of stability and conciliation in a region vulnerable to crises of instability.
The pursuit of a consensual solution to the issue of finding a commonly accepted name with the neighbouring country of FYROM is a good example in this direction. At the same time we are taking advantage of our geostrategic position as a gateway to Europe. We have a key role in the investment planning of large states and businesses in the energy and trade sectors, further enhancing our influence on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean.
I am referring to the above because I know, and from the individual discussions we have had, that your industry has a vital interest in security issues. And one of the factors that contributed to having achieved successive tourism records over the last three years was the fact that our country remained a pillar of stability and security in a fragile broader region.
I want to assure you that we are constantly alert and always take careful steps to ensure the best of our country's position and interests, further strengthening the role and image as the most stable and safe country in our region.
Friends,
Allow me here to make some comments on the warning of some not to turn the Greek economy into a tourism monopoly. In the first place, this implies ignorance of the real situation and can only be understood as a bad joke.
This is why, as we have presented in our holistic development plan for the post-Memoranda era, Tourism is indeed one of the comparative advantages of the country, as is also shipping, culture, agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and research, ie human capital.
We call it holistic because for the first time it is not a development plan that promotes the distinct, independent growth of each sector as it has been so far, but instead creates the conditions for the cross-sectoral interdependence of the sub-sectors so that economic dynamism spreads inside the country and successively expands production at ever higher levels, while increasing added value and employment.
This is also the point of creating the Forum of Agricultural foodstuffs - Tourism and Industry.
We want an increasing number of tourists to generate demand for products of Greek origin from other branches of the Greek economy and for it not to flow abroad as demand for imported goods.
However the performance of Tourism is neither self-evident nor is it automatic. It is the result of systematic work, good cooperation and a combination of political actions, institutional interventions and development tools.
And let me, at this point, briefly mention some of them:
During the three years 2015-2018 we implemented a series of interventions such as:
• promoting a unique national brand and promoting new "island and mainland" destinations by targeting different markets,
• completing the Codification of Tourism Legislation over the past 100 years, now available on a digital platform,
• upgrading Education in Tourism with the re-opening of the Guides Schools and the modernization of the tourist schools,
• simplifying licensing procedures and business operations
• financing Small and Medium Entrepreneurship for new tourism projects and themed tourism through NSRF programs, with €230 million.
• Implementing OECD recommendations to turn Greece into a top tourist destination with themed tourism experiences throughout the year and across the country.
While for the two years 2018-2019 we are promoting a series of actions such as:
• Improving the competitive framework for attracting investment in the tourism sector by improving the siting, licencing, and tax incentives
• The design and development of a modern system of public tourism education and the linking of educational programmes to the labour market,
• Creating a digital ecosystem for Greek tourism in 4 strategic pillars:
1) the digital conversion of services to citizens - companies,
2) the digital upgrading of tourist education,
3) the integrated system for the collection and processing of information and
4) the use of new technologies to promote tourism.
At the same time,
• the modernization of public infrastructure in tourism, such as airports, harbours, marinas and tourist accomodation
• at last the regulating of Air BnB. The legal framework was completed in 2017 and the control mechanism comes into force in 2018
• Developing a very ambitious policy framework to promote the film industry in Greece, which is expected to have a multiplier effect on the advertising of the Greek tourist product.
Increased tourist traffic, however, creates the need for investment in tourism, small and large. And your industry, I believe, will play a leading role in curbing the terrible disintegration during the crisis. That is why we have set as a priority in the development law the support for as many projects as possible. It is striking that in the second phase of the bidding process that expires today, 7,300 completed proposals were submitted, with a total value of 2.3€ billion.
And I wish we were able to finance them all. However, the tourism industry, despite the need for large investments in buildings and other infrastructure, is mainly based on its human resources.
It is a sector of intensive labour. An abundance of specialisations combined with professionalism to provide the internationally recognized tourist services that we offer. In the past a lot of workers, it is true to say, fell victim to non-declared work and the illegal practices of certain businessmen operating with a short-sighted logic. We we took measures to crack down on the phenomenon, as much for the workers as for the reliable businessmen that face the illegal competition.
Today is the right time to put the working framework on a more correct footing and to look at the optimum level of the minimum wage. For some, this is a crime of high treason, but for us it is imperative, both morally and economicly. Because we believe that redistribution is the real driver of growth, and after a long period of austerity now that we are gradually moving into a better situation, it is fair that the world of work gets its share of the improving conditions.
But I insist that, from a purely economic point of view, the argument that competitiveness means low labour costs has proven to be wrong. Because it is a reality and it has been observed that the extent to which labour is flexible - and this is a tendency in world capitalism – then the efficiency of work is reduced. For the simple reason that employees do not feel committed to their job and do not care about the outcome of their work.
The Economy means above all community and mutual co-operation.
And you know this very well, especially you, the people of tourism, where the performance of human resources in your business plays a decisive role in the quality of the tourist product you offer. I therefore believe that improving earnings will stimulate both the optimism and the efficiency of the world of work.
Besides, the sizes of the economy we are all talking about are not just statistics that concern a few. Nor have the changes of adaptation happened in vain, rather all this concerns every citizen of the country and the collective effort we made for a better tomorrow.
I want to thank you personally for your efforts, your perseverance and your efficiency that has not only made your industry stand up to the crisis but also made it become even stronger.
Rightly, you are now nourishing the fruits of this dynamic growth in the industry, but you are also feeding a large part of the Greek economy.
I want to repeat to you that the continuing recovery of the Greek economy will quickly begin to give us financial space after 2019.
Austerity is ending and the possibility of expansion is opening up.
This also means that there is scope for gradual but substantial tax relief for households and businesses.
Rest assured that part of that will also benefit your own businesses.
Tourism was a source of optimism for the future of the Greek economy in difficult times.
I am sure that in the years of recovery it can be the vehicle for its high and sustainable development.
So, let us create a high level of prosperity for the country and its citizens.
We can do it.
And now we know how to do it.
Thank you”
The full speech of the Prime Minister at SETE
Dear President of SETE,
Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I address today's greetings to SETE's annual meeting because I am given the opportunity to share positive news with you and to describe the optimistic situation that is shaped for the next day of the Greek economy and the country after an unjustifiably prolonged period of grievance .
To date, the tourism industry may have been the only one that has not only resisted the sweeping wave of the deep recession that hit us, but managed to grow. Surely you were the best example of what we can do even in difficult times. You supported employment when the general level of unemployment stood at 27% and you continued to invest in the country's positive outlook when others abandoned it.
Today, the situation is changing.
We promised a difficult but remedial path for the country and the economy, and three years later we are finally seeing that we are emerging into the clearing. We stopped the collapse, we reversed the downward trend of the Greek economy and we are moving ahead and planning for the next day. Now the whole economy is growing and that goes hand in hand with your dynamic example.
This year we will break the record for Greek tourism, with the forecasts talking about 32 million visitors. The best year in the history of Greek tourism.
Already according to recent data on tourist receipts, the incoming tourist traffic has increased by 12.8% compared to last year. I do not know whether anyone can belittle such a great success. Of course, you will tell me, some are trying to downplay the fact that after 8 whole years, this summer we are exiting the Memoranda, the record in tourism will not be belittled.
However, both events are of great importance, for the country, for the Greek economy, but also for the psychology of each individual citizen. For the 32 million visitors who will come to Greece this year, that is to say about 3 for each Greek, they should leave with the best impressions of our country and this is not only about the people in tourism but also about each of us individually.
And the benefits to the economy will not just be reaped by the people in tourism. This summer, therefore, we have many reasons to be happier and more prosperous. Because if one reason is our image and our good hospitality to the foreign visitors, the other is that we have succeeded, we endured and at last we are exiting the Memoranda.
In less than a month from today, we will have finished with the latest pending reviews of the Fourth Assessment and thus the completion of the obligations flowing from the Third and final programme.
We are all working hard for this, and in mid-June the latest bill on the last prerequisites will be ready for voting on. At the same time, by the end of June, the final, definitive decisions concerning the alleviation of the Greek debt will have been completed. So we expect a deal that is well-tailored in terms of its characteristics, to an ambitious perspective and tailored to the long-term needs of the Greek economy.
An agreement sufficient to convince the markets and the international community that Greece is returning dynamically to the global economic system. And above all an agreement worthy of the efforts of the Greek people after eight years of painful adjustment.
This is also the solution demanded by the criticality of the moment for the euro and for the whole European project, given the recent turbulence from the political crisis in Italy, which suggests that everyone ought not to be overwhelmed by the positive figures of the Greek economy, but should provide a solution that will guarantee the confidence of the markets in the Greek economy.
And it will finalize the Greek crisis, so that we all work hard to make it the end of the European crisis, that is to work to prevent the political crisis in Italy from becoming a new economic crisis in the eurozone.
And I believe that everyone will show the maturity required to avoid this. On the other hand, however, Europe must understand two important truths. One is that persistence in austerity for a long time, without horizons of hope, erodes the legitimacy of economic goals and causes division within societies.
And secondly, contempt for democracy raises dangerous but justified reactions from the people. Because it is equally dangerous and unacceptable for some people to shake their finger at the people and show them how to vote. And we should never forget that the path of European integration is based on the concept of the consensus of its peoples, and if it is withdrawn, we can find ourselves facing phenomena that are dangerous with negative consequences for all.
The times, therefore, require us to be very careful. At this difficult juncture, however, Greece is a positive news factor. It is no longer part of the problem but part of the solution.
After eight difficult years, the country has returned to a page of trust and trustworthiness in relation to both its partners and the markets. We have returned to positive growth rates, even at levels that have reached a decade high. Unemployment is declining at a steady pace, investment is similar to a decade high and the current account is in balance. To the latter specifically, it should be noted that your industry has contributed to the maximum extent.
We have made an unquestionable and consistent fiscal adjustment. We have implemented a demanding reform programme that has changed the image of the country both internally and abroad. This is clearly reflected in the indicators of the economic climate and business confidence, production indicators and investment orders.
This is also the image of the Greek economy abroad.
Our international firms are upgrading, markets are welcoming Greek bonds and are preparing our definitive return to the self-financing of our obligations, while international organizations and institutions in all tones are ratifying our reform effort and the serious work that has been done.
This strengthening of the Greek economy has been accompanied by the corresponding strengthening of our geopolitical position. It is a fact of international relations that when a country folds up economically, it reduces to a certain extent its geo-strategic influence or at least that is how it is perceived, and that has the consequence increased external challenges.
Without wild speeches and with proper preparation, we have set as our ultimate goal the reversal of our economy by the restoration of our prestige in the international political arena. We have deepened our strategic alliances, we took the initiative, and we are acting as a pillar of stability and conciliation in a region vulnerable to crises of instability.
The pursuit of a consensual solution to the issue of finding a commonly accepted name with the neighbouring country of FYROM is a good example in this direction. At the same time we are taking advantage of our geostrategic position as a gateway to Europe. We have a key role in the investment planning of large states and businesses in the energy and trade sectors, further enhancing our influence on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean.
I am referring to the above because I know, and from the individual discussions we have had, that your industry has a vital interest in security issues. And one of the factors that contributed to having achieved successive tourism records over the last three years was the fact that our country remained a pillar of stability and security in a fragile broader region.
I want to assure you that we are constantly alert and always take careful steps to ensure the best of our country's position and interests, further strengthening the role and image as the most stable and safe country in our region.
Friends,
Allow me here to make some comments on the warning of some not to turn the Greek economy into a tourism monopoly. In the first place, this implies ignorance of the real situation and can only be understood as a bad joke.
This is why, as we have presented in our holistic development plan for the post-Memoranda era, Tourism is indeed one of the comparative advantages of the country, as is also shipping, culture, agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and research, ie human capital.
We call it holistic because for the first time it is not a development plan that promotes the distinct, independent growth of each sector as it has been so far, but instead creates the conditions for the cross-sectoral interdependence of the sub-sectors so that economic dynamism spreads inside the country and successively expands production at ever higher levels, while increasing added value and employment.
This is also the point of creating the Forum of Agricultural foodstuffs - Tourism and Industry.
We want an increasing number of tourists to generate demand for products of Greek origin from other branches of the Greek economy and for it not to flow abroad as demand for imported goods.
However the performance of Tourism is neither self-evident nor is it automatic. It is the result of systematic work, good cooperation and a combination of political actions, institutional interventions and development tools.
And let me, at this point, briefly mention some of them:
During the three years 2015-2018 we implemented a series of interventions such as:
• promoting a unique national brand and promoting new "island and mainland" destinations by targeting different markets,
• completing the Codification of Tourism Legislation over the past 100 years, now available on a digital platform,
• upgrading Education in Tourism with the re-opening of the Guides Schools and the modernization of the tourist schools,
• simplifying licensing procedures and business operations
• financing Small and Medium Entrepreneurship for new tourism projects and themed tourism through NSRF programs, with €230 million.
• Implementing OECD recommendations to turn Greece into a top tourist destination with themed tourism experiences throughout the year and across the country.
While for the two years 2018-2019 we are promoting a series of actions such as:
• Improving the competitive framework for attracting investment in the tourism sector by improving the siting, licencing, and tax incentives
• The design and development of a modern system of public tourism education and the linking of educational programmes to the labour market,
• Creating a digital ecosystem for Greek tourism in 4 strategic pillars:
1) the digital conversion of services to citizens - companies,
2) the digital upgrading of tourist education,
3) the integrated system for the collection and processing of information and
4) the use of new technologies to promote tourism.
At the same time,
• the modernization of public infrastructure in tourism, such as airports, harbours, marinas and tourist accomodation
• at last the regulating of Air BnB. The legal framework was completed in 2017 and the control mechanism comes into force in 2018
• Developing a very ambitious policy framework to promote the film industry in Greece, which is expected to have a multiplier effect on the advertising of the Greek tourist product.
Increased tourist traffic, however, creates the need for investment in tourism, small and large. And your industry, I believe, will play a leading role in curbing the terrible disintegration during the crisis. That is why we have set as a priority in the development law the support for as many projects as possible. It is striking that in the second phase of the bidding process that expires today, 7,300 completed proposals were submitted, with a total value of 2.3€ billion.
And I wish we were able to finance them all. However, the tourism industry, despite the need for large investments in buildings and other infrastructure, is mainly based on its human resources.
It is a sector of intensive labour. An abundance of specialisations combined with professionalism to provide the internationally recognized tourist services that we offer. In the past a lot of workers, it is true to say, fell victim to non-declared work and the illegal practices of certain businessmen operating with a short-sighted logic. We we took measures to crack down on the phenomenon, as much for the workers as for the reliable businessmen that face the illegal competition.
Today is the right time to put the working framework on a more correct footing and to look at the optimum level of the minimum wage. For some, this is a crime of high treason, but for us it is imperative, both morally and economicly. Because we believe that redistribution is the real driver of growth, and after a long period of austerity now that we are gradually moving into a better situation, it is fair that the world of work gets its share of the improving conditions.
But I insist that, from a purely economic point of view, the argument that competitiveness means low labour costs has proven to be wrong. Because it is a reality and it has been observed that the extent to which labour is flexible - and this is a tendency in world capitalism – then the efficiency of work is reduced. For the simple reason that employees do not feel committed to their job and do not care about the outcome of their work.
The Economy means above all community and mutual co-operation.
And you know this very well, especially you, the people of tourism, where the performance of human resources in your business plays a decisive role in the quality of the tourist product you offer. I therefore believe that improving earnings will stimulate both the optimism and the efficiency of the world of work.
Besides, the sizes of the economy we are all talking about are not just statistics that concern a few. Nor have the changes of adaptation happened in vain, rather all this concerns every citizen of the country and the collective effort we made for a better tomorrow.
I want to thank you personally for your efforts, your perseverance and your efficiency that has not only made your industry stand up to the crisis but also made it become even stronger.
Rightly, you are now nourishing the fruits of this dynamic growth in the industry, but you are also feeding a large part of the Greek economy.
I want to repeat to you that the continuing recovery of the Greek economy will quickly begin to give us financial space after 2019.
Austerity is ending and the possibility of expansion is opening up.
This also means that there is scope for gradual but substantial tax relief for households and businesses.
Rest assured that part of that will also benefit your own businesses.
Tourism was a source of optimism for the future of the Greek economy in difficult times.
I am sure that in the years of recovery it can be the vehicle for its high and sustainable development.
So, let us create a high level of prosperity for the country and its citizens.
We can do it.
And now we know how to do it.
Thank you”
EU Proposed Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 - Greece to benefit
According to the European Commission proposals published on Wednesday concerning the Cohesion Policy in the next long-term EU budget, Greece will receive 19.239€ billion (at 2018 prices) for the period 2021-2027.
A third of the EU’s spending is to be allocated to the "cohesion policy" which is designed to help reduce the gap between rich and poor regions of the bloc.
The impact of the economic crisis and the heavy weight Greece has borne regarding the migration crisis have meant the country will continue to receive support at a similar level in the next programming period despite the gap left by Brexit and the fact that the Cohesion Funds of the next decade will be reduced by about 10% compared to the previous period ( by a total of 373€ billion).
This, according to the Commission's country-specific proposals, marks a transfer of funds from the countries of Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.) to the countries of the South (Greece, Spain, Italy). The decrease in funds to Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Lithuania is estimated at 24% and to Poland a 23%, while the increase to Greece is 8%, Italy 6.4% and Spain 4%.
The Commission is proposing a new methodology to distribute funds that takes into account unemployment levels and the reception of migrants, and not just economic output as previously.As the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for Employment, Development, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen said during a press conference in Strasbourg, the method of allocating funds has been slightly "modified" to reflect "better", setting GDP as a benchmark, the unemployment rate (especially young people), climate change and immigration.
Regional Policy Commissioner Korina Kretsu noted that over the last decade many EU Member States have seen "impressive" economic progress and the result is that they need "less support". Regarding the immigration criterion,she noted that regions with a large number of migrants logically have greater needs.
In general terms, the Commission is proposing that the new cohesion policy should now focus its resources on a "smarter" Europe through innovation, computerisation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, a greener Europe, a more "interconnected" Europe, a more "social" Europe, which implements the European pillar of social rights, and a Europe closer to the citizens, which supports development strategies under local guidance and sustainable urban development across the EU.
The Commission will publish in the coming days and weeks other detailed proposals on future expenditure on security, research and other budget headings.
According to the European Commission proposals published on Wednesday concerning the Cohesion Policy in the next long-term EU budget, Greece will receive 19.239€ billion (at 2018 prices) for the period 2021-2027.
A third of the EU’s spending is to be allocated to the "cohesion policy" which is designed to help reduce the gap between rich and poor regions of the bloc.
The impact of the economic crisis and the heavy weight Greece has borne regarding the migration crisis have meant the country will continue to receive support at a similar level in the next programming period despite the gap left by Brexit and the fact that the Cohesion Funds of the next decade will be reduced by about 10% compared to the previous period ( by a total of 373€ billion).
This, according to the Commission's country-specific proposals, marks a transfer of funds from the countries of Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.) to the countries of the South (Greece, Spain, Italy). The decrease in funds to Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Lithuania is estimated at 24% and to Poland a 23%, while the increase to Greece is 8%, Italy 6.4% and Spain 4%.
The Commission is proposing a new methodology to distribute funds that takes into account unemployment levels and the reception of migrants, and not just economic output as previously.As the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for Employment, Development, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen said during a press conference in Strasbourg, the method of allocating funds has been slightly "modified" to reflect "better", setting GDP as a benchmark, the unemployment rate (especially young people), climate change and immigration.
Regional Policy Commissioner Korina Kretsu noted that over the last decade many EU Member States have seen "impressive" economic progress and the result is that they need "less support". Regarding the immigration criterion,she noted that regions with a large number of migrants logically have greater needs.
In general terms, the Commission is proposing that the new cohesion policy should now focus its resources on a "smarter" Europe through innovation, computerisation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, a greener Europe, a more "interconnected" Europe, a more "social" Europe, which implements the European pillar of social rights, and a Europe closer to the citizens, which supports development strategies under local guidance and sustainable urban development across the EU.
The Commission will publish in the coming days and weeks other detailed proposals on future expenditure on security, research and other budget headings.
PM Tsipras at the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEB)
Addressing a general meeting of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEB) on Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras linked the negotiations on the measures to ease Greece’s debt with the outcome of the Italian political crisis, and domestic political stability with a smooth exit from the bailout programme.
Under the burden of recent developments and the fluctuations in Greek bond prices, which indicate just how vulnerable Greece’s economy is, PM Tsipras stated, “It would be a mistake to think that at the end of the programme everyone will be queuing up to lend to us at rates similar to those of Germany.”
He added that while the Italian crisis is affecting all European markets, “the positive outcome of the Greek “adventure” is more necessary than ever for the entire eurozone,” before going on to ask Greece’s peers in the bloc to provide the right solution using the debt-easing agreement of last June as a basis.
"Together with the world of work, we are investing in the future of the country, we are providing support to its people’s plans for life and creativity," said Alexis Tsipras.
The SEB conference is "the last one to take place under the extraordinary circumstances imposed by the many years of crisis and the regime of the Memoranda, he said.
"At the same time it is the first conference that coincides with the definitive transition to a new normality and a new day for the country and its creative forces."
"We are managing to change decisively the country's image. Greece is not the country that is a systemic risk to the Eurozone.
"From being a pariah country Greece is becoming an example of political stability and recovery. "Greece from being part of the problem is becoming part of the solution.
"This is demonstrated by our impressive progress towards our definitive exit from Memoranda."
He also referred to the role of the country as a pillar of stability and security in both the Southeastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Speaking about the "difficult but necessary" negotiations with FYROM and the prospect of a solution, he stressed that " the Government has handled this negotiation and continues to handle it with a sense of responsibility and patriotism, but also with determination and faith in the need to find a solution."
"It is precisely our attitude that is shaping a new image for Greece internationally and is strengthening its role as a pillar of stability in an area that is being whirled around in a vortex of parallel crises. As is happening in Italy in these days, but also has been happening for some time in Turkey."
"Our country, our society, our economy has not only endured hardships. But today it is recovering dynamically."
"We are here today to plan the next day of our return to the economic realm, to correct the injustices of the crisis and to build the future we have a right to on the basis of fair and sustainable development."
"We are completing the third and final programme, having implemented a drastic programme of reforms and changes throughout the economic system, restoring the image of the Greek economy and of the country in general to the international realm."
"We are no longer considered a corrupt and inefficient economy where no one knows what to expect."
The Prime Minister stressed that the institutions and the OECD today unambiguously acknowledge this effort. "This data will also be our passport for the country's entry to the financial markets with the end of the programme in August 2018."
"The Eurostat data, which can not be disputed, is now verifying our own forecasts every year."
"And in the next few years, fiscal margins are being forecast, beyond the targets that we must continue to achieve in order to maintain confidence and credibility vis-à-vis both our partners and the markets.
"We will also make use of these surpluses with responsibility and planning, aiming simultaneously at two goals: the reduction of tax burdens by boosting growth rates while at the same time increasing employment."
He stressed that discussions on the final settlement of the Greek debt are in full swing. "We are pursuing a solution sustainable over time – a solution that leaves no room for doubt as to the prospects of our economy and one which will support its dynamic growth."
"It is now the turn of our partners to show confidence and recognition of our efforts in practice, the right solution that everyone expects to hear."
He said he was optimistic that there would be the best possible agreement in the interests of both Greece and the Eurozone, pointing out that after the latest developments ( ie Italy) "everyone understands that the decisions we come up with must meet the challenges and needs of the period "and must shield the Greek economy from turbulences that are not due to us but due to external factors.
"The elections will be on time. At the end of the Government's term of office. Let no one have any doubt about that."
"A prerequisite for achieving and finally closing this cycle of the crisis is political stability. It is precisely for this reason that there must be an end to the ongoing election talk that the opposition is feeding both gratuitously and pointlessly."
He announced that while resources are being reduced across Europe, the next period for Greece will see increased funding on NSRF programmes. He commented that this is practicable because "From a position where Greece was in the middle or last position in the ranking of absorption rates, we are now in first place."
"Together with the world of work we are investing in the future of the country, we are giving substance to our people’s plans for life and creativity." He noted that in order to do this, a new concept of development is needed, one which considers work to be a component of production rather than an element of consumption.
Tax Evasion Crack Down
Tax authorities suspended the licenses of businesses across Greece after audits showed blatant cases of tax evasion.
On Mykonos, authorities confiscated the licence and number plates of a vehicle of a business that was offering luxury transport services with a mini van, without being registered with the tax office.
In Naoussa, Paros, police closed down a famous restaurant for two days after audits showed that the owners failed to issue 34 receipts. Another Paros restaurant was shut down for seven days after committing the same offence for the second time.
In Aliveri, the owner of a restaurant had his licence suspended for 48 hours for failing to give a receipt for a €3,100 wedding party bill.
A potato packing plant in Achaia was found to have 29 tons of potatoes worth €11,500 in storage, without having any documentation.
Similarly, a lemon processing plant in the Achaia prefecture had 22 tons of lemons worth €11,000, also without documentation.
Addressing a general meeting of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEB) on Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras linked the negotiations on the measures to ease Greece’s debt with the outcome of the Italian political crisis, and domestic political stability with a smooth exit from the bailout programme.
Under the burden of recent developments and the fluctuations in Greek bond prices, which indicate just how vulnerable Greece’s economy is, PM Tsipras stated, “It would be a mistake to think that at the end of the programme everyone will be queuing up to lend to us at rates similar to those of Germany.”
He added that while the Italian crisis is affecting all European markets, “the positive outcome of the Greek “adventure” is more necessary than ever for the entire eurozone,” before going on to ask Greece’s peers in the bloc to provide the right solution using the debt-easing agreement of last June as a basis.
"Together with the world of work, we are investing in the future of the country, we are providing support to its people’s plans for life and creativity," said Alexis Tsipras.
The SEB conference is "the last one to take place under the extraordinary circumstances imposed by the many years of crisis and the regime of the Memoranda, he said.
"At the same time it is the first conference that coincides with the definitive transition to a new normality and a new day for the country and its creative forces."
"We are managing to change decisively the country's image. Greece is not the country that is a systemic risk to the Eurozone.
"From being a pariah country Greece is becoming an example of political stability and recovery. "Greece from being part of the problem is becoming part of the solution.
"This is demonstrated by our impressive progress towards our definitive exit from Memoranda."
He also referred to the role of the country as a pillar of stability and security in both the Southeastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Speaking about the "difficult but necessary" negotiations with FYROM and the prospect of a solution, he stressed that " the Government has handled this negotiation and continues to handle it with a sense of responsibility and patriotism, but also with determination and faith in the need to find a solution."
"It is precisely our attitude that is shaping a new image for Greece internationally and is strengthening its role as a pillar of stability in an area that is being whirled around in a vortex of parallel crises. As is happening in Italy in these days, but also has been happening for some time in Turkey."
"Our country, our society, our economy has not only endured hardships. But today it is recovering dynamically."
"We are here today to plan the next day of our return to the economic realm, to correct the injustices of the crisis and to build the future we have a right to on the basis of fair and sustainable development."
"We are completing the third and final programme, having implemented a drastic programme of reforms and changes throughout the economic system, restoring the image of the Greek economy and of the country in general to the international realm."
"We are no longer considered a corrupt and inefficient economy where no one knows what to expect."
The Prime Minister stressed that the institutions and the OECD today unambiguously acknowledge this effort. "This data will also be our passport for the country's entry to the financial markets with the end of the programme in August 2018."
"The Eurostat data, which can not be disputed, is now verifying our own forecasts every year."
"And in the next few years, fiscal margins are being forecast, beyond the targets that we must continue to achieve in order to maintain confidence and credibility vis-à-vis both our partners and the markets.
"We will also make use of these surpluses with responsibility and planning, aiming simultaneously at two goals: the reduction of tax burdens by boosting growth rates while at the same time increasing employment."
He stressed that discussions on the final settlement of the Greek debt are in full swing. "We are pursuing a solution sustainable over time – a solution that leaves no room for doubt as to the prospects of our economy and one which will support its dynamic growth."
"It is now the turn of our partners to show confidence and recognition of our efforts in practice, the right solution that everyone expects to hear."
He said he was optimistic that there would be the best possible agreement in the interests of both Greece and the Eurozone, pointing out that after the latest developments ( ie Italy) "everyone understands that the decisions we come up with must meet the challenges and needs of the period "and must shield the Greek economy from turbulences that are not due to us but due to external factors.
"The elections will be on time. At the end of the Government's term of office. Let no one have any doubt about that."
"A prerequisite for achieving and finally closing this cycle of the crisis is political stability. It is precisely for this reason that there must be an end to the ongoing election talk that the opposition is feeding both gratuitously and pointlessly."
He announced that while resources are being reduced across Europe, the next period for Greece will see increased funding on NSRF programmes. He commented that this is practicable because "From a position where Greece was in the middle or last position in the ranking of absorption rates, we are now in first place."
"Together with the world of work we are investing in the future of the country, we are giving substance to our people’s plans for life and creativity." He noted that in order to do this, a new concept of development is needed, one which considers work to be a component of production rather than an element of consumption.
Tax Evasion Crack Down
Tax authorities suspended the licenses of businesses across Greece after audits showed blatant cases of tax evasion.
On Mykonos, authorities confiscated the licence and number plates of a vehicle of a business that was offering luxury transport services with a mini van, without being registered with the tax office.
In Naoussa, Paros, police closed down a famous restaurant for two days after audits showed that the owners failed to issue 34 receipts. Another Paros restaurant was shut down for seven days after committing the same offence for the second time.
In Aliveri, the owner of a restaurant had his licence suspended for 48 hours for failing to give a receipt for a €3,100 wedding party bill.
A potato packing plant in Achaia was found to have 29 tons of potatoes worth €11,500 in storage, without having any documentation.
Similarly, a lemon processing plant in the Achaia prefecture had 22 tons of lemons worth €11,000, also without documentation.
Crystal and clean waters in Sikinos - Aghios Georgios
"The plastic straw is something small and looks innocent"
The island of Sikinos is looking to be the first Greek island to eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer. Residents of the island have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable ones.
Plastic straws are said to be one of the common types of rubbish found on Greek beaches.
Aggeliki Kosmopoulou is executive director of the Laskaridi Foundation, the organisation behind the initiative. "The island of Sikinos will be the first to enter the programme "Sea Change" organised by the A. K. Laskaridis Foundation and eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer, in a bid to protect the marine environment in the Cyclades archipelago.
Amid a wider debate on the use of plastic, on an international scale and the minimisation of the use of super market plastic bags in Greece, Sikinos locals' decision and stance could be nothing else than an example to us all and a push for a plastic-free future.
The municipality and the island's residents have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable straws that will be provided by the Laskaridis Foundation.
''The plastic straw is something small and looks innocent. We use it for a short while, for a few minutes mainly for fun, to enjoy our drink or our coffee, but this remains in nature for 200 years and it doesn't break down," she says. "It stays there forever. And not only does it not decompose, but it breaks into very small pieces, that hurt or kill sea animals and ends up in our food through fish.''
She said that a report on how things have gone over the summer will be ready after the end of the season. "We will return and measure the results, clean the beaches again and carry out educational and citizen science programmes", she said.
"The island of Sikinos will be the first to enter the programme "Sea Change" organised by the A. K. Laskaridis Foundation and eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer, in a bid to protect the marine environment in the Cyclades archipelago.
Amid a wider debate on the use of plastic, on an international scale and the minimisation of the use of super market plastic bags in Greece, Sikinos locals' decision and stance could be nothing else than an example to us all and a push for a plastic-free future.
The Municipality and the island's residents have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable straws that will be provided by the Laskaridis Foundation."
More Greek islands will take part in the programme in the coming months - a programme that has been planned to last for five years.
It is estimated that Europeans produce around 25 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. And less than 30% is recycled. Each year at least eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in the sea. Plastic straws are the eleventh most common type of rubbish found in Greek waters. This data shows that reducing or even stopping completely the use of plastic straws would be an important step towards protecting marine life.
The island of Sikinos is looking to be the first Greek island to eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer. Residents of the island have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable ones.
Plastic straws are said to be one of the common types of rubbish found on Greek beaches.
Aggeliki Kosmopoulou is executive director of the Laskaridi Foundation, the organisation behind the initiative. "The island of Sikinos will be the first to enter the programme "Sea Change" organised by the A. K. Laskaridis Foundation and eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer, in a bid to protect the marine environment in the Cyclades archipelago.
Amid a wider debate on the use of plastic, on an international scale and the minimisation of the use of super market plastic bags in Greece, Sikinos locals' decision and stance could be nothing else than an example to us all and a push for a plastic-free future.
The municipality and the island's residents have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable straws that will be provided by the Laskaridis Foundation.
''The plastic straw is something small and looks innocent. We use it for a short while, for a few minutes mainly for fun, to enjoy our drink or our coffee, but this remains in nature for 200 years and it doesn't break down," she says. "It stays there forever. And not only does it not decompose, but it breaks into very small pieces, that hurt or kill sea animals and ends up in our food through fish.''
She said that a report on how things have gone over the summer will be ready after the end of the season. "We will return and measure the results, clean the beaches again and carry out educational and citizen science programmes", she said.
"The island of Sikinos will be the first to enter the programme "Sea Change" organised by the A. K. Laskaridis Foundation and eliminate the use of plastic straws this summer, in a bid to protect the marine environment in the Cyclades archipelago.
Amid a wider debate on the use of plastic, on an international scale and the minimisation of the use of super market plastic bags in Greece, Sikinos locals' decision and stance could be nothing else than an example to us all and a push for a plastic-free future.
The Municipality and the island's residents have promised to replace plastic straws with reusable and biodegradable straws that will be provided by the Laskaridis Foundation."
More Greek islands will take part in the programme in the coming months - a programme that has been planned to last for five years.
It is estimated that Europeans produce around 25 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. And less than 30% is recycled. Each year at least eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in the sea. Plastic straws are the eleventh most common type of rubbish found in Greek waters. This data shows that reducing or even stopping completely the use of plastic straws would be an important step towards protecting marine life.
Bailout Programme Closing
26.5.2018
The Greek government reached a staff-level agreement (SLA) with its lenders last weekend.
The initial agreement reached will have to be signed off by a meeting of Eurozone Finance Ministers on May 24th The current review was the fourth and final such process before the Greek bailout programme expires in August 2018.
A few issues remain undecided, mainly regarding fiscal policy and structural reforms. The International Monetary Fund said it will continue talks with the Greek Government over these issues, as well as with Greece’s European creditors over the need to grant the country substantial debt relief.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said he expected some news on debt relief measures by Wednesday or Thursday. He added that the 21st June Eurogroup meeting will discuss the post-bailout oversight arrangements that will be put in place for Greece.
The Finance Minister said: “We believe thorny issues were resolved in a satisfactory manner for the Greek side. Obviously on certain issues we had to ‘water down our wine', but in general I consider that discussion was very productive and substantive. I am mostly pleased.”
According to a European Commission statement, “…the Greek authorities aim to implement […] measures as swiftly as possible in advance of the Eurogroup of 21st June 2018. To this end, intensive exchanges between the Institutions and the Greek authorities will continue in the coming weeks”.
The Greek government had to make some compromises in order to reach an initial SLA with creditors. The two sides agreed on a package of reforms required for the successful completion of the 4th Assessment. Property tax reforms, measures to better manage arrears to the State, labour reforms and fiscal targets were agreed among other things.
"Because of the numbers, we have additional financial room for manoeuvre" - Finance Minister addresses Parliament
In the Plenary Debate in Parliament this week, Finance Minister, Euclid Tsakalotos announcing the technical agreement, said “We have a month on the prerequisites, the debt debate is continuing, it's almost over, and we know how the post-memorandum monitoring with Article 472 will operate.”
Minister Tsakalotos refused to be drawn by attacks from New Democracy leader Mr. Mitsotakis and Mrs. Gennimata of the Movement for Change because, he said, “the Greek people deserve better and want to know about the future: "Do we have the better strategy or do you? The challenge we have is to talk seriously about the future, and the stakes are too high, so we can only look back at who is the blame. There are constant developments. What interventions are we making and what are we going to do?"
He put on record evidence that all the indicators of the Greek economy are on the rise: "There is this trend and we have to talk about it. We do not say that no one is suffering but that is the real debate, to see the results."
The Finance Minister described the financial data he filed:
- There is a positive balance of recruitment-retirement in April, by 100,000 jobs (55% of them full-time jobs). This is the highest level for at least 17 years. There was a positive balance of 155,000 jobs in January-April.
- The rate of undeclared work declined steadily from 19.17% in 2014 to 12.58% in the first quarter of 2018.
- Net foreign direct investment in 2017 was 3.6€ billion, showing an increase of 27.6% compared to 2016.
- In the first quarter of 2018, 4,282 more companies were opened than were closed. New businesses increased by 17%, while businesses that ceased to operate declined by 44% compared to the first quarter of 2017.
- The total value of exports in the quarter increased to 13.6%; the trade deficit in the quarter fell to 17.9%.
- The index of business expectations for industry stood at 103.4 against 98.4 points last year.
- There is a rise in individual indicators in almost all sectors of the economy, but also in consumer confidence.
"Because of the numbers, we have additional financial space." He explained that one part of the increased resources would go to creating jobs and supporting retirement from now on, and there would be 100€ million a year extra for Health. "But because this does not exhaust the fiscal space, we could discuss further priorities here."
"The truth is that we know we're leaving the programme, so we have a development agenda. We are negotiating a strengthened monitoring arrangement rather than a precautionary line of credit, so there is no programme,no more prerequisite measures and no more financing."
He explained that the world of work was at the centre of development and called for the Movement for Change to answer the question of whether "the pie should first grow up and then share it" or whether "these two will go together." "It is an ideological confrontation," he said to Mrs Gennimata and added, "You have an answer when you say, we can side with New Democracy, or we can go with SYRIZA, that is, you are siding with these two opposite logics?"
He said that “it is true that the Development Plan has commitments". We do not want to present a report of ideas, get out of the Memorandum in August and the in October announce the increase in the minimum wage. We know what we want to do and we all want it, the Europeans, the Institutions, the markets. "The reason our own plan is different is because it is holistic. Because it creates for the first time institutions that have the capacity for collective thinking because things are connected with each other (how the infrastructure works etc.) and where it is necessary to direct finance."
Eldorado
Greece aims to resolve a long-standing standoff with Canada’s Eldorado Gold Corporation over its development plans in the coming weeks, the Energy Ministry said on Tuesday.
The differences between Eldorado and the Government over the mining company’s plans to produce gold and other metals in the northern Greek region of Halkidiki have dragged on for years, mainly over environmental regulations.
Eldorado blames Greece for long delays in issuing necessary permits, while the Government maintains that the company’s plan to build a metallurgical plant that will process the ores mined in Skouries and Olympiada inside the country is deficient. Eldorado last month received a positive ruling from arbitrators on its planned metallurgy plant in Greece but said it was still awaiting some permits for the project.
Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis discussed the ruling with workers from Eldorado’s Greek Subsidiary on Tuesday.
“The main aim is to reach an agreement in the coming weeks within the spirit of the arbitration ruling,” the Energy Ministry quoted Mr. Stathakis as saying.
The Ministry did not specify what such an agreement will entail but said that the ruling meant that Greece had to make sure that Eldorado will produce pure gold, silver and zinc inside the country.
An Energy Ministry official said the arbitration panel ruled that Eldorado has not violated its contractual obligations so far. However, the Government wanted the company to make specific commitments, including a timetable for when it will submit pending reports on the metallurgy plant.
The initial agreement reached will have to be signed off by a meeting of Eurozone Finance Ministers on May 24th The current review was the fourth and final such process before the Greek bailout programme expires in August 2018.
A few issues remain undecided, mainly regarding fiscal policy and structural reforms. The International Monetary Fund said it will continue talks with the Greek Government over these issues, as well as with Greece’s European creditors over the need to grant the country substantial debt relief.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said he expected some news on debt relief measures by Wednesday or Thursday. He added that the 21st June Eurogroup meeting will discuss the post-bailout oversight arrangements that will be put in place for Greece.
The Finance Minister said: “We believe thorny issues were resolved in a satisfactory manner for the Greek side. Obviously on certain issues we had to ‘water down our wine', but in general I consider that discussion was very productive and substantive. I am mostly pleased.”
According to a European Commission statement, “…the Greek authorities aim to implement […] measures as swiftly as possible in advance of the Eurogroup of 21st June 2018. To this end, intensive exchanges between the Institutions and the Greek authorities will continue in the coming weeks”.
The Greek government had to make some compromises in order to reach an initial SLA with creditors. The two sides agreed on a package of reforms required for the successful completion of the 4th Assessment. Property tax reforms, measures to better manage arrears to the State, labour reforms and fiscal targets were agreed among other things.
"Because of the numbers, we have additional financial room for manoeuvre" - Finance Minister addresses Parliament
In the Plenary Debate in Parliament this week, Finance Minister, Euclid Tsakalotos announcing the technical agreement, said “We have a month on the prerequisites, the debt debate is continuing, it's almost over, and we know how the post-memorandum monitoring with Article 472 will operate.”
Minister Tsakalotos refused to be drawn by attacks from New Democracy leader Mr. Mitsotakis and Mrs. Gennimata of the Movement for Change because, he said, “the Greek people deserve better and want to know about the future: "Do we have the better strategy or do you? The challenge we have is to talk seriously about the future, and the stakes are too high, so we can only look back at who is the blame. There are constant developments. What interventions are we making and what are we going to do?"
He put on record evidence that all the indicators of the Greek economy are on the rise: "There is this trend and we have to talk about it. We do not say that no one is suffering but that is the real debate, to see the results."
The Finance Minister described the financial data he filed:
- There is a positive balance of recruitment-retirement in April, by 100,000 jobs (55% of them full-time jobs). This is the highest level for at least 17 years. There was a positive balance of 155,000 jobs in January-April.
- The rate of undeclared work declined steadily from 19.17% in 2014 to 12.58% in the first quarter of 2018.
- Net foreign direct investment in 2017 was 3.6€ billion, showing an increase of 27.6% compared to 2016.
- In the first quarter of 2018, 4,282 more companies were opened than were closed. New businesses increased by 17%, while businesses that ceased to operate declined by 44% compared to the first quarter of 2017.
- The total value of exports in the quarter increased to 13.6%; the trade deficit in the quarter fell to 17.9%.
- The index of business expectations for industry stood at 103.4 against 98.4 points last year.
- There is a rise in individual indicators in almost all sectors of the economy, but also in consumer confidence.
"Because of the numbers, we have additional financial space." He explained that one part of the increased resources would go to creating jobs and supporting retirement from now on, and there would be 100€ million a year extra for Health. "But because this does not exhaust the fiscal space, we could discuss further priorities here."
"The truth is that we know we're leaving the programme, so we have a development agenda. We are negotiating a strengthened monitoring arrangement rather than a precautionary line of credit, so there is no programme,no more prerequisite measures and no more financing."
He explained that the world of work was at the centre of development and called for the Movement for Change to answer the question of whether "the pie should first grow up and then share it" or whether "these two will go together." "It is an ideological confrontation," he said to Mrs Gennimata and added, "You have an answer when you say, we can side with New Democracy, or we can go with SYRIZA, that is, you are siding with these two opposite logics?"
He said that “it is true that the Development Plan has commitments". We do not want to present a report of ideas, get out of the Memorandum in August and the in October announce the increase in the minimum wage. We know what we want to do and we all want it, the Europeans, the Institutions, the markets. "The reason our own plan is different is because it is holistic. Because it creates for the first time institutions that have the capacity for collective thinking because things are connected with each other (how the infrastructure works etc.) and where it is necessary to direct finance."
Eldorado
Greece aims to resolve a long-standing standoff with Canada’s Eldorado Gold Corporation over its development plans in the coming weeks, the Energy Ministry said on Tuesday.
The differences between Eldorado and the Government over the mining company’s plans to produce gold and other metals in the northern Greek region of Halkidiki have dragged on for years, mainly over environmental regulations.
Eldorado blames Greece for long delays in issuing necessary permits, while the Government maintains that the company’s plan to build a metallurgical plant that will process the ores mined in Skouries and Olympiada inside the country is deficient. Eldorado last month received a positive ruling from arbitrators on its planned metallurgy plant in Greece but said it was still awaiting some permits for the project.
Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis discussed the ruling with workers from Eldorado’s Greek Subsidiary on Tuesday.
“The main aim is to reach an agreement in the coming weeks within the spirit of the arbitration ruling,” the Energy Ministry quoted Mr. Stathakis as saying.
The Ministry did not specify what such an agreement will entail but said that the ruling meant that Greece had to make sure that Eldorado will produce pure gold, silver and zinc inside the country.
An Energy Ministry official said the arbitration panel ruled that Eldorado has not violated its contractual obligations so far. However, the Government wanted the company to make specific commitments, including a timetable for when it will submit pending reports on the metallurgy plant.
Health Scandals - "Getting to the root of the problem"
Over 85€ billion is the damage done to healthcare supplies in the public sector, according to Stavros Evangelatos, General Inspector of SEYP (Body of Health and Welfare Services Inspectors) in his submission to the Examination Board for health scandals. Mr. Evangelatos, who was appointed to this position by the Samaras Government in 2014, repeated many times: "Our principles coincide with those of the Ministry of Health for the "getting to the root of the problem". That's why we are saying it here today."
Among other things, the General Inspector of the SEYP reported cases such as:
- the setting of maximum prices by ministerial decision without reference to the competent ministry of health. SEYP has called for the ministerial decisions to be abolished but this has never been done ...
- offshore businesses "in Cyprus and elsewhere", which are set up solely to increase the import price to the detriment of the Greek state and the insurance funds.
- Greece purchased 500,000 doses of the Tamiflu antiviral drug and the 495,000 doses were allowed to expire! The cost was €10 million.
- supply of defibrillators and pacemakers from hospitals up to 2004 at prices much higher than those prevailing on the international market without any price research.
- at the University Hospital of Larissa in the period 2008-2009 there was a public loss of 6.8 million on contracts for the procurement and management of laparoscopic materials,
-at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis from 2005 to 2009 there were competitions for supplies for health care with a loss of 974,000 euros.
-in the Kavala hospital between 2005 and 2008, a loss of 830,000 euros was caused by commissions for bone grafts, with direct commissions and without negotiation procedures.
- In Ippokrateio of Thessaloniki, a loss of €1 million was caused by non-contractual commissions at higher prices than conventional orthopedic and neurosurgical material.
-in Ippokratio of Thessaloniki, a loss of €2.1 million was caused in 2008-2009 in the neurosurgery clinic.
-in the Patras hospital in 2016, they were pricing a radiopharmaceutical at €2,200 insteadof the actual cost of €220. Mr.Evangelatos revealed that the same company for six years sold this particular radiopharmaceutical to the public Health Service for 1,000€ euros and while it sold it to the private sector for between 500€ and 600€!
Over 85€ billion is the damage done to healthcare supplies in the public sector, according to Stavros Evangelatos, General Inspector of SEYP (Body of Health and Welfare Services Inspectors) in his submission to the Examination Board for health scandals. Mr. Evangelatos, who was appointed to this position by the Samaras Government in 2014, repeated many times: "Our principles coincide with those of the Ministry of Health for the "getting to the root of the problem". That's why we are saying it here today."
Among other things, the General Inspector of the SEYP reported cases such as:
- the setting of maximum prices by ministerial decision without reference to the competent ministry of health. SEYP has called for the ministerial decisions to be abolished but this has never been done ...
- offshore businesses "in Cyprus and elsewhere", which are set up solely to increase the import price to the detriment of the Greek state and the insurance funds.
- Greece purchased 500,000 doses of the Tamiflu antiviral drug and the 495,000 doses were allowed to expire! The cost was €10 million.
- supply of defibrillators and pacemakers from hospitals up to 2004 at prices much higher than those prevailing on the international market without any price research.
- at the University Hospital of Larissa in the period 2008-2009 there was a public loss of 6.8 million on contracts for the procurement and management of laparoscopic materials,
-at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis from 2005 to 2009 there were competitions for supplies for health care with a loss of 974,000 euros.
-in the Kavala hospital between 2005 and 2008, a loss of 830,000 euros was caused by commissions for bone grafts, with direct commissions and without negotiation procedures.
- In Ippokrateio of Thessaloniki, a loss of €1 million was caused by non-contractual commissions at higher prices than conventional orthopedic and neurosurgical material.
-in Ippokratio of Thessaloniki, a loss of €2.1 million was caused in 2008-2009 in the neurosurgery clinic.
-in the Patras hospital in 2016, they were pricing a radiopharmaceutical at €2,200 insteadof the actual cost of €220. Mr.Evangelatos revealed that the same company for six years sold this particular radiopharmaceutical to the public Health Service for 1,000€ euros and while it sold it to the private sector for between 500€ and 600€!
Mayor of Thessaloniki attacked
Last Sunday, during a commemoration of the World War I genocide of the Pontic Greeks, Yannis Voutaris, the 75-year-old Mayor of Thessaloniki was physically attacked by about a dozen people. He was pushed to the ground and kicked several times in the head, back and legs. He was briefly hospitalised.
On Wednesday a court in Thessaloniki found three people guilty of the attack. Two of the accused, aged 20, were given a 14-month and 21-month suspended prison sentence respectively, while a 36-year-old ethnic Greek from Georgia received a 14-month jail sentence, which he was allowed to buy out of for five euros per day, as he did not meet the conditions for a suspended sentence.
Reading out the sentences, the presiding judge said the incident was "an organized attack against the mayor," a position shared by the prosecutor.
Earlier, the three suspects said they had regretted their actions and apologized, claiming they had been carried away by the crowd. The man from Georgia even claimed he did not know who he was beating.
Subsequently an off-duty police officer was also identified and charged. The 44-year-old officer was identified by video footage. Reports say that in 2015 the police officer had failed psychological tests and had then been moved to a desk job. Video footage has helped to also identify two more suspects, a 43-year-old shop owner and a 57-year-old pensioner.
Thessaloniki Mayor Voutaris urged the authorities to find the instigators behind the “footsoldiers” who carried out such attacks. “The attack on me was an attack on each of you. Blatant violence threatens all those who fight to defend freedom of speech. I have tried to defend my freedom of speech with vigour to serve. That is why I was the target. With your support, I will continue to serve with even greater vigour and consistency.
"We all have a collective and individual obligation” not to allow the country to turn into a “jungle,” he said in a statement Thursday, adding that the plight of the people is being exploited by violent groups. “Their plan is to promote a very specific political, operational and communication model. That of fascism,” he said, adding that “we must name the organizers and instigators of these fascist plans and isolate them.”
Mayor Voutaris struck a defiant tone in a Twitter post. “As long as I am mayor, I will not allow Thessaloniki to go back to the time of darkness and scandal.”
His comment is seen as a criticism of the northern port city’s former regional governor, Panagiotis Psomiadis, who has been linked to a number of corruption and embezzlement cases, and who publicly accused the Mayor of “selling out Macedonia” just moments before he was assaulted at a ceremony marking the massacre of ethnic Greeks by Turkey.
Mayor Voutaris also posted a video of his speech to the Municipal Council on Monday, in which he said that he would persevere with his efforts to transform Thessaloniki into a “true metropolis of the Balkans.”
“We will not back down. We will not be intimidated, by anyone.
Last Sunday, during a commemoration of the World War I genocide of the Pontic Greeks, Yannis Voutaris, the 75-year-old Mayor of Thessaloniki was physically attacked by about a dozen people. He was pushed to the ground and kicked several times in the head, back and legs. He was briefly hospitalised.
On Wednesday a court in Thessaloniki found three people guilty of the attack. Two of the accused, aged 20, were given a 14-month and 21-month suspended prison sentence respectively, while a 36-year-old ethnic Greek from Georgia received a 14-month jail sentence, which he was allowed to buy out of for five euros per day, as he did not meet the conditions for a suspended sentence.
Reading out the sentences, the presiding judge said the incident was "an organized attack against the mayor," a position shared by the prosecutor.
Earlier, the three suspects said they had regretted their actions and apologized, claiming they had been carried away by the crowd. The man from Georgia even claimed he did not know who he was beating.
Subsequently an off-duty police officer was also identified and charged. The 44-year-old officer was identified by video footage. Reports say that in 2015 the police officer had failed psychological tests and had then been moved to a desk job. Video footage has helped to also identify two more suspects, a 43-year-old shop owner and a 57-year-old pensioner.
Thessaloniki Mayor Voutaris urged the authorities to find the instigators behind the “footsoldiers” who carried out such attacks. “The attack on me was an attack on each of you. Blatant violence threatens all those who fight to defend freedom of speech. I have tried to defend my freedom of speech with vigour to serve. That is why I was the target. With your support, I will continue to serve with even greater vigour and consistency.
"We all have a collective and individual obligation” not to allow the country to turn into a “jungle,” he said in a statement Thursday, adding that the plight of the people is being exploited by violent groups. “Their plan is to promote a very specific political, operational and communication model. That of fascism,” he said, adding that “we must name the organizers and instigators of these fascist plans and isolate them.”
Mayor Voutaris struck a defiant tone in a Twitter post. “As long as I am mayor, I will not allow Thessaloniki to go back to the time of darkness and scandal.”
His comment is seen as a criticism of the northern port city’s former regional governor, Panagiotis Psomiadis, who has been linked to a number of corruption and embezzlement cases, and who publicly accused the Mayor of “selling out Macedonia” just moments before he was assaulted at a ceremony marking the massacre of ethnic Greeks by Turkey.
Mayor Voutaris also posted a video of his speech to the Municipal Council on Monday, in which he said that he would persevere with his efforts to transform Thessaloniki into a “true metropolis of the Balkans.”
“We will not back down. We will not be intimidated, by anyone.
The Palestinian Question and Iran
Alexis Tsipras in Sofia
19.5.2018
The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke about the Palestinian Question and Iran at the EU leaders' dinner on the eve of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday.
“The position that Europe adopts cannot enter the logic of political blocs but must be based on principles and the European stance must be commonly agreed not only on the issue of Iran but also on other issues such as the Palestinian Question.”
The Prime Minister expressed his dismay and his clear opposition to the actions of Israel that led to the deaths of dozens of Palestinian protesters and undermined the prospect of a solution.
He underlined the importance of maintaining the EU's united stance in favour of a two-state solution, with guarantees for Israel's security, and of immediately re-launching substantive negotiations in that direction - a position that the Prime Minister spoke directly about to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their recent meeting in Cyprus last week.
Alexis Tsipras added that although the role of the United States remains very essential to finding a solution, their move to unilaterally transfer their embassy to Jerusalem, before even proposing a comprehensive plan for peace, is at the expense of the solution and the situation on the ground. He stressed that the EU should play a key role in the resolution of the Palestinian conflict and take a strong stance.
In the discussion on the issue of Iran, he stressed that keeping the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme in force is vital to ensuring stability in the Middle East region. He also pointed to the fact that stability in Iran is also of particular importance for the issue of managing migration. At the same time, he said that if the agreement collapses, the Iranian nuclear programme could be reactivated, and other countries in the region would be tempted to pursue nuclear activities with incalculable consequences for the security of the region.
Alexis Tsipras said that the European Union must come out with a single message, that it remains committed to the agreement, as Iran continues to comply with its commitments. At the same time, he stressed that the EU should put constant pressure on Iran to contribute to regional stability, and in particular to peace in Syria.
"Disproportionate reaction by Israel"
“With dismay, Athens is witnessing the massacre of dozens and the injuring of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza on the occasion of the provocative decision by Trump to transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem seventy years after the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians with the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 - a decision that unilaterally recognizes the occupied city as the capital of Israel. Condemning the violence of the Israeli troops, the Greek government calls for the resolution of disputes using the framework of UN resolutions.
The Government spokesman expressed the Government’s horror and revulsion, talking about a disproportionate reaction by Israel. He spoke about the dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries among the protesters in the Gaza Strip "which were caused by the Israeli army during the protests against the US decision to transfer their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Mr Tzanakopoulos spoke of a "disproportionate reaction by Israel", stressing that it must be dealt with "with unity and determination by the entire international community". Referring to the US decision to transfer the embassy, he spoke of "unilateral actions that in no way contribute to resolving Israeli-Palestinian disputes, which must always be dealt with in the context of relevant UN resolutions". At the same time, he called on the EU, the Arab League and the UN to take immediate effective initiatives to reduce tension and return to the framework of international legality.
“The position that Europe adopts cannot enter the logic of political blocs but must be based on principles and the European stance must be commonly agreed not only on the issue of Iran but also on other issues such as the Palestinian Question.”
The Prime Minister expressed his dismay and his clear opposition to the actions of Israel that led to the deaths of dozens of Palestinian protesters and undermined the prospect of a solution.
He underlined the importance of maintaining the EU's united stance in favour of a two-state solution, with guarantees for Israel's security, and of immediately re-launching substantive negotiations in that direction - a position that the Prime Minister spoke directly about to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at their recent meeting in Cyprus last week.
Alexis Tsipras added that although the role of the United States remains very essential to finding a solution, their move to unilaterally transfer their embassy to Jerusalem, before even proposing a comprehensive plan for peace, is at the expense of the solution and the situation on the ground. He stressed that the EU should play a key role in the resolution of the Palestinian conflict and take a strong stance.
In the discussion on the issue of Iran, he stressed that keeping the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme in force is vital to ensuring stability in the Middle East region. He also pointed to the fact that stability in Iran is also of particular importance for the issue of managing migration. At the same time, he said that if the agreement collapses, the Iranian nuclear programme could be reactivated, and other countries in the region would be tempted to pursue nuclear activities with incalculable consequences for the security of the region.
Alexis Tsipras said that the European Union must come out with a single message, that it remains committed to the agreement, as Iran continues to comply with its commitments. At the same time, he stressed that the EU should put constant pressure on Iran to contribute to regional stability, and in particular to peace in Syria.
"Disproportionate reaction by Israel"
“With dismay, Athens is witnessing the massacre of dozens and the injuring of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza on the occasion of the provocative decision by Trump to transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem seventy years after the expulsion of 700,000 Palestinians with the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 - a decision that unilaterally recognizes the occupied city as the capital of Israel. Condemning the violence of the Israeli troops, the Greek government calls for the resolution of disputes using the framework of UN resolutions.
The Government spokesman expressed the Government’s horror and revulsion, talking about a disproportionate reaction by Israel. He spoke about the dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries among the protesters in the Gaza Strip "which were caused by the Israeli army during the protests against the US decision to transfer their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Mr Tzanakopoulos spoke of a "disproportionate reaction by Israel", stressing that it must be dealt with "with unity and determination by the entire international community". Referring to the US decision to transfer the embassy, he spoke of "unilateral actions that in no way contribute to resolving Israeli-Palestinian disputes, which must always be dealt with in the context of relevant UN resolutions". At the same time, he called on the EU, the Arab League and the UN to take immediate effective initiatives to reduce tension and return to the framework of international legality.
The Sofia Declaration
Following the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday 17 May 2018, EU leaders produced the Sofia declaration.
“We, the leaders of the European Union (EU) and of its Member States, in consultation with our Western Balkans partners, and in the presence of relevant regional stakeholders, today concluded the following:
The EU welcomes the shared commitment of the Western Balkans partners to European values and principles, and to the vision of a strong, stable and united Europe, underpinned by our historic, cultural and geographic ties and by our mutual political, security and economic interests.
Recalling the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, the EU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European orientation of the Western Balkans. Building on the progress achieved so far, the Western Balkans partners have recommitted to the European orientation as their firm strategic choice, to reinforcing their efforts and mutual support. The credibility of these efforts depends on clear public communication.
The EU is determined to strengthen and intensify its engagement at all levels to support the region's political, economic and social transformation, including through increased assistance based on tangible progress in the rule of law, as well as in socio-economic reforms, by the Western Balkans partners.
The EU welcomes the Western Balkans partners commitment to the primacy of democracy and the rule of law, especially the fight against corruption and organised crime, good governance, as well as respect for human rights and rights of persons belonging to minorities. Their effective implementation of reforms rests on these foundations. Civil society and an independent media play a crucial role in the process of democratisation.
The EU supports the Western Balkans partners pledge to continue to strengthen good neighbourly relations, regional stability and mutual cooperation. This includes in particular finding and implementing definitive, inclusive and binding solutions for their bilateral disputes rooted in the legacy of the past and devoting additional efforts to reconciliation.
Constructing a dense web of connections and opportunities within the region and with the EU is vital for bringing our citizens and economies closer together, and for enhancing political stability, economic prosperity, cultural and social development. Building on progress made, including through regional initiatives, we pledge to enhance substantially connectivity in all its dimensions: transport, energy, digital, economic and human.
The EU agrees to promote a market- and investment-friendly environment in the Western Balkans to move faster towards a digital economy and to sustainable and climate-friendly societies in line with the Paris agreement. Energy security will be prioritised, including through improved energy efficiency, better cross-border inter-connections, diversification of sources and routes, as well as a balanced energy mix better integrating renewable energy.
Special emphasis will be put toward creating further opportunities for young people, while ensuring that this contributes to the socio-economic development of the Western Balkans.
To that end, the EU welcomes the Western Balkans partners commitment, inter alia, to accelerate the implementation of the acquis under the Energy Community and Transport Community Treaties, to remove all administrative barriers at borders, to complete the Regional Electricity Market and to urgently implement the July 2017 Multiannual Action Plan for the Development of a Regional Economic Area. The EU will continue to support these efforts.
The EU and the Western Balkans partners share many security challenges that demand coordinated individual and collective action. When we work together, we are able to address these challenges effectively. Our cooperation in stemming illegal migration flows has demonstrated its value and will be developed further.
Countering terrorism and extremism, including its financing, radicalisation and the return of foreign terrorist fighters require our increased cooperation.
The EU and the Western Balkans partners acknowledge that results in fighting corruption and organised crime are essential for the region's political and socio-economic transformation and also for regional stability and security, which are in the best interest of their citizens. The EU welcomes their commitment to take resolute action, in cooperation with the EU and with each other, against human trafficking, drug cultivation, and smuggling of human beings, drugs and weapons.
The EU welcomes the contribution of the Western Balkans partners to its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in all its aspects and expects a progressive deepening of cooperation in this area, especially an enhanced level of alignment, notably on issues where major common interests are at stake.
Disinformation and other hybrid activities will be fought together through greater collaboration in resilience, cyber security and strategic communication.
To accelerate improvement in the lives of our citizens in the areas of connectivity and security in view of the European perspective of the Western Balkans, today, drawing on the relevant aspects of the Commission's Communication adopted on 6 February 2018, the EU launched a Sofia Priority Agenda for the EU and the Western Balkans, which is annexed to this Declaration.
The EU welcomes the intention of Croatia to host an EU-Western Balkans Summit during its Presidency in 2020.
We note that our Western Balkans Partners align themselves with the above points.”
As the Sofia Priority Agenda, it was agreed to
Following the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday 17 May 2018, EU leaders produced the Sofia declaration.
“We, the leaders of the European Union (EU) and of its Member States, in consultation with our Western Balkans partners, and in the presence of relevant regional stakeholders, today concluded the following:
The EU welcomes the shared commitment of the Western Balkans partners to European values and principles, and to the vision of a strong, stable and united Europe, underpinned by our historic, cultural and geographic ties and by our mutual political, security and economic interests.
Recalling the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, the EU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European orientation of the Western Balkans. Building on the progress achieved so far, the Western Balkans partners have recommitted to the European orientation as their firm strategic choice, to reinforcing their efforts and mutual support. The credibility of these efforts depends on clear public communication.
The EU is determined to strengthen and intensify its engagement at all levels to support the region's political, economic and social transformation, including through increased assistance based on tangible progress in the rule of law, as well as in socio-economic reforms, by the Western Balkans partners.
The EU welcomes the Western Balkans partners commitment to the primacy of democracy and the rule of law, especially the fight against corruption and organised crime, good governance, as well as respect for human rights and rights of persons belonging to minorities. Their effective implementation of reforms rests on these foundations. Civil society and an independent media play a crucial role in the process of democratisation.
The EU supports the Western Balkans partners pledge to continue to strengthen good neighbourly relations, regional stability and mutual cooperation. This includes in particular finding and implementing definitive, inclusive and binding solutions for their bilateral disputes rooted in the legacy of the past and devoting additional efforts to reconciliation.
Constructing a dense web of connections and opportunities within the region and with the EU is vital for bringing our citizens and economies closer together, and for enhancing political stability, economic prosperity, cultural and social development. Building on progress made, including through regional initiatives, we pledge to enhance substantially connectivity in all its dimensions: transport, energy, digital, economic and human.
The EU agrees to promote a market- and investment-friendly environment in the Western Balkans to move faster towards a digital economy and to sustainable and climate-friendly societies in line with the Paris agreement. Energy security will be prioritised, including through improved energy efficiency, better cross-border inter-connections, diversification of sources and routes, as well as a balanced energy mix better integrating renewable energy.
Special emphasis will be put toward creating further opportunities for young people, while ensuring that this contributes to the socio-economic development of the Western Balkans.
To that end, the EU welcomes the Western Balkans partners commitment, inter alia, to accelerate the implementation of the acquis under the Energy Community and Transport Community Treaties, to remove all administrative barriers at borders, to complete the Regional Electricity Market and to urgently implement the July 2017 Multiannual Action Plan for the Development of a Regional Economic Area. The EU will continue to support these efforts.
The EU and the Western Balkans partners share many security challenges that demand coordinated individual and collective action. When we work together, we are able to address these challenges effectively. Our cooperation in stemming illegal migration flows has demonstrated its value and will be developed further.
Countering terrorism and extremism, including its financing, radicalisation and the return of foreign terrorist fighters require our increased cooperation.
The EU and the Western Balkans partners acknowledge that results in fighting corruption and organised crime are essential for the region's political and socio-economic transformation and also for regional stability and security, which are in the best interest of their citizens. The EU welcomes their commitment to take resolute action, in cooperation with the EU and with each other, against human trafficking, drug cultivation, and smuggling of human beings, drugs and weapons.
The EU welcomes the contribution of the Western Balkans partners to its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in all its aspects and expects a progressive deepening of cooperation in this area, especially an enhanced level of alignment, notably on issues where major common interests are at stake.
Disinformation and other hybrid activities will be fought together through greater collaboration in resilience, cyber security and strategic communication.
To accelerate improvement in the lives of our citizens in the areas of connectivity and security in view of the European perspective of the Western Balkans, today, drawing on the relevant aspects of the Commission's Communication adopted on 6 February 2018, the EU launched a Sofia Priority Agenda for the EU and the Western Balkans, which is annexed to this Declaration.
The EU welcomes the intention of Croatia to host an EU-Western Balkans Summit during its Presidency in 2020.
We note that our Western Balkans Partners align themselves with the above points.”
As the Sofia Priority Agenda, it was agreed to
- Strengthen support for the rule of law and good governance
- Enhance support for judicial reform and efforts to fight corruption and organised crime, including capacity building for corruption prevention
- Extend rule of law advisory missions with increased support from Member States and from the EU
- Enhance monitoring of reforms through more systematic, case-based peer-review missions
- Introduce trial monitoring in the field of serious corruption and organised crime
- Work towards better measurement of results in justice reform
- Roll out support for the Western Balkans through the European Endowment for Democracy in the area of independent and pluralistic media and civil so
- Increase support to capacity-building in the area of cyber-security and fight against cybercrime
- Enhance cooperation on migration and border management
- Further enhance cooperation between the liaison officers deployed by the EU (European Commission and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), Member States and competent authorities of the Western Balkans
- Create an EU JHA inter-agency Task Force coordinated by the Commission deepen and expand substantial cooperation and dialogue on Common Foreign and Security Policy/Common Security and Defence Policy
- Further develop cooperation in activities related to hybrid threats, including by enhancing strategic communication Supporting socio-economic development and putting a special focus on youth
- Expand the Western Balkans Investment Framework to further attract and coordinate bilateral donors' and International Financing Institutions' investment
- Significantly boost the Western Balkans Investment Framework's provision of guarantees to crowd in private investment
- Enhance support to education, in particular launch a pilot project for mobility in vocational education and training
- Double Erasmus+ funding for the region, including establishment of a “Western Balkans Youth Lab” in 2018, providing space for innovative policy-making addressing the needs of young people, and tackling the brain drain
- Expand the scope and reach of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, and introduce an intra-regional mobility scheme
- Ensure progress in the implementation of the Regional Economic Area, including stepping up work on recognition of qualifications, and progress on trade facilitation within the Western Balkans
- Progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in their World Trade Organisation accession processes Increasing connectivity
- Launch a new package of connectivity projects (with significant EU grants as leverage) through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, including support to the Blue Highway and the Peace Highway (Nis-Pristina)
- Support increased take-up of opportunities under the current provisions of the Connecting Europe Facility in the Western Balkans
- Expand the EU Energy Union to the Western Balkans, focusing on energy security and diversification of sources and suppliers, including a strategy at regional level to benefit from renewables, notably hydropower
- Work to complete the Regional Electricity Market in the Western Balkans, and ensure that it is integrated into the EU Internal Electricity Market, including though the Central and SouthEastern European Connectivity (CESEC) initiative
- Further support the creation of a single regulatory space and effective energy market reform process under the Energy Community Treaty
- Sign a commitment/Memorandum of Understanding on the Bulgaria/Serbia gas interconnector
- Start the implementation of the Transport Community Treaty and full operation of its secretariat
- Sign the agreement on the Transport Community Treaty Headquarters (Belgrade)
- Endorse the Transport Ministerial Declaration from Ljubljana TEN-T Days, including the action plan for the priority border crossings list
- Endorse the Transport Ministerial Declaration on road safety from Ljubljana TEN-T Days and its Action Plan
- Support a new rail strategy to bring the Western Balkans into the main EU network and market
- Launch a Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, including a roadmap to facilitate lowering the cost of mobile phone roaming
- Launch a substantial technical assistance package for the identification of potential digital investments (including broadband) through Western Balkans Investment Framework/Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance
- Support reconciliation and good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans
- Support the fight against impunity through support to the Mechanism for the International Criminal Tribunals and to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, through EULEX
- Open access to the EU’s Creative Europe Programme
- Promote deepening of links among civil societies of the Western Balkans, including through the support for the Western Balkans Fund projects.
"In the summer, Greece wants to stand on its own two feet again."
Speaking to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos promised that the country will not need additional credits."We are finalizing the adjustment programme in August and we are not going to ask for a precautionary support line of credit. After August 2018 there will be no more credits to Greece from the ESM. In the summer, Greece wants to stand on its own two feet again."
" There will be a form of oversight, as is the case with any other country with a programme. For Greece, this oversight may be more detailed. Once we show how reliable we are, we will no longer be talking about the political goals and the tools that are needed, but only about such goals as the primary surplus target of 3.5% that Greece must achieve each year up to 2022."
"Financing Development"
Referring to the security pillow Greece is creating for every eventuality,he stressed: "In agreement with the IMF the pillow must cover the financing needs for one and a half to two years. We will not, however, have access to this money for public spending."
Regarding the 88 prerequisites, Euclid Tsakalotos stated that "the reform agenda is frontloaded and the most important reforms were at the beginning. Now it is about completing and improving reform steps that have already been taken, not fundamental political issues."
Asked how to achieve the goal of growth, the Finance Minister replied: "There are developmental reforms that have been completed, others are in the process of being implemented and others have to start, such as faster justice, more efficient public administration, combating bureaucracy and a better investment climate. It is also a matter of financing development, as mainstream banks are burdened with red loans. That is why we have a lot of ideas about a Greek public development bank, about how to make use of the European Investment Bank's money and how regional development funds will benefit not just infrastructure but also medium-sized businesses."
"Overall taxation is not too high"
"In order to achieve the primary surplus, out of necessity we put the burden on certain parts of society. Now, however, we are creating the fiscal space for reducing burdens on these sections of society. In general, however, taxation is not too high. Thanks to the 0.8% growth achieved by Greece, "there is now more room for reducing taxes."
Then, the Finance Minister promised that, while observing the existing rules, "efforts are being made to raise the minimum wage. If we exceed the budget targets in 2018 as well, we will again grant a social dividend."
Asked about the future of Greek debt, Euclid Tsakalotos replied: "It will be a test for all of us to see if the markets get the message that the Greek debt is viable. However, if we were to ask for a precautionary support line of credit, the country's creditworthiness would never be assessed objectively. For the debt, we have two goals: in the long run, the primary surplus should be close to 2%, our financing needs will not exceed 15% of GDP by 2030 and after that no more than 20%. This is how we ensure a definite framework for our finances and be in a position to determine what debt relief is required."
"I would like Greece to be treated as Germany was in 1952"
The Finance Minister also referred to the "French mechanism" he discussed with his counterparts from France and Germany, but also with the IMF: "Greece will initially receive some relief. If growth is at the levels predicted by the Europeans then everything is fine. But if growth rates are lower, as the IMF predicts, there will be a second round of debt relief."
Finally, asked whether he would be satisfied with a reduction in the nominal value of Greek debt, Minister Tsakalotos stressed: "I would like Greece to be treated like Germany in the 1952 London Agreement, which proved to be useful for its subsequent economic miracle. However, I am happy with what the Finance Ministers agreed in June 2017."
Speaking to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos promised that the country will not need additional credits."We are finalizing the adjustment programme in August and we are not going to ask for a precautionary support line of credit. After August 2018 there will be no more credits to Greece from the ESM. In the summer, Greece wants to stand on its own two feet again."
" There will be a form of oversight, as is the case with any other country with a programme. For Greece, this oversight may be more detailed. Once we show how reliable we are, we will no longer be talking about the political goals and the tools that are needed, but only about such goals as the primary surplus target of 3.5% that Greece must achieve each year up to 2022."
"Financing Development"
Referring to the security pillow Greece is creating for every eventuality,he stressed: "In agreement with the IMF the pillow must cover the financing needs for one and a half to two years. We will not, however, have access to this money for public spending."
Regarding the 88 prerequisites, Euclid Tsakalotos stated that "the reform agenda is frontloaded and the most important reforms were at the beginning. Now it is about completing and improving reform steps that have already been taken, not fundamental political issues."
Asked how to achieve the goal of growth, the Finance Minister replied: "There are developmental reforms that have been completed, others are in the process of being implemented and others have to start, such as faster justice, more efficient public administration, combating bureaucracy and a better investment climate. It is also a matter of financing development, as mainstream banks are burdened with red loans. That is why we have a lot of ideas about a Greek public development bank, about how to make use of the European Investment Bank's money and how regional development funds will benefit not just infrastructure but also medium-sized businesses."
"Overall taxation is not too high"
"In order to achieve the primary surplus, out of necessity we put the burden on certain parts of society. Now, however, we are creating the fiscal space for reducing burdens on these sections of society. In general, however, taxation is not too high. Thanks to the 0.8% growth achieved by Greece, "there is now more room for reducing taxes."
Then, the Finance Minister promised that, while observing the existing rules, "efforts are being made to raise the minimum wage. If we exceed the budget targets in 2018 as well, we will again grant a social dividend."
Asked about the future of Greek debt, Euclid Tsakalotos replied: "It will be a test for all of us to see if the markets get the message that the Greek debt is viable. However, if we were to ask for a precautionary support line of credit, the country's creditworthiness would never be assessed objectively. For the debt, we have two goals: in the long run, the primary surplus should be close to 2%, our financing needs will not exceed 15% of GDP by 2030 and after that no more than 20%. This is how we ensure a definite framework for our finances and be in a position to determine what debt relief is required."
"I would like Greece to be treated as Germany was in 1952"
The Finance Minister also referred to the "French mechanism" he discussed with his counterparts from France and Germany, but also with the IMF: "Greece will initially receive some relief. If growth is at the levels predicted by the Europeans then everything is fine. But if growth rates are lower, as the IMF predicts, there will be a second round of debt relief."
Finally, asked whether he would be satisfied with a reduction in the nominal value of Greek debt, Minister Tsakalotos stressed: "I would like Greece to be treated like Germany in the 1952 London Agreement, which proved to be useful for its subsequent economic miracle. However, I am happy with what the Finance Ministers agreed in June 2017."
Young People at centre of the
National Development Strategy
12.5.2018
At the Governmental Council for Social Policy (KYSKOP), on Thursday, Minister of Economy and Development and the Deputy Prime Minister, Yiannis Dragasakis said: "At the Eurogroup on 27th April, the Finance Minister presented the country's Holistic Development Strategy. This strategy has to respond to multiple needs and priorities: on the one hand, the needs of Greek society and on the other hand, on the priorities set by the Institutions, Member States and markets at the particular time of us completing the Programme and leaving the Memorandum of Understanding."
"It includes most of the government's priorities in development and social policy and is accompanied by a detailed roadmap for implementation."
"This text, which was drafted in direct co-operation with the ministries, concentrates on previous developments and consultations on development strategy as well as on the significant experience of the Regional Development Conferences.
"Today's meeting is in this direction. In the near future we will continue with similar thematic meetings for the 4th Industrial Revolution, that is to say, the transition to the digital age and dealing with climate change".
Minister Dragasakis stressed that young people are central - to become the protagonists of the “next day” for the country. The Strategy has seven target pillars to strengthen the conditions for the independence and equality of young people:
- Affordable and quality education - training - apprenticeships
- Promoting young people's independence and facilitating their transition to adulthood
- Decent work and development of entrepreneurship
- Health, welfare and well-being
- Enhancing participation in democratic life
- Reduction of inequalities
- Cities that are friendly to young people and demographic renewal of the countryside
These target pillars are crossed by horizontal priorities for developing digital skills, taking part in cultural events and removing barriers to access and inclusion faced by specific population groups.
A General Secretariat for Youth will be set up in the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs as a body for the coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy.
"It includes most of the government's priorities in development and social policy and is accompanied by a detailed roadmap for implementation."
"This text, which was drafted in direct co-operation with the ministries, concentrates on previous developments and consultations on development strategy as well as on the significant experience of the Regional Development Conferences.
"Today's meeting is in this direction. In the near future we will continue with similar thematic meetings for the 4th Industrial Revolution, that is to say, the transition to the digital age and dealing with climate change".
Minister Dragasakis stressed that young people are central - to become the protagonists of the “next day” for the country. The Strategy has seven target pillars to strengthen the conditions for the independence and equality of young people:
- Affordable and quality education - training - apprenticeships
- Promoting young people's independence and facilitating their transition to adulthood
- Decent work and development of entrepreneurship
- Health, welfare and well-being
- Enhancing participation in democratic life
- Reduction of inequalities
- Cities that are friendly to young people and demographic renewal of the countryside
These target pillars are crossed by horizontal priorities for developing digital skills, taking part in cultural events and removing barriers to access and inclusion faced by specific population groups.
A General Secretariat for Youth will be set up in the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs as a body for the coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy.
“Transport Equivalence”
The philosophy of “transport equivalence” is that residents of island Greece should enjoy the same products and transport prices as residents through subsidising the cost.
The bill of the Ministry of Shipping for transport equivalence was introduced at the Legislative Preparatory Committee of the Parliament, and is expected to be launched on 1 July 2018 and fully operational on all islands as of 01/01/2019.
For example, if someone pays a ticket of 20€ for a bus trip to a mainland city and an islander to travel the same distance to the sea pays 25€ then they receive the extra 5€ that is the difference.
Transport equivalence is already in place in many European countries.
The distance of the islands from the "centre" continues to adversely affect the daily routine of the islanders. The small scale both in terms of size and population continues to limit the possibilities for large-scale productive activities.
The measure will be piloted on a broad basis and concerns the islands of the North and East Aegean, four islands of the Cyclades and three other islands.
In the first phase of the measure, which is just for the second half of 2018, it is estimated that approximately 60€ million will be required, while for 2019 the cost will be at least 150€ million.
Article 1 of the draft law makes it clear that the purpose of the proposed arrangements is to ensure citizens' equality in terms of the financial burden on the user applying the concept of Transport Equivalent to the cost of the passenger and the goods crossing a route by means of sea transport making them equivalent to the cost of the journey for the same distance on land.
According to Article 3, the measure is funded from the national or co-funded part of the public investment programme and is to be piloted in July 2018 in Agathonisi, Agios Efstratios, Agios Minas, Alimia, Anafi, Antipsara, Arki, Armatia, Astypalaia, Gouli, Donousa, Erkousa, Irakia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Chora, Koufonisia, Kos, Lesvos, Lipsi, Leros, Lesvos, Lemnos, Mathraki, Samos, Samothrace, Sharia, Strongyli, Symi, Syrna, Schinoussa, Telendos, Tsio, Pharmakonisi, ovens, Halki, Chios, Psara and Pserimos.
The General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy has been given the responsibility to conclude agreements to implement the programme with municipalities and any other body deemed necessary in order to smoothly implement the project. Also, the subsidy resulting from the Traffic Transport Cost is tax-free.
According to article 4, those eligible to receive the subsidy are Greek citizens and foreigners residing in the islands (for the latter, a valid residence permit is required.
Regarding the application procedure, the online platform is already being processed and will soon be available online.
The philosophy of “transport equivalence” is that residents of island Greece should enjoy the same products and transport prices as residents through subsidising the cost.
The bill of the Ministry of Shipping for transport equivalence was introduced at the Legislative Preparatory Committee of the Parliament, and is expected to be launched on 1 July 2018 and fully operational on all islands as of 01/01/2019.
For example, if someone pays a ticket of 20€ for a bus trip to a mainland city and an islander to travel the same distance to the sea pays 25€ then they receive the extra 5€ that is the difference.
Transport equivalence is already in place in many European countries.
The distance of the islands from the "centre" continues to adversely affect the daily routine of the islanders. The small scale both in terms of size and population continues to limit the possibilities for large-scale productive activities.
The measure will be piloted on a broad basis and concerns the islands of the North and East Aegean, four islands of the Cyclades and three other islands.
In the first phase of the measure, which is just for the second half of 2018, it is estimated that approximately 60€ million will be required, while for 2019 the cost will be at least 150€ million.
Article 1 of the draft law makes it clear that the purpose of the proposed arrangements is to ensure citizens' equality in terms of the financial burden on the user applying the concept of Transport Equivalent to the cost of the passenger and the goods crossing a route by means of sea transport making them equivalent to the cost of the journey for the same distance on land.
According to Article 3, the measure is funded from the national or co-funded part of the public investment programme and is to be piloted in July 2018 in Agathonisi, Agios Efstratios, Agios Minas, Alimia, Anafi, Antipsara, Arki, Armatia, Astypalaia, Gouli, Donousa, Erkousa, Irakia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Chora, Koufonisia, Kos, Lesvos, Lipsi, Leros, Lesvos, Lemnos, Mathraki, Samos, Samothrace, Sharia, Strongyli, Symi, Syrna, Schinoussa, Telendos, Tsio, Pharmakonisi, ovens, Halki, Chios, Psara and Pserimos.
The General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy has been given the responsibility to conclude agreements to implement the programme with municipalities and any other body deemed necessary in order to smoothly implement the project. Also, the subsidy resulting from the Traffic Transport Cost is tax-free.
According to article 4, those eligible to receive the subsidy are Greek citizens and foreigners residing in the islands (for the latter, a valid residence permit is required.
Regarding the application procedure, the online platform is already being processed and will soon be available online.
‘Let’s Do It Greece’
Last Sunday, people all around Greece joined together to work for a cleaner country and a cleaner planet. ‘Let’s Do It Greece’ is a volunteering campaign which is part of an international community, inspiring people to get active.
Stamatis Anastasis is a Greek civil engineer who just moved home from the U.K. - he has been part of the campaign since the very beginning.
In the southern suburbs of Athens, a group of friends in their 20s were all eager to volunteer and do something for the environmental issues their local community was facing.
After graduation from high school they decided it was time to do something bigger — that is when they discovered Estonia held a nationwide cleanup-day in 2008 under the name Let’s Do It.
Speaking to Greek Reporter newspaper, Stamatis Anastasis said: “For a group of 20-year-olds it was a huge challenge to go nationwide, but we felt the need to get together with people who believe in the same things.
“There are many people who think the same way about environmental issues and we shouldn’t be isolated - it’s important to get connected and make a change.”
The team introduced the event first time in 2012 and it has been held annually ever since. One day a year, volunteers all over the country go out and participate in environmentally-themed voluntary events in their local communities. These include cleanups, reforestation, painting and fixing public spaces, environmental education and waste management.
In the beginning the event consisted mostly of beach cleanups. Later on, many places also organized forest, mountain and underwater cleanups.
According to Mr. Anastasis, the events evolve every year — people start with beaches and slowly shift to other environmental issues.
A coordinating team of around 80 people all over Greece work to inspire and advise people to work in their local communities - students, professors, teachers, activists and others who share a concern about the state of the environment.
In 2018 over 1,430 events took place all over Greece, and an estimated one percent of the Greek population was working together. According to Mr. Anastasis, the team’s goal is to get five percent of the nation to volunteer by the 10th anniversary of Let’s Do It Greece in 2021.
This year the campaign was targeting the country’s youth, trying to engage as many young people as possible.
“We were in contact with students and universities all around Greece” Mr. Anastasis says. In 2018 Let’s Do It Greece also had seven ambassadors, all well-known Greek celebrities, such as singer Alkistis Protopsalti, TV host Doukissa Nomikou and Olympic athlete Lefteris Petrounias.
The campaign also has many sponsors, but Mr. Anastasis points out that they want to keep things as simple as possible:
“We try to stay zero-budget, and we don’t want to handle any money. In the past there has been dubious incidents with some organizations, so some people stay suspicious.
“We don’t want to take any money from our sponsors, so they participate in different ways: e.g. providing gloves and plastic bags to the volunteers or paying for our professional websites.”
Let’s Do It Greece is also a zero-print project for environmental reasons - they don’t want to print any material, but share it online.
The main goal of Let’s Do It Greece could be summarized in a simple thought: to make people aware that there are others like them.
“We want to show people that they are not alone in helping the environment - if we come together we can bring a big positive change to Greek society. Our motto is: ‘Be the change you are waiting for.’”
Let’s Do It is an international community, currently working in more than 120 countries around the world. He says: “It is one of the fastest growing civic movements of modern times, working for a cleaner planet. The issues we are facing, like the Great Pacific garbage patch, are not only problems for certain countries. We need to work on them together.”
World Cleanup Day will be held on September 15th in 2018. One hundred and fifty countries and millions of volunteers will participate to work for the environment for a day.
For more information about Let’s Do It campaigns worldwide, visit https://www.letsdoitworld.org/
Last Sunday, people all around Greece joined together to work for a cleaner country and a cleaner planet. ‘Let’s Do It Greece’ is a volunteering campaign which is part of an international community, inspiring people to get active.
Stamatis Anastasis is a Greek civil engineer who just moved home from the U.K. - he has been part of the campaign since the very beginning.
In the southern suburbs of Athens, a group of friends in their 20s were all eager to volunteer and do something for the environmental issues their local community was facing.
After graduation from high school they decided it was time to do something bigger — that is when they discovered Estonia held a nationwide cleanup-day in 2008 under the name Let’s Do It.
Speaking to Greek Reporter newspaper, Stamatis Anastasis said: “For a group of 20-year-olds it was a huge challenge to go nationwide, but we felt the need to get together with people who believe in the same things.
“There are many people who think the same way about environmental issues and we shouldn’t be isolated - it’s important to get connected and make a change.”
The team introduced the event first time in 2012 and it has been held annually ever since. One day a year, volunteers all over the country go out and participate in environmentally-themed voluntary events in their local communities. These include cleanups, reforestation, painting and fixing public spaces, environmental education and waste management.
In the beginning the event consisted mostly of beach cleanups. Later on, many places also organized forest, mountain and underwater cleanups.
According to Mr. Anastasis, the events evolve every year — people start with beaches and slowly shift to other environmental issues.
A coordinating team of around 80 people all over Greece work to inspire and advise people to work in their local communities - students, professors, teachers, activists and others who share a concern about the state of the environment.
In 2018 over 1,430 events took place all over Greece, and an estimated one percent of the Greek population was working together. According to Mr. Anastasis, the team’s goal is to get five percent of the nation to volunteer by the 10th anniversary of Let’s Do It Greece in 2021.
This year the campaign was targeting the country’s youth, trying to engage as many young people as possible.
“We were in contact with students and universities all around Greece” Mr. Anastasis says. In 2018 Let’s Do It Greece also had seven ambassadors, all well-known Greek celebrities, such as singer Alkistis Protopsalti, TV host Doukissa Nomikou and Olympic athlete Lefteris Petrounias.
The campaign also has many sponsors, but Mr. Anastasis points out that they want to keep things as simple as possible:
“We try to stay zero-budget, and we don’t want to handle any money. In the past there has been dubious incidents with some organizations, so some people stay suspicious.
“We don’t want to take any money from our sponsors, so they participate in different ways: e.g. providing gloves and plastic bags to the volunteers or paying for our professional websites.”
Let’s Do It Greece is also a zero-print project for environmental reasons - they don’t want to print any material, but share it online.
The main goal of Let’s Do It Greece could be summarized in a simple thought: to make people aware that there are others like them.
“We want to show people that they are not alone in helping the environment - if we come together we can bring a big positive change to Greek society. Our motto is: ‘Be the change you are waiting for.’”
Let’s Do It is an international community, currently working in more than 120 countries around the world. He says: “It is one of the fastest growing civic movements of modern times, working for a cleaner planet. The issues we are facing, like the Great Pacific garbage patch, are not only problems for certain countries. We need to work on them together.”
World Cleanup Day will be held on September 15th in 2018. One hundred and fifty countries and millions of volunteers will participate to work for the environment for a day.
For more information about Let’s Do It campaigns worldwide, visit https://www.letsdoitworld.org/
“Significant signs of economic recovery” - ELSTAT
There are significant signs of economic recovery in almost all data published by the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), sectoral surveys and measurements, and in general indicators that capture the state and dynamics of the country's real economy. Today there were more similar announcements about the course of the economy. The unemployment rate fell 1.8 percentage points in February and ELSTAT released further data showing a rise in industrial output in March, both on a monthly basis and on an annual one.
Greek unemployment steadily heads downwards below 20%. In February, it dropped to 20.8%, or 1.8 percentage points lower than 22.6% in the same month last year. Although February appeared to show a certain "resistance" to declining unemployment due to the fact that in January it stood at 20.7%, on the one hand the general tendency not only narrowly on the labour market, but also more generally in the economy, and on the other hand auspicious indications for important sectors of the national economy, and more importantly the field of tourism, allow for optimism; optimism about a rate of unemployment below 20%, for the first time since September 2011, by the end of 2018. In 2011, it stood at 19.1% but unexpectedly exceeded 20.1% translating to over 1 million unemployed people. Indeed, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labour Andreas Nefelidis was clear:
"We are racing towards an unemployment figure way below 20%. Numbers such as the Q1 hirings that equate to 768,435 people are impressive." According to the seasonally adjusted data of ELSTAT, the total of employed citizens stood at 3,735,098 in February, the figure of unemployed persons fell to 978,072 while the economically inactive population amounted to 3,277,165 people.
Meanwhile, industrial production rose on an annual and monthly basis in March, although it fell slightly in Q1 (0.6%) overall. According to ELSTAT, the March Industrial Production Index, compared with that of March 2017, showed an increase of 1.1%, compared to the February 2018 index, when it increased by 2.5%.
The average Industrial Production Index in January-March 2018, had fallen by 0.6% compared to the same period in 2017.
The annual increase of 1.1% in March was mainly due to a large increase of 15% of the Electricity Production Index. On the other hand, the manufacturing industries showed signs of improvement in the first quarter of this year when their output index rose by 1.7%.
Borrowing getting cheaper for Greece
Greece sold 1.138€ billion in an auction of three-month treasury bills on Wednesday, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said.
Shut out of international markets since 2010, Greece is running a monthly treasury bill auction programme to cover maturing debts and meet its financing needs, in parallel to the bailout programme.
The 13-week treasury bills were sold at an interest rate of 0.59%, down from 0.79% in the previous similar auction last month, according to the PDMA statement.
The result reflects a positive climate in capital markets as regards Greek securities.
There are significant signs of economic recovery in almost all data published by the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), sectoral surveys and measurements, and in general indicators that capture the state and dynamics of the country's real economy. Today there were more similar announcements about the course of the economy. The unemployment rate fell 1.8 percentage points in February and ELSTAT released further data showing a rise in industrial output in March, both on a monthly basis and on an annual one.
Greek unemployment steadily heads downwards below 20%. In February, it dropped to 20.8%, or 1.8 percentage points lower than 22.6% in the same month last year. Although February appeared to show a certain "resistance" to declining unemployment due to the fact that in January it stood at 20.7%, on the one hand the general tendency not only narrowly on the labour market, but also more generally in the economy, and on the other hand auspicious indications for important sectors of the national economy, and more importantly the field of tourism, allow for optimism; optimism about a rate of unemployment below 20%, for the first time since September 2011, by the end of 2018. In 2011, it stood at 19.1% but unexpectedly exceeded 20.1% translating to over 1 million unemployed people. Indeed, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labour Andreas Nefelidis was clear:
"We are racing towards an unemployment figure way below 20%. Numbers such as the Q1 hirings that equate to 768,435 people are impressive." According to the seasonally adjusted data of ELSTAT, the total of employed citizens stood at 3,735,098 in February, the figure of unemployed persons fell to 978,072 while the economically inactive population amounted to 3,277,165 people.
Meanwhile, industrial production rose on an annual and monthly basis in March, although it fell slightly in Q1 (0.6%) overall. According to ELSTAT, the March Industrial Production Index, compared with that of March 2017, showed an increase of 1.1%, compared to the February 2018 index, when it increased by 2.5%.
The average Industrial Production Index in January-March 2018, had fallen by 0.6% compared to the same period in 2017.
The annual increase of 1.1% in March was mainly due to a large increase of 15% of the Electricity Production Index. On the other hand, the manufacturing industries showed signs of improvement in the first quarter of this year when their output index rose by 1.7%.
Borrowing getting cheaper for Greece
Greece sold 1.138€ billion in an auction of three-month treasury bills on Wednesday, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said.
Shut out of international markets since 2010, Greece is running a monthly treasury bill auction programme to cover maturing debts and meet its financing needs, in parallel to the bailout programme.
The 13-week treasury bills were sold at an interest rate of 0.59%, down from 0.79% in the previous similar auction last month, according to the PDMA statement.
The result reflects a positive climate in capital markets as regards Greek securities.
"The Real Battle..."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Mytilene, Lesbos
5.5.2018
"With regard to the battle the real battle, the battle with the problems, the battle of the economy, the battle of unemployment, the battle of development - We will not tolerate the desecration of our flag by the political descendants of Nazism.
"Some people have been trying for several days now to prevent me from being here tonight. Some have sought to create a climate of terrorism,"Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, beginning his speech at the 14th Regional Conference in Mytilene.
"Some have tried to exploit the sincere troubles of the island's inhabitants. But we have not done them the favour. We have not fled and we have not run away."
"Some have tried to exploit the real anxieties of the inhabitants of this historic island to sow polarization and hatred to serve their own purposes."
"When President Junker talks about a clear exit from the programme in the summer of 2018, when the OECD chief speaks of the great feat of the Greek people and of the country as a champion of reforms, what is the sense of wasting time and grey matter in arid controversy, just to make an impression?" "If the opposition wishes in order to impress people to convince us that the reality is different, because it does not match with its wishes, let it do it."
"I will not follow it. Shadow boxing in the trenches does not interest me."
"What concerns me is the battle, the real battle, the battle with the problems, the battle of the economy, the battle of unemployment, the battle of development, the battle of investment and innovation, the battle with the difficulties of dealing with the refugee crisis."
However many forces [the opposition] may rally, the established economic interests, the publishing groups and unofficial power centres, however much black propaganda and false news they manage to produce, the reality does not change, said the Prime Minister. "We will all be assessed, wrestling daily with unprecedented difficulties, with the economic crisis, the refugee crisis, the destabilization of our neighbourhood.
"We never wanted to have oligarchs, people of the dark and of the backrooms, publishers with vested interests, or entrepreneurs who feed off the state who think the country and the citizens owe them something – we never wanted them as our allies in this effort."
"The ally we want is the Greek people," he said, for whom "we wage the battle every day and we are succeeding despite the difficulties we face".
Referring to the refugee issue, the Prime Minister acknowledged the difficulties and shortcomings and said that "our goal is to deal as quickly and effectively as possible with the shortcomings. And to give citizens the sense of security they are entitled to."
"The main problem we have to deal with is speeding up asylum procedures. This means more employees at the First Reception and more operators in the examination of applications. A specific focus of the Refugee Committees on the islands is the need for more interpreters to facilitate the whole process.
We must address the problems that have arisen, which concern both local communities and refugees.
In this direction, the development programme focuses on infrastructure that will remain, as well as the allowances that will give some relief to the inhabitants of the islands that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis.
Refugee-related infrastructure projects will be immediately implemented, such as the Moria sewerage system and the provision of compensation for the inhabitants of Moria in Lesvos and the village of Chalkios in Chios.
"At the same time, we will not tolerate the murderous, aggressive behaviour against the refugees, and phenomena such as that of last Sunday when just a few, fortunately - on the island, driven by dark far-right circles from outside the island, undertook to sully this island’s own history and to tarnish the flag of our homeland by organizing a murderous hate attack that put human lives in danger.
It was that flag of our homeland that our grandfathers and grandmothers of many people in Lesbos raised up, when they arrived, driven out by fire and destruction, on boats from Ayvalık, Smyrna and Cesme, to start their lives over, to stand again on their own two feet, to be reunited with their lost relatives. The flag of our homeland the men and women of EAM, who led the liberation of Lesbos from Nazism, raised back up in this place. The fighters of Lesbos who paid with their lives a heavy price for freedom and democracy.
We cannot and will not allow the political offspring of Nazism to despoil this flag, exploiting the fair – as I said before – anxieties of many residents of the island."
Positive Initiatives
The Prime Minister then went on to talk about positive initiatives being undertaken by the Government.
The “transport equivalent” would be piloted from 1 July 2018. Following submissions, he pledged to also consider the conditions for including fuel in that programme.
"Development opportunities that have been neglected in the past must now be implemented dynamically to increase production, employment and income altogether, along with care for the environment, infrastructure and social services. These should guide the direction of the interventions of both state and local government activities at the 1st and 2nd levels [Municipality and Region Ed]."
Regarding development, the Prime Minister stated that in the first cycle of the Development Law, nine proposals had been submitted to the Region of North Aegean, of which three concern hotel investment, with a total budget of 40€ million, three are in the field of agri-food and the other two are in the service sector.
Also, he reported, with the «Επιχειρούμε έξω» ["We Venture Outwards" Ed] programme, a 50€m budget from the NSRF, small and medium-sized enterprises are being supported to develop export activities. Already 11 businesses in the North Aegean Region have applied for funding of 455,000€.
With the "Research - I Create - I Innovate" programme, research and innovation are being enhanced and coupled with production. The programme finances small and medium enterprises to develop research in their field, as well as developing business partnerships with research institutions.
Within the framework of this programme, in the Region of North Aegean, 10 proposals are at the stage of being included, with a total budget of close to 2€ million.
Recognizing the challenges posed by island living and the extraordinary needs created by the increased refugee flows, the Ministry of the Economy created the Special Development Programmes of the South and North Aegean in 2017 to support our islands in a targeted manner.
In addition, the Special Development Programmes, funded from national resources, have been very successful:
-New Aegean Special Development Programme includes 44 projects with a total budget of 44€ million.
- In addition, 22 projects with a total budget of 22€ million which had been submitted to the North Aegean Special Development Programme have been included in other programmes.
In this way, infrastructure projects are being funded in all sectors - water, sanitation, ports and roads, culture and tourism, health and education, as well as interventions to boost entrepreneurship.
"These are critical infrastructures that enhance the development potential of the islands and improve the quality of life of the citizens."
Local Government
The Prime Minister about the support for the Municipalities describing how the Ministry of the Interior has created new financial tools:
The "Φιλόδημος" programme is a programme for granting investment loans from the Deposits and Loans Fund to Local Authorities of Grade A and Grade 2 and municipal enterprises for the construction of infrastructure and utilities. The budgets of the Municipalities are not burdened, as the loans are repaid through the Ministry of Interior, from the Public Investment Programme. Moreover, the Special Urban Development Programme aims to finance procurement, services and studies projects for municipalities throughout the country.
The programme's resources come from the Ministry of the Interior’s Public Investment budget.
The municipalities of the North Aegean Region have been granted from 2017 up to now a total of 7€ million. This money covers overdue liabilities, the prevention and management of natural disasters, tackling water scarcity, and the support of small island municipalities.
"Some people have been trying for several days now to prevent me from being here tonight. Some have sought to create a climate of terrorism,"Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, beginning his speech at the 14th Regional Conference in Mytilene.
"Some have tried to exploit the sincere troubles of the island's inhabitants. But we have not done them the favour. We have not fled and we have not run away."
"Some have tried to exploit the real anxieties of the inhabitants of this historic island to sow polarization and hatred to serve their own purposes."
"When President Junker talks about a clear exit from the programme in the summer of 2018, when the OECD chief speaks of the great feat of the Greek people and of the country as a champion of reforms, what is the sense of wasting time and grey matter in arid controversy, just to make an impression?" "If the opposition wishes in order to impress people to convince us that the reality is different, because it does not match with its wishes, let it do it."
"I will not follow it. Shadow boxing in the trenches does not interest me."
"What concerns me is the battle, the real battle, the battle with the problems, the battle of the economy, the battle of unemployment, the battle of development, the battle of investment and innovation, the battle with the difficulties of dealing with the refugee crisis."
However many forces [the opposition] may rally, the established economic interests, the publishing groups and unofficial power centres, however much black propaganda and false news they manage to produce, the reality does not change, said the Prime Minister. "We will all be assessed, wrestling daily with unprecedented difficulties, with the economic crisis, the refugee crisis, the destabilization of our neighbourhood.
"We never wanted to have oligarchs, people of the dark and of the backrooms, publishers with vested interests, or entrepreneurs who feed off the state who think the country and the citizens owe them something – we never wanted them as our allies in this effort."
"The ally we want is the Greek people," he said, for whom "we wage the battle every day and we are succeeding despite the difficulties we face".
Referring to the refugee issue, the Prime Minister acknowledged the difficulties and shortcomings and said that "our goal is to deal as quickly and effectively as possible with the shortcomings. And to give citizens the sense of security they are entitled to."
"The main problem we have to deal with is speeding up asylum procedures. This means more employees at the First Reception and more operators in the examination of applications. A specific focus of the Refugee Committees on the islands is the need for more interpreters to facilitate the whole process.
We must address the problems that have arisen, which concern both local communities and refugees.
In this direction, the development programme focuses on infrastructure that will remain, as well as the allowances that will give some relief to the inhabitants of the islands that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis.
Refugee-related infrastructure projects will be immediately implemented, such as the Moria sewerage system and the provision of compensation for the inhabitants of Moria in Lesvos and the village of Chalkios in Chios.
"At the same time, we will not tolerate the murderous, aggressive behaviour against the refugees, and phenomena such as that of last Sunday when just a few, fortunately - on the island, driven by dark far-right circles from outside the island, undertook to sully this island’s own history and to tarnish the flag of our homeland by organizing a murderous hate attack that put human lives in danger.
It was that flag of our homeland that our grandfathers and grandmothers of many people in Lesbos raised up, when they arrived, driven out by fire and destruction, on boats from Ayvalık, Smyrna and Cesme, to start their lives over, to stand again on their own two feet, to be reunited with their lost relatives. The flag of our homeland the men and women of EAM, who led the liberation of Lesbos from Nazism, raised back up in this place. The fighters of Lesbos who paid with their lives a heavy price for freedom and democracy.
We cannot and will not allow the political offspring of Nazism to despoil this flag, exploiting the fair – as I said before – anxieties of many residents of the island."
Positive Initiatives
The Prime Minister then went on to talk about positive initiatives being undertaken by the Government.
The “transport equivalent” would be piloted from 1 July 2018. Following submissions, he pledged to also consider the conditions for including fuel in that programme.
"Development opportunities that have been neglected in the past must now be implemented dynamically to increase production, employment and income altogether, along with care for the environment, infrastructure and social services. These should guide the direction of the interventions of both state and local government activities at the 1st and 2nd levels [Municipality and Region Ed]."
Regarding development, the Prime Minister stated that in the first cycle of the Development Law, nine proposals had been submitted to the Region of North Aegean, of which three concern hotel investment, with a total budget of 40€ million, three are in the field of agri-food and the other two are in the service sector.
Also, he reported, with the «Επιχειρούμε έξω» ["We Venture Outwards" Ed] programme, a 50€m budget from the NSRF, small and medium-sized enterprises are being supported to develop export activities. Already 11 businesses in the North Aegean Region have applied for funding of 455,000€.
With the "Research - I Create - I Innovate" programme, research and innovation are being enhanced and coupled with production. The programme finances small and medium enterprises to develop research in their field, as well as developing business partnerships with research institutions.
Within the framework of this programme, in the Region of North Aegean, 10 proposals are at the stage of being included, with a total budget of close to 2€ million.
Recognizing the challenges posed by island living and the extraordinary needs created by the increased refugee flows, the Ministry of the Economy created the Special Development Programmes of the South and North Aegean in 2017 to support our islands in a targeted manner.
In addition, the Special Development Programmes, funded from national resources, have been very successful:
-New Aegean Special Development Programme includes 44 projects with a total budget of 44€ million.
- In addition, 22 projects with a total budget of 22€ million which had been submitted to the North Aegean Special Development Programme have been included in other programmes.
In this way, infrastructure projects are being funded in all sectors - water, sanitation, ports and roads, culture and tourism, health and education, as well as interventions to boost entrepreneurship.
"These are critical infrastructures that enhance the development potential of the islands and improve the quality of life of the citizens."
Local Government
The Prime Minister about the support for the Municipalities describing how the Ministry of the Interior has created new financial tools:
The "Φιλόδημος" programme is a programme for granting investment loans from the Deposits and Loans Fund to Local Authorities of Grade A and Grade 2 and municipal enterprises for the construction of infrastructure and utilities. The budgets of the Municipalities are not burdened, as the loans are repaid through the Ministry of Interior, from the Public Investment Programme. Moreover, the Special Urban Development Programme aims to finance procurement, services and studies projects for municipalities throughout the country.
The programme's resources come from the Ministry of the Interior’s Public Investment budget.
The municipalities of the North Aegean Region have been granted from 2017 up to now a total of 7€ million. This money covers overdue liabilities, the prevention and management of natural disasters, tackling water scarcity, and the support of small island municipalities.
OECD Report Positive for Greece
"After three years of systematic effort, Greece has achieved it. A historical cycle is completed. We are leaving behind the crisis, the sicknesses of the past, the suffocating stewardship and the coercion that went with it. We are passing into a new era, "Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, commenting on the joint statements with the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Angel Guria.
"Greece has become a champion of reform, not only in Europe and the Eurozone, but also among the OECD countries over the last three years. Reforms are fair but many of them necessary, as they open up a very important prospect for the development of the economy, for the establishment of a fairer prospect of growth for the Greek economy in the coming years," said PM Tsipras.
"The OECD report notes the impressive extent and depth of the reforms that have been implemented in recent years. It records an improved competition and business environment, increasing public sector efficiency and upgrading social structures."
"Greece is following an upward course of economic growth; unemployment is gradually declining, exports and investments are rising, expectations are showing positive signs and, above all, there now exists an integrated national development plan, this time of our own making."
"The Greek economy does not need any additional burden of measures, apart from the planned continuation of reforms, it needs the easing of austerity to create room for further growth."
"Greece's efforts have been justified," Secretary General Angel Guria said, citing the data of the OECD’s Economic Survey of Greece 2018, which he handed over to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"The foundations for sustainable and equitable growth have been laid, and especially over the long term," said Mr. Gouria and he congratulated PM Tsipras, saying: "Congratulations, Prime Minister, you brought Greece back from the brink of the cliff."
He recalled that there was once a debate about "Grexit", and now there is talk only about Greece's "Exit" from the Memoranda.
"After three years of systematic effort, Greece has achieved it. A historical cycle is completed. We are leaving behind the crisis, the sicknesses of the past, the suffocating stewardship and the coercion that went with it. We are passing into a new era, "Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, commenting on the joint statements with the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Angel Guria.
"Greece has become a champion of reform, not only in Europe and the Eurozone, but also among the OECD countries over the last three years. Reforms are fair but many of them necessary, as they open up a very important prospect for the development of the economy, for the establishment of a fairer prospect of growth for the Greek economy in the coming years," said PM Tsipras.
"The OECD report notes the impressive extent and depth of the reforms that have been implemented in recent years. It records an improved competition and business environment, increasing public sector efficiency and upgrading social structures."
"Greece is following an upward course of economic growth; unemployment is gradually declining, exports and investments are rising, expectations are showing positive signs and, above all, there now exists an integrated national development plan, this time of our own making."
"The Greek economy does not need any additional burden of measures, apart from the planned continuation of reforms, it needs the easing of austerity to create room for further growth."
"Greece's efforts have been justified," Secretary General Angel Guria said, citing the data of the OECD’s Economic Survey of Greece 2018, which he handed over to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"The foundations for sustainable and equitable growth have been laid, and especially over the long term," said Mr. Gouria and he congratulated PM Tsipras, saying: "Congratulations, Prime Minister, you brought Greece back from the brink of the cliff."
He recalled that there was once a debate about "Grexit", and now there is talk only about Greece's "Exit" from the Memoranda.
The development model of post-Memoranda Greece presented by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos
The creation of a new - triple - identity for the Greek state, as socially sensitive, fairer and at the same time more productive, is the aim of the development plan presented by the Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to his Eurozone counterparts at the Eurogroup in Sofia.
To achieve this goal, the authors of the Plan list a number of tools. These include the phasing-in of the minimum wage, the resumption of collective bargaining, the strengthening of social protection and employment, the establishment of a development bank and the consolidation of a more friendly investment environment.
Apart from these tools, the development plan also describes the whole "philosophy" that will underpin the productive and competitive orientation of the Greek economy, identifying to that end 11 specific areas that will support this objective. These sectors are Transport, Logistics, Energy, Agricultural Food, Manufacturing, Shipping, Medicines, Health, Environment, Tourism and Culture.
More specifically, the triple "identity" that it is intended should be created will provide for:
1. A Socially sensitive state
The plan points out that GDP cumulatively lost 25% of its value since 2008, unemployment has risen - especially young people - while one third of Greeks live on the brink of poverty and social exclusion. For this reason, it describes a series of relief measures, such as a Solidarity Allowance, Family Support Centres, Maternity Protection, measures for vulnerable groups (Roma, the elderly, the homeless), computerisation of the social protection mechanism among others.
2. A fairer State
"Fair development" is a central aim of the government. In the broad sense, in the context of the restoration of justice, the main injustices which it is undertaking to remove in the post-Memoranda Greece concern the loss of working people’s employees' incomes. Thus the plan refers to the restoration of collective bargaining in the labour market and the gradual increase of the minimum wage.
In the narrow sense of the rule of law, the plan describes the speeding up of Justice, which will include the use of digital technology to free Justice from the current red tape.
3. A more productive and investment-friendly state
Simplification - transparency - efficiency - speed are seen as the "quadruple pillars of success" to create a more productive and more investment-friendly state. To achieve this goal, one-stop shops will be created to allow the establishment of a business within 24 hours in conjunction with Taxis [the Tax Office Ed] and ΓΕΜΗ [The General Commercial Register Ed], less bureaucracy, a reduction in tax burdens, tackling smuggling and tax evasion.
Closing the informal Eurogroup meeting in Sofia, Claus Regling said: "The goal since the beginning of ESM programmes in Greece is the return of growth to the country, so that sometime they can repay the loans granted to it." He welcomed the Greek proposals for growth.
The creation of a new - triple - identity for the Greek state, as socially sensitive, fairer and at the same time more productive, is the aim of the development plan presented by the Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to his Eurozone counterparts at the Eurogroup in Sofia.
To achieve this goal, the authors of the Plan list a number of tools. These include the phasing-in of the minimum wage, the resumption of collective bargaining, the strengthening of social protection and employment, the establishment of a development bank and the consolidation of a more friendly investment environment.
Apart from these tools, the development plan also describes the whole "philosophy" that will underpin the productive and competitive orientation of the Greek economy, identifying to that end 11 specific areas that will support this objective. These sectors are Transport, Logistics, Energy, Agricultural Food, Manufacturing, Shipping, Medicines, Health, Environment, Tourism and Culture.
More specifically, the triple "identity" that it is intended should be created will provide for:
1. A Socially sensitive state
The plan points out that GDP cumulatively lost 25% of its value since 2008, unemployment has risen - especially young people - while one third of Greeks live on the brink of poverty and social exclusion. For this reason, it describes a series of relief measures, such as a Solidarity Allowance, Family Support Centres, Maternity Protection, measures for vulnerable groups (Roma, the elderly, the homeless), computerisation of the social protection mechanism among others.
2. A fairer State
"Fair development" is a central aim of the government. In the broad sense, in the context of the restoration of justice, the main injustices which it is undertaking to remove in the post-Memoranda Greece concern the loss of working people’s employees' incomes. Thus the plan refers to the restoration of collective bargaining in the labour market and the gradual increase of the minimum wage.
In the narrow sense of the rule of law, the plan describes the speeding up of Justice, which will include the use of digital technology to free Justice from the current red tape.
3. A more productive and investment-friendly state
Simplification - transparency - efficiency - speed are seen as the "quadruple pillars of success" to create a more productive and more investment-friendly state. To achieve this goal, one-stop shops will be created to allow the establishment of a business within 24 hours in conjunction with Taxis [the Tax Office Ed] and ΓΕΜΗ [The General Commercial Register Ed], less bureaucracy, a reduction in tax burdens, tackling smuggling and tax evasion.
Closing the informal Eurogroup meeting in Sofia, Claus Regling said: "The goal since the beginning of ESM programmes in Greece is the return of growth to the country, so that sometime they can repay the loans granted to it." He welcomed the Greek proposals for growth.
"Cleisthenes 1" Out for Consultation
The strengthening of the collective processes, through which communities can be restored, so that they will now have an important role to play in the management of local affairs, is the objective of the government bill presented by the Ministry of the Interior under the name "Cleisthenes I", and out for consultation on Monday.
Among other things, it includes the introduction of simple proportional representation and the extension of local referenda to the Regions. At the same time, the term of office of elected organs of Government returns to four years and elections will be held on the second Sunday of October, starting in 2019. The second round for the election of Mayors and Regional Governors will take place on the third Sunday of the same month. Those elected will take office on 1 January 2020.
With "Cleisthenes I", local and municipal departments are renamed “κοινότητες” / communities regardless of their population. In the Bill, the categories of communities are modified by raising the population base from 300 to 500 inhabitants. Thus, a community with 500 inhabitants elects a single representative while communities with a population of 501 to 2,000 elect three representatives, communities with a population of 2,001 to 10,000 elect five representatives, communities with a population from 10,001 to 50,000 elect eleven members elected, and communities of 50,001 inhabitants and above elect 15 community representatives.
The election of a single representative of a community of up to 500 residents will be made with a single ballot paper, while in communities of more than 500 residents the election will take place on the basis of combinations where 40% of the candidates must be women. Through "Cleisthenes I", the President of the community will assume stronger powers than the old municipality, since they will decide on the allocation of the community’s share of resources, which is determined out of the central local government resources allocated by the state to the municipalities.
"Cleisthenes I" describes the 11 criteria for the allocation of central local government resources, ie the state funding to the municipalities, criteria which take into account the length of the water supply and drainage networks, the length and the usage of the road network, its inclusion in the corresponding category of municipalities according to "Kallikrates", the level of social services provided, the ability to raise local resources, population fluctuations according to the seasons and demographic trends, climatic conditions and the special environment characteristics, the level of its basic infrastructure (ports, transport, school and sports infrastructure, etc.), the unemployment rate, the area of the community and the percentage of GDP produced by the municipality as a percentage of the country's GDP.
As regards its commercial services, which are financed by municipal taxes, these also include the “green” services, which under “Kallikratis” were financed by state resources.
The Ministry of the Interior proposes six categories of municipalities, modifying the previous categorization. In particular, the municipalities of the Attica Region apart from the Regional Entity of the Islands and also the municipalities of Thessaloniki are defined as “Metropolitan”. The municipalities are divided into large entities with a population of over 25,000 inhabitants, middle geographical entities with a population of 10,000 to 25,000 inhabitants, large and medium-sized islands with a population of over 3,500 inhabitants and small islands of up to 3,500 inhabitants.
Simple Proportional Representation
For the election of municipal councils and regional councils in the elections of 2019, simple proportional representation will be applied. Thus, it is stipulated that the distribution of seats to the combinations will be based on the election count on the first Sunday. The electoral count will result from the number of valid ballots received by the combinations and will share out the seats of the municipal and regional council. In the event that no majority emerges for the appointment of a mayor or a regional governor, the election process shall be repeated on the following Sunday between the two top combinations. In the drawing up of the voting lists for the Regions, the number of candidate regional governors must correspond to the number of regional entities.
Local Referenda
"Cleisthenes I" introduces the concept of a local referendum, which does not only concern municipalities but also the regions. A local referendum may be held at any time except for the Government and European Parliament pre-election periods. A decision by 2/3 of the municipal or regional council, or a request by 10% of the registered electorate of the municipality or region is required. In the public debate on the subject of the referendum, everyone can participate apart from local agencies and political parties.
In Cleisthenes I, the institution of Decentralized Management is renamed as an "independent OTA [Local Government Ed] service" and what changes is that it will be able to control the assignment of projects, services, studies and supplies when the price exceeds 120,000€ including VAT. To enhance the developmental character of municipalities, they can participate in legal entities that manage or supply alternative energy sources or provide services of general interest or which use public assets.
In an effort to avoid the multiplicity of regulations that afflicts Local Government, Minister of the Interior Panos Skourletis through the "Cleisthenes I" is promoting the creation of mixed interministerial committees to redefine the responsibilities and procedures between state, municipalities and regions.
The strengthening of the collective processes, through which communities can be restored, so that they will now have an important role to play in the management of local affairs, is the objective of the government bill presented by the Ministry of the Interior under the name "Cleisthenes I", and out for consultation on Monday.
Among other things, it includes the introduction of simple proportional representation and the extension of local referenda to the Regions. At the same time, the term of office of elected organs of Government returns to four years and elections will be held on the second Sunday of October, starting in 2019. The second round for the election of Mayors and Regional Governors will take place on the third Sunday of the same month. Those elected will take office on 1 January 2020.
With "Cleisthenes I", local and municipal departments are renamed “κοινότητες” / communities regardless of their population. In the Bill, the categories of communities are modified by raising the population base from 300 to 500 inhabitants. Thus, a community with 500 inhabitants elects a single representative while communities with a population of 501 to 2,000 elect three representatives, communities with a population of 2,001 to 10,000 elect five representatives, communities with a population from 10,001 to 50,000 elect eleven members elected, and communities of 50,001 inhabitants and above elect 15 community representatives.
The election of a single representative of a community of up to 500 residents will be made with a single ballot paper, while in communities of more than 500 residents the election will take place on the basis of combinations where 40% of the candidates must be women. Through "Cleisthenes I", the President of the community will assume stronger powers than the old municipality, since they will decide on the allocation of the community’s share of resources, which is determined out of the central local government resources allocated by the state to the municipalities.
"Cleisthenes I" describes the 11 criteria for the allocation of central local government resources, ie the state funding to the municipalities, criteria which take into account the length of the water supply and drainage networks, the length and the usage of the road network, its inclusion in the corresponding category of municipalities according to "Kallikrates", the level of social services provided, the ability to raise local resources, population fluctuations according to the seasons and demographic trends, climatic conditions and the special environment characteristics, the level of its basic infrastructure (ports, transport, school and sports infrastructure, etc.), the unemployment rate, the area of the community and the percentage of GDP produced by the municipality as a percentage of the country's GDP.
As regards its commercial services, which are financed by municipal taxes, these also include the “green” services, which under “Kallikratis” were financed by state resources.
The Ministry of the Interior proposes six categories of municipalities, modifying the previous categorization. In particular, the municipalities of the Attica Region apart from the Regional Entity of the Islands and also the municipalities of Thessaloniki are defined as “Metropolitan”. The municipalities are divided into large entities with a population of over 25,000 inhabitants, middle geographical entities with a population of 10,000 to 25,000 inhabitants, large and medium-sized islands with a population of over 3,500 inhabitants and small islands of up to 3,500 inhabitants.
Simple Proportional Representation
For the election of municipal councils and regional councils in the elections of 2019, simple proportional representation will be applied. Thus, it is stipulated that the distribution of seats to the combinations will be based on the election count on the first Sunday. The electoral count will result from the number of valid ballots received by the combinations and will share out the seats of the municipal and regional council. In the event that no majority emerges for the appointment of a mayor or a regional governor, the election process shall be repeated on the following Sunday between the two top combinations. In the drawing up of the voting lists for the Regions, the number of candidate regional governors must correspond to the number of regional entities.
Local Referenda
"Cleisthenes I" introduces the concept of a local referendum, which does not only concern municipalities but also the regions. A local referendum may be held at any time except for the Government and European Parliament pre-election periods. A decision by 2/3 of the municipal or regional council, or a request by 10% of the registered electorate of the municipality or region is required. In the public debate on the subject of the referendum, everyone can participate apart from local agencies and political parties.
In Cleisthenes I, the institution of Decentralized Management is renamed as an "independent OTA [Local Government Ed] service" and what changes is that it will be able to control the assignment of projects, services, studies and supplies when the price exceeds 120,000€ including VAT. To enhance the developmental character of municipalities, they can participate in legal entities that manage or supply alternative energy sources or provide services of general interest or which use public assets.
In an effort to avoid the multiplicity of regulations that afflicts Local Government, Minister of the Interior Panos Skourletis through the "Cleisthenes I" is promoting the creation of mixed interministerial committees to redefine the responsibilities and procedures between state, municipalities and regions.
Ferry services, which will bring together all Ionian islands for the first time, began on Wednesday, May 2nd and were inaugurated by the passenger ship "High Speed Azimut Joy Cruises"
The efforts of the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Theodoros Galiatsatos, have come to fruition to initiate the first coastal connection of the Ionian Islands in the spring of 2018, as announced by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Panagiotis Kourouplis during his speech at the Ionian Islands Regional Development Conference.
The ferry services, which will bring together all the Ionian Islands for the first time, began on Wednesday, May 2nd and will be enacted by the passenger ship "High Speed Azimut Joy Cruises".
"That the coastal connection starts on 2 May is an important fact because it reflects the efforts made at all levels by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, P. Kourouplis and the Deputy Minister, N. Santorini. This development is only positive and was one of the announcements and commitments of the Ionian Islands Regional Development Conference, which gave its seal of approval to the efforts of the Region of the Ionian Islands and which were listened to by the Government," the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands Theodoros Galiatsatos said.
The ferry line will connect Corfu to Paxos, Lefkada, Paxetos Ithaca, Sami Kefalonia and Zakynthos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the ferry line starting from Zakynthos with its final destination Corfu will run each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"We are delighted that this unifying line, the line of cohesion for the Ionian Sea, after many decades is to operate from May 2 until the end of October. We hope that it will be able to fulfill its purpose of enabling communications among the inhabitants of our islands, from one island to another and of the visitors to the islands during the tourist season. Our goal is at the end of this period to evaluate the results of the first implementation and to repeat it in the next period, with upgraded services that will strengthen the cohesion of the Ionian Islands and of course the local economy," the Regional Governor said.
The efforts of the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Theodoros Galiatsatos, have come to fruition to initiate the first coastal connection of the Ionian Islands in the spring of 2018, as announced by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Panagiotis Kourouplis during his speech at the Ionian Islands Regional Development Conference.
The ferry services, which will bring together all the Ionian Islands for the first time, began on Wednesday, May 2nd and will be enacted by the passenger ship "High Speed Azimut Joy Cruises".
"That the coastal connection starts on 2 May is an important fact because it reflects the efforts made at all levels by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, P. Kourouplis and the Deputy Minister, N. Santorini. This development is only positive and was one of the announcements and commitments of the Ionian Islands Regional Development Conference, which gave its seal of approval to the efforts of the Region of the Ionian Islands and which were listened to by the Government," the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands Theodoros Galiatsatos said.
The ferry line will connect Corfu to Paxos, Lefkada, Paxetos Ithaca, Sami Kefalonia and Zakynthos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the ferry line starting from Zakynthos with its final destination Corfu will run each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"We are delighted that this unifying line, the line of cohesion for the Ionian Sea, after many decades is to operate from May 2 until the end of October. We hope that it will be able to fulfill its purpose of enabling communications among the inhabitants of our islands, from one island to another and of the visitors to the islands during the tourist season. Our goal is at the end of this period to evaluate the results of the first implementation and to repeat it in the next period, with upgraded services that will strengthen the cohesion of the Ionian Islands and of course the local economy," the Regional Governor said.
Greece approves F-16 fighter jet upgrade deal with the United States
The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence [KYSEA], chaired by Alexis Tsipras, on Saturday approved a deal with the United States of America to upgrade 85 of its F-16 fighter jets at a cost of about 1.2€ billion.
Greece, which will exit its third international bailout in August but will still have to attain primary budget surpluses in the medium term, has said the deal should not worry its EU lenders.
Defence spending has been reduced during Greece’s seven-year debt crisis.
Greece spends about 2% of its GDP - about 3.5€ billion - on defence, more than the EU’s average.
The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence [KYSEA], chaired by Alexis Tsipras, on Saturday approved a deal with the United States of America to upgrade 85 of its F-16 fighter jets at a cost of about 1.2€ billion.
Greece, which will exit its third international bailout in August but will still have to attain primary budget surpluses in the medium term, has said the deal should not worry its EU lenders.
Defence spending has been reduced during Greece’s seven-year debt crisis.
Greece spends about 2% of its GDP - about 3.5€ billion - on defence, more than the EU’s average.
EU Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker in Athens
28.4.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker met in Athens on Thursday.
Following that meeting, the President of the European Commission praised the results of the country's efforts in the economy by talking about its "excellent" performance, which, as Alexis Tsipras noted, is "our passport for a clean exit [from the Programme Ed]".
The Greek Prime Minister spoke of a stable framework of recurring fiscal outcomes of the Greek economy, pointing out that Greece has achieved the highest primary surplus this year in Europe. "These [outcomes Ed] have restored the country's credibility and have pre-empted the achievement of the targets for the coming years and especially for 2018 and 2019." He noted that "what is needed is not to add new austerity measures, but perhaps instead to remove some, giving more momentum to growth".
"After eight years there is no reason for Greece not to return to the status of all the other countries of the Eurozone ... The astonishing the financial performance of the economy is the passport."
He said mistakes had been made in the past - not on the part of the Commission - and it had turned out over the last two years that the demands had been excessive, and there had been a failure in the predictions of some of the Institutions about the “measures” required for the achievement of the objectives. "Now, calmly, not only do we not have to follow their advice for more austerity, but we need to see how we can ease the economy from unbearable taxation in order to accelerate growth. I believe that in this objective we are on the same page as our European partners."
"Before the end of summer Greece will become a normal country"
Jean-Claude Juncker noted the "deep and solid friendship" that links him to Greece and the Greek people. "We managed to find ourselves in a very prosperous perspective because before the end of summer Greece will become a country as normal as the rest of the Eurozone," he said, adding: "On August 20th, it will be the end of the third and final support programme of the Memorandum for Greece."
He stressed that with regard to the economy, the news is good and the prospects are positive.
"We should focus on the issue of debt reduction and I would like all states to respect the obligations they have undertaken," the EU Commission President said.
"Greece's performance is excellent and the first results we have before us: Growth has returned to Greece and Europe, in general, unemployment has dropped significantly and Greece has been able to reduce 15.1% of the fiscal deficit recorded at the end of 2009, and now has turned it into a surplus."
Alexis Tsipras made it clear: "Restoring normality means recovering our sovereignty within the Eurozone. It does not mean, however, that we are going back to the past. It does not mean that we will repeat the mistakes and behaviours that contributed to the crisis." He stressed that in this direction, structural reforms in the public sector, in tax authorities, in the Judiciary, not only would not be overturned but should be deepened.
"Our efforts to heal the wounds of the crisis and to fight injustices and inequalities must also be intensified. He also emphasized that "what the country needs is a stable prospect of fair and sustainable development".
"We are developing our own development strategy and we are discussing it with our partners: A new powerful, socially just and sustainable production and development model." The foundation of this, he said, is human capital: working conditions, the institutional framework of industrial relations, but also its crucial role in productive reconstruction and the formation of an outward-looking, technologically advanced and internationally competitive economy.
"The next day of Greece will be part of the next day of the Eurozone and the EU as a whole. Now that the Eurozone is recovering, we must shield it against the possibility of a future crisis. The cycle of inertia in Europe must be closed. The shift to the far-right and the rise of populism threaten it. For that, Eurozone reform must be the first step towards reuniting the European project with the peoples of Europe."
"For us, reforming the Eurozone means strengthening its social and democratic characteristics. It means convergence and consistency. It means growth in place of austerity. It also means a new institutional architecture that will replace transnational institutions with supranational institutions."
"We need a Eurozone budget as an automatic stabilizer, focusing on combating unemployment. We also need to Europeanise the crisis management institution. A European Monetary Fund, as a lender of last resort for the Eurozone member states."
Following that meeting, the President of the European Commission praised the results of the country's efforts in the economy by talking about its "excellent" performance, which, as Alexis Tsipras noted, is "our passport for a clean exit [from the Programme Ed]".
The Greek Prime Minister spoke of a stable framework of recurring fiscal outcomes of the Greek economy, pointing out that Greece has achieved the highest primary surplus this year in Europe. "These [outcomes Ed] have restored the country's credibility and have pre-empted the achievement of the targets for the coming years and especially for 2018 and 2019." He noted that "what is needed is not to add new austerity measures, but perhaps instead to remove some, giving more momentum to growth".
"After eight years there is no reason for Greece not to return to the status of all the other countries of the Eurozone ... The astonishing the financial performance of the economy is the passport."
He said mistakes had been made in the past - not on the part of the Commission - and it had turned out over the last two years that the demands had been excessive, and there had been a failure in the predictions of some of the Institutions about the “measures” required for the achievement of the objectives. "Now, calmly, not only do we not have to follow their advice for more austerity, but we need to see how we can ease the economy from unbearable taxation in order to accelerate growth. I believe that in this objective we are on the same page as our European partners."
"Before the end of summer Greece will become a normal country"
Jean-Claude Juncker noted the "deep and solid friendship" that links him to Greece and the Greek people. "We managed to find ourselves in a very prosperous perspective because before the end of summer Greece will become a country as normal as the rest of the Eurozone," he said, adding: "On August 20th, it will be the end of the third and final support programme of the Memorandum for Greece."
He stressed that with regard to the economy, the news is good and the prospects are positive.
"We should focus on the issue of debt reduction and I would like all states to respect the obligations they have undertaken," the EU Commission President said.
"Greece's performance is excellent and the first results we have before us: Growth has returned to Greece and Europe, in general, unemployment has dropped significantly and Greece has been able to reduce 15.1% of the fiscal deficit recorded at the end of 2009, and now has turned it into a surplus."
Alexis Tsipras made it clear: "Restoring normality means recovering our sovereignty within the Eurozone. It does not mean, however, that we are going back to the past. It does not mean that we will repeat the mistakes and behaviours that contributed to the crisis." He stressed that in this direction, structural reforms in the public sector, in tax authorities, in the Judiciary, not only would not be overturned but should be deepened.
"Our efforts to heal the wounds of the crisis and to fight injustices and inequalities must also be intensified. He also emphasized that "what the country needs is a stable prospect of fair and sustainable development".
"We are developing our own development strategy and we are discussing it with our partners: A new powerful, socially just and sustainable production and development model." The foundation of this, he said, is human capital: working conditions, the institutional framework of industrial relations, but also its crucial role in productive reconstruction and the formation of an outward-looking, technologically advanced and internationally competitive economy.
"The next day of Greece will be part of the next day of the Eurozone and the EU as a whole. Now that the Eurozone is recovering, we must shield it against the possibility of a future crisis. The cycle of inertia in Europe must be closed. The shift to the far-right and the rise of populism threaten it. For that, Eurozone reform must be the first step towards reuniting the European project with the peoples of Europe."
"For us, reforming the Eurozone means strengthening its social and democratic characteristics. It means convergence and consistency. It means growth in place of austerity. It also means a new institutional architecture that will replace transnational institutions with supranational institutions."
"We need a Eurozone budget as an automatic stabilizer, focusing on combating unemployment. We also need to Europeanise the crisis management institution. A European Monetary Fund, as a lender of last resort for the Eurozone member states."
"Our region is experiencing a period of multiple challenges but also important opportunities"
On Tuesday in Bucharest, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Bulgarian Prime Minister Bouko Borisov, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, met in preparation for the European Union-Western Balkans summit, to be held in Sofia on May 17th.
"The summit between Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania is gradually becoming an institution as an important diplomatic framework for cooperation in the Balkans," PM Alexis Tsipras said at a joint press conference.
"This summit promotes peace, stability, security, co-development and respect for international law."
"Our region is experiencing a period of multiple challenges but also important opportunities. Our initiatives are geared towards cooperation and coordination between our countries, European integration and the European perspective of the Western Balkans."
"We are here to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities." The Prime Minister went on to say that it is extremely important that the four-party co-operation has the aim of defining developments in the region based on the peoples' priorities rather than on the targets and the agendas of third parties.
He expressed his agreement with the European perspective of the Balkans, stressing the need to build a European vision "always on condition of the criteria set by the European Union" for reforms and ensuring good neighbourliness.
He announced that the next session will take place in Thessaloniki at the end of June with the participation of the Transport and Infrastructure Ministers.
Referring to the interconnectivity - by rail, road and digital - of the Balkans, the Prime Minister noted the interconnection of the ports of the north Mediterranean Sea and the Danube as important elements of the specific projects, as well as the rail link between Thessaloniki, Sofia and Bucharest, which will also increase tourist flows, and also the interconnection of Thessaloniki with Belgrade, stressing that they are projects that can inspire and show the cooperation of the countries.
On Tuesday in Bucharest, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Bulgarian Prime Minister Bouko Borisov, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, met in preparation for the European Union-Western Balkans summit, to be held in Sofia on May 17th.
"The summit between Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania is gradually becoming an institution as an important diplomatic framework for cooperation in the Balkans," PM Alexis Tsipras said at a joint press conference.
"This summit promotes peace, stability, security, co-development and respect for international law."
"Our region is experiencing a period of multiple challenges but also important opportunities. Our initiatives are geared towards cooperation and coordination between our countries, European integration and the European perspective of the Western Balkans."
"We are here to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities." The Prime Minister went on to say that it is extremely important that the four-party co-operation has the aim of defining developments in the region based on the peoples' priorities rather than on the targets and the agendas of third parties.
He expressed his agreement with the European perspective of the Balkans, stressing the need to build a European vision "always on condition of the criteria set by the European Union" for reforms and ensuring good neighbourliness.
He announced that the next session will take place in Thessaloniki at the end of June with the participation of the Transport and Infrastructure Ministers.
Referring to the interconnectivity - by rail, road and digital - of the Balkans, the Prime Minister noted the interconnection of the ports of the north Mediterranean Sea and the Danube as important elements of the specific projects, as well as the rail link between Thessaloniki, Sofia and Bucharest, which will also increase tourist flows, and also the interconnection of Thessaloniki with Belgrade, stressing that they are projects that can inspire and show the cooperation of the countries.
Euclid Tsakalotos in Washington
IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos discussed debt relief for Greece and speeding up reforms in a meeting on the sidelines of the Fund’s Spring Meeting in Washington on Saturday.
“I had a productive meeting today with Greece’s Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and his team,” MD Lagarde said in an official statement after the meeting.
“We discussed the importance of bringing discussions on debt to an early conclusion and accelerating the implementation of programme policies, both of which are critical for boosting economic prospects and making IMF financing available.”
On Greece’s side, Finance Ministry officials expressed optimism that a comprehensive deal will be achieved by June 21, when the eurozone's finance ministers will meet.
Ministry sources confirmed there are still “open issues” that concern the remaining “prior actions” of the country’s Fourth Assessment and the disagreement between the Eurozone and the IMF on debt relief. The sources said implementation of the prior actions is “on track” adding that even on those where there are some “technical difficulties," efforts are being made to “unblock” them.
These issues are expected to be the focus of the next visit of the institutions’ mission chiefs to Athens in mid-May, aiming to reach a staff level agreement.
IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos discussed debt relief for Greece and speeding up reforms in a meeting on the sidelines of the Fund’s Spring Meeting in Washington on Saturday.
“I had a productive meeting today with Greece’s Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and his team,” MD Lagarde said in an official statement after the meeting.
“We discussed the importance of bringing discussions on debt to an early conclusion and accelerating the implementation of programme policies, both of which are critical for boosting economic prospects and making IMF financing available.”
On Greece’s side, Finance Ministry officials expressed optimism that a comprehensive deal will be achieved by June 21, when the eurozone's finance ministers will meet.
Ministry sources confirmed there are still “open issues” that concern the remaining “prior actions” of the country’s Fourth Assessment and the disagreement between the Eurozone and the IMF on debt relief. The sources said implementation of the prior actions is “on track” adding that even on those where there are some “technical difficulties," efforts are being made to “unblock” them.
These issues are expected to be the focus of the next visit of the institutions’ mission chiefs to Athens in mid-May, aiming to reach a staff level agreement.
"We achieved things where the others have failed"
On Monday Alexis Tsipras addressed the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group. He described the government's difficulties from the very first moment of taking over the country's governance - both at the level of lenders and at the level of internal political controversy – up until this moment when Greece, after 8 years, is putting forward its own development plan.
He sent out a message of optimism but also one which is target-driven.
"We achieved things where the others have failed," he said, pointing out that the government achieved the double goal - economic recovery beginning to take place in the country and at the same time measures being taken in support of society.
The Prime Minister also drew the clearest lines between the Government, which is strengthening the welfare state and protecting the world of work, and the system of vested interests and fake news, putting the New Democracy President in the frame and the press groups that serve him.
Alexis Tsipras made extensive reference to the fight against corruption, stressing that the government would win it, just as it has also won the battle on the front of the economy.
"We are managing to succeed where three governments of New Democracy and PASOK failed. We managed to successfully complete the [bailout Ed] Programme, to get the Greek economy back on track and to reopen access of Greek bonds to the money markets after eight years."
Nothing was a given, Alexis Tsipras said, "neither was the successful completion a self-evident development. Nor the recovery of the economy. Nor the recovery of access to the money markets".
"However, we have the last critical measures ahead of us and we must not lose sight of our goal. These developments have an historical significance since they allow the country to return to a regime of normality.
"We will not have solved all the problems and we will remain compelled to meet our fiscal goals in order to service the debt with which the careless management of previous governments bankrupted the country and which they loaded onto the backs of the Greek people. However, it is completely different to have a basic control over your European obligations from having to govern in partnership with the Troika. "
He called on his MPs to "remember how difficult it has been to solve the equation, on the one hand, to fulfill the commitments to the lenders and on the other, to not break the bonds of trust with the social forces that supported us and which we want to represent."
"We are managing, for the most part, to stop the society’s movement towards the cliff and misery," the Prime Minister said, referring to the country's economic recovery and "the measures to support for the excluded, the working people, the unemployed, for those who really have need of us."
"Slowly, after eight years of difficulties and pessimism, citizens are finding "the way, diffidently and sensibly, to be optimistic again." "They are again finding the way to have expectations. And that's our success."
The fundamental principles of the Strategic Plan
Alexis Tsipras said that the country's strategic plan, which will be presented to the next Eurogroup on 27th April, is operating within the framework of the country's commitments, nevertheless it has the imprint of the Government of the Left. The principles as described by the Prime Minister include:
- Economic growth that is not based on the crushing labour but on increasing labour productivity through investment in new technologies and innovation.
- Strengthening our position in the global value chain with a focus on producing quality and competitive products.
- Strengthening the most dynamic sectors of the Greek economy: Transport and logistics, energy, agriculture and manufacturing, infrastructure and the digital economy and tourism, which continues to be the driving force behind growth.
Moreover, the plan provides for:
- Restoring institutions to regulate the labour market, as well as strengthening workers' collective bodies through the restoration of collective bargaining, without which the institutional conditions for the collective organization of workers are lacking.
- Building for the first time in Greece a strong social state and a provident, contributory and effective welfare state that can guarantee the dignity and prosperity of the entire population.
"With these priorities, then, we approach the final negotiation for the completion and the clean exit from the programme. With a realistic, I believe, horizon of the Eurogroup on June 21st."
On Monday Alexis Tsipras addressed the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group. He described the government's difficulties from the very first moment of taking over the country's governance - both at the level of lenders and at the level of internal political controversy – up until this moment when Greece, after 8 years, is putting forward its own development plan.
He sent out a message of optimism but also one which is target-driven.
"We achieved things where the others have failed," he said, pointing out that the government achieved the double goal - economic recovery beginning to take place in the country and at the same time measures being taken in support of society.
The Prime Minister also drew the clearest lines between the Government, which is strengthening the welfare state and protecting the world of work, and the system of vested interests and fake news, putting the New Democracy President in the frame and the press groups that serve him.
Alexis Tsipras made extensive reference to the fight against corruption, stressing that the government would win it, just as it has also won the battle on the front of the economy.
"We are managing to succeed where three governments of New Democracy and PASOK failed. We managed to successfully complete the [bailout Ed] Programme, to get the Greek economy back on track and to reopen access of Greek bonds to the money markets after eight years."
Nothing was a given, Alexis Tsipras said, "neither was the successful completion a self-evident development. Nor the recovery of the economy. Nor the recovery of access to the money markets".
"However, we have the last critical measures ahead of us and we must not lose sight of our goal. These developments have an historical significance since they allow the country to return to a regime of normality.
"We will not have solved all the problems and we will remain compelled to meet our fiscal goals in order to service the debt with which the careless management of previous governments bankrupted the country and which they loaded onto the backs of the Greek people. However, it is completely different to have a basic control over your European obligations from having to govern in partnership with the Troika. "
He called on his MPs to "remember how difficult it has been to solve the equation, on the one hand, to fulfill the commitments to the lenders and on the other, to not break the bonds of trust with the social forces that supported us and which we want to represent."
"We are managing, for the most part, to stop the society’s movement towards the cliff and misery," the Prime Minister said, referring to the country's economic recovery and "the measures to support for the excluded, the working people, the unemployed, for those who really have need of us."
"Slowly, after eight years of difficulties and pessimism, citizens are finding "the way, diffidently and sensibly, to be optimistic again." "They are again finding the way to have expectations. And that's our success."
The fundamental principles of the Strategic Plan
Alexis Tsipras said that the country's strategic plan, which will be presented to the next Eurogroup on 27th April, is operating within the framework of the country's commitments, nevertheless it has the imprint of the Government of the Left. The principles as described by the Prime Minister include:
- Economic growth that is not based on the crushing labour but on increasing labour productivity through investment in new technologies and innovation.
- Strengthening our position in the global value chain with a focus on producing quality and competitive products.
- Strengthening the most dynamic sectors of the Greek economy: Transport and logistics, energy, agriculture and manufacturing, infrastructure and the digital economy and tourism, which continues to be the driving force behind growth.
Moreover, the plan provides for:
- Restoring institutions to regulate the labour market, as well as strengthening workers' collective bodies through the restoration of collective bargaining, without which the institutional conditions for the collective organization of workers are lacking.
- Building for the first time in Greece a strong social state and a provident, contributory and effective welfare state that can guarantee the dignity and prosperity of the entire population.
"With these priorities, then, we approach the final negotiation for the completion and the clean exit from the programme. With a realistic, I believe, horizon of the Eurogroup on June 21st."
Water Matters
A meeting that took place in Chania last week to address the issue of drοught on the island expressed concern over the lack of water in the coming summer season.
The head of the Department of Water of the Decentralized Administration of Crete, Marinos Kritsotakis, said that “with proper management there will be no particular problems”.
In the meeting it was stressed that there must be an operational management plan and preventive measures must be applied, in view of data sent in from the end of February by all the island’s agencies related to water management.
On the basis of the data presented during the meeting by Mr. Kritsotakis, since September 2017 up until now, in Crete 3.8 billion cubic metres of rainwater fell on the island.
The last drought was in 1989-1990, when 4.1 billion cubic metres of water fell on Crete. In 2003, a season considered particularly wet, authorities measured 12 billion cubic metres of rainwater falling on the island. The average annual rainfall on the island over the last 40 years is 7.6 billion cubic metres.
In order to address the situation, and in order to avoid problems in the summer season, preventive measures are proposed, such as accelerating hydraulic projects, monitoring networks, locating and fixing leaks, searching for alternative water supplies, reducing waste, informing users about groundwater and surface water levels and reducing the cultivation of plants that require a lot of water.
A meeting that took place in Chania last week to address the issue of drοught on the island expressed concern over the lack of water in the coming summer season.
The head of the Department of Water of the Decentralized Administration of Crete, Marinos Kritsotakis, said that “with proper management there will be no particular problems”.
In the meeting it was stressed that there must be an operational management plan and preventive measures must be applied, in view of data sent in from the end of February by all the island’s agencies related to water management.
On the basis of the data presented during the meeting by Mr. Kritsotakis, since September 2017 up until now, in Crete 3.8 billion cubic metres of rainwater fell on the island.
The last drought was in 1989-1990, when 4.1 billion cubic metres of water fell on Crete. In 2003, a season considered particularly wet, authorities measured 12 billion cubic metres of rainwater falling on the island. The average annual rainfall on the island over the last 40 years is 7.6 billion cubic metres.
In order to address the situation, and in order to avoid problems in the summer season, preventive measures are proposed, such as accelerating hydraulic projects, monitoring networks, locating and fixing leaks, searching for alternative water supplies, reducing waste, informing users about groundwater and surface water levels and reducing the cultivation of plants that require a lot of water.
The 13th South Aegean Regional Development Conference
21.04.2018
From the platform of the 13th Regional Development Conference held in Rhodes, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke about the end of the Memorandum adventure, stressing that the exit from the Memoranda will be clear. H once again excluded the possibility of any need for a contingency credit line, pointing out yet another wrongful assertion by New Democracy. He also took the opportunity to send a clear signal to Turkey that Greece is not a threat, nor was it afraid of anyone.
"A turning of the page for the country after a long period of stewardship and harsh budget constraints," he said, pointing out that "the surrender of sovereignty in economic planning is definitely ending with the completion of the Fourth Assessment in a few days." "Where others failed, we are succeeding."
Referring to the line of credit, he repeated that it was not an option for the next day of the country's emergence from the programme. "There will be no new onerous commitments for the country and the people, as some are reckoning on - and they have not even hidden it with their constant statements."
"Some may be a little embarrassed by this development." "Not because they really believe that this country must always be under the condition of conditionality and harsh stewardship, or that they consider the line of credit to be more effective, but because they needed to be able to shout out that the country is not coming out of the crisis, cannot recover and improve."
He stressed the constant gainsaying of New Democracy."No one is listening to them anymore." "They themselves predicted in 2015 that we would return to the drachma; in 2016 they themselves predicted that the first Assessments would not be concluded and that the economy would collapse, and in 2017 they themselves predicted that the “Cutter” [The Automatic Budgetary Adjustment Mechanism insisted upon by the Insitutions in case of missed financial targets. Ed] would be activated." For 2018 they predicted that we will not have a clean exit from the Memoranda but a credit line instead, which, according to the Prime Minister, is simply a new Memorandum.
"Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the country, they have failed in all their negative predictions." "No one is listening to them anymore apart from the support that the main opposition enjoys from the majority of the mass media.
"The vast majority of the Greek people are not stuck in a rut, irrespective of their ideological position, not only are they tired of the moaning and groaning, but they also want at last to look at the possibilities and prospects of this country with greater optimism." "Let us build tomorrow not with the materials of yesterday, but by exploiting the productive potential of each region individually, let us put the country back on a stable path of growth and revival."
He made specific reference to the development policy that Greece is shaping autonomously, talking about a plan based on the needs of the country without third-party suggestions, stressing that the economy is walking on its own feet again.
"Our own future in our own hands." "The new development policy will have rules, it will be fair and will work not just for the powerful but will support rather than undermine the social state and the real economy. "Not only to bring numbers to growth, no matter how big that growth will be, but for it to be fair."
"The plan will support the real economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, workers, professionals, scientists," he said, and stressed that it would ensure a fair redistribution of the wealth produced, "as in any normal European country."
He announced legislation for “transport equivalence”, the implementation of which will begin on 1 July 2018 for a series of islands, including all of the eastern Aegean - Kos, Patmos, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastellorizo - and also a number of smaller islands, such as the small Cyclades.
"Directly through a legislative initiative that is already prepared, a symbolic and historical commitment will be implemented, the implementation of the “transport equivalence” in the Greek islands". "This has been made possible because at the centre of our logic always lies the question of social justice and the creation of the conditions for development for the whole of society,so that all citizens, regardless of where they live, have equal opportunities and equal possibilities for travel."
"This measure will cover most, if not all, of the inhabitants of the isolated islands and will give a stimulus to businesses struggling to survive."
He also noted that the Government is working on institutional support for life in the islands. In this context, he stressed that the prospect of extending the “life in the islands” clause to all the parliamentary bills being put forward was being explored, while pointing out that a special reference to island policies would be included in the debate on the constitutional revision.
At the same time, he spoke about the bid by Greece for the creation of an island cohesion and development fund for the period 2021-2027, as well as a commitment to a programme of innovative projects in the islands. Typical examples are the establishment of the Research Institute of Island Policy, for which the signing of the relevant Presidential Decree is pending, as well as the establishment of a Maritime Trade Academy in Kalymnos.
From the Conference, PM Tsipras sent a clear message to Turkey: "Greece is not threatening anyone, nor is it afraid of anyone. It defends its territorial integrity and has strong deterrent power, but also strong foundations and alliances in the international community.
"Greece can defend its sovereign rights from border to border of the country those borders are fixed by international treaties. We do not negotiate, we do not haggle, we do not concede even a sliver of land. "
Economic Development in the Greek Islands
Speaking at the Conference, early last week, Deputy Finance Minister Alexis Charitsis said
"Special Development Plans for the North and South Aegean are already underway, amounting to 102€ million, through which more than 100 projects are being implemented, while additional interventions of 77€ million are being funded by other programmes run by the Ministry. At the same time, our country is pushing for more European resources to be directed to the islands and for targeted policies to be developed at European level to strengthen them.
"Due to their geographical location and their particular social and economic characteristics, the Aegean islands face increased challenges that require special care on the part of the state. As the Finance Ministry, we are implementing a comprehensive plan to support the islands, providing substantial funding and specialized technical support."
Projects in all sectors - water and sanitation, ports and roads, culture and tourism, health and education as well as strengthening local entrepreneurship. There is at least one project on each island, all of which were proposed locally and selected on the basis of their degree of readiness and their usefulness to local communities. For the first time, small islands such as Agathonisi, Ai Stratis, Kasos, are receiving funding at such a level.
Island life, however, is not just an issue in Greece, it concerns the whole of Europe, as the increased flows of refugees of recent years have reminded us. The very critical debate currently taking place in the EU on the future of the Cohesion Policy (NSRF) after 2020 is a dynamic engagement, in addition to increasing the budget, and widening the criteria to the allocation of resources. One of these criteria must be island living. We are calling for more European resources to be directed to the islands and to develop targeted policies at European level to strengthen them.
So we get to the development conference that is being held today in Rhodes, not to make announcements but to continue the very important work that has already begun. To intensify our cooperation with local actors in the design and implementation of new projects that upgrade the island's development prospects and improve the lives of islanders."
"A turning of the page for the country after a long period of stewardship and harsh budget constraints," he said, pointing out that "the surrender of sovereignty in economic planning is definitely ending with the completion of the Fourth Assessment in a few days." "Where others failed, we are succeeding."
Referring to the line of credit, he repeated that it was not an option for the next day of the country's emergence from the programme. "There will be no new onerous commitments for the country and the people, as some are reckoning on - and they have not even hidden it with their constant statements."
"Some may be a little embarrassed by this development." "Not because they really believe that this country must always be under the condition of conditionality and harsh stewardship, or that they consider the line of credit to be more effective, but because they needed to be able to shout out that the country is not coming out of the crisis, cannot recover and improve."
He stressed the constant gainsaying of New Democracy."No one is listening to them anymore." "They themselves predicted in 2015 that we would return to the drachma; in 2016 they themselves predicted that the first Assessments would not be concluded and that the economy would collapse, and in 2017 they themselves predicted that the “Cutter” [The Automatic Budgetary Adjustment Mechanism insisted upon by the Insitutions in case of missed financial targets. Ed] would be activated." For 2018 they predicted that we will not have a clean exit from the Memoranda but a credit line instead, which, according to the Prime Minister, is simply a new Memorandum.
"Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the country, they have failed in all their negative predictions." "No one is listening to them anymore apart from the support that the main opposition enjoys from the majority of the mass media.
"The vast majority of the Greek people are not stuck in a rut, irrespective of their ideological position, not only are they tired of the moaning and groaning, but they also want at last to look at the possibilities and prospects of this country with greater optimism." "Let us build tomorrow not with the materials of yesterday, but by exploiting the productive potential of each region individually, let us put the country back on a stable path of growth and revival."
He made specific reference to the development policy that Greece is shaping autonomously, talking about a plan based on the needs of the country without third-party suggestions, stressing that the economy is walking on its own feet again.
"Our own future in our own hands." "The new development policy will have rules, it will be fair and will work not just for the powerful but will support rather than undermine the social state and the real economy. "Not only to bring numbers to growth, no matter how big that growth will be, but for it to be fair."
"The plan will support the real economy, small and medium-sized enterprises, workers, professionals, scientists," he said, and stressed that it would ensure a fair redistribution of the wealth produced, "as in any normal European country."
He announced legislation for “transport equivalence”, the implementation of which will begin on 1 July 2018 for a series of islands, including all of the eastern Aegean - Kos, Patmos, Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastellorizo - and also a number of smaller islands, such as the small Cyclades.
"Directly through a legislative initiative that is already prepared, a symbolic and historical commitment will be implemented, the implementation of the “transport equivalence” in the Greek islands". "This has been made possible because at the centre of our logic always lies the question of social justice and the creation of the conditions for development for the whole of society,so that all citizens, regardless of where they live, have equal opportunities and equal possibilities for travel."
"This measure will cover most, if not all, of the inhabitants of the isolated islands and will give a stimulus to businesses struggling to survive."
He also noted that the Government is working on institutional support for life in the islands. In this context, he stressed that the prospect of extending the “life in the islands” clause to all the parliamentary bills being put forward was being explored, while pointing out that a special reference to island policies would be included in the debate on the constitutional revision.
At the same time, he spoke about the bid by Greece for the creation of an island cohesion and development fund for the period 2021-2027, as well as a commitment to a programme of innovative projects in the islands. Typical examples are the establishment of the Research Institute of Island Policy, for which the signing of the relevant Presidential Decree is pending, as well as the establishment of a Maritime Trade Academy in Kalymnos.
From the Conference, PM Tsipras sent a clear message to Turkey: "Greece is not threatening anyone, nor is it afraid of anyone. It defends its territorial integrity and has strong deterrent power, but also strong foundations and alliances in the international community.
"Greece can defend its sovereign rights from border to border of the country those borders are fixed by international treaties. We do not negotiate, we do not haggle, we do not concede even a sliver of land. "
Economic Development in the Greek Islands
Speaking at the Conference, early last week, Deputy Finance Minister Alexis Charitsis said
"Special Development Plans for the North and South Aegean are already underway, amounting to 102€ million, through which more than 100 projects are being implemented, while additional interventions of 77€ million are being funded by other programmes run by the Ministry. At the same time, our country is pushing for more European resources to be directed to the islands and for targeted policies to be developed at European level to strengthen them.
"Due to their geographical location and their particular social and economic characteristics, the Aegean islands face increased challenges that require special care on the part of the state. As the Finance Ministry, we are implementing a comprehensive plan to support the islands, providing substantial funding and specialized technical support."
Projects in all sectors - water and sanitation, ports and roads, culture and tourism, health and education as well as strengthening local entrepreneurship. There is at least one project on each island, all of which were proposed locally and selected on the basis of their degree of readiness and their usefulness to local communities. For the first time, small islands such as Agathonisi, Ai Stratis, Kasos, are receiving funding at such a level.
Island life, however, is not just an issue in Greece, it concerns the whole of Europe, as the increased flows of refugees of recent years have reminded us. The very critical debate currently taking place in the EU on the future of the Cohesion Policy (NSRF) after 2020 is a dynamic engagement, in addition to increasing the budget, and widening the criteria to the allocation of resources. One of these criteria must be island living. We are calling for more European resources to be directed to the islands and to develop targeted policies at European level to strengthen them.
So we get to the development conference that is being held today in Rhodes, not to make announcements but to continue the very important work that has already begun. To intensify our cooperation with local actors in the design and implementation of new projects that upgrade the island's development prospects and improve the lives of islanders."
IMF Discusses Greece
The IMF is no longer demanding further spending cuts from Greece, said Christine Lagarde and stressed that the Fund would be involved in the Greek programme with its own terms. Referring to the sacrifices of the Greek people, she acknowledged that important financial results have been produced.
The message that markets have welcomed progress in the Greek economy, as reflected in lower Greek borrowing costs, was sent by the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, clarifying that the Fund is no longer demanding more spending cuts from Greece .
"The Greek people have spent eight years of very difficult politics, which have certainly improved the financial position (Greece). We need indicators. When looking at the 10-year Greek bond, it was yesterday under 4%, which is clearly an indication that markets will eventually finance Greece, because this is the ultimate progress, public funding being replaced by private funding. Thus, markets look on the situation in Greece much more favourably than before."
On Wednesday, the IMF's World Economic Outlook report, released as part of the IMF and World Bank Spring Summit in Washington, predicts for the Greek economy 2% growth in 2018 compared to a previous forecast of 2.6% and a fall in unemployment to 19.8% this year ( down from 20.7%). For 2019, it predicts growth of 1.8% and a fall in unemployment to 18% .
The Fund's report presented by Chief Economist, Maurice Obstfeld, reads that Greece’s economy grew by 1.4% in 2017, raising its long-term growth level ( by 2023) to 1.9%, that is almost double the IMF’s previous estimate (in October 2017 it estimated a 1% growth of the GDP for 2021). This is a particularly important development in view of the fact that one of the key disagreements between Europe and the IMF was the long-term growth prospects of the Greek economy, which played a crucial role in its analysis of the sustainability of the national debt. At the same time, the IMF predicts a faster decline in unemployment than its estimates six months ago.
The report records a revision of unemployment data, as the IMF predicts a faster reduction than it had foreseen last October. According to the report, in 2017 unemployment fell by 0.8% more than the initial projections, as it stands at 21.5% and not at 22.3% which was its earlier estimate. For the current year, the report places the unemployment rate at 19.8% against the previous projection of 20.7%. Finally, for 2019, the IMF predicts an even greater fall in unemployment, now estimated to reach 18%.
The IMF is revising its growth forecasts as it estimates that Greek economy grew by 1.4% in 2017, when it predicted growth of 1.8% in October. In addition, a 0.6% deviation for the year 2018 is recorded, after the IMF revised its 2.6% estimate for the first half of the year, and now places growth at 2%. For 2019, it predicts a decline in growth as compared to 2018 as it finds it at 1.8%.
The IMF has included these growth forecasts in all its analyses since 2015 to date on the sustainability of Greek debt. For its part, the European Commission appears more optimistic and estimates that Greece will grow by 2.5% in 2019. This deviation is important because it shows that the IMF and the EU Institutions are not using the same figures in the discussions about the debt.
On Friday, a government official told Reuters that Greece achieved a primary surplus that exceeded 3.5% of GDP in 2017, exceeding the target set under the financial adjustment programme for a third consecutive year. This was due to increased social security contributions and income tax and VAT receipts.
Based on guidelines of its bailout programme, Greece’s targets were to achieve a primary surplus of 1.75% in 2017 and 3.5% this year and next.
The IMF is no longer demanding further spending cuts from Greece, said Christine Lagarde and stressed that the Fund would be involved in the Greek programme with its own terms. Referring to the sacrifices of the Greek people, she acknowledged that important financial results have been produced.
The message that markets have welcomed progress in the Greek economy, as reflected in lower Greek borrowing costs, was sent by the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, clarifying that the Fund is no longer demanding more spending cuts from Greece .
"The Greek people have spent eight years of very difficult politics, which have certainly improved the financial position (Greece). We need indicators. When looking at the 10-year Greek bond, it was yesterday under 4%, which is clearly an indication that markets will eventually finance Greece, because this is the ultimate progress, public funding being replaced by private funding. Thus, markets look on the situation in Greece much more favourably than before."
On Wednesday, the IMF's World Economic Outlook report, released as part of the IMF and World Bank Spring Summit in Washington, predicts for the Greek economy 2% growth in 2018 compared to a previous forecast of 2.6% and a fall in unemployment to 19.8% this year ( down from 20.7%). For 2019, it predicts growth of 1.8% and a fall in unemployment to 18% .
The Fund's report presented by Chief Economist, Maurice Obstfeld, reads that Greece’s economy grew by 1.4% in 2017, raising its long-term growth level ( by 2023) to 1.9%, that is almost double the IMF’s previous estimate (in October 2017 it estimated a 1% growth of the GDP for 2021). This is a particularly important development in view of the fact that one of the key disagreements between Europe and the IMF was the long-term growth prospects of the Greek economy, which played a crucial role in its analysis of the sustainability of the national debt. At the same time, the IMF predicts a faster decline in unemployment than its estimates six months ago.
The report records a revision of unemployment data, as the IMF predicts a faster reduction than it had foreseen last October. According to the report, in 2017 unemployment fell by 0.8% more than the initial projections, as it stands at 21.5% and not at 22.3% which was its earlier estimate. For the current year, the report places the unemployment rate at 19.8% against the previous projection of 20.7%. Finally, for 2019, the IMF predicts an even greater fall in unemployment, now estimated to reach 18%.
The IMF is revising its growth forecasts as it estimates that Greek economy grew by 1.4% in 2017, when it predicted growth of 1.8% in October. In addition, a 0.6% deviation for the year 2018 is recorded, after the IMF revised its 2.6% estimate for the first half of the year, and now places growth at 2%. For 2019, it predicts a decline in growth as compared to 2018 as it finds it at 1.8%.
The IMF has included these growth forecasts in all its analyses since 2015 to date on the sustainability of Greek debt. For its part, the European Commission appears more optimistic and estimates that Greece will grow by 2.5% in 2019. This deviation is important because it shows that the IMF and the EU Institutions are not using the same figures in the discussions about the debt.
On Friday, a government official told Reuters that Greece achieved a primary surplus that exceeded 3.5% of GDP in 2017, exceeding the target set under the financial adjustment programme for a third consecutive year. This was due to increased social security contributions and income tax and VAT receipts.
Based on guidelines of its bailout programme, Greece’s targets were to achieve a primary surplus of 1.75% in 2017 and 3.5% this year and next.
NOVARTIS – cases referred to the Courts
The parliamentary committee that was investigating charges that 10 politicians of previous administrations had been bribed by Novartis pharmaceuticals decided on Tuesday that it is not competent to deal with such matters as investigating charges of bribery and money laundering
Now the case will go to the Attorney’s office.
President of the Special Preliminary Examining Committee, Thodoris Dritsas said "This decision, which recognizes the competence of the mainstream Judiciary, is in accordance with the Constitution and laws and is the only one that provides the opportunity for light to be shed on the case. That is to say for the evidence to be examined and evaluated thoroughly. The potential responsibility of Parliament itself under Article 86 of the Constitution [on Ministers' Responsibility Ed.]would lead to there being a limitation of liability for all actions [being investigated Ed]. That is to say, to a blackout and to indiscriminate impunity."
Mr. Dritsas also called on opposition politicians who walked out of the whole procedure to present their own positions.
The parliamentary committee that was investigating charges that 10 politicians of previous administrations had been bribed by Novartis pharmaceuticals decided on Tuesday that it is not competent to deal with such matters as investigating charges of bribery and money laundering
Now the case will go to the Attorney’s office.
President of the Special Preliminary Examining Committee, Thodoris Dritsas said "This decision, which recognizes the competence of the mainstream Judiciary, is in accordance with the Constitution and laws and is the only one that provides the opportunity for light to be shed on the case. That is to say for the evidence to be examined and evaluated thoroughly. The potential responsibility of Parliament itself under Article 86 of the Constitution [on Ministers' Responsibility Ed.]would lead to there being a limitation of liability for all actions [being investigated Ed]. That is to say, to a blackout and to indiscriminate impunity."
Mr. Dritsas also called on opposition politicians who walked out of the whole procedure to present their own positions.
The Apokoronas Environment Group writes:
Hello everyone. Here is a reminder of the nation-wide clean-up campaign two weeks from today. This is joint venture supported by the Municipality of Apokoronas and the Apokoronas Environment Group. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to take part. Details are repeated below. Thank you.
Let’s do it Greece!
Sunday, April 29th
This April 29 is not a simple Sunday! It is a day devoted to the love of volunteering and the environment.
With the main slogan "Become the Change You Want", volunteers from all over Greece will be co-ordinated at Let's do it Greece 2018, the Greatest Simultaneous Environmental Action of the country.
Volunteer groups, environmental organizations, clubs, municipalities, regions, institutions and citizens are co-ordinating to care and shape squares, parks, neighbourhoods, rivers, beaches, lakes, seas, mountains, forests, while students will take care of their school environment from a week full of Volunteerism, with a peak on Sunday April 29!
After last year's success with the participation of 1% of the Greek population, this year's goal is to involve over 150,000 volunteers with over 2,000 actions across the country! This year's theme is "Volunteering and Youth", with students, students and young people in our country playing a leading role.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR, LET IT BE THIS!!
The Apokoronas Environment Group is happy to promote this year’s effort:
WHAT? The plan is to clean up the tracks/footpaths that form the routes for the Koiliaris Run (see more below) in time for this year’s run.
WHEN? Sunday 29th April 2018, starting at 10am.
WHERE? The meeting point for all volunteers is the Plateia (Square) in Neo Horio
PLAN? The organisers will divide the volunteers into 3 groups. One will stay in Neo Horio, one will go to Stylos and the 3rd group will go to Armenoi.
WHAT DO WE NEED? The municipality will provide plastic refuse sacks and gloves. Take a good supply of water and perhaps a fruit bar or something similar with you.
Please do what you can to support this event. Every little helps! Thank you.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR, LET IT BE THIS!!
Hello everyone. Here is a reminder of the nation-wide clean-up campaign two weeks from today. This is joint venture supported by the Municipality of Apokoronas and the Apokoronas Environment Group. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to take part. Details are repeated below. Thank you.
Let’s do it Greece!
Sunday, April 29th
This April 29 is not a simple Sunday! It is a day devoted to the love of volunteering and the environment.
With the main slogan "Become the Change You Want", volunteers from all over Greece will be co-ordinated at Let's do it Greece 2018, the Greatest Simultaneous Environmental Action of the country.
Volunteer groups, environmental organizations, clubs, municipalities, regions, institutions and citizens are co-ordinating to care and shape squares, parks, neighbourhoods, rivers, beaches, lakes, seas, mountains, forests, while students will take care of their school environment from a week full of Volunteerism, with a peak on Sunday April 29!
After last year's success with the participation of 1% of the Greek population, this year's goal is to involve over 150,000 volunteers with over 2,000 actions across the country! This year's theme is "Volunteering and Youth", with students, students and young people in our country playing a leading role.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR, LET IT BE THIS!!
The Apokoronas Environment Group is happy to promote this year’s effort:
WHAT? The plan is to clean up the tracks/footpaths that form the routes for the Koiliaris Run (see more below) in time for this year’s run.
WHEN? Sunday 29th April 2018, starting at 10am.
WHERE? The meeting point for all volunteers is the Plateia (Square) in Neo Horio
PLAN? The organisers will divide the volunteers into 3 groups. One will stay in Neo Horio, one will go to Stylos and the 3rd group will go to Armenoi.
WHAT DO WE NEED? The municipality will provide plastic refuse sacks and gloves. Take a good supply of water and perhaps a fruit bar or something similar with you.
Please do what you can to support this event. Every little helps! Thank you.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR, LET IT BE THIS!!
Syria
14.04.2018
On Friday, speaking with the French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that Greek Armed Forces would not participate in a possible military operation in Syria. He condemned the use of chemical weapons, stressing that decisive initiatives from the European Union were needed, and emphasising the need to work towards a peaceful solution based on Sweden's proposal.
On Thursday, Sweden proposed a United Nations Security Council resolution requesting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to send a high-level disarmament team to Syria to address “all outstanding issues on the use of chemical weapons once and for all.”
The 15-member council had failed on Tuesday to approve three draft resolutions on chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia vetoed a U.S. text, while two Russian-drafted resolutions failed to get a minimum nine votes to pass.
On Thursday, Sweden proposed a United Nations Security Council resolution requesting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to send a high-level disarmament team to Syria to address “all outstanding issues on the use of chemical weapons once and for all.”
The 15-member council had failed on Tuesday to approve three draft resolutions on chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia vetoed a U.S. text, while two Russian-drafted resolutions failed to get a minimum nine votes to pass.
Final Steps to conclude the Bailout Programme
Greece presented its draft development plan to its EU creditors to be implemented after the end of the current bailout programme in August.
Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis briefed Eurozone officials about the plan at the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) held in Brussels on Thursday. The development plan includes specific measures and sets targets for attracting investment, reducing taxes, reducing ‘bad’ loans and modernizing the public administration.It also contains targets for reducing unemployment and boosting productivity and exports.
The plan is important because it will be taken into account in the analysis of the sustainability of the Greek debt. EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that it will be an important test for the country’s credibility in the debate on the post-memorandum era.
Official Government spokesman Mr Tzanakopoulos said the development plan refers to the country's fiscal path from 2019 onwards. Responding to the suggestion of the possibility of postponing or freezing the reduction in pensions from 1.1.2019, he said that "everything depends on the financial results." "Financially, the Greek economy has overperformed," he explained, "which is due to the much better revenue streams, particularly with regard to the national insurance funds", expressing the view that this will be taken into account by the partners in the debate on the long-term development strategy.
"And in 2017 we are exceeding the targets," he said, pointing out that several of the Institutions have sometimes underestimated the effect of the “measures”. "We expect all these results to be taken into account as a whole by the Institutions."
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos will present the final draft to the Eurogroup meeting on April 27, in Sofia, for final agreement.
Regarding the Fourth Assessment, the EWG highlighted the need for the “prior actions” to be completed by the end of April to conclude the Assessment by June at the latest. The Assessment is linked to a significant loan tranche of €11.7 billion which must be disbursed before the end of the programme on August 20th 2018.
On debt relief, the EWG examined the French proposal linking debt repayment to economic growth. Debt relief measures will be affected by fiscal data to be released by Eurostat on 23 April.
Meanwhile, the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC on April 20-22 are expected to discuss the issue of Greek debt relief.
The IMF has said it will activate a stand-by arrangement with Greece if the country’s European partners can demonstrate the sustainability of its debt.
Heads of the Institutions’ missions are expected to return to Athens early in May, to complete the Fourth Assessment. Unfulfilled prior actions at the time, including energy plans and privatization, will be given until June to be completed.
Greece presented its draft development plan to its EU creditors to be implemented after the end of the current bailout programme in August.
Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis briefed Eurozone officials about the plan at the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) held in Brussels on Thursday. The development plan includes specific measures and sets targets for attracting investment, reducing taxes, reducing ‘bad’ loans and modernizing the public administration.It also contains targets for reducing unemployment and boosting productivity and exports.
The plan is important because it will be taken into account in the analysis of the sustainability of the Greek debt. EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that it will be an important test for the country’s credibility in the debate on the post-memorandum era.
Official Government spokesman Mr Tzanakopoulos said the development plan refers to the country's fiscal path from 2019 onwards. Responding to the suggestion of the possibility of postponing or freezing the reduction in pensions from 1.1.2019, he said that "everything depends on the financial results." "Financially, the Greek economy has overperformed," he explained, "which is due to the much better revenue streams, particularly with regard to the national insurance funds", expressing the view that this will be taken into account by the partners in the debate on the long-term development strategy.
"And in 2017 we are exceeding the targets," he said, pointing out that several of the Institutions have sometimes underestimated the effect of the “measures”. "We expect all these results to be taken into account as a whole by the Institutions."
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos will present the final draft to the Eurogroup meeting on April 27, in Sofia, for final agreement.
Regarding the Fourth Assessment, the EWG highlighted the need for the “prior actions” to be completed by the end of April to conclude the Assessment by June at the latest. The Assessment is linked to a significant loan tranche of €11.7 billion which must be disbursed before the end of the programme on August 20th 2018.
On debt relief, the EWG examined the French proposal linking debt repayment to economic growth. Debt relief measures will be affected by fiscal data to be released by Eurostat on 23 April.
Meanwhile, the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC on April 20-22 are expected to discuss the issue of Greek debt relief.
The IMF has said it will activate a stand-by arrangement with Greece if the country’s European partners can demonstrate the sustainability of its debt.
Heads of the Institutions’ missions are expected to return to Athens early in May, to complete the Fourth Assessment. Unfulfilled prior actions at the time, including energy plans and privatization, will be given until June to be completed.
Unemployment eases
The Greek unemployment rate eased to 20.6% in January from 20.8% in December 2017 the Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.
The number of unemployed people in the country totaled 977,222 in January, down by 126,430 compared with January 2017 (a decline of 11.5%) and down by 10,167 compared with December 2017 (a decline of 1%). The number of employed people totaled 3,755,427, up by 98,712 compared with January 2017 (an increase of 2.7%) but down 12,443 from December 2017.
The unemployment rate among women was 25.6% in January, down from 27.6% in January 2017, while among men it fell to 16.7% from 19.6%.
The 15-24 age group recorded the highest unemployment rate (42.3% in January 2018 from 47.1% in January 2017), followed by the 25-34 age group (26% down from 29.4%), the 35-44 age group (19% from 20.1%), the 45-54 age group (16.5% from 18.1%), the 55-64 age group (16.5% from 19.9%) and the 65-74 age group (7.1% down from 13.9%).
Regionally, Epirus-Western Macedonia recorded the highest unemployment rate (26.2% in January 2018 from 27.4% in January 2017), followed by Peloponnese-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (21.7% from 23.2%), Attica (21% from 22.5%, Macedonia-Thrace (20.2% from 23.5%), Aegean (19.8% from 18.9%), Thessaly-Central Greece (18.6% from 23.6%) and Crete (16.4% from 22.1%).
Other Financial Indicators
Greece generated 812.5€ million in an auction of treasury bills on Wednesday, according to the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA).
Greece is conducting sales of treasury bills as a way of financing the country alongside bailout monies.
On Tuesday it was reported that Greece’s growth was the lowest among eurozone countries for 2017, with a GDP rise of just 1.4% while the eurozone average was 2.3%, according to European Central Bank figures.
At the same time, Greece showed a 1.1% decline in government spending, while the average in the euro area was a 1.2% increase.
The Greek unemployment rate eased to 20.6% in January from 20.8% in December 2017 the Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday.
The number of unemployed people in the country totaled 977,222 in January, down by 126,430 compared with January 2017 (a decline of 11.5%) and down by 10,167 compared with December 2017 (a decline of 1%). The number of employed people totaled 3,755,427, up by 98,712 compared with January 2017 (an increase of 2.7%) but down 12,443 from December 2017.
The unemployment rate among women was 25.6% in January, down from 27.6% in January 2017, while among men it fell to 16.7% from 19.6%.
The 15-24 age group recorded the highest unemployment rate (42.3% in January 2018 from 47.1% in January 2017), followed by the 25-34 age group (26% down from 29.4%), the 35-44 age group (19% from 20.1%), the 45-54 age group (16.5% from 18.1%), the 55-64 age group (16.5% from 19.9%) and the 65-74 age group (7.1% down from 13.9%).
Regionally, Epirus-Western Macedonia recorded the highest unemployment rate (26.2% in January 2018 from 27.4% in January 2017), followed by Peloponnese-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (21.7% from 23.2%), Attica (21% from 22.5%, Macedonia-Thrace (20.2% from 23.5%), Aegean (19.8% from 18.9%), Thessaly-Central Greece (18.6% from 23.6%) and Crete (16.4% from 22.1%).
Other Financial Indicators
Greece generated 812.5€ million in an auction of treasury bills on Wednesday, according to the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA).
Greece is conducting sales of treasury bills as a way of financing the country alongside bailout monies.
On Tuesday it was reported that Greece’s growth was the lowest among eurozone countries for 2017, with a GDP rise of just 1.4% while the eurozone average was 2.3%, according to European Central Bank figures.
At the same time, Greece showed a 1.1% decline in government spending, while the average in the euro area was a 1.2% increase.
The 12th Regional Conference on the Reconstruction of the Productive Capacity of Eastern Attica
7.4.2018
The 12th Regional Conference on the Reconstruction of the Productive Capacity of Eastern Attica took place last week in Lavrio.
The Regional Governor of Attica, Dimitris Duros highlighted during his opening address the region's main problems such as anarchic and arbitrary construction, the lack of basic liquid and solid waste management facilities, and the great urban pressure experienced by Eastern Attica in recent decades, with serious consequences for the natural environment and the quality of life of the residents.
"Our need for sewerage networks is not up for discussion. Our need for flood defence infrastructure is not negotiable. The creation of a network of social services for our fellow citizens is not negotiable. Seeking to improve their everyday lives is not negotiable. We are obdurate in the defence of the public interest, our fight against corruption and bureaucracy is not negotiable."
Regarding solid waste management, projects of municipal waste treatment plants and bio-waste are being brought forward. The Government's goal is to deal with all outstanding issues of wastewater management in eastern Attica.
In addition, the consequences of the forest fires that have occurred repeatedly in Eastern Attica in recent years were highlighted, with human lives and property being endangered alongside the enormous destruction of the natural environment. In this context, the posting of forest maps was highlighted, while the law on residential density was announced. "With the ratification of forest maps in 2019, forestry and the environment will be fully mapped out in Eastern Attica, so that the area will no longer be linked in everyone’s minds with the arbitrary destruction of the forest."
The Prime Minister began his opening speech by referring to the regional development conferences themselves, which "are proving to be an institution".
“In order to draw up a national development plan, the Government chose not to do it behind closed doors in offices but to start from the "bottom" with the Regions.” He compared this joint effort with the climate of sterile, miserable, unnecessary political confrontation.
“The upgrading of the urban environment is our priority and it is being implemented throughout the country. It is necessary to adapt the role of the Ports of Rafina and Lavrio directly, with emphasis on passenger transport and the creation of a cruise-ship landing point.
“The bidding for the Rafinas intersection at the junction of Marathon Avenue with Rafina will be held this year by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The project, with a budget of 7€ million, is funded by the Public Investment Programme.
“It is also planned to implement roundabouts in 8 places funded by the Region.
At the same time we are promoting the studies of a series of flood defence projects in Kalyvia and Kouvaras, Marathon, Nea Makri and Rafina.
Visits to archaeological sites in Eastern Attica have increased between 2015 and 2017 by 30,000. While the income from these visits increased by 600,000€.
A large number of works are under way in the area of Tatoi, the archaeological sites of Vravrona and Sounion, the Museum of Vravrona, Amphiaraio and Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments. Work is now completed at the museums of Marathon and Sounion.
In East Attica, 15 tourism investments have been submitted for authorization, of which 6 are hotels. While within the first cycle of the Development Law, 4 hotel investment proposals amounting to 2.8€ million have been submitted.
“In the health sector, a huge effort is being made to upgrade the structures: In March 2018, 208 doctors were working in the Health Centres of Eastern Attica, compared to 105 in December 2015. And 277 other staff up from 224 in 2015.
The Prime Minister Alexis Tzipras spoke again to close the Conference. He used his speech to summarise the conclusions of the two days’ work during which environmental issues, rural development, self-government, energy and spatial planning issues, interventions in the welfare state, public infrastructure, transport networks and ports were discussed.
He referred to Greece’s conviction by the European Court of Justice in 2015 for the lack of wastewater infrastructure in Markopoulo, N. Makris, Koropi, and Rafina-Artemida. To date, tax-payers have paid about 25€ million in fines.
"Today we are launching interventions and activating the tools needed to create a framework for balanced and sustainable development in Eastern Attica - a pillar of the local economy."
"Three major investment plans have been announced over the past few days: Deutsche Telekom will create a fiber optic network worth 2€ billion, a 400€ million fund in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and a 600€ million European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
These create a stable climate that is completely different from the conditions prevailing in the country since 2010. Positive projections are boosted. Growth, international credibility, all economic indicators will improve continuously over the coming years."
"It is now that we have to plan on a solid basis the next day for the country." Alexis Tsipras said in concluding the work of the conference.
" The economy is outperforming its targets and the objectives of the Programme have been met. "In a few months, in the summer, we also come out formally, clearly and definitively, from the Memoranda that have struck us for eight years," stressed Mr. Tsipras.
The Regional Governor of Attica, Dimitris Duros highlighted during his opening address the region's main problems such as anarchic and arbitrary construction, the lack of basic liquid and solid waste management facilities, and the great urban pressure experienced by Eastern Attica in recent decades, with serious consequences for the natural environment and the quality of life of the residents.
"Our need for sewerage networks is not up for discussion. Our need for flood defence infrastructure is not negotiable. The creation of a network of social services for our fellow citizens is not negotiable. Seeking to improve their everyday lives is not negotiable. We are obdurate in the defence of the public interest, our fight against corruption and bureaucracy is not negotiable."
Regarding solid waste management, projects of municipal waste treatment plants and bio-waste are being brought forward. The Government's goal is to deal with all outstanding issues of wastewater management in eastern Attica.
In addition, the consequences of the forest fires that have occurred repeatedly in Eastern Attica in recent years were highlighted, with human lives and property being endangered alongside the enormous destruction of the natural environment. In this context, the posting of forest maps was highlighted, while the law on residential density was announced. "With the ratification of forest maps in 2019, forestry and the environment will be fully mapped out in Eastern Attica, so that the area will no longer be linked in everyone’s minds with the arbitrary destruction of the forest."
The Prime Minister began his opening speech by referring to the regional development conferences themselves, which "are proving to be an institution".
“In order to draw up a national development plan, the Government chose not to do it behind closed doors in offices but to start from the "bottom" with the Regions.” He compared this joint effort with the climate of sterile, miserable, unnecessary political confrontation.
“The upgrading of the urban environment is our priority and it is being implemented throughout the country. It is necessary to adapt the role of the Ports of Rafina and Lavrio directly, with emphasis on passenger transport and the creation of a cruise-ship landing point.
“The bidding for the Rafinas intersection at the junction of Marathon Avenue with Rafina will be held this year by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The project, with a budget of 7€ million, is funded by the Public Investment Programme.
“It is also planned to implement roundabouts in 8 places funded by the Region.
At the same time we are promoting the studies of a series of flood defence projects in Kalyvia and Kouvaras, Marathon, Nea Makri and Rafina.
Visits to archaeological sites in Eastern Attica have increased between 2015 and 2017 by 30,000. While the income from these visits increased by 600,000€.
A large number of works are under way in the area of Tatoi, the archaeological sites of Vravrona and Sounion, the Museum of Vravrona, Amphiaraio and Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments. Work is now completed at the museums of Marathon and Sounion.
In East Attica, 15 tourism investments have been submitted for authorization, of which 6 are hotels. While within the first cycle of the Development Law, 4 hotel investment proposals amounting to 2.8€ million have been submitted.
“In the health sector, a huge effort is being made to upgrade the structures: In March 2018, 208 doctors were working in the Health Centres of Eastern Attica, compared to 105 in December 2015. And 277 other staff up from 224 in 2015.
The Prime Minister Alexis Tzipras spoke again to close the Conference. He used his speech to summarise the conclusions of the two days’ work during which environmental issues, rural development, self-government, energy and spatial planning issues, interventions in the welfare state, public infrastructure, transport networks and ports were discussed.
He referred to Greece’s conviction by the European Court of Justice in 2015 for the lack of wastewater infrastructure in Markopoulo, N. Makris, Koropi, and Rafina-Artemida. To date, tax-payers have paid about 25€ million in fines.
"Today we are launching interventions and activating the tools needed to create a framework for balanced and sustainable development in Eastern Attica - a pillar of the local economy."
"Three major investment plans have been announced over the past few days: Deutsche Telekom will create a fiber optic network worth 2€ billion, a 400€ million fund in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and a 600€ million European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
These create a stable climate that is completely different from the conditions prevailing in the country since 2010. Positive projections are boosted. Growth, international credibility, all economic indicators will improve continuously over the coming years."
"It is now that we have to plan on a solid basis the next day for the country." Alexis Tsipras said in concluding the work of the conference.
" The economy is outperforming its targets and the objectives of the Programme have been met. "In a few months, in the summer, we also come out formally, clearly and definitively, from the Memoranda that have struck us for eight years," stressed Mr. Tsipras.
Latest Economic Data: Primary Surplus Target Exceeded
In terms of completing the Fourth Assessment, Greece’s Primary Surplus is close to 4.5% against a target of 1.75% and, together with the Government’s Development Plan, that is expected to be the Government's "line of defence" vis a vis the IMF. The Government will present the evidence of exceeding the Primary Surplus targets as proof that the “measures” already taken are more than are necessary. It expects to not only counteract IMF pressure to reduce tax allowances but also to bring in, through the Development Plan, a series of social measures.
Approval of the 2017 financial figures submitted by Greece to Eurostat is due to be made on 23rd April.
The International Monetary Fund is expected to finalize its position as to whether to seek the application of the reduced tax-free allowance a year earlier (from 2019), along with a reduction in pensions. However, the strengthening of the Greek economy is reflected in almost all indicators.
With regard to the course of the Fourth Assessment, of the 88 “prerequisite measures” 12 have already been completed.
After Easter the Government expects to complete the remaining 76 without delay. The IMF’s intentions are expected to emerge during its spring session, which takes place on 16-22 April in Washington.
2017 was the best year in a decade for foreign investment, said Government Spokesman
Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, reaching 4€ billion.
Three major investment plans were announced in the last few days, further indicating the positive prospects for the Greek economy.
1. Deutsche Telecom's 2€ billion investment over the next four years in the Greece for the development of fibre networks and 5G.
2. The creation of a fund totalling €400m to be set up by the Ministry of Development and Economy’s New Economy Development Fund [TANEO - a company developing venture capital funds aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises Ed] and the Mubadala Investment Company - the Sovereign Investment Fund of the United Arab Emirates.
3. An investment of €600 million, just for 2018, by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the extension until 2025 of Greece’s partnership with the Bank.
DEBT RELIEF
After Orthodox Easter, the alternative debt relief scenarios under consideration will be discussed and this time the official German reaction will be presented.
On the Thursday after Easter, on April 12th , an EWG (EuroWorking Group) meeting will be held with the first item on the agenda to be what is to happen with the Greek debt. The German side also now seems to agree that some restructuring should go ahead with the end of the Programme
The Task Force set up by the Eurogroup specifically on Greek debt will present the background and the alternative debt relief scenarios as well as the link between debt repayment and growth in line with the so-called "French key".
According to information, some of the loans will be extended and interest rates will be fixed at a level below 2%.
The IMF is expected to clarify its position at its spring meeting on 20-22 April, when the Fund’s Council will be asked to approve the return of the IMF to the Greek Programme on the basis of Eurostat’s final data on the real trajectory of the Greek economy. In any case, the catalyst will be the degree of acceptance of the debt solution, which will be supported by European lenders, and will have to include not only medium-term but also long-term debt relief measures.
Shortly after the middle of the month, Eurostat's closing results for 2017 will be published, which are expected to be very favourable now, since the Primary Surplus of the previous year exceeded 4% of GDP, ie. more than double the Programme’s target of a surplus of 1.75% of GDP.
In terms of completing the Fourth Assessment, Greece’s Primary Surplus is close to 4.5% against a target of 1.75% and, together with the Government’s Development Plan, that is expected to be the Government's "line of defence" vis a vis the IMF. The Government will present the evidence of exceeding the Primary Surplus targets as proof that the “measures” already taken are more than are necessary. It expects to not only counteract IMF pressure to reduce tax allowances but also to bring in, through the Development Plan, a series of social measures.
Approval of the 2017 financial figures submitted by Greece to Eurostat is due to be made on 23rd April.
The International Monetary Fund is expected to finalize its position as to whether to seek the application of the reduced tax-free allowance a year earlier (from 2019), along with a reduction in pensions. However, the strengthening of the Greek economy is reflected in almost all indicators.
With regard to the course of the Fourth Assessment, of the 88 “prerequisite measures” 12 have already been completed.
After Easter the Government expects to complete the remaining 76 without delay. The IMF’s intentions are expected to emerge during its spring session, which takes place on 16-22 April in Washington.
2017 was the best year in a decade for foreign investment, said Government Spokesman
Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, reaching 4€ billion.
Three major investment plans were announced in the last few days, further indicating the positive prospects for the Greek economy.
1. Deutsche Telecom's 2€ billion investment over the next four years in the Greece for the development of fibre networks and 5G.
2. The creation of a fund totalling €400m to be set up by the Ministry of Development and Economy’s New Economy Development Fund [TANEO - a company developing venture capital funds aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises Ed] and the Mubadala Investment Company - the Sovereign Investment Fund of the United Arab Emirates.
3. An investment of €600 million, just for 2018, by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the extension until 2025 of Greece’s partnership with the Bank.
DEBT RELIEF
After Orthodox Easter, the alternative debt relief scenarios under consideration will be discussed and this time the official German reaction will be presented.
On the Thursday after Easter, on April 12th , an EWG (EuroWorking Group) meeting will be held with the first item on the agenda to be what is to happen with the Greek debt. The German side also now seems to agree that some restructuring should go ahead with the end of the Programme
The Task Force set up by the Eurogroup specifically on Greek debt will present the background and the alternative debt relief scenarios as well as the link between debt repayment and growth in line with the so-called "French key".
According to information, some of the loans will be extended and interest rates will be fixed at a level below 2%.
The IMF is expected to clarify its position at its spring meeting on 20-22 April, when the Fund’s Council will be asked to approve the return of the IMF to the Greek Programme on the basis of Eurostat’s final data on the real trajectory of the Greek economy. In any case, the catalyst will be the degree of acceptance of the debt solution, which will be supported by European lenders, and will have to include not only medium-term but also long-term debt relief measures.
Shortly after the middle of the month, Eurostat's closing results for 2017 will be published, which are expected to be very favourable now, since the Primary Surplus of the previous year exceeded 4% of GDP, ie. more than double the Programme’s target of a surplus of 1.75% of GDP.
CORRUPTION: Siemens Bribery Case at Appeal
In July last year Tasos Mandelis, a former PASOK Transport Minister, was found guilty of money laundering in the Siemens bribery case, and was given an eight-year suspended sentence.
Judges had ruled that Mr. Mandelis had received 230,000€ as a bribe for a contract signed with the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) in 1997 when he was a Minister in the PASOK Government.
Siemens Hellas former executive Ilias Georgiou had also been found guilty of money laundering and bribery. Mr.Mandelis’ associate Aristidis Mantas was found guilty of providing assistance in money laundering.
Mr. Georgiou faced a 12-year suspended sentence while Mr. Mandelis received eight years.
The case is now in the Athens Appeal Court.
The Chief Prosecutor in the Five-Member Court of Appeal maintained that the court should not accept the contention of the accused former Minister that the money in question, which had been transferred to a Swiss bank account in the name “ROCOS”, was a pre-election donation by the German company. The Prosecutor pointed out that the money was not spent on the election but on the family expenses of his son, Mr Mandelis.
The Prosecutor said: "Both deposits occurred outside of the pre-election campaign. And in any case both were illegal, because it is forbidden for companies participating in tendering for contracts with the State to make such donations. The money found in the Minister's bank account was twice as much as the total election spending outlay provided for by the relevant Ministry of the Interior decision in the case of a candidate Athens District Β'." The Prosecutor also said that the money was deposited in a secret bank account in Switzerland and so he wondered "why the account was secret and not in his own name? Why want money from strangers? And what if it was money for the Camorra and the Mafia?" He summed up by saying,"Mr.Mandelis' action was neither moral nor legal".
Allegations that Greek politicians and political parties received bribes during successive administrations to grant German industrial giant Siemens lucrative contracts in the run-up to the 2004 Olympics, have dominated local media for years.
In July last year Tasos Mandelis, a former PASOK Transport Minister, was found guilty of money laundering in the Siemens bribery case, and was given an eight-year suspended sentence.
Judges had ruled that Mr. Mandelis had received 230,000€ as a bribe for a contract signed with the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) in 1997 when he was a Minister in the PASOK Government.
Siemens Hellas former executive Ilias Georgiou had also been found guilty of money laundering and bribery. Mr.Mandelis’ associate Aristidis Mantas was found guilty of providing assistance in money laundering.
Mr. Georgiou faced a 12-year suspended sentence while Mr. Mandelis received eight years.
The case is now in the Athens Appeal Court.
The Chief Prosecutor in the Five-Member Court of Appeal maintained that the court should not accept the contention of the accused former Minister that the money in question, which had been transferred to a Swiss bank account in the name “ROCOS”, was a pre-election donation by the German company. The Prosecutor pointed out that the money was not spent on the election but on the family expenses of his son, Mr Mandelis.
The Prosecutor said: "Both deposits occurred outside of the pre-election campaign. And in any case both were illegal, because it is forbidden for companies participating in tendering for contracts with the State to make such donations. The money found in the Minister's bank account was twice as much as the total election spending outlay provided for by the relevant Ministry of the Interior decision in the case of a candidate Athens District Β'." The Prosecutor also said that the money was deposited in a secret bank account in Switzerland and so he wondered "why the account was secret and not in his own name? Why want money from strangers? And what if it was money for the Camorra and the Mafia?" He summed up by saying,"Mr.Mandelis' action was neither moral nor legal".
Allegations that Greek politicians and political parties received bribes during successive administrations to grant German industrial giant Siemens lucrative contracts in the run-up to the 2004 Olympics, have dominated local media for years.
"Our basic tool for
“the next day” is
the National Development Strategy"
31.3.2018
"Our basic tool for “the next day” is the National Development Strategy," said Alexis Tsipras, noting that this is a "complete strategic plan that no one will build for us and no one will impose on us, but it will be a product of our own design and choice".
To the discussions taking place at the Regional Conferences, "the Government is coming without preconceptions, without asking for anyone’s political credentials and without pushing any other agenda beyond common work and consultation on the productive reconstruction of each region," he said, speaking at the Regional Conference on the Reconstruction of Production of Central Macedonia.
He said the aim was a productive discussion, to find solutions together. "It would be desirable for all of us to reach such terms of mutual understanding both in the country's Parliament and on the central political scene."
He noted as a positive fact that these conferences "coincide with the completion of the Programme and, after 8 years, the long-desired exit of the country from the Stewardship". He stressed that "Today we can be more optimistic, because the economy is reaching the goals and the completion of the 4th Assessment, which, combined with the debt relief processes, will pave the way for a definite and clear exit from the adventure of the Memoranda." He underlined that "The road from here on is open. 2018 will be better than 2017 and 2019 even better than 2018".
He pointed out, however, that "it is not a forgone conclusion that we will succeed. Our basic tool for "the next day" is the National Development Strategy."
It is based on three pillars.
-The first is fiscal and macroeconomic stability. So that the country can ensure its autonomous course.
-The second pillar is supporting work, tackling unemployment and upgrading and broadening the welfare state.
-Finally, the third pillar is the change in the country's productive model.
"So we are planning the next day, we are planning the return of the country and the society to normality and growth, but far away from the pathogens and distortions of the past due to the old regime of clientelism and vested interests, which undermined the country's path of development and eventually led to bankruptcy."
He said that he was impressed by the way in which Mr. Mitsotakis "chose to attack the procedures to remove political party interests from the Public Administration". This is "a huge intervention, a great reform with which we are proceeding in complete agreement with the Institutions that are praising the Greek Government because it is the first time in the modern history of the Greek State that the initiative has been taken to get grips with the mentality that the state is the booty of the governing political party."
He called on the New Democracy President to explain more clearly his positions on redundancies in the public sector and his position on moving to private insurance. "That", he commented," if ever applied, would immediately put the viability of the insurance system at risk along with citizens' insurance rights and would lead to hundreds of insured people being on starvation pensions without health care."
"It is up to us to not let Greece turn backwards. Those who threw the country onto the rocks still seem to have a plan to return us to the harsh, indiscriminate, class choices that, on the pretext of the crisis, they were happy to implement during the great plunder 2010-2014."
He stressed that the "next day" Greece must find itself and will find itself free of neo-liberal dogmatism. Free from the logic of Social Darwinism and from a political system steeped in clientelist relationships, corruption and vested interests."
He noted that it is a key priority and commitment to the citizens "not only to extricate the country from the Memoranda, but to do our part to bring in a clean-up and justice." He made it clear that "we will not go back in any way and for anybody, how ever much pressure and how ever many threats we receive." "All cases will be investigated by the Judiciary, which is now left alone to concentrate on taking decisions according to the law, concerning everyone irrespective of how "high" they are."
Referring to the words of the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia earlier on the issue of the country's differences with FYROM, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki in particular, wanting to be the pole and pillar of development, can only benefit from the resolution of our dispute with our Northern Neighbours."
He clarified that "this does not mean that we are going into a negotiation to achieve just any solution. We are negotiating with a sense of national responsibility and with the aim of achieving a solution that will safeguard our history and our heritage and at the same time put an end to irredentism from the other side."
"We have set the bar high in the negotiation. We want a solution that will last for all time, not a solution that runs the risk of collapsing very soon, so we have also made it a prerequisite, among other things, that the Neighbours’ Constitution is changed."
"We will do not what is defined by party political interest but what is defined by the national interest," the Prime Minister said, and called on the other side to step up to the situation, because for them it is a matter of existential importance "and I hope they will understand it and have the strength to take the difficult decisions that are, however, necessary."
To the discussions taking place at the Regional Conferences, "the Government is coming without preconceptions, without asking for anyone’s political credentials and without pushing any other agenda beyond common work and consultation on the productive reconstruction of each region," he said, speaking at the Regional Conference on the Reconstruction of Production of Central Macedonia.
He said the aim was a productive discussion, to find solutions together. "It would be desirable for all of us to reach such terms of mutual understanding both in the country's Parliament and on the central political scene."
He noted as a positive fact that these conferences "coincide with the completion of the Programme and, after 8 years, the long-desired exit of the country from the Stewardship". He stressed that "Today we can be more optimistic, because the economy is reaching the goals and the completion of the 4th Assessment, which, combined with the debt relief processes, will pave the way for a definite and clear exit from the adventure of the Memoranda." He underlined that "The road from here on is open. 2018 will be better than 2017 and 2019 even better than 2018".
He pointed out, however, that "it is not a forgone conclusion that we will succeed. Our basic tool for "the next day" is the National Development Strategy."
It is based on three pillars.
-The first is fiscal and macroeconomic stability. So that the country can ensure its autonomous course.
-The second pillar is supporting work, tackling unemployment and upgrading and broadening the welfare state.
-Finally, the third pillar is the change in the country's productive model.
"So we are planning the next day, we are planning the return of the country and the society to normality and growth, but far away from the pathogens and distortions of the past due to the old regime of clientelism and vested interests, which undermined the country's path of development and eventually led to bankruptcy."
He said that he was impressed by the way in which Mr. Mitsotakis "chose to attack the procedures to remove political party interests from the Public Administration". This is "a huge intervention, a great reform with which we are proceeding in complete agreement with the Institutions that are praising the Greek Government because it is the first time in the modern history of the Greek State that the initiative has been taken to get grips with the mentality that the state is the booty of the governing political party."
He called on the New Democracy President to explain more clearly his positions on redundancies in the public sector and his position on moving to private insurance. "That", he commented," if ever applied, would immediately put the viability of the insurance system at risk along with citizens' insurance rights and would lead to hundreds of insured people being on starvation pensions without health care."
"It is up to us to not let Greece turn backwards. Those who threw the country onto the rocks still seem to have a plan to return us to the harsh, indiscriminate, class choices that, on the pretext of the crisis, they were happy to implement during the great plunder 2010-2014."
He stressed that the "next day" Greece must find itself and will find itself free of neo-liberal dogmatism. Free from the logic of Social Darwinism and from a political system steeped in clientelist relationships, corruption and vested interests."
He noted that it is a key priority and commitment to the citizens "not only to extricate the country from the Memoranda, but to do our part to bring in a clean-up and justice." He made it clear that "we will not go back in any way and for anybody, how ever much pressure and how ever many threats we receive." "All cases will be investigated by the Judiciary, which is now left alone to concentrate on taking decisions according to the law, concerning everyone irrespective of how "high" they are."
Referring to the words of the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia earlier on the issue of the country's differences with FYROM, Alexis Tsipras stressed that "Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki in particular, wanting to be the pole and pillar of development, can only benefit from the resolution of our dispute with our Northern Neighbours."
He clarified that "this does not mean that we are going into a negotiation to achieve just any solution. We are negotiating with a sense of national responsibility and with the aim of achieving a solution that will safeguard our history and our heritage and at the same time put an end to irredentism from the other side."
"We have set the bar high in the negotiation. We want a solution that will last for all time, not a solution that runs the risk of collapsing very soon, so we have also made it a prerequisite, among other things, that the Neighbours’ Constitution is changed."
"We will do not what is defined by party political interest but what is defined by the national interest," the Prime Minister said, and called on the other side to step up to the situation, because for them it is a matter of existential importance "and I hope they will understand it and have the strength to take the difficult decisions that are, however, necessary."
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY 25th March : The Prime Minister’s Message
Greece is a country that seeks solidarity and peaceful co-existence with its neighbours, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Sunday on the occasion of Greece’s War of Independence celebration.
The Prime Minister was on the island of Psara from where he addressed the nation on Greece’s Independence Day from Ottoman rule.
“Greece is a pole of stability and guarantor of the stability and the safety in the region and cannot allow anyone to play games that set this stability at risk.”
“Greece is a country with strong defences, not to threaten but to safeguard the peace and stability in the region, to serve the principle of good neighbourly relations.”
“Our thoughts are with the Greek servicemen that are currently detained in Edirne and we are doing whatever is necessary to bring them back to Greece soon”.
“The next page of our history belongs to a Greece free from the wounds of the economic crisis and the suffocating supervision that we experienced over the last 8 years, a period that comes to an end in a few months” he said adding that “now is the moment that we must build the future of our country on solid foundations.”
“Greece is facing the future with optimism and is standing up as a modern, European and democratic country with social justice, equality and total respect to the freedoms of the individual.”
Greece is a country that seeks solidarity and peaceful co-existence with its neighbours, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Sunday on the occasion of Greece’s War of Independence celebration.
The Prime Minister was on the island of Psara from where he addressed the nation on Greece’s Independence Day from Ottoman rule.
“Greece is a pole of stability and guarantor of the stability and the safety in the region and cannot allow anyone to play games that set this stability at risk.”
“Greece is a country with strong defences, not to threaten but to safeguard the peace and stability in the region, to serve the principle of good neighbourly relations.”
“Our thoughts are with the Greek servicemen that are currently detained in Edirne and we are doing whatever is necessary to bring them back to Greece soon”.
“The next page of our history belongs to a Greece free from the wounds of the economic crisis and the suffocating supervision that we experienced over the last 8 years, a period that comes to an end in a few months” he said adding that “now is the moment that we must build the future of our country on solid foundations.”
“Greece is facing the future with optimism and is standing up as a modern, European and democratic country with social justice, equality and total respect to the freedoms of the individual.”
THE ECONOMY
On Tuesday, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) approved the disbursement of a 5.7€ billion bailout loan sub-tranche to Greece.
The Finance Ministry plans to use the funds to repay debt (3.3€ billion) and State arrears (500€ million), as well as build a cash buffer that will help the country achieve a "clean exit" from its bailout programme in August 2018.
A further 1€ billion will be released in April, providing that State arrears have been cleared as agreed with international creditors; and the electronic auctioning of foreclosed properties continues smoothly.
The decision follows the Greek Government’s completion of all prior actions and the subsequent approval of the Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding by the ESM Board of Governors.
ESM Managing Director Klaus Regling said: "Today's decision by the ESM Board of Directors acknowledges the hard work by the Greek Government and Greek people in completing an extensive set of reforms. These include important actions in the field of privatisation, public revenue collection, tax policy and resolution of non-performing loans (NPLs). The fourth and final review of the programme has already started and I am confident that Greece is on track to successfully exit the ESM programme in August 2018, provided that the remaining reforms are implemented by the Greek Government".
The conclusion of the 4th Assessment of the bailout programme is now expected to be discussed during a July Eurogroup meeting.
On Tuesday, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) approved the disbursement of a 5.7€ billion bailout loan sub-tranche to Greece.
The Finance Ministry plans to use the funds to repay debt (3.3€ billion) and State arrears (500€ million), as well as build a cash buffer that will help the country achieve a "clean exit" from its bailout programme in August 2018.
A further 1€ billion will be released in April, providing that State arrears have been cleared as agreed with international creditors; and the electronic auctioning of foreclosed properties continues smoothly.
The decision follows the Greek Government’s completion of all prior actions and the subsequent approval of the Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding by the ESM Board of Governors.
ESM Managing Director Klaus Regling said: "Today's decision by the ESM Board of Directors acknowledges the hard work by the Greek Government and Greek people in completing an extensive set of reforms. These include important actions in the field of privatisation, public revenue collection, tax policy and resolution of non-performing loans (NPLs). The fourth and final review of the programme has already started and I am confident that Greece is on track to successfully exit the ESM programme in August 2018, provided that the remaining reforms are implemented by the Greek Government".
The conclusion of the 4th Assessment of the bailout programme is now expected to be discussed during a July Eurogroup meeting.
From left, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker meeting at the EU-Turkey summit, in Varna, Bulgaria, on Monday.
GREECE-TURKEY Relations: The EU Response
From left, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prepare for a photo prior to a meeting at the EU-Turkey summit, in Varna, Bulgaria, on Monday.
European leaders urged Turkey to comply with international laws and EU standards if the country wants to continue on a path to EU membership in the future.
The EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting took place on 26th March at the Evksinograd residence in Varna, Bulgaria and brought together Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey.
The working dinner assesed matters of mutual interest and recent developments in Turkey, including the country’s illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and its involvement in Syria.
At their last EU summit on 22-23 March, EU leaders had called on Turkey to respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resources, in line with EU and international law.
In this meeting they also recalled Turkey’s obligation to respect international law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus.
The European Union also expressed its grave concern over the continued detention of two Greek soldiers and EU citizens in Turkey.
European Council President Tusk’s full statement:
Let me first of all thank Prime Minister Borissov for hosting us . Today’s EU-Turkey meeting reaffirms the importance both sides give to our relationship.
At our meeting in Brussels last year we agreed to intensify our dialogue at different levels. Since then a number of high level meetings have taken place between the EU and Turkey. This evening we took stock of where things stand and set out some parameters for the future.
On migration and support for refugees, the EU and Turkey remain very close partners. I would like to express our appreciation for the impressive work Turkey has been doing, and to sincerely thank Turkey and the Turkish people for hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees these past years. The EU has lent substantial support to improve the lives of these refugees, and this evening we reaffirmed the European Union’s unwavering commitment to continue this support.
As an EU candidate country, Turkey has committed to developing and upholding the highest standards of democracy. We understand Turkey’s need to deal effectively with its security after the attempted coup and the terrorist attacks it has suffered. But we are concerned that some of the methods used undermine fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Turkey. We encourage Turkey to work with the Council of Europe, of which Turkey has been a member longer than most EU Member States. The EU also stands ready to assist.
Good bilateral relations with EU Member States are also an important commitment within the accession process. We welcome positive progress in recent months with some of our Member States, but still have serious concerns about inter alia recent Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea as well as the detention of EU citizens. The European Union stands united behind the Republic of Cyprus regarding its right to explore and exploit its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. This is also important in view of our shared objective for the successful reunification of Cyprus for the benefit of both populations on the island, for Turkey, the European Union and for EU-Turkey relations.
We also had a discussion this evening on working together in the field of counter-terrorism. We want to expand our cooperation with regard to Foreign Terrorist Fighters; another area where we share important security interests.
We also expressed our concern with Turkey’s actions in Syria, in particular the situation in Afrin. Escalating violence and displacement in an already tragic and volatile situation must be avoided. And we recalled Turkey’s responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.
Let me end by thanking President Erdoğan for coming to Varna. Our meeting today demonstrated that while our relationship is going through difficult times, in areas where we do cooperate, we cooperate well. We reconfirm our readiness to keep up the dialogue and consultations and to work together to overcome current difficulties with a view to unleashing the potential of our partnership. I remain fully committed to assisting in this process. Thank you!
President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker called on the Turkish President to release the two Greek soldiers "before Orthodox Easter", while at the same time saying that "the issues of Greece and Cyprus will determine to a significant extent the relations between the EU and Turkey."
However, the meeting and the joint statements of the four made it clear that the EU-Turkey relationship remains difficult and Donald Tusk and Jean Claude Juncker admitted that the two sides did not reach "solid solutions".
Turkish President Erdogan reacted in equally tough language, accusing Europe of siding with the Greeks and Cypriots. "The language used at the conclusion of the Turkish summit on Thursday evening is the most aggressive and sharp in the history of Euro-Turkish relations," commented a European official.
From left, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prepare for a photo prior to a meeting at the EU-Turkey summit, in Varna, Bulgaria, on Monday.
European leaders urged Turkey to comply with international laws and EU standards if the country wants to continue on a path to EU membership in the future.
The EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting took place on 26th March at the Evksinograd residence in Varna, Bulgaria and brought together Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey.
The working dinner assesed matters of mutual interest and recent developments in Turkey, including the country’s illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and its involvement in Syria.
At their last EU summit on 22-23 March, EU leaders had called on Turkey to respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resources, in line with EU and international law.
In this meeting they also recalled Turkey’s obligation to respect international law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus.
The European Union also expressed its grave concern over the continued detention of two Greek soldiers and EU citizens in Turkey.
European Council President Tusk’s full statement:
Let me first of all thank Prime Minister Borissov for hosting us . Today’s EU-Turkey meeting reaffirms the importance both sides give to our relationship.
At our meeting in Brussels last year we agreed to intensify our dialogue at different levels. Since then a number of high level meetings have taken place between the EU and Turkey. This evening we took stock of where things stand and set out some parameters for the future.
On migration and support for refugees, the EU and Turkey remain very close partners. I would like to express our appreciation for the impressive work Turkey has been doing, and to sincerely thank Turkey and the Turkish people for hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees these past years. The EU has lent substantial support to improve the lives of these refugees, and this evening we reaffirmed the European Union’s unwavering commitment to continue this support.
As an EU candidate country, Turkey has committed to developing and upholding the highest standards of democracy. We understand Turkey’s need to deal effectively with its security after the attempted coup and the terrorist attacks it has suffered. But we are concerned that some of the methods used undermine fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Turkey. We encourage Turkey to work with the Council of Europe, of which Turkey has been a member longer than most EU Member States. The EU also stands ready to assist.
Good bilateral relations with EU Member States are also an important commitment within the accession process. We welcome positive progress in recent months with some of our Member States, but still have serious concerns about inter alia recent Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea as well as the detention of EU citizens. The European Union stands united behind the Republic of Cyprus regarding its right to explore and exploit its natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. This is also important in view of our shared objective for the successful reunification of Cyprus for the benefit of both populations on the island, for Turkey, the European Union and for EU-Turkey relations.
We also had a discussion this evening on working together in the field of counter-terrorism. We want to expand our cooperation with regard to Foreign Terrorist Fighters; another area where we share important security interests.
We also expressed our concern with Turkey’s actions in Syria, in particular the situation in Afrin. Escalating violence and displacement in an already tragic and volatile situation must be avoided. And we recalled Turkey’s responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.
Let me end by thanking President Erdoğan for coming to Varna. Our meeting today demonstrated that while our relationship is going through difficult times, in areas where we do cooperate, we cooperate well. We reconfirm our readiness to keep up the dialogue and consultations and to work together to overcome current difficulties with a view to unleashing the potential of our partnership. I remain fully committed to assisting in this process. Thank you!
President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker called on the Turkish President to release the two Greek soldiers "before Orthodox Easter", while at the same time saying that "the issues of Greece and Cyprus will determine to a significant extent the relations between the EU and Turkey."
However, the meeting and the joint statements of the four made it clear that the EU-Turkey relationship remains difficult and Donald Tusk and Jean Claude Juncker admitted that the two sides did not reach "solid solutions".
Turkish President Erdogan reacted in equally tough language, accusing Europe of siding with the Greeks and Cypriots. "The language used at the conclusion of the Turkish summit on Thursday evening is the most aggressive and sharp in the history of Euro-Turkish relations," commented a European official.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
The proposed changes in the teaching of Religions "shake the religious Christian consciousness to its foundation" and change the Orthodox character of the state. That was the decision of the majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
This report came from the SYRIZA Press Office.
In the end, does the legal judgement, the judicial interpretation of the Law, or does it not reflect the mark of our time?
The reflection on the rationale of the judicial judgments comes forcefully to centre stage after both the acquittal of Metropolitan Ambrosios by the One-Member Magistrate’s Court of Aigion on the charge of public incitement to violence or hatred on the basis on the anti-racist laws and after the decision of the majority of the Supreme Court, which considered unconstitutional the changes in the curriculum of Religious Lessons by Minister Nikos Filis.
As can be seen from the specific judgments, the interpretation of the law does not go hand in hand with the needs of modern times. On the contrary, their thinking seems to be in line with the perceptions of an anachronistic and obscurantist bloc in the Church, which makes it even more imperative for us to talk openly about the forthcoming revision of the Constitutional and the relationship between the State and the Church. It is imperative for us to reconsider basic concepts, such as neutrality, freedom of conscience, and religious freedom.
The changes in the teaching of Religions "shake the religious Christian consciousness to its foundation" and changes the Orthodox character of the state. That was what was decided by the majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court, accepting the appeal of Metropolitan Piraeus Seraphim of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus, the Centre of Patristic Studies, and parents. Yet another proof that the Judiciary often supports the Church's interventions in education and beyond. Besides, the Piraeus Metropolitan's appeal against the Cohabitation Agreement, the complaint against the producers of the "Corpus Cristi" show, and his rhetoric on homosexuality, which he had equated with paedophilia and bestiality cannot be seen as chance events…
The rationale behind the decision on the changes in the teaching of Religions is that they are contrary to constitutional provisions and to the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the majority of the Judges, "the orthodox Christian conscience of the disciples in the mainstream religion of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ" is being undermined (...) and that "the contested decision should be concerned exclusively with Orthodox Christian students and should be designed towards the consolidation and continuation of the Orthodox Christian consciousness."
They underline that the programmes of study are deficient in the content of Orthodox Christian teaching, as there is no reference to the Holy Unity and Indivisible Trinity which all Greek constitutions refer to in their headings and that, in the Third Grade of Primary School, Jesus Christ is presented as a stranger, as an expected Messiah, as a teacher who all admire, as a dear friend, not as the saviour of the world.
The Minority of the Supreme Court: “The lesson does not have the character of a catechism”
The thinking of the five judges of the minority is following a totally different logic. They argue in favour of constitutionality, noting that "the contested activity (...) serves the purpose of providing a state religious education which is pluralist and evaluatively neutral, adequately presenting the teaching of Orthodoxy as provided by the Constitution and the provisions of the international conventions. It follows that the opposing pleas in law, which are based on a misinterpretation of the relevant provisions, must be dismissed as unfounded, while the further challenge to the substantive judgment and to the pedagogical choices of the administration is inadmissible and goes beyond judicial review, which in this case is borderline".
As they point out, the Constitution and the international conventions "do not in any way oblige the legislator to give Religious Lessons a confessional or catechistic character, since this would amount not to the "development"of religious consciousness in the above-mentioned sense, but to the "imposition" of religious consciousness with a specific content . The five judges who were in the Minority are Vice-President Spyridoula Chrysikopoulou and State Judges Ioannis Mantzouranis, Theodoros Aravanis, Michalis Pikramenos and Anastasia-Maria Papadimitriou.
Education Minister Kostas Gavroglou said “We are continuing our work. We will not succumb to obscurantism”. "Obscurantism has many social and political expressions. The objective of all this is to prevent the Government from proceeding with reforms of issues that involve an illness from which we have suffered for so many years,"said the Minister of Education, stressing that the Government will not succumb to threats and blackmail. Asked about possible changes to Religious Lessons this year, he explained that the Supreme Court’s decision concerns the previous year and does not play any role in the way of teaching this year. At the same time, he also referred to the effort to modernize other school lessons, such as History.
Invited to comment on the decision of the Supreme Court, Archbishop Ieronymos simply stated that the Church and the State would continue their cooperation. "We always respect court rulings. This issue will continue. We have agreed with the Ministry that the Church and the State should continue their co-operation so that this will eventually become a course-book."
The proposed changes in the teaching of Religions "shake the religious Christian consciousness to its foundation" and change the Orthodox character of the state. That was the decision of the majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
This report came from the SYRIZA Press Office.
In the end, does the legal judgement, the judicial interpretation of the Law, or does it not reflect the mark of our time?
The reflection on the rationale of the judicial judgments comes forcefully to centre stage after both the acquittal of Metropolitan Ambrosios by the One-Member Magistrate’s Court of Aigion on the charge of public incitement to violence or hatred on the basis on the anti-racist laws and after the decision of the majority of the Supreme Court, which considered unconstitutional the changes in the curriculum of Religious Lessons by Minister Nikos Filis.
As can be seen from the specific judgments, the interpretation of the law does not go hand in hand with the needs of modern times. On the contrary, their thinking seems to be in line with the perceptions of an anachronistic and obscurantist bloc in the Church, which makes it even more imperative for us to talk openly about the forthcoming revision of the Constitutional and the relationship between the State and the Church. It is imperative for us to reconsider basic concepts, such as neutrality, freedom of conscience, and religious freedom.
The changes in the teaching of Religions "shake the religious Christian consciousness to its foundation" and changes the Orthodox character of the state. That was what was decided by the majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court, accepting the appeal of Metropolitan Piraeus Seraphim of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus, the Centre of Patristic Studies, and parents. Yet another proof that the Judiciary often supports the Church's interventions in education and beyond. Besides, the Piraeus Metropolitan's appeal against the Cohabitation Agreement, the complaint against the producers of the "Corpus Cristi" show, and his rhetoric on homosexuality, which he had equated with paedophilia and bestiality cannot be seen as chance events…
The rationale behind the decision on the changes in the teaching of Religions is that they are contrary to constitutional provisions and to the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the majority of the Judges, "the orthodox Christian conscience of the disciples in the mainstream religion of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Christ" is being undermined (...) and that "the contested decision should be concerned exclusively with Orthodox Christian students and should be designed towards the consolidation and continuation of the Orthodox Christian consciousness."
They underline that the programmes of study are deficient in the content of Orthodox Christian teaching, as there is no reference to the Holy Unity and Indivisible Trinity which all Greek constitutions refer to in their headings and that, in the Third Grade of Primary School, Jesus Christ is presented as a stranger, as an expected Messiah, as a teacher who all admire, as a dear friend, not as the saviour of the world.
The Minority of the Supreme Court: “The lesson does not have the character of a catechism”
The thinking of the five judges of the minority is following a totally different logic. They argue in favour of constitutionality, noting that "the contested activity (...) serves the purpose of providing a state religious education which is pluralist and evaluatively neutral, adequately presenting the teaching of Orthodoxy as provided by the Constitution and the provisions of the international conventions. It follows that the opposing pleas in law, which are based on a misinterpretation of the relevant provisions, must be dismissed as unfounded, while the further challenge to the substantive judgment and to the pedagogical choices of the administration is inadmissible and goes beyond judicial review, which in this case is borderline".
As they point out, the Constitution and the international conventions "do not in any way oblige the legislator to give Religious Lessons a confessional or catechistic character, since this would amount not to the "development"of religious consciousness in the above-mentioned sense, but to the "imposition" of religious consciousness with a specific content . The five judges who were in the Minority are Vice-President Spyridoula Chrysikopoulou and State Judges Ioannis Mantzouranis, Theodoros Aravanis, Michalis Pikramenos and Anastasia-Maria Papadimitriou.
Education Minister Kostas Gavroglou said “We are continuing our work. We will not succumb to obscurantism”. "Obscurantism has many social and political expressions. The objective of all this is to prevent the Government from proceeding with reforms of issues that involve an illness from which we have suffered for so many years,"said the Minister of Education, stressing that the Government will not succumb to threats and blackmail. Asked about possible changes to Religious Lessons this year, he explained that the Supreme Court’s decision concerns the previous year and does not play any role in the way of teaching this year. At the same time, he also referred to the effort to modernize other school lessons, such as History.
Invited to comment on the decision of the Supreme Court, Archbishop Ieronymos simply stated that the Church and the State would continue their cooperation. "We always respect court rulings. This issue will continue. We have agreed with the Ministry that the Church and the State should continue their co-operation so that this will eventually become a course-book."
Bishop Ambrosios to face re-trial
A Greek Orthodox bishop is facing a re-trial over comments in which he allegedly incited violence against gay people, after government officials criticized his initial acquittal.
A Greek court had acquitted Metropolitan Bishop Ambrosios of Kalavryta of a charged brought against him by nine gay men over comments in a 2015 blog post in which he directed the Greek faithful to “spit on them,” referring to gay people. Opposition parties united with the Government in criticism of the acquittal, and a senior prosecutor filed an appeal against the ruling on Monday.
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis also requested transcripts of Kalavryta’s initial trial to check to see if their were any errors in the process which would justify a re-trial. If convicted of incitement of violence against gay people, Bishop Ambrosios could face a fine of up to 20,000€ and a maximum of three years in prison.
Bishop Ambrosios railed in the 2015 blog post against a Greek politician who he said openly supported homosexuality.
“Homosexuality is a diversion from the Laws of Nature! It is a social felony! It is a sin! Those who either experience it or support it are not normal people! It’s a scum of society,” a translation of Ambrosios’ blog post read (emphasis his).
Bishop Ambrosios directed his readers later in the post to remember the words of Lech Walesa, with regard to how they should treat those who support homosexuality and atheism.
“Hey, then, these scoundrels, spit on them! Discard them! Blacken(sic) them! They are not people! They are abodes of nature! Mental and spiritual suffering(sic)! They are people with mental disorders(sic),” he quoted Lech Walesa as saying.
Bishop Ambrosios is known for taking strong public stances against homosexuality and transgenderism and leading churches in opposition against legislation favouring LGBT individuals. He directed churches in his diocese to protest against the passing of a law in October of 2017 that allowed Greek citizens to identify as whichever gender they choose.
“It is an outrageous inspiration for someone to change his gender in a few minutes, with a simple declaration, so contrary to what God has gifted people with … whoever has ‘gender dysphoria’ is mentally ill,” a statement approved by the orthodox leaders of Kalavryta read concerning the law.
A Greek Orthodox bishop is facing a re-trial over comments in which he allegedly incited violence against gay people, after government officials criticized his initial acquittal.
A Greek court had acquitted Metropolitan Bishop Ambrosios of Kalavryta of a charged brought against him by nine gay men over comments in a 2015 blog post in which he directed the Greek faithful to “spit on them,” referring to gay people. Opposition parties united with the Government in criticism of the acquittal, and a senior prosecutor filed an appeal against the ruling on Monday.
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis also requested transcripts of Kalavryta’s initial trial to check to see if their were any errors in the process which would justify a re-trial. If convicted of incitement of violence against gay people, Bishop Ambrosios could face a fine of up to 20,000€ and a maximum of three years in prison.
Bishop Ambrosios railed in the 2015 blog post against a Greek politician who he said openly supported homosexuality.
“Homosexuality is a diversion from the Laws of Nature! It is a social felony! It is a sin! Those who either experience it or support it are not normal people! It’s a scum of society,” a translation of Ambrosios’ blog post read (emphasis his).
Bishop Ambrosios directed his readers later in the post to remember the words of Lech Walesa, with regard to how they should treat those who support homosexuality and atheism.
“Hey, then, these scoundrels, spit on them! Discard them! Blacken(sic) them! They are not people! They are abodes of nature! Mental and spiritual suffering(sic)! They are people with mental disorders(sic),” he quoted Lech Walesa as saying.
Bishop Ambrosios is known for taking strong public stances against homosexuality and transgenderism and leading churches in opposition against legislation favouring LGBT individuals. He directed churches in his diocese to protest against the passing of a law in October of 2017 that allowed Greek citizens to identify as whichever gender they choose.
“It is an outrageous inspiration for someone to change his gender in a few minutes, with a simple declaration, so contrary to what God has gifted people with … whoever has ‘gender dysphoria’ is mentally ill,” a statement approved by the orthodox leaders of Kalavryta read concerning the law.
PLASTIC BAG PRODUCTION PLUMMETS
Greek plastic bag industries are reporting an annual decline in output by 80% in the first quarter of the year as a result of the environmental tax plastic bags introduced from January 1st 2018.
Supermarkets and other retail outlets charge between four and nine euro cents per plastic bag, including value-added tax and depending on their size.
Ioannis Kaselimis, a representative of the Association of Hellenic Plastic Industries (SVPE) said that after the harmonization of the national legislation with the European Union directives, the industries that continue to produce plastic bags do so only when they have a specific delivery date for their orders.
While there is no environmental tax imposed on thicker plastic bags for which retailers are allowed to charge what they like, their orders are not enough to offset the losses from the dramatic decline in the production of the conventional, thin plastic bags. According to plastic industry insiders, it is only medium-sized supermarket chains that have shown an increase in orders for the thicker bags.
Greek plastic bag industries are reporting an annual decline in output by 80% in the first quarter of the year as a result of the environmental tax plastic bags introduced from January 1st 2018.
Supermarkets and other retail outlets charge between four and nine euro cents per plastic bag, including value-added tax and depending on their size.
Ioannis Kaselimis, a representative of the Association of Hellenic Plastic Industries (SVPE) said that after the harmonization of the national legislation with the European Union directives, the industries that continue to produce plastic bags do so only when they have a specific delivery date for their orders.
While there is no environmental tax imposed on thicker plastic bags for which retailers are allowed to charge what they like, their orders are not enough to offset the losses from the dramatic decline in the production of the conventional, thin plastic bags. According to plastic industry insiders, it is only medium-sized supermarket chains that have shown an increase in orders for the thicker bags.
European Union condemns Turkish "unlawful acts"
24.03.2018
For the first time, the European Council at the end of its meeting included in its final text a strong condemnation of Turkey's unlawful acts in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. The text expressed a clear position of support for both Greece and Cyprus over Turkey's provocation and the demand for immediate release of the two Greek soldiers.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in a statement after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels: "The European partners show their solidarity and sympathy. As you know, Chancellor Merkel has already intervened with Mr Erdogan himself. I hope and I want to believe that this will have a positive outcome in the sense that Turkey will not seek and will not continue to use an everyday event on the border between the two states as a weapon,"the Greek minister said.
There was also a commitment from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk to raise the issue of two Greek soldiers with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at the Varna Summit on Monday 26th March. Both demanded clear guarantees on the part of Turkey about respecting the sovereign rights of Greece and the return of the two Greek soldiers.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in a statement after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels: "The European partners show their solidarity and sympathy. As you know, Chancellor Merkel has already intervened with Mr Erdogan himself. I hope and I want to believe that this will have a positive outcome in the sense that Turkey will not seek and will not continue to use an everyday event on the border between the two states as a weapon,"the Greek minister said.
There was also a commitment from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk to raise the issue of two Greek soldiers with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at the Varna Summit on Monday 26th March. Both demanded clear guarantees on the part of Turkey about respecting the sovereign rights of Greece and the return of the two Greek soldiers.
Novartis Scandal
New Democracy and all the opposition parties halted their participation in the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry into the Novartis scandal, maintaining that the protected witnesses should be summoned to the Commission and that the case file should not be sent to the Judiciary for it to continue the investigation.
The Prime Minister's press office released this statement:
"New Democracy, under the weight of the storm of revelations that are part of in the Novartis investigation, takes to its feet out of the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry, since it understands that its line of defence is collapsing and the band is tightening for all those who want to protect themselves from the consequences of the law.
"The planned and premeditated withdrawal of New Democracy and those who followed it, is another move of cheap diversion with the aim of causing a sensation and covering up the unprecedented scandal
"The disorderly and unexpected flight of New Democracy from the constitutionally mandated procedure of the Commission comes after its failure to create unnecessary delay and procrastinations that could jeopardize the very elucidation of the case itself.
Whatever New Democracy and its President Mr. Mitsotakis concocts, one thing is certain: The investigation of the case will proceed with respect for the constitutional and procedural rules so that those responsible are brought before the competent courts and are held accountable for the abuse of power and the squandering of public money."
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
In his submission to the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry into the scandals in the health sector, the Deputy Health Minister Pavlos Polakis revealed that 230€ million is missing from the funds of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention [ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ]. This amount has been going missing since 2007, he said.
The data was revealed in the last 10 days when the Health Ministry managed to collect together all the balance sheets.
"ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ received 750€ million and spent 522€ million. The cash balance of the ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ accounts, which strangely enough are many in number, is 3,173,703€. Where is the rest? This requires immediate investigation by prosecutors. Where is the rest? Where did it go? Where are the 230€ million. I have learned that, particularly in recent years because in 2011 the chartered auditors stopped going, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are a black hole."
The Deputy Health Minister also made the accusation that supplies and services were paid for twice, when he spoke about a "gang" within ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ.
New Democracy and all the opposition parties halted their participation in the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry into the Novartis scandal, maintaining that the protected witnesses should be summoned to the Commission and that the case file should not be sent to the Judiciary for it to continue the investigation.
The Prime Minister's press office released this statement:
"New Democracy, under the weight of the storm of revelations that are part of in the Novartis investigation, takes to its feet out of the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry, since it understands that its line of defence is collapsing and the band is tightening for all those who want to protect themselves from the consequences of the law.
"The planned and premeditated withdrawal of New Democracy and those who followed it, is another move of cheap diversion with the aim of causing a sensation and covering up the unprecedented scandal
"The disorderly and unexpected flight of New Democracy from the constitutionally mandated procedure of the Commission comes after its failure to create unnecessary delay and procrastinations that could jeopardize the very elucidation of the case itself.
Whatever New Democracy and its President Mr. Mitsotakis concocts, one thing is certain: The investigation of the case will proceed with respect for the constitutional and procedural rules so that those responsible are brought before the competent courts and are held accountable for the abuse of power and the squandering of public money."
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
In his submission to the Parliamentary Commission of Preliminary Inquiry into the scandals in the health sector, the Deputy Health Minister Pavlos Polakis revealed that 230€ million is missing from the funds of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention [ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ]. This amount has been going missing since 2007, he said.
The data was revealed in the last 10 days when the Health Ministry managed to collect together all the balance sheets.
"ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ received 750€ million and spent 522€ million. The cash balance of the ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ accounts, which strangely enough are many in number, is 3,173,703€. Where is the rest? This requires immediate investigation by prosecutors. Where is the rest? Where did it go? Where are the 230€ million. I have learned that, particularly in recent years because in 2011 the chartered auditors stopped going, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are a black hole."
The Deputy Health Minister also made the accusation that supplies and services were paid for twice, when he spoke about a "gang" within ΚΕΕΛΠΝΟ.
Electricity Connection in Cyclades
On Monday, on Syros, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras formally launched the power interconnection of a group of Cyclades islands – including Syros, Tinos, Paros and Ios – with Greece’s mainland grid, a linkup he described as "a project of historic significance."
PM Tsipras argued that linking the electricity networks via underwater cables will save money in energy production, ensure the sufficiency of supply to those islands, and have a favourable environmental footprint. Myconos is next in line.
The project, valued at 245€ million, will be funded by Greek national funds, EU funding, and European Investment Bank funds, and the annual benefit is projected at 80€ million, according to Government figures.
PM Tsipras said his Government had managed to launch a project that was for years mired in bureaucratic delays and which will offer the Cycladic islands an important push toward development, in an environmentally proper framework.
The project will significantly reduce the subsidies paid by all consumers – the so-called Social Benefits Services charge on bills nationwide - for the electrification of the islands.
The connection will provide adequate electricity to the popular Cycladic islands during the peak tourist summer months, while phasing out costly local plants.
“The Cycladic interconnection is a very important transmission project for the Greek electricity transmission system from both the technical and economic point of view. It is the first of its kind in terms of the number of the interconnected islands, the length and depth of the submarine cables, the technologies utilised and the transfer capacity required. The project is under construction and refers to the connection of the islands of Andros, Tinos, Syros, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos to the mainland at Lavrion in order to ensure the secure and reliable supply of the islands; it will also allow the gradual dismantling of the existing local power plants in the long-term. The project offers high economic benefits as it allows the substitution of expensive electricity produced by the local power plants by significantly cheaper electricity transferred from the mainland,” according to a study by HRO-Cigre, the International Council for Large Electric-Power Systems.
On Monday, on Syros, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras formally launched the power interconnection of a group of Cyclades islands – including Syros, Tinos, Paros and Ios – with Greece’s mainland grid, a linkup he described as "a project of historic significance."
PM Tsipras argued that linking the electricity networks via underwater cables will save money in energy production, ensure the sufficiency of supply to those islands, and have a favourable environmental footprint. Myconos is next in line.
The project, valued at 245€ million, will be funded by Greek national funds, EU funding, and European Investment Bank funds, and the annual benefit is projected at 80€ million, according to Government figures.
PM Tsipras said his Government had managed to launch a project that was for years mired in bureaucratic delays and which will offer the Cycladic islands an important push toward development, in an environmentally proper framework.
The project will significantly reduce the subsidies paid by all consumers – the so-called Social Benefits Services charge on bills nationwide - for the electrification of the islands.
The connection will provide adequate electricity to the popular Cycladic islands during the peak tourist summer months, while phasing out costly local plants.
“The Cycladic interconnection is a very important transmission project for the Greek electricity transmission system from both the technical and economic point of view. It is the first of its kind in terms of the number of the interconnected islands, the length and depth of the submarine cables, the technologies utilised and the transfer capacity required. The project is under construction and refers to the connection of the islands of Andros, Tinos, Syros, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos to the mainland at Lavrion in order to ensure the secure and reliable supply of the islands; it will also allow the gradual dismantling of the existing local power plants in the long-term. The project offers high economic benefits as it allows the substitution of expensive electricity produced by the local power plants by significantly cheaper electricity transferred from the mainland,” according to a study by HRO-Cigre, the International Council for Large Electric-Power Systems.
The Government's Development Plan
The outline of the Government's Development Plan is expected to be officially presented to the Eurogroup on April 27th 2018, said Deputy Minister of Economy and Development and Development Coordinator Alexis Haritsis.
In an interview with euro2day, he stressed that "we must overcome past policies and practices that have harmed the country's economy," adding that "we must not go back to obsolete models and practices of the past."
As he notes, developing the development strategy is an open consultation of bodies, society and parties. It is already being discussed at the Regional Conferences and will be submitted to Parliament House. "With the end of the Programme, the economy is moving into a new phase, where the biggest challenge is to design sustainable and equitable development."
He acknowledged the impact of the crisis and the destruction of the Greek economy, but noted that the inflow of €4 billion in foreign direct investment in 2017 will bring the country to pre-crisis levels. "Obviously not enough. However, it is an indication that the country is returning as an investment destination," he said.
The Deputy Minister of the Economy says investors are interested in knowing the country's development plan, something that was missing in previous years.
The Development Plan
Government sources said the Plan will simultaneously address four audiences (the Institutions, the markets, creditor states and Greek society) and will reflect the Ggovernment's willingness to ensure fiscal stability and to pursue structural reforms at state level and in the economy.
A strong social pillar with interventions in support of labour and the welfare state will send the message that the country is turning the page after the expiration of the Memoranda. This will create a sense of hope and perspective in society, and will contain specific targets for the reduction of unemployment.
The main focus of the strategy is human capital as a means for the gradual upgrading of the Greek economy in the production of increased value-added products and services, in the direction of the fourth industrial revolution and generally its transformation into an advanced knowledge economy.
Challenges
Key challenges are to strengthen the productive potential of the Greek economy, to increase employment, with particular emphasis on the integration of human resources - especially those with special expertise - into the economy, the reversal of the Greek migration trend, especially of scientific personnel, stopping the further reduction of the country's population, the improvement of social and regional cohesion, the reduction of poverty and environmental sustainability. These challenges, if properly planned for, constitute a fully coherent rectifying set of national-social and environmental interventions for the future of the country and include:
1. Orientation towards a new production model by (a) enhancing the technological content of products and services; (b) switching to internationally marketable products and products of higher added value; and (c) the effective integration of skilled human resources;
2. Enhanced business visibility
3. Strengthened domestic production potential through the creation of integrated value chains
4. Strengthened business networks and clusters of businesses
5. Strengthened industry and manufacturing
Foreign investment
Key instruments for achieving the strategy objectives to be included in the Development Plan are:
- structural reforms to improve the economic environment
- increasing investment, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
- improving adequacy of the financial system
- implementing actions to tackle unemployment
- developing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) by making more effective use of public property
- developing the social economy
- upgrading Public Administration and Education
- integrated development planning, coherent coordination, effective implementation, ongoing
monitoring and evaluation in the context of a fully upgraded and reformed effective state.
The outline of the Government's Development Plan is expected to be officially presented to the Eurogroup on April 27th 2018, said Deputy Minister of Economy and Development and Development Coordinator Alexis Haritsis.
In an interview with euro2day, he stressed that "we must overcome past policies and practices that have harmed the country's economy," adding that "we must not go back to obsolete models and practices of the past."
As he notes, developing the development strategy is an open consultation of bodies, society and parties. It is already being discussed at the Regional Conferences and will be submitted to Parliament House. "With the end of the Programme, the economy is moving into a new phase, where the biggest challenge is to design sustainable and equitable development."
He acknowledged the impact of the crisis and the destruction of the Greek economy, but noted that the inflow of €4 billion in foreign direct investment in 2017 will bring the country to pre-crisis levels. "Obviously not enough. However, it is an indication that the country is returning as an investment destination," he said.
The Deputy Minister of the Economy says investors are interested in knowing the country's development plan, something that was missing in previous years.
The Development Plan
Government sources said the Plan will simultaneously address four audiences (the Institutions, the markets, creditor states and Greek society) and will reflect the Ggovernment's willingness to ensure fiscal stability and to pursue structural reforms at state level and in the economy.
A strong social pillar with interventions in support of labour and the welfare state will send the message that the country is turning the page after the expiration of the Memoranda. This will create a sense of hope and perspective in society, and will contain specific targets for the reduction of unemployment.
The main focus of the strategy is human capital as a means for the gradual upgrading of the Greek economy in the production of increased value-added products and services, in the direction of the fourth industrial revolution and generally its transformation into an advanced knowledge economy.
Challenges
Key challenges are to strengthen the productive potential of the Greek economy, to increase employment, with particular emphasis on the integration of human resources - especially those with special expertise - into the economy, the reversal of the Greek migration trend, especially of scientific personnel, stopping the further reduction of the country's population, the improvement of social and regional cohesion, the reduction of poverty and environmental sustainability. These challenges, if properly planned for, constitute a fully coherent rectifying set of national-social and environmental interventions for the future of the country and include:
1. Orientation towards a new production model by (a) enhancing the technological content of products and services; (b) switching to internationally marketable products and products of higher added value; and (c) the effective integration of skilled human resources;
2. Enhanced business visibility
3. Strengthened domestic production potential through the creation of integrated value chains
4. Strengthened business networks and clusters of businesses
5. Strengthened industry and manufacturing
Foreign investment
Key instruments for achieving the strategy objectives to be included in the Development Plan are:
- structural reforms to improve the economic environment
- increasing investment, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
- improving adequacy of the financial system
- implementing actions to tackle unemployment
- developing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) by making more effective use of public property
- developing the social economy
- upgrading Public Administration and Education
- integrated development planning, coherent coordination, effective implementation, ongoing
monitoring and evaluation in the context of a fully upgraded and reformed effective state.
Highways - EU co-financed public-private partnerships (PPPs) under scrutiny
In its report, the European Court of Auditors identified significant problems with the EU co-financed public-private partnerships (PPPs) for three Greek motorways in the period 2000-2014.
Cost per kilometre increased by up to 69% from the original budget, at the same time there was a 55% reduction in the scope of projects. There was inadequate preparation of projects by public sector partners and, above all, contracts were signed with private contractors before major problems had been resolved.
The report concerns EU-funded PPP projects in the EU for the period 2000-2014 and looked at data from 12 projects in 4 Member States [Greece, France, Ireland and Spain], which accounted for 70% of the total infrastructure expenditure at European level.
Greece was by far the largest recipient of EU contributions for PPP projects, having received 59% of the EU-wide total, or 3.3€ billion euro.
"Public-Private Partnerships have multiple weaknesses and limited benefits," the Report said. "They can not be considered as an economically viable option for the construction of public infrastructure projects."
Overall, the European auditors found that while PPPs enabled public authorities to conclude large-scale infrastructure contracts through a single procedure, this increased the risk of insufficient competition and thus weakened the negotiating position of the contracting authorities.
At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Oskar Herics, Member of the European Court of Auditors and responsible for the report, said "For the completion of the five motorways audited in Greece and Spain, additional public funds of almost 1.5€ billions were expended. About 30% of these funds (€422 million) came from the EU ".
In addition, Mr Herics pointed to problems in the legal regulatory framework, which only applies in Greece to projects valued at less than €500 million, which effectively exempts major infrastructure projects such as the three motorways.
In its report, the European Court of Auditors identified significant problems with the EU co-financed public-private partnerships (PPPs) for three Greek motorways in the period 2000-2014.
Cost per kilometre increased by up to 69% from the original budget, at the same time there was a 55% reduction in the scope of projects. There was inadequate preparation of projects by public sector partners and, above all, contracts were signed with private contractors before major problems had been resolved.
The report concerns EU-funded PPP projects in the EU for the period 2000-2014 and looked at data from 12 projects in 4 Member States [Greece, France, Ireland and Spain], which accounted for 70% of the total infrastructure expenditure at European level.
Greece was by far the largest recipient of EU contributions for PPP projects, having received 59% of the EU-wide total, or 3.3€ billion euro.
"Public-Private Partnerships have multiple weaknesses and limited benefits," the Report said. "They can not be considered as an economically viable option for the construction of public infrastructure projects."
Overall, the European auditors found that while PPPs enabled public authorities to conclude large-scale infrastructure contracts through a single procedure, this increased the risk of insufficient competition and thus weakened the negotiating position of the contracting authorities.
At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Oskar Herics, Member of the European Court of Auditors and responsible for the report, said "For the completion of the five motorways audited in Greece and Spain, additional public funds of almost 1.5€ billions were expended. About 30% of these funds (€422 million) came from the EU ".
In addition, Mr Herics pointed to problems in the legal regulatory framework, which only applies in Greece to projects valued at less than €500 million, which effectively exempts major infrastructure projects such as the three motorways.
A court in Aigion on Friday acquitted Amvrosios, Bishop of Aigialeia and Kalavryta, on charges of hate speech and incitement to violence against homosexuals.
A court in Aigion on Friday acquitted Amvrosios, Bishop of Aigialeia and Kalavryta, on charges of hate speech and incitement to violence against homosexuals.
The charges were prompted by an internet posting in 2015, when Greece’s Parliament was in the process of granting legal status to same-sex unions.
In 2015 Amvrosios had written on his blog that the faithful “should spit on the gays”, calling homosexuals “abominations of nature.” In the blog the Bishop had posted a picture from the Gay Pride Parade showing a gay man dressed as a priest. “If I had a gun and the law would allow it, I would use it to get it over with.”
On January 16, 2016, nine citizens filed a lawsuit against the Bishop for public incitement to violence or hatred under Article 1 of Act 4285/2014 on combating racism but also for abuse of ecclesiastical office in accordance with Article 196 of the Penal Code, by which “a religious officer who in the practice of his work or publicly and in his capacity causes or excites citizens to anger against state authority or other citizens is punished by imprisonment for up to three years.”
Among other things, Metropolitan Amvrosios of Kalavryta wrote: “Do not go near them! Do not listen to them! Do not trust them! They are the damned members of society! It is impermissible for some disgraced members of society to defend publicly the passions that touch their souls…Spit on those disgraced people, renounce them! They are monstrosities of nature! They are psychically and spiritually unwell! They are people with a mental disturbance…They are three times worse, and more dangerous, than those who live in mental asylums.”
In a tense hearing lasting nearly nine hours, leading Greek human-rights campaigners and academics gave evidence for the prosecution. Nikos Alivizatos, a constitutional-law professor, said the bishop’s vocabulary was “the language of Hitler...[the language] we encounter in a regime of ayatollahs...” He said the bishop had brought embarrassment to Greece with his extreme positions, for example by saying that non-religious marriage was the moral equivalent of prostitution. Leading gay-rights activists testified that the bishop’s attack had compounded their feelings of insecurity and social exclusion.
The bishop himself seemed little concerned by perceptions of bigotry or intemperance. At one point during the hearing he said: “Spitting on them is the least of it, if I had a gun and I was permitted by the law, I would use it and we would finish things off.” He described fellow bishops who had spoken in somewhat more charitable terms about gay people as “betrayers of Orthodoxy”.
But the bishop’s defence team insisted that comments by their client that seemed to attack gay people were in fact directed at the politicians who were voting for civil partnerships.
This line of argument was accepted, and a representative of the state prosecution service urged acquittal. That recommendation was followed.
According to PatrasTimes news website reporting from the court, the Bishop claimed that “no one spat on anyone and no one attacked anyone because I said it. I should not be accused.”
“God despises all those people,” Amvrosios said about homosexuals in his reply in court.
"The acquittal of Amvrosios, the Metropolitan of Aegialia and Kalavryta, by the Court of Aigion confirms that the policy of discrimination is alive and well in the field of Justice," the press office of SYRIZA said in a statement.
And, the statement went on, "Why was it that not only was he acquitted for the remarks he used against homosexuals, which constitutes a provocative violation of the anti-racist law on public incitement to violence or hatred, but also why did the Court tolerate the repeated preaching of hatred, not even giving consideration to the Metropolitan's own confession that he would want to use not only verbal but also physical violence."
"No ordinary citizen would enjoy such immunity from justice," the official SYRIZA statement said, adding: "Once again, it is confirmed that when prejudices and hatred are dressed in a religious mantle, the mixture becomes so explosive that Justice must stand up."
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis on Monday requested the minutes of the trial, which include the rationale of the decision of the Unified Elementary Court of Aigion to acquit Ambrosios. for the Metropolitan of Kalavrita and Aegialia.
In a radio interview for Athens 9,84, Minister Kontonis said "Reasonable questions are being raised on the basis of journalistic information and reporting, so tomorrow I will ask for the minutes of the trial, including the rationale for the decision to find out exactly what happened and how the Court ended up in this crisis."
"Justice is the supreme protector and guardian of human rights. However, if there are mistakes in this case we will see and in any case we will weigh the data. In addition, court rulings are known to be checked by the competent judicial authorities."
A court in Aigion on Friday acquitted Amvrosios, Bishop of Aigialeia and Kalavryta, on charges of hate speech and incitement to violence against homosexuals.
The charges were prompted by an internet posting in 2015, when Greece’s Parliament was in the process of granting legal status to same-sex unions.
In 2015 Amvrosios had written on his blog that the faithful “should spit on the gays”, calling homosexuals “abominations of nature.” In the blog the Bishop had posted a picture from the Gay Pride Parade showing a gay man dressed as a priest. “If I had a gun and the law would allow it, I would use it to get it over with.”
On January 16, 2016, nine citizens filed a lawsuit against the Bishop for public incitement to violence or hatred under Article 1 of Act 4285/2014 on combating racism but also for abuse of ecclesiastical office in accordance with Article 196 of the Penal Code, by which “a religious officer who in the practice of his work or publicly and in his capacity causes or excites citizens to anger against state authority or other citizens is punished by imprisonment for up to three years.”
Among other things, Metropolitan Amvrosios of Kalavryta wrote: “Do not go near them! Do not listen to them! Do not trust them! They are the damned members of society! It is impermissible for some disgraced members of society to defend publicly the passions that touch their souls…Spit on those disgraced people, renounce them! They are monstrosities of nature! They are psychically and spiritually unwell! They are people with a mental disturbance…They are three times worse, and more dangerous, than those who live in mental asylums.”
In a tense hearing lasting nearly nine hours, leading Greek human-rights campaigners and academics gave evidence for the prosecution. Nikos Alivizatos, a constitutional-law professor, said the bishop’s vocabulary was “the language of Hitler...[the language] we encounter in a regime of ayatollahs...” He said the bishop had brought embarrassment to Greece with his extreme positions, for example by saying that non-religious marriage was the moral equivalent of prostitution. Leading gay-rights activists testified that the bishop’s attack had compounded their feelings of insecurity and social exclusion.
The bishop himself seemed little concerned by perceptions of bigotry or intemperance. At one point during the hearing he said: “Spitting on them is the least of it, if I had a gun and I was permitted by the law, I would use it and we would finish things off.” He described fellow bishops who had spoken in somewhat more charitable terms about gay people as “betrayers of Orthodoxy”.
But the bishop’s defence team insisted that comments by their client that seemed to attack gay people were in fact directed at the politicians who were voting for civil partnerships.
This line of argument was accepted, and a representative of the state prosecution service urged acquittal. That recommendation was followed.
According to PatrasTimes news website reporting from the court, the Bishop claimed that “no one spat on anyone and no one attacked anyone because I said it. I should not be accused.”
“God despises all those people,” Amvrosios said about homosexuals in his reply in court.
"The acquittal of Amvrosios, the Metropolitan of Aegialia and Kalavryta, by the Court of Aigion confirms that the policy of discrimination is alive and well in the field of Justice," the press office of SYRIZA said in a statement.
And, the statement went on, "Why was it that not only was he acquitted for the remarks he used against homosexuals, which constitutes a provocative violation of the anti-racist law on public incitement to violence or hatred, but also why did the Court tolerate the repeated preaching of hatred, not even giving consideration to the Metropolitan's own confession that he would want to use not only verbal but also physical violence."
"No ordinary citizen would enjoy such immunity from justice," the official SYRIZA statement said, adding: "Once again, it is confirmed that when prejudices and hatred are dressed in a religious mantle, the mixture becomes so explosive that Justice must stand up."
Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis on Monday requested the minutes of the trial, which include the rationale of the decision of the Unified Elementary Court of Aigion to acquit Ambrosios. for the Metropolitan of Kalavrita and Aegialia.
In a radio interview for Athens 9,84, Minister Kontonis said "Reasonable questions are being raised on the basis of journalistic information and reporting, so tomorrow I will ask for the minutes of the trial, including the rationale for the decision to find out exactly what happened and how the Court ended up in this crisis."
"Justice is the supreme protector and guardian of human rights. However, if there are mistakes in this case we will see and in any case we will weigh the data. In addition, court rulings are known to be checked by the competent judicial authorities."
Greece - Turkey
Tensions Rising
17.3.2018
Protesters have taken to the streets of northern Greece demanding the release of two Greek soldiers detained by Turkey, amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Sgt. Dimitris Kouklatzis, 27, and Lt. Angelos Mitretodis, 25, were seized 11 days ago after allegedly being found in a “forbidden military zone” deep in Turkish territory. The soldiers say they inadvertently strayed across the frontier in bad weather.
Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency said the soldiers were detained on grounds of attempted military espionage and entering a prohibited military zone. Another news agency, DHA, said the court ruled that data on their phones was to be investigated.
The incident took place during a normal patrol in the forest area of Kastanies at Evros.
The soldiers told the court that they found themselves on the Turkish side after following footprints in the snow and that they meant to send the images they took on their phones to senior officers, the news agency said.
“Yesterday’s incident was the result of a mistake. The two Greek officers diverged from their route because of the bad weather in the area, and found themselves, I repeat, by mistake, in Turkish territory,” Mr.Tzanakopoulos said. “We are in consultation with Turkish authorities for a prompt resolution of the matter.” “Legal processes in Turkey will be put in motion swiftly and we expect the return of the two Greeks to our country”.
Defence Minister Kammenos said the arrests had aggravated already strained ties between the neighbouring countries. Tensions between Greece and Turkey, NATO allies but regional rivals, had reached the point where the two nations were “very close to a fatal accident”, the Minister told the French daily Libération at the weekend, referring to repeated air and sea violations of Greek territory by Turkish forces.
In comments to the German newspaper Die Zeit, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said the Turkish Judiciary was still trying to establish whether the soldiers entered Turkey deliberately, confirming fears that the two soldiers could be charged with espionage.
“They crossed the border illegally and it is up to the prosecutors and judges to discover what is behind this case. Did it happen inadvertently or was it deliberate? They want to be sure,” Minister Çavuşoğlu said when asked when the men would be released.
The Greek Government raised the case with NATO and the United Nations last week, asking both to intervene. Internationalising the case further, Minister Kammenos told his Romanian counterpart during his visit to Bucharest that Greece was seeking support for the “immediate release of the NATO, European and Greek servicemen.”
At a meeting in Brussels, Defence Minister Kammenos told NATO Defence Ministers that the arrest of the two Greek soldiers was also a problem for the European Union and NATO.
“Turkey is a member of NATO and an ally of Greece in NATO, and such incidents are solved peacefully via talks between the two armed forces.” “Turkey should observe procedures prescribed by international law, and not turn a routine incident into a big political and legal issue.”
He suggested the refusal of a Turkish court to release the pair could damage the country’s standing within both the European Union and NATO.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, Bekir Bozdag said that prosecutors wanted the two soldiers detained for attempted military espionage as well as entering a forbidden military zone. The Judge, however, ordered their arrest only on the second charge.
Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign affairs and security chief, said the EU continued to advise Turkey to show "good neighborly relations" and hoped for a "swift and positive outcome" to the incident.
In context
Cross-border infractions are apparently common and Greece is concerned that Turkey on this occasion has deliberately sought to raise the stakes in what would ordinarily be a routine affair resolved at officer level.
It has been suggested that the two soldiers were deliberately snatched in a tit-for-tat move sparked by anger over Greece’s refusal to extradite eight Turkish officers who sought political asylum after the failed coup attempt against the President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in July 2016.
Greece’s Supreme Court has rejected the extradition request, saying the eight, who remain in detention, would not be given a fair trial in a country that has become increasingly autocratic since the failed coup attempt.
Turkish diplomats have vehemently denied this suggestion. Minister Çavuşoğlu rebuffed any suggestion that Turkey wanted to exchange the Greeks for the eight officers. “We do not want such a bargain,” he told Die Zeit.
Tensions have risen markedly not only along the land border between Greece and Turkey but in the Aegean Sea and off the coast of Cyprus, where Turkey has threatened to use military force in a dispute over the divided island’s right to explore for oil and gas reserves.
In February a Turkish vessel rammed a Greek coastguard ship as both patrolled the waters off the disputed islet of Imia. In the current climate, officials fear such incidents – and the concomitant risk of an accident – are on the increase.
The mood in Turkey appears to have become increasingly fractious ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year. With the country in a state of emergency since the coup, President Erdoğan and his AKP party have sought to use nationalist fervour, forming an alliance with the nationalist opposition MHP party, in an attempt to secure greater power.
The two NATO partners have teetered on the brink of war in 1974, 1987 and 1996 over long-running disputes on ethnically divided Cyprus, mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and sovereignty over uninhabited islets in that sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sparked serious concerns in Greece when he said last December during a visit to Athens that the terms of the Lausanne Treaty, which set out Turkey’s borders in 1923, needed “revision.” Turkish Opposition leaders later that month tried to take advantage of the rising Turkish nationalist sentiment by demanding Turkey reclaim 18 Aegean islands “occupied” by Greece.
“Greece wants friendship and good neighbourliness with Turkey but it should be based on Ankara’s respect for international treaties,” Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Wednesday.
“Any contestation of the borders, the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Greece comprises a contestation of the borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the European Union.”
He warned Turkey to respect borders and all international laws, the Lausanne Treaty, the Treaty of Paris and the Law of the Sea.
“This is the sole basis on which Greece can build its friendship with Turkey,” he underlined.
Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency said the soldiers were detained on grounds of attempted military espionage and entering a prohibited military zone. Another news agency, DHA, said the court ruled that data on their phones was to be investigated.
The incident took place during a normal patrol in the forest area of Kastanies at Evros.
The soldiers told the court that they found themselves on the Turkish side after following footprints in the snow and that they meant to send the images they took on their phones to senior officers, the news agency said.
“Yesterday’s incident was the result of a mistake. The two Greek officers diverged from their route because of the bad weather in the area, and found themselves, I repeat, by mistake, in Turkish territory,” Mr.Tzanakopoulos said. “We are in consultation with Turkish authorities for a prompt resolution of the matter.” “Legal processes in Turkey will be put in motion swiftly and we expect the return of the two Greeks to our country”.
Defence Minister Kammenos said the arrests had aggravated already strained ties between the neighbouring countries. Tensions between Greece and Turkey, NATO allies but regional rivals, had reached the point where the two nations were “very close to a fatal accident”, the Minister told the French daily Libération at the weekend, referring to repeated air and sea violations of Greek territory by Turkish forces.
In comments to the German newspaper Die Zeit, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said the Turkish Judiciary was still trying to establish whether the soldiers entered Turkey deliberately, confirming fears that the two soldiers could be charged with espionage.
“They crossed the border illegally and it is up to the prosecutors and judges to discover what is behind this case. Did it happen inadvertently or was it deliberate? They want to be sure,” Minister Çavuşoğlu said when asked when the men would be released.
The Greek Government raised the case with NATO and the United Nations last week, asking both to intervene. Internationalising the case further, Minister Kammenos told his Romanian counterpart during his visit to Bucharest that Greece was seeking support for the “immediate release of the NATO, European and Greek servicemen.”
At a meeting in Brussels, Defence Minister Kammenos told NATO Defence Ministers that the arrest of the two Greek soldiers was also a problem for the European Union and NATO.
“Turkey is a member of NATO and an ally of Greece in NATO, and such incidents are solved peacefully via talks between the two armed forces.” “Turkey should observe procedures prescribed by international law, and not turn a routine incident into a big political and legal issue.”
He suggested the refusal of a Turkish court to release the pair could damage the country’s standing within both the European Union and NATO.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, Bekir Bozdag said that prosecutors wanted the two soldiers detained for attempted military espionage as well as entering a forbidden military zone. The Judge, however, ordered their arrest only on the second charge.
Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign affairs and security chief, said the EU continued to advise Turkey to show "good neighborly relations" and hoped for a "swift and positive outcome" to the incident.
In context
Cross-border infractions are apparently common and Greece is concerned that Turkey on this occasion has deliberately sought to raise the stakes in what would ordinarily be a routine affair resolved at officer level.
It has been suggested that the two soldiers were deliberately snatched in a tit-for-tat move sparked by anger over Greece’s refusal to extradite eight Turkish officers who sought political asylum after the failed coup attempt against the President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in July 2016.
Greece’s Supreme Court has rejected the extradition request, saying the eight, who remain in detention, would not be given a fair trial in a country that has become increasingly autocratic since the failed coup attempt.
Turkish diplomats have vehemently denied this suggestion. Minister Çavuşoğlu rebuffed any suggestion that Turkey wanted to exchange the Greeks for the eight officers. “We do not want such a bargain,” he told Die Zeit.
Tensions have risen markedly not only along the land border between Greece and Turkey but in the Aegean Sea and off the coast of Cyprus, where Turkey has threatened to use military force in a dispute over the divided island’s right to explore for oil and gas reserves.
In February a Turkish vessel rammed a Greek coastguard ship as both patrolled the waters off the disputed islet of Imia. In the current climate, officials fear such incidents – and the concomitant risk of an accident – are on the increase.
The mood in Turkey appears to have become increasingly fractious ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year. With the country in a state of emergency since the coup, President Erdoğan and his AKP party have sought to use nationalist fervour, forming an alliance with the nationalist opposition MHP party, in an attempt to secure greater power.
The two NATO partners have teetered on the brink of war in 1974, 1987 and 1996 over long-running disputes on ethnically divided Cyprus, mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and sovereignty over uninhabited islets in that sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sparked serious concerns in Greece when he said last December during a visit to Athens that the terms of the Lausanne Treaty, which set out Turkey’s borders in 1923, needed “revision.” Turkish Opposition leaders later that month tried to take advantage of the rising Turkish nationalist sentiment by demanding Turkey reclaim 18 Aegean islands “occupied” by Greece.
“Greece wants friendship and good neighbourliness with Turkey but it should be based on Ankara’s respect for international treaties,” Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Wednesday.
“Any contestation of the borders, the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Greece comprises a contestation of the borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the European Union.”
He warned Turkey to respect borders and all international laws, the Lausanne Treaty, the Treaty of Paris and the Law of the Sea.
“This is the sole basis on which Greece can build its friendship with Turkey,” he underlined.
The Greek Economy
According to the Greek Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), in February, there was further improvement in industrial business expectations. This development also confirms the overall improvement in the economic climate, the Institute notes, as a number of sectors show moderate optimism. And it is linked to the positive growth rates recorded in the economy since 2017.
The Business Indices Index for Industry is set at much higher levels in February than in the first month of the new year, at 103.1 (98.5) points, up from 91.8 per cent in the previous year. This is the highest performance since September 2007.
For industry, the strengthening of the international environment is favouring export firms and cascades out to related industries. It is a feature of the current economic climate that the overwhelming majority of countries in the world are in a development phase, a phenomenon also referred to as "synchronized global growth". Enhanced demand and the continuous recovery of international trade is a common denominator among the faster growth of developing economies, and it also favours Greece’s domestic industry.
Exports of Industrial Products showed an increase of 9.8% in January-November 2017, reaching a value of 11.1€ billion, up from 10.1€ billion for the same period in 2016. This increase is explained by the increase in international demand for Industrial Goods Classified as Raw Materials by 16.9%, with a value of 4.2€ billion, as well as for Chemical and Related Products up by 11.7%, with exports reaching 2.8€ billion in 2017. Exports of Various Industrial Goods advanced by 7.4%, reaching 1.85€ billion in the first eleven months of 2017.
Greece at the Financial Markets
Greece raised 812.5€ million through an auction of 52-week treasury bills on Wednesday, the first such sale after eight years, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announced.
The bids submitted were 3.18 times more than the asked sum and the interest rate of the issue was set at 1.25% percent, according to an e-mailed press release.
The last time Greece issued one-year treasury bills was in April 2010.
In the past eight years, as the country has been shut out of international markets, the PDMA has been selling three-month and six-month treasury bills each month to cover maturing debts to meet its financing needs, in parallel with the Greek bailout programmes.
Greece is expected to fully return to the markets in 2018 when the current third bailout programme expires this summer.
The State Budget
Greece’s state budget showed a Primary Surplus of over 2.7€ billion in the January-February period, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.
This is up from a budget target for the Primary Surplus of 1.3€ billion and a Primary Surplus of 2.1€ billion in the corresponding period last year.
The state budget showed a surplus of 1.5€ billion in the first two months of the year, from a surplus of 434€ million in the same period last year and a budget target for a surplus of 98€ million.
Net revenue amounted to 8.9€ billion in the two-month period, up 14.5% from targets, while regular budget net revenue totalled 8.307€ billion, up 9.0% from targets.
Tax returns totaled 719€ million, up 110€ million from budget targets, while Public Investment Programme revenue amounted to 669€ million, up 452€ million from targets.
State budget spending amounted to 7.433€ billion in the January-February period, down 310€ million from targets.
Regular budget spending amounted to 7.246€ billion, down 112€ million from targets and down 476€ million compared with the same period in 2017.
Public Investment Programme spending totalled 187€ million in the two-month period, down 198€ million from targets.
In February, net revenue was 4.223€ billion, up 275€ million from monthly targets, while regular budget net revenue was 4.159€ billion, up 322€ million from targets (boosted by the collection of an annual dividend worth 614.2€ million from the Bank of Greece, up 214.2€ million from targets).
The Public Investment Programme totaled 64€ million in February, down 47€ million from targets, while tax returns totaled 394€ million, up 116€ million from monthly targets.
State budget spending was 4.257€ billion in February, down 95€ million from monthly targets, while regular budget spending was 4.154€ billion, up 11€ million from targets.
Public Investment Programme spending was 104€ million, down 106€ million from monthly targets.
According to the Greek Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), in February, there was further improvement in industrial business expectations. This development also confirms the overall improvement in the economic climate, the Institute notes, as a number of sectors show moderate optimism. And it is linked to the positive growth rates recorded in the economy since 2017.
The Business Indices Index for Industry is set at much higher levels in February than in the first month of the new year, at 103.1 (98.5) points, up from 91.8 per cent in the previous year. This is the highest performance since September 2007.
For industry, the strengthening of the international environment is favouring export firms and cascades out to related industries. It is a feature of the current economic climate that the overwhelming majority of countries in the world are in a development phase, a phenomenon also referred to as "synchronized global growth". Enhanced demand and the continuous recovery of international trade is a common denominator among the faster growth of developing economies, and it also favours Greece’s domestic industry.
Exports of Industrial Products showed an increase of 9.8% in January-November 2017, reaching a value of 11.1€ billion, up from 10.1€ billion for the same period in 2016. This increase is explained by the increase in international demand for Industrial Goods Classified as Raw Materials by 16.9%, with a value of 4.2€ billion, as well as for Chemical and Related Products up by 11.7%, with exports reaching 2.8€ billion in 2017. Exports of Various Industrial Goods advanced by 7.4%, reaching 1.85€ billion in the first eleven months of 2017.
Greece at the Financial Markets
Greece raised 812.5€ million through an auction of 52-week treasury bills on Wednesday, the first such sale after eight years, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announced.
The bids submitted were 3.18 times more than the asked sum and the interest rate of the issue was set at 1.25% percent, according to an e-mailed press release.
The last time Greece issued one-year treasury bills was in April 2010.
In the past eight years, as the country has been shut out of international markets, the PDMA has been selling three-month and six-month treasury bills each month to cover maturing debts to meet its financing needs, in parallel with the Greek bailout programmes.
Greece is expected to fully return to the markets in 2018 when the current third bailout programme expires this summer.
The State Budget
Greece’s state budget showed a Primary Surplus of over 2.7€ billion in the January-February period, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.
This is up from a budget target for the Primary Surplus of 1.3€ billion and a Primary Surplus of 2.1€ billion in the corresponding period last year.
The state budget showed a surplus of 1.5€ billion in the first two months of the year, from a surplus of 434€ million in the same period last year and a budget target for a surplus of 98€ million.
Net revenue amounted to 8.9€ billion in the two-month period, up 14.5% from targets, while regular budget net revenue totalled 8.307€ billion, up 9.0% from targets.
Tax returns totaled 719€ million, up 110€ million from budget targets, while Public Investment Programme revenue amounted to 669€ million, up 452€ million from targets.
State budget spending amounted to 7.433€ billion in the January-February period, down 310€ million from targets.
Regular budget spending amounted to 7.246€ billion, down 112€ million from targets and down 476€ million compared with the same period in 2017.
Public Investment Programme spending totalled 187€ million in the two-month period, down 198€ million from targets.
In February, net revenue was 4.223€ billion, up 275€ million from monthly targets, while regular budget net revenue was 4.159€ billion, up 322€ million from targets (boosted by the collection of an annual dividend worth 614.2€ million from the Bank of Greece, up 214.2€ million from targets).
The Public Investment Programme totaled 64€ million in February, down 47€ million from targets, while tax returns totaled 394€ million, up 116€ million from monthly targets.
State budget spending was 4.257€ billion in February, down 95€ million from monthly targets, while regular budget spending was 4.154€ billion, up 11€ million from targets.
Public Investment Programme spending was 104€ million, down 106€ million from monthly targets.
Romania, Bulgaria and Greece Support Balkan Gas Hub Project and will work for the European Integration of the Western Balkans
Last Monday (March 12th) the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece issued a joint declaration expressing support for the construction of the Balkan Gas Hub and for the European integration of the Western Balkans. The declaration was adopted during the Bucharest meeting of the three top diplomats: Ekaterina Zaharieva of Bulgaria, Nikos Kotzias of Greece and Teodor Melescanu of Romania, said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry press office.
It was the 10th edition of the meeting in this format.
The declaration says that the three countries will cooperate in the development of the Balkan gas hub, which is expected to improve security of supplies and diversify the gas routes and sources.
The three ministers also pledged support for the construction of the Bulgaria-Romania and Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnectors.
Bulgarian FM Ekaterina Zaharieva is quoted as saying that she is happy to have received support from her Greek and Romanian counterparts for the European perspectives of the Western Balkan countries. "I am sure that the Balkans will remain a key priority during the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council."
The three Ministers reconfirmed their conviction that the enlargement of the EU is a key factor of stability and prosperity in the region. They expect that all six countries in the Western Balkans will make headway on their European road during the coming years.
They said that the putting forward and applying fair criteria, and the objective assessment of the progress made, are important principles in the enlargement policy.
Ekaterina Zaharieva pointed out that the Sofia Forum in May will be the first EU summit meeting about the Western Balkans for 15 years. "I hope we are not going to wait another 15 years for the next meeting, and instead make these regular meetings," she added.
The Romanian and the Greek Foreign Ministers commended Bulgaria for promoting the region. Romanian FM Teodor Melescanu said his country would continue to do the same during its EU Presidency.
The three Ministers also expressed support for the Eastern Partnership countries.
They said that admitting Sofia and Bucharest to the Schengen Agreement will improve EU security and enhance the efforts against illegal migration, human trafficking and terrorism.
Last Monday (March 12th) the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece issued a joint declaration expressing support for the construction of the Balkan Gas Hub and for the European integration of the Western Balkans. The declaration was adopted during the Bucharest meeting of the three top diplomats: Ekaterina Zaharieva of Bulgaria, Nikos Kotzias of Greece and Teodor Melescanu of Romania, said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry press office.
It was the 10th edition of the meeting in this format.
The declaration says that the three countries will cooperate in the development of the Balkan gas hub, which is expected to improve security of supplies and diversify the gas routes and sources.
The three ministers also pledged support for the construction of the Bulgaria-Romania and Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnectors.
Bulgarian FM Ekaterina Zaharieva is quoted as saying that she is happy to have received support from her Greek and Romanian counterparts for the European perspectives of the Western Balkan countries. "I am sure that the Balkans will remain a key priority during the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council."
The three Ministers reconfirmed their conviction that the enlargement of the EU is a key factor of stability and prosperity in the region. They expect that all six countries in the Western Balkans will make headway on their European road during the coming years.
They said that the putting forward and applying fair criteria, and the objective assessment of the progress made, are important principles in the enlargement policy.
Ekaterina Zaharieva pointed out that the Sofia Forum in May will be the first EU summit meeting about the Western Balkans for 15 years. "I hope we are not going to wait another 15 years for the next meeting, and instead make these regular meetings," she added.
The Romanian and the Greek Foreign Ministers commended Bulgaria for promoting the region. Romanian FM Teodor Melescanu said his country would continue to do the same during its EU Presidency.
The three Ministers also expressed support for the Eastern Partnership countries.
They said that admitting Sofia and Bucharest to the Schengen Agreement will improve EU security and enhance the efforts against illegal migration, human trafficking and terrorism.
NOVARTIS : Questions needing answers
Three letters written by Novartis executives were received at then Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's office.
The existence of a handwritten letter by Antonis Samaras to Novartis is reportedly revealed by the protected witness “Aikaterini Kelesi” in her new testimony to the Corruption Prosecutor. The new dossier contains
- three Novartis letters to the then Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, relating to their cooperation on the implementation of the Memorandum and pharmaceutical expenditure.
- a deposition by the protected witness “Aikaterini Kelessi”, stating that there was a handwritten note by Antonis Samaras to Konstantinos Frouzis, the former vice-president of Novartis, which he received at their meeting at the Maximos Mansion. The note bears the official names of the Prime Minister and the name and phone number of the former Minister Christos Staikouras. This note was kept by Mr. Frouzis.
- CD with 165 files from Novartis employees’ computers.
All data has been forwarded to the office of the Parliamentary Special Preliminary Examination Committee into Novartis.
"Both the heavily exposed former Prime Minister and New Democracy must finally give convincing answers instead of trying the intelligence of citizens."
"Every day the Special Review Panel on the Novartis case continues its work, new revealing data see the light of publicity by breaking down the theories of New Democracy and those alleged to be involved in the plot," noted government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos during his regular updating of political commentators.
"And every day, the reasons why New Democracy did not vote for the proposal to set up the Parliamentary Special Preliminary Examination Committee into Novartis are now becoming more and more clear."
"They are constantly trying to pre-empt the scandal. Because they are not interested in the investigation but only the cover-up."
"Instead, New Democracy, its associates and Mr Samaras, insist on the intimidation and harassment of protected witnesses"
"But they have to answer clearly and without wriggling, both to the Commission and to the Greek citizens:
- Do they deny the authenticity of Antonis Samaras' note to Mr Frouzis?
- Why did Mr Samaras refer Vice-President Novartis to the then political head of the State Treasury, who is also responsible for any State approvals?
- How is it that while Mr. Samaras claimed in Parliament during his speech that he had never met with Mr Frouzis privately, how did the latter get the note referring to Christos Staikouras?"
Three letters written by Novartis executives were received at then Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's office.
The existence of a handwritten letter by Antonis Samaras to Novartis is reportedly revealed by the protected witness “Aikaterini Kelesi” in her new testimony to the Corruption Prosecutor. The new dossier contains
- three Novartis letters to the then Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, relating to their cooperation on the implementation of the Memorandum and pharmaceutical expenditure.
- a deposition by the protected witness “Aikaterini Kelessi”, stating that there was a handwritten note by Antonis Samaras to Konstantinos Frouzis, the former vice-president of Novartis, which he received at their meeting at the Maximos Mansion. The note bears the official names of the Prime Minister and the name and phone number of the former Minister Christos Staikouras. This note was kept by Mr. Frouzis.
- CD with 165 files from Novartis employees’ computers.
All data has been forwarded to the office of the Parliamentary Special Preliminary Examination Committee into Novartis.
"Both the heavily exposed former Prime Minister and New Democracy must finally give convincing answers instead of trying the intelligence of citizens."
"Every day the Special Review Panel on the Novartis case continues its work, new revealing data see the light of publicity by breaking down the theories of New Democracy and those alleged to be involved in the plot," noted government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos during his regular updating of political commentators.
"And every day, the reasons why New Democracy did not vote for the proposal to set up the Parliamentary Special Preliminary Examination Committee into Novartis are now becoming more and more clear."
"They are constantly trying to pre-empt the scandal. Because they are not interested in the investigation but only the cover-up."
"Instead, New Democracy, its associates and Mr Samaras, insist on the intimidation and harassment of protected witnesses"
"But they have to answer clearly and without wriggling, both to the Commission and to the Greek citizens:
- Do they deny the authenticity of Antonis Samaras' note to Mr Frouzis?
- Why did Mr Samaras refer Vice-President Novartis to the then political head of the State Treasury, who is also responsible for any State approvals?
- How is it that while Mr. Samaras claimed in Parliament during his speech that he had never met with Mr Frouzis privately, how did the latter get the note referring to Christos Staikouras?"
PLASTIC POLLUTION
Thirty volunteers from Plastic Free Greece recently went to Kavouri beach near Athens to clear away plastic rubbish which had been allowed to accumulate, raising questions of the local authorities.
Organizers had put out an appeal on Facebook for people, particularly children, to join their effort in keeping the sands clean,.
Plastic Free Greece says consumers in the country used a total of 4.3 billion plastic bags in 2016, which averages to about 400 bags for every man, woman and child. Only a tiny fraction of bags get recycled.
The environmental group also launched an app in November 2017 which lets people know when a beach cleaning event is taking place in their area.
We have shared Plastic Free Greece’s video of the event on the gefyra/the bridge Facebook Page
Thirty volunteers from Plastic Free Greece recently went to Kavouri beach near Athens to clear away plastic rubbish which had been allowed to accumulate, raising questions of the local authorities.
Organizers had put out an appeal on Facebook for people, particularly children, to join their effort in keeping the sands clean,.
Plastic Free Greece says consumers in the country used a total of 4.3 billion plastic bags in 2016, which averages to about 400 bags for every man, woman and child. Only a tiny fraction of bags get recycled.
The environmental group also launched an app in November 2017 which lets people know when a beach cleaning event is taking place in their area.
We have shared Plastic Free Greece’s video of the event on the gefyra/the bridge Facebook Page
"A spectacular change of image in the Greek economy"
Alexis Tsipras at Delphi
10.3.2018
The Prime Minister, speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, emphasised that unemployment has receded by 7 percentage points in 3 years while maintaining a steady tendency to decrease.
"With the end of the Programme, debt relief will be the culmination of a difficult but well-planned, successful effort."
He spoke of a "spectacular change of image" in the Greek economy.
"The Greece of recession returned in 2017 to growth, and at a dynamic rate which is estimated to exceed 2% steadily this year and for the following years."
"The country that had become synonymous with chronic fiscal derailment in the summer emerged from the excessive deficit Procedure and from 2016 onwards is achieving high primary surpluses every year, much higher than the targets of the Programme."
"In the months following we have taken the responsibility to present an integrated development plan for the "Next Day" in which the objectives are specified along with specific actions at the sectoral and regional level."
Referring to the work that has been achieved in the ten regional development conferences to date, the PM stressed that "growth is not ordered up using theoretical diagrams from on high, nor is it announced with proclamations, rather it requires work, a plan, persistence, consultation with interested parties and an effort to synthesise views and proposals that are specific and workable, to demonstrate the competitive advantages of each area separately."
"Today Greece is a country friendlier and more credible to entrepreneurship and investment." He stressed that it is a country "less bureaucratic, with a modern tax system, uniform and honest rules of competition, but also with very much strengthened social structures for all citizens. This is something that is recognised by our European partners and internationally by analysts, international organisations, credit ratings firms and investors."
"Greece is now included in the investment planning of states and large multinational corporations and it would not be an exaggeration to repeat that we are as they say in the vernacular of markets and investors: "The next big Thing" on the global investment map."
In the front of his mind, he said, are the "brain drain" and youth unemployment. "We have tried to provide answers by strengthening training and reintegration programmes in the workforce and by providing tax incentives, and providing an increase in resources for research and technology."
"We are at the critical point of our effort, that is to say, at the point where the finishing tape is visible and what is needed is to prepare the next day for the country." "Fair growth is the historical unfinished business that we must fulfill."
"With the end of the Programme, debt relief will be the culmination of a difficult but well-planned, successful effort."
He spoke of a "spectacular change of image" in the Greek economy.
"The Greece of recession returned in 2017 to growth, and at a dynamic rate which is estimated to exceed 2% steadily this year and for the following years."
"The country that had become synonymous with chronic fiscal derailment in the summer emerged from the excessive deficit Procedure and from 2016 onwards is achieving high primary surpluses every year, much higher than the targets of the Programme."
"In the months following we have taken the responsibility to present an integrated development plan for the "Next Day" in which the objectives are specified along with specific actions at the sectoral and regional level."
Referring to the work that has been achieved in the ten regional development conferences to date, the PM stressed that "growth is not ordered up using theoretical diagrams from on high, nor is it announced with proclamations, rather it requires work, a plan, persistence, consultation with interested parties and an effort to synthesise views and proposals that are specific and workable, to demonstrate the competitive advantages of each area separately."
"Today Greece is a country friendlier and more credible to entrepreneurship and investment." He stressed that it is a country "less bureaucratic, with a modern tax system, uniform and honest rules of competition, but also with very much strengthened social structures for all citizens. This is something that is recognised by our European partners and internationally by analysts, international organisations, credit ratings firms and investors."
"Greece is now included in the investment planning of states and large multinational corporations and it would not be an exaggeration to repeat that we are as they say in the vernacular of markets and investors: "The next big Thing" on the global investment map."
In the front of his mind, he said, are the "brain drain" and youth unemployment. "We have tried to provide answers by strengthening training and reintegration programmes in the workforce and by providing tax incentives, and providing an increase in resources for research and technology."
"We are at the critical point of our effort, that is to say, at the point where the finishing tape is visible and what is needed is to prepare the next day for the country." "Fair growth is the historical unfinished business that we must fulfill."
FYROM Name Issue: PM Zaev proposes International treaty
"Any change in the legal system of "Macedonia" is not a permanent guarantee for Greece, because, whatever is changed can be changed back."
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev repeated his assessment that changing the constitution of his country is not a permanent guarantee for Greece. He proposed, as a sustainable solution to the issue of the name, the signing and ratification of an international agreement, instead of changing his country’s Constitution. "It is very important to use a system that the whole world knows and that is the well-known international practice for resolving such disputes -international agreements, ratified by parliaments, UN resolutions -and then the solution will remain forever. I am convinced that with such approaches, taking care about what is important for the citizens of Greece and "Macedonia", we can find a solution to the dispute we have with Greece." "We should not stipulate red lines if we want to find a solution. We must take care of each other to safeguard the dignity of both peoples, of the two countries and of the two nations and, in any case, to protect what the emotion signifies and the issue of identity. Identity is an emotional thing, no one can negotiate and haggle about it. I believe that, in this spirit, by carefully approaching the partners with whom we are negotiating, we will find a solution."
Finally, Zoran Zaev stressed that with the renaming of the Skopje Airport and the highway that starts from the Macedonian border with Serbia and ends at the border with Greece, his country is closing the chapters referring to any irredentist claims.
"Any change in the legal system of "Macedonia" is not a permanent guarantee for Greece, because, whatever is changed can be changed back."
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev repeated his assessment that changing the constitution of his country is not a permanent guarantee for Greece. He proposed, as a sustainable solution to the issue of the name, the signing and ratification of an international agreement, instead of changing his country’s Constitution. "It is very important to use a system that the whole world knows and that is the well-known international practice for resolving such disputes -international agreements, ratified by parliaments, UN resolutions -and then the solution will remain forever. I am convinced that with such approaches, taking care about what is important for the citizens of Greece and "Macedonia", we can find a solution to the dispute we have with Greece." "We should not stipulate red lines if we want to find a solution. We must take care of each other to safeguard the dignity of both peoples, of the two countries and of the two nations and, in any case, to protect what the emotion signifies and the issue of identity. Identity is an emotional thing, no one can negotiate and haggle about it. I believe that, in this spirit, by carefully approaching the partners with whom we are negotiating, we will find a solution."
Finally, Zoran Zaev stressed that with the renaming of the Skopje Airport and the highway that starts from the Macedonian border with Serbia and ends at the border with Greece, his country is closing the chapters referring to any irredentist claims.
Chinese Investment in Greece – a cause for concern?
Unlike many in Europe, China saw the Greek economic crisis of the past decade not as a disaster but as an opportunity.
Since 2008, Chinese business leaders have signed infrastructure and business deals worth nearly $9 billion - equivalent to about 5% of Greek GDP - involving ports, telecommunications companies, energy facilities, real estate and tourism, according to the American Enterprise Institute.
For many, it is a case study of how Chinese investment dollars lead to political payoffs. As Greek political leaders found themselves at loggerheads with principal members of the European Union - notably Germany - over an imposed policy of harsh austerity, China offered an economic lifeline. In return, Greece is becoming considered a leading voice inside the EU promoting a softer line on China’s political failings and offering a warmer welcome to Chinese investments.
“The Greek economy is thirsty for investments, and the presence of Chinese companies is important and we welcome it,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said last September at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair that featured China as the “Honoured Guest”.
Chinese officials are seen to have openly played on the tensions between Greece and its fellow EU states. The state-controlled Chinese news site Global Times noted in an editorial that “in contrast to the EU, which has treated Athens as a delinquent borrower, China designates the country as a ‘trusted partner.’”
China Ocean Shipping Co., or COSCO, a state-owned company, purchased a majority stake in the port of Piraeus from the Greek Government in 2016 for $456 million - the largest Chinese investment in Greece to date. The port is now a major node in China’s $1 trillion Belt and Road initiative, a system of trade routes and infrastructure projects that follow the old Silk Road and maritime passages through the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal.
There is concern about Chinese influence and Chinese-style management in a southern European country, where management traditionally respects labour rights and workplace conditions.
When a COSCO subsidiary purchased two piers at Piraeus in 2009, workers lost overtime and faced pay cuts of 30%.
“This deal must not make the port into a Chinese colony,” said Giorgos Gogos, Secretary of the Piraeus Dockworkers Union. “It’s important to secure good labour conditions and make sure the state actually profits from the investment.”
Chinese money is raising political questions about Beijing’s influence in Greece and its long-term ambitions for countries all along Europe’s eastern flank.
In June 2017, the Greek Government surprised European leaders by blocking an EU statement at the U.N. Summit critical of China’s human rights record. A year earlier, Greece, Croatia and Hungary - where Chinese investments are also extensive - opposed a joint EU statement on China’s military expansion in the South China Sea. Without the required consensus, the EU statement was blocked.
“China is using Greece to get a strong foothold in the European Union,” said Michael Tsinisizelis, a Professor of International and European studies at the University of Athens.
Greece is in line for membership of China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In November, the Government sent a delegation to the so-called 16+1 annual summit of China with 16 Eastern and Central European nations. Greece and China last May signed a three-year action plan to guide investment and trade deals. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered an ardent speech under the Acropolis, where he expressed concern about Greek and European economic weaknesses that China could target and prevent the EU from speaking about global issues with a united voice.
“Our European sovereignty is what will enable us to be digital champions, build a strong economy, and make us an economic power in this changing world and not be subjected to the law of the fittest - the Americans and, soon, the Chinese — but our own law,” he said.
China is now the EU’s second-biggest trading partner after the USA. In 2016, China spent $40 billion compared with $23 billion in the previous year.
While COSCO is expanding at Piraeus, among the world’s fastest-growing ports, the EU is looking to closely regulate foreign investments in European strategic assets, including ports.
“There is a general uneasiness in the EU concerning Chinese investments,” said Polyxeni Davarinou, a researcher at the Institute of International Economic Relations in Athens. “The EU wants to have better control. At the same time, though, Greece and Eastern European countries really need these Chinese investments.”
She said Greece and Europe have the power to contain Chinese influence if leaders enact bold rules to monitor foreign investment. “There are voices in Europe that believe Greece is too close to China, and that is because we’ve given them reasons to see it that way,” she said. “Engulfed by its economic woes and disenchantment with the EU, Greece has welcomed. Greece’s problem is how to develop a clear and steady strategy.”
The survey by the Institute of International Economic Relations noted that Greece is still emerging from a period when it could hardly afford to be choosy about who invested in its beleaguered domestic economy.
“It is an indisputable fact that, trapped in its severe fiscal and economic predicament, Greece is not in a position to discourage foreign investment from any legitimate source,” the report concluded. “In fact, a certain diversification of foreign investment from countries outside the EU is even welcome.”
In Piraeus, meanwhile, cranes are offloading shipping containers from huge cargo ships around the clock. COSCO is planning to invest an extra $372 million to build three five-star hotels and a new dock that can accommodate 14 cruise ships.
Unlike many in Europe, China saw the Greek economic crisis of the past decade not as a disaster but as an opportunity.
Since 2008, Chinese business leaders have signed infrastructure and business deals worth nearly $9 billion - equivalent to about 5% of Greek GDP - involving ports, telecommunications companies, energy facilities, real estate and tourism, according to the American Enterprise Institute.
For many, it is a case study of how Chinese investment dollars lead to political payoffs. As Greek political leaders found themselves at loggerheads with principal members of the European Union - notably Germany - over an imposed policy of harsh austerity, China offered an economic lifeline. In return, Greece is becoming considered a leading voice inside the EU promoting a softer line on China’s political failings and offering a warmer welcome to Chinese investments.
“The Greek economy is thirsty for investments, and the presence of Chinese companies is important and we welcome it,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said last September at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair that featured China as the “Honoured Guest”.
Chinese officials are seen to have openly played on the tensions between Greece and its fellow EU states. The state-controlled Chinese news site Global Times noted in an editorial that “in contrast to the EU, which has treated Athens as a delinquent borrower, China designates the country as a ‘trusted partner.’”
China Ocean Shipping Co., or COSCO, a state-owned company, purchased a majority stake in the port of Piraeus from the Greek Government in 2016 for $456 million - the largest Chinese investment in Greece to date. The port is now a major node in China’s $1 trillion Belt and Road initiative, a system of trade routes and infrastructure projects that follow the old Silk Road and maritime passages through the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal.
There is concern about Chinese influence and Chinese-style management in a southern European country, where management traditionally respects labour rights and workplace conditions.
When a COSCO subsidiary purchased two piers at Piraeus in 2009, workers lost overtime and faced pay cuts of 30%.
“This deal must not make the port into a Chinese colony,” said Giorgos Gogos, Secretary of the Piraeus Dockworkers Union. “It’s important to secure good labour conditions and make sure the state actually profits from the investment.”
Chinese money is raising political questions about Beijing’s influence in Greece and its long-term ambitions for countries all along Europe’s eastern flank.
In June 2017, the Greek Government surprised European leaders by blocking an EU statement at the U.N. Summit critical of China’s human rights record. A year earlier, Greece, Croatia and Hungary - where Chinese investments are also extensive - opposed a joint EU statement on China’s military expansion in the South China Sea. Without the required consensus, the EU statement was blocked.
“China is using Greece to get a strong foothold in the European Union,” said Michael Tsinisizelis, a Professor of International and European studies at the University of Athens.
Greece is in line for membership of China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In November, the Government sent a delegation to the so-called 16+1 annual summit of China with 16 Eastern and Central European nations. Greece and China last May signed a three-year action plan to guide investment and trade deals. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered an ardent speech under the Acropolis, where he expressed concern about Greek and European economic weaknesses that China could target and prevent the EU from speaking about global issues with a united voice.
“Our European sovereignty is what will enable us to be digital champions, build a strong economy, and make us an economic power in this changing world and not be subjected to the law of the fittest - the Americans and, soon, the Chinese — but our own law,” he said.
China is now the EU’s second-biggest trading partner after the USA. In 2016, China spent $40 billion compared with $23 billion in the previous year.
While COSCO is expanding at Piraeus, among the world’s fastest-growing ports, the EU is looking to closely regulate foreign investments in European strategic assets, including ports.
“There is a general uneasiness in the EU concerning Chinese investments,” said Polyxeni Davarinou, a researcher at the Institute of International Economic Relations in Athens. “The EU wants to have better control. At the same time, though, Greece and Eastern European countries really need these Chinese investments.”
She said Greece and Europe have the power to contain Chinese influence if leaders enact bold rules to monitor foreign investment. “There are voices in Europe that believe Greece is too close to China, and that is because we’ve given them reasons to see it that way,” she said. “Engulfed by its economic woes and disenchantment with the EU, Greece has welcomed. Greece’s problem is how to develop a clear and steady strategy.”
The survey by the Institute of International Economic Relations noted that Greece is still emerging from a period when it could hardly afford to be choosy about who invested in its beleaguered domestic economy.
“It is an indisputable fact that, trapped in its severe fiscal and economic predicament, Greece is not in a position to discourage foreign investment from any legitimate source,” the report concluded. “In fact, a certain diversification of foreign investment from countries outside the EU is even welcome.”
In Piraeus, meanwhile, cranes are offloading shipping containers from huge cargo ships around the clock. COSCO is planning to invest an extra $372 million to build three five-star hotels and a new dock that can accommodate 14 cruise ships.
Euro Working Group confirms success of Third Assessment
The Euro Working Group of eurozone finance ministry officials on Friday approved Greece’s fulfillment of all of the prior actions associated with the Third Assessment, paving the way for the disbursement of the 5.7€ billion subtanche.
According to the compliance report which was sent to the EWG on Friday, “The Greek authorities have completed all milestones in the supplementary memorandum that were necessary for the disbursement of the fourth installment from the programme of the European Stability Mechanism [ESM].”
The report added that both pending prior actions – the issue of the presidential decree regarding the development of the old Athens airport plot at Elliniko and the expansion of online auctions – are now considered fulfilled.
“The ESM Board of Governors is expected to approve the disbursement of the fourth installment of the program following the completion of the national parliamentary procedures,” Eurogroup President Mario Centeno said. “This will pave the way for the release of the first subtranche in the second half of March.”
Friday’s Euro Working Group also touched on the issue of easing Greece’s debt. The Finance Ministry stated that “the discussion that has been under way for a month at staff level regarding the parameters of the medium-term measures for the debt has made significant progress.”
Mr. Centeno said: “We have now entered the final round of the Greek programme. The fourth and final Assessment is starting and with it the technical preparation for possible new measures for the easing of the debt.”
The Euro Working Group of eurozone finance ministry officials on Friday approved Greece’s fulfillment of all of the prior actions associated with the Third Assessment, paving the way for the disbursement of the 5.7€ billion subtanche.
According to the compliance report which was sent to the EWG on Friday, “The Greek authorities have completed all milestones in the supplementary memorandum that were necessary for the disbursement of the fourth installment from the programme of the European Stability Mechanism [ESM].”
The report added that both pending prior actions – the issue of the presidential decree regarding the development of the old Athens airport plot at Elliniko and the expansion of online auctions – are now considered fulfilled.
“The ESM Board of Governors is expected to approve the disbursement of the fourth installment of the program following the completion of the national parliamentary procedures,” Eurogroup President Mario Centeno said. “This will pave the way for the release of the first subtranche in the second half of March.”
Friday’s Euro Working Group also touched on the issue of easing Greece’s debt. The Finance Ministry stated that “the discussion that has been under way for a month at staff level regarding the parameters of the medium-term measures for the debt has made significant progress.”
Mr. Centeno said: “We have now entered the final round of the Greek programme. The fourth and final Assessment is starting and with it the technical preparation for possible new measures for the easing of the debt.”
"We are finished with the shadows"
"Greece is not going to just sigh about the suitcases, handbags, and “dark” accounts. The Government, and I personally, will persevere to the end: light everywhere, light on all!", underlined Alexis Tsipras in an exclusive statement in the newspaper «Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών».
"Suitcases to state officials and political parties, over the period 2003-2007, as revealed by the German Judiciary, are another link in the chain of corruption, with which the old political system had bound Greece. New Democracy and PASOK circles literally divided up amongst themselves the shirt off the Greek people’s back, over many years before they led us to the crisis and the Memoranda.
Today there is no room for doubt, after the armaments, Siemens, Novartis, and the kickbacks over the Metro, that the tentacles of a gang of corruption had spread to the highest state and political level. That the kickbacks, preset in fact as percentages, for years lay behind many of the projects and commissions of the Greek State. That corruption had become the norm in the relations between the state and large corporations. That black money circulated in suitcases, bags, and secret accounts, to reach the pockets of state and political officials, even parties of power, which operated like a mafia.
"This situation also explains the reactions of some representatives of this old and corrupt political system, following revelations in the Novartis scandal under investigation.
"Lawsuits against prosecutors, lawsuits against witnesses, lawsuits against Ministers, even against the Prime Minister, Civil War rhetoric and allegations of collusion. It is simply a reaction again in gang terms, which aims to intimidate the Judiciary, the Government and the witnesses to keep their activities in the shadows. With the shadows, however, we are done," the Prime Minister stressed. "In this way let the culprits speak about their activities, let the innocent be rid of any shadow of suspicion, and let the shaken trust of the Greek people in those it chose to govern be restored."
Novartis: Parliament’s Special Preliminary Examination Committee
Theodoros Dritsas (SYRIZA) was elected Chairman, while G. Lazaridis (ANEL) was elected Vice-Chairman and Panagiota Kozompoli (SYRIZA) Secretary of Parliament’s Special Preliminary Examination Committee in the Novartis scandal.
The Committee will have all the powers of the Public Prosecutor when is starts a preliminary examination.
The Committee has 21 members. SYRIZA has 10 members, New Democracy has 5 members and the other parties will each have one representative.
"Greece is not going to just sigh about the suitcases, handbags, and “dark” accounts. The Government, and I personally, will persevere to the end: light everywhere, light on all!", underlined Alexis Tsipras in an exclusive statement in the newspaper «Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών».
"Suitcases to state officials and political parties, over the period 2003-2007, as revealed by the German Judiciary, are another link in the chain of corruption, with which the old political system had bound Greece. New Democracy and PASOK circles literally divided up amongst themselves the shirt off the Greek people’s back, over many years before they led us to the crisis and the Memoranda.
Today there is no room for doubt, after the armaments, Siemens, Novartis, and the kickbacks over the Metro, that the tentacles of a gang of corruption had spread to the highest state and political level. That the kickbacks, preset in fact as percentages, for years lay behind many of the projects and commissions of the Greek State. That corruption had become the norm in the relations between the state and large corporations. That black money circulated in suitcases, bags, and secret accounts, to reach the pockets of state and political officials, even parties of power, which operated like a mafia.
"This situation also explains the reactions of some representatives of this old and corrupt political system, following revelations in the Novartis scandal under investigation.
"Lawsuits against prosecutors, lawsuits against witnesses, lawsuits against Ministers, even against the Prime Minister, Civil War rhetoric and allegations of collusion. It is simply a reaction again in gang terms, which aims to intimidate the Judiciary, the Government and the witnesses to keep their activities in the shadows. With the shadows, however, we are done," the Prime Minister stressed. "In this way let the culprits speak about their activities, let the innocent be rid of any shadow of suspicion, and let the shaken trust of the Greek people in those it chose to govern be restored."
Novartis: Parliament’s Special Preliminary Examination Committee
Theodoros Dritsas (SYRIZA) was elected Chairman, while G. Lazaridis (ANEL) was elected Vice-Chairman and Panagiota Kozompoli (SYRIZA) Secretary of Parliament’s Special Preliminary Examination Committee in the Novartis scandal.
The Committee will have all the powers of the Public Prosecutor when is starts a preliminary examination.
The Committee has 21 members. SYRIZA has 10 members, New Democracy has 5 members and the other parties will each have one representative.
"Tomorrow is not going to come on its own; only with work, prudence, consensus, unity, teamwork and solidarity can we win it."
Alexis Tsipras in the Peloponnese
3.3.2018
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Tripolis, speaking at the 10th Regional Conference on the Reconstruction of the Productive Capacity of the Peloponnese said:
"Tomorrow is not going to come on its own; only with work, prudence, consensus, unity, teamwork and solidarity can we win it."
He noted that it is now clear to us all that "when certain big interests, which are intertwined with parts of the political establishment and a spoilt elite, is given space to bloodsuck public revenues and engage in speculation in all areas of social life, even including the Health of the Greek people, with medications, then we are not dealing with some partisan cabal, political rematch, or personal vengeance.
"We have to deal with a carcinoma, which if not eradicated permanently, will infect society and stand in the way of every step towards development."
"This Government will not in any way, not for any reason, compromise with any deviation from morality, the value of which stipulates that above everything else are the the interests of the people and the country, the public interest.
"That is why, as far as we are concerned, it is the case that we will never, under any circumstances or for any reason, accept the equating of the ethical with the legal. For us what is done legally is not automatically also inscribed into our own values, into our own ethics."
"Some have the sensitivity to resign over 23,000€ [see Ministers Resign item below Ed]while others are “doing a Chinese” [idiom for pretending not to understand Ed] over 23€ billion, because that is how much the medicine jamboree cost the Public Health Service. Let some resign and let others say that they have no responsibility.
"But so be it. This difference demonstrates in practice that we are not all the same, which is why it is right that the criteria by which the people judge us are not the same."
"We have definitely crossed the border from hemorrhaging economicly and socially to sustainable development, to the robust process of progress.
"Greece will not return to a regime of Siemens, Novartis, unsupportable loans, and of scandals. We will never go back there."
Speaking about the Primary Sector, PM Tsipras said that the Government has made efforts to support agricultural production, especially small and medium-sized farmers with these main objectives: sustainability of the Primary Sector, transparency and consistency in the payment of support grants, orientation towards exports, development of technologically and environmentally advanced technologies, and the elimination of bad practices.
He said that the NSRF [The EU National Strategic Reference Framework Ed] programmes which provide for specific export-oriented support could be utilised. The formulation of a single label for Greek Agricultural food products is also being promoted.
He noted that a budget of 235€ million had been assigned and is being used in projects and investments in the Peloponnese Region. With the addition of 118€ million from the LEADER Programme for the setting up of new tourism enterprises and from small public works, funding is approaching 353€ million.
As far as the dominant problem of waste management is concerned, PM Tsipras announced that through the Public Investment Programme there will be direct funding for Sites of Uncontrolled Waste Disposal in the Region, for which the country continues to pay fines to the European Union. He noted that the Joint Public-Privation Collaboration of the Peloponnese [ΣΔΙΤ] is now ready to proceed, following the Government's intervention, in order to provide a solution compatible with European recycling standards and the overall national planning and priorities the Government has set for recycling and re-use.
On the power sector, he said: "The Government's basic principle is to safeguard the financial viability of the ΔΕΗ and jobs and labour relations, as well as to minimise the problems arising from moving into the future.
"The relevant agreement being implemented by the Government is clearly better than the one provided by the law about a "small ΔΕΗ" that obliged the company to transfer 22% of its total capacity and part of its clientele. With the new agreement, only 21.4% of the lignite capacity, which accounts for 9% of the total, will be surrendered.
"The protection of labour rights is part of the agreement" and, he said, that the Government has worked intensively on this, in close consultation with the ΔΕΗ, in order not to lose a single job and for there to be no reduction in labour rights, no retreat on industrial relations, after the transition to the new situation.
He said that the legislation of the Environmental Household Tariff for the support of areas that are environmentally degraded by the operation of lignite stations and mines, such as the Municipality of Megalopolis, will lead to reductions of up to 30% in Electricity bills.
Speaking about infrastructure, PM Tsipras said that in two and a half years the Government has done what had not been done in a decade and has launched development projects of strategic importance.
He mentioned, among other things, the full completion of the two major road contracts: “Moreas Motorway”, from Corinth to Tripoli and Kalamata and the branch that goes to Sparta, as well as the “Olympia Road”, from Corinth to Patras. Projects with a final cost to the Treasury, for both motorways, of 520€ million.
"Tomorrow is not going to come on its own; only with work, prudence, consensus, unity, teamwork and solidarity can we win it."
He noted that it is now clear to us all that "when certain big interests, which are intertwined with parts of the political establishment and a spoilt elite, is given space to bloodsuck public revenues and engage in speculation in all areas of social life, even including the Health of the Greek people, with medications, then we are not dealing with some partisan cabal, political rematch, or personal vengeance.
"We have to deal with a carcinoma, which if not eradicated permanently, will infect society and stand in the way of every step towards development."
"This Government will not in any way, not for any reason, compromise with any deviation from morality, the value of which stipulates that above everything else are the the interests of the people and the country, the public interest.
"That is why, as far as we are concerned, it is the case that we will never, under any circumstances or for any reason, accept the equating of the ethical with the legal. For us what is done legally is not automatically also inscribed into our own values, into our own ethics."
"Some have the sensitivity to resign over 23,000€ [see Ministers Resign item below Ed]while others are “doing a Chinese” [idiom for pretending not to understand Ed] over 23€ billion, because that is how much the medicine jamboree cost the Public Health Service. Let some resign and let others say that they have no responsibility.
"But so be it. This difference demonstrates in practice that we are not all the same, which is why it is right that the criteria by which the people judge us are not the same."
"We have definitely crossed the border from hemorrhaging economicly and socially to sustainable development, to the robust process of progress.
"Greece will not return to a regime of Siemens, Novartis, unsupportable loans, and of scandals. We will never go back there."
Speaking about the Primary Sector, PM Tsipras said that the Government has made efforts to support agricultural production, especially small and medium-sized farmers with these main objectives: sustainability of the Primary Sector, transparency and consistency in the payment of support grants, orientation towards exports, development of technologically and environmentally advanced technologies, and the elimination of bad practices.
He said that the NSRF [The EU National Strategic Reference Framework Ed] programmes which provide for specific export-oriented support could be utilised. The formulation of a single label for Greek Agricultural food products is also being promoted.
He noted that a budget of 235€ million had been assigned and is being used in projects and investments in the Peloponnese Region. With the addition of 118€ million from the LEADER Programme for the setting up of new tourism enterprises and from small public works, funding is approaching 353€ million.
As far as the dominant problem of waste management is concerned, PM Tsipras announced that through the Public Investment Programme there will be direct funding for Sites of Uncontrolled Waste Disposal in the Region, for which the country continues to pay fines to the European Union. He noted that the Joint Public-Privation Collaboration of the Peloponnese [ΣΔΙΤ] is now ready to proceed, following the Government's intervention, in order to provide a solution compatible with European recycling standards and the overall national planning and priorities the Government has set for recycling and re-use.
On the power sector, he said: "The Government's basic principle is to safeguard the financial viability of the ΔΕΗ and jobs and labour relations, as well as to minimise the problems arising from moving into the future.
"The relevant agreement being implemented by the Government is clearly better than the one provided by the law about a "small ΔΕΗ" that obliged the company to transfer 22% of its total capacity and part of its clientele. With the new agreement, only 21.4% of the lignite capacity, which accounts for 9% of the total, will be surrendered.
"The protection of labour rights is part of the agreement" and, he said, that the Government has worked intensively on this, in close consultation with the ΔΕΗ, in order not to lose a single job and for there to be no reduction in labour rights, no retreat on industrial relations, after the transition to the new situation.
He said that the legislation of the Environmental Household Tariff for the support of areas that are environmentally degraded by the operation of lignite stations and mines, such as the Municipality of Megalopolis, will lead to reductions of up to 30% in Electricity bills.
Speaking about infrastructure, PM Tsipras said that in two and a half years the Government has done what had not been done in a decade and has launched development projects of strategic importance.
He mentioned, among other things, the full completion of the two major road contracts: “Moreas Motorway”, from Corinth to Tripoli and Kalamata and the branch that goes to Sparta, as well as the “Olympia Road”, from Corinth to Patras. Projects with a final cost to the Treasury, for both motorways, of 520€ million.
Working to conclude the Fourth Assessment
The Institutions were positive following initial talks held in Athens this week, with sources revealing that the negotiations will continue in coming weeks.
The Greek Government is committed to implementing all agreed actions towards concluding the Fourth Assessment of the bailout programme without delay. This is the final assessment before the expiry of the Programme in August.
The representatives of the Institutions will return after the Easter holidays. In the next phase, the two sides will also discuss Greece’s post-bailout development programme and debt relief.
It is hoped to have tied up loose ends by the 21st June Eurogroup meeting. The Fourth Assessment requires the implementation of 88 prior actions in total.
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos stated that the majority of the pending issues are of a technical nature.
Latest Opinion Polls
Opinion polls published over the last few days put New Democracy, ahead of SYRIZA. However, the results of the two latest polls show a radically different margin between the two parties.
Specifically, the poll of Metron Analysis for “To Vima” newspaper puts New Democracy in a 9.7 percentage point lead over SYRIZA, posting 34.9% in voting preferences versus SYRIZA’s 25.2%. The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party is in third place with 9.4%, while Movement of Change - the new centre-left party established via an alliance between PASOK, To Potami and other parties – came in at 8.4%. The Greek Communist Party (KKE) takes 7% and the Union of Centrists is on 3%. No other party is shown above the 3% threshold needed for entry to parliament, including SYRIZA’s junior coalition partner in government, AN-EL (the Independent Greeks).
However, a poll by “Alco” published by Ethnos newspaper places New Democracy’s lead much lower, at 4.9 percentage points. The voting intention results of Alco’s poll put New Democracy on 21.4% with SYRIZA on 16.5%, followed by Golden Dawn on 6.9%, Movement of Change on 6.2% and the KKE on 5%. All other parties fell below the 3% threshold.
The “Alco” poll is seen by analysts to be politically significant in terms of findings concerning the Novartis scandal, with ten senior Greek politicians being accused of taking bribes. The poll shows 66% of Greeks believe the Novartis case is a “real scandal” and 54% call for all the accused politicians to resign.
Ministers Resign
Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou resigned hours after his wife, Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity Rania Antonopoulou, stepped down on Monday afternoon following revelations that she received 23,000€ in state rent subsidies for their apartment in the Athens neighbourhood of Kolonaki.
Mr. Papadimitriou’s decision to step down was, like his wife’s, prompted by reactions to an article on Friday in Eleftheros Typos newspaper, which revealed that Rania Antonopoulou had been receiving 1,000€ a month from the state as a rent subsidy for her apartment. She received the subsidy legally but there was public outrage that a Minister, whose income declarations point to considerable personal wealth, should receive such benefits.
She said she had not intended to provoke public sentiment but had been entitled to the subsidy and had applied for it, receiving 23,000€ over two years. She said she would return the money to state coffers. The Government announced her resignation later on Monday.
Opposition New Democracy chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis denounced the Government, saying it took “three whole days of intense reaction” before PM Tsipras demanded her resignation.
Greek Olive Oil Recognised
Thirteen Greek extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) received awards among the most highly acclaimed olive oils in the world following their success in international olive oil competitions in 2017.
According to Greek Liquid Gold website, the EVOO World Ranking (EVOOWR) 2017, “is part of the World Ranking of WAWWJ (World Association of Journalists and Writers of Wines, Liquors and others).” It recognizes the extra virgin olive oils that won the most prizes in the 30 international olive oil competitions held last year.
In 2017, according to EVOOWR, “Greece won 213 awards in 13 contests” and obtained 13 “EVOO of the Year” distinctions.
The Koroneiki variety received the most distinctions, while a number of flavoured olive oils were also awarded.
The 13 Greek olive oils that received awards are:
The Institutions were positive following initial talks held in Athens this week, with sources revealing that the negotiations will continue in coming weeks.
The Greek Government is committed to implementing all agreed actions towards concluding the Fourth Assessment of the bailout programme without delay. This is the final assessment before the expiry of the Programme in August.
The representatives of the Institutions will return after the Easter holidays. In the next phase, the two sides will also discuss Greece’s post-bailout development programme and debt relief.
It is hoped to have tied up loose ends by the 21st June Eurogroup meeting. The Fourth Assessment requires the implementation of 88 prior actions in total.
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos stated that the majority of the pending issues are of a technical nature.
Latest Opinion Polls
Opinion polls published over the last few days put New Democracy, ahead of SYRIZA. However, the results of the two latest polls show a radically different margin between the two parties.
Specifically, the poll of Metron Analysis for “To Vima” newspaper puts New Democracy in a 9.7 percentage point lead over SYRIZA, posting 34.9% in voting preferences versus SYRIZA’s 25.2%. The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party is in third place with 9.4%, while Movement of Change - the new centre-left party established via an alliance between PASOK, To Potami and other parties – came in at 8.4%. The Greek Communist Party (KKE) takes 7% and the Union of Centrists is on 3%. No other party is shown above the 3% threshold needed for entry to parliament, including SYRIZA’s junior coalition partner in government, AN-EL (the Independent Greeks).
However, a poll by “Alco” published by Ethnos newspaper places New Democracy’s lead much lower, at 4.9 percentage points. The voting intention results of Alco’s poll put New Democracy on 21.4% with SYRIZA on 16.5%, followed by Golden Dawn on 6.9%, Movement of Change on 6.2% and the KKE on 5%. All other parties fell below the 3% threshold.
The “Alco” poll is seen by analysts to be politically significant in terms of findings concerning the Novartis scandal, with ten senior Greek politicians being accused of taking bribes. The poll shows 66% of Greeks believe the Novartis case is a “real scandal” and 54% call for all the accused politicians to resign.
Ministers Resign
Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou resigned hours after his wife, Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity Rania Antonopoulou, stepped down on Monday afternoon following revelations that she received 23,000€ in state rent subsidies for their apartment in the Athens neighbourhood of Kolonaki.
Mr. Papadimitriou’s decision to step down was, like his wife’s, prompted by reactions to an article on Friday in Eleftheros Typos newspaper, which revealed that Rania Antonopoulou had been receiving 1,000€ a month from the state as a rent subsidy for her apartment. She received the subsidy legally but there was public outrage that a Minister, whose income declarations point to considerable personal wealth, should receive such benefits.
She said she had not intended to provoke public sentiment but had been entitled to the subsidy and had applied for it, receiving 23,000€ over two years. She said she would return the money to state coffers. The Government announced her resignation later on Monday.
Opposition New Democracy chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis denounced the Government, saying it took “three whole days of intense reaction” before PM Tsipras demanded her resignation.
Greek Olive Oil Recognised
Thirteen Greek extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) received awards among the most highly acclaimed olive oils in the world following their success in international olive oil competitions in 2017.
According to Greek Liquid Gold website, the EVOO World Ranking (EVOOWR) 2017, “is part of the World Ranking of WAWWJ (World Association of Journalists and Writers of Wines, Liquors and others).” It recognizes the extra virgin olive oils that won the most prizes in the 30 international olive oil competitions held last year.
In 2017, according to EVOOWR, “Greece won 213 awards in 13 contests” and obtained 13 “EVOO of the Year” distinctions.
The Koroneiki variety received the most distinctions, while a number of flavoured olive oils were also awarded.
The 13 Greek olive oils that received awards are:
- Jordan Olivenoel GMBH / Jordan Olivenoel Natives Bio / Blend
- LIÁ Cultivators / LIÁ Premium / Koroneiki
- Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises Ltd / ACAIA / Kolovi
- Friedrich Bläuel & Co Ltd / Mani Bläuel Greek Organic / Koroneiki
- Greka Icons S.A. / Navarino Icons Koroneiki / Koroneiki
- Oliorama & Co GP / Oliorama Exclusive Bio PGI Olympia / Koroneiki
- Kidonakis Bros / Oleum Crete Bio / Koroneiki
- Olympus Olive Oil / Olympus Olive Oil / Koroneiki
- Ellindor Private Company / Ellindor / Koroneiki
- Terra Creta S.A. / Terra Creta Estate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil / Koroneiki
- Olympian Green International S.A. / Olympian Green Oly Oil Traditional / Koroneiki
- Osis – G. Koropoulis & Sia E.E. / Maleas / Koroneiki
- Gaea Products S.A. / Gaea Estate Vranas / Blend
Kostis Palamas (January 13, 1859 - February 27, 1943
One of the greatest Greek poets of modern literature was also one of the most inspiring figures of Hellenism, as the works of Kostis Palamas became beacons of the newly independent Greek State.
Born in Patras on January 13, 1859, Palamas lived long enough to see Greece occupied by the Germans, as he died on February 27, 1943.
Palamas’ enormous poetic work is imbued with history, Hellenism and the formation of the “Great Idea” for his homeland, while at the same time it dealt with everyday people and their feelings. He was named Greece’s National Poet.
The poet’s lyricism and word-making skills were remarkable. But as well as being an exemplary poet, Palamas was known for his work as a literature critic, a literary writer and a literary philosopher.
Palamas lost both his parents at an early age. In 1864, his mother Penelope died during a premature birth, while less than a year later, his father Michael passed away as well. The six-year old Kostis was taken in by his uncle, Dimitrios Palamas and moved to his house in Mesolonghi. The young boy stayed there from 1867 until 1875. He started writing poems and literature as early as high school.
As soon as he finished high school, in 1876, he moved to Athens, where he enrolled in the Law School at Athens University. His studies, however, did not last long, as the heart of young Palamas belonged to poetry and literature. He started working as a journalist to make a living using different aliases and wrote feverishly.
Palamas soon stood out from his colleagues. He became the founder of the “New Athenian School” in poetry and in 1886 he published his first poem collection, “Songs of My Fatherland”.
In 1887 he married to Maria Valvi, with whom he had three children: Nafsika, Leandros and Alkis. His youngest son, Alkis, died at the age of five and the poet was lost in grief. In memory of Alkis, he wrote “Tomb” (1898), a magnificent elegy.
In 1879 he was appointed secretary of the University of Athens and, until his resignation in 1928 as Secretary-General, he won many honorary distinctions, the most important being that of Academy Member in 1926.
In 1924, the French Government honoured Palamas with the “Legion of Honour” title. In 1929 he was appointed President of the Academy of Sciences. Early in 1933, he was honoured with the “Goethe” medal by the German Ambassador to Athens. He was declared the Interim President of the newly established section of the International Writers’ Union. In 1934, the Spanish Government honoured him with the “Del la plaque del l’Ordre de la Republique” medal and a year later with the Medal of the Milanese Library of Congress.
In 1936, Palamas celebrated his fifty-year contribution to Greek poetry and literature. He received the title of Dean of the Royal Order for his contribution in the “Letters and Art” of the Ministry of Education. In 1937 his statue was raised in Messolonghi.
On February 9, 1943, his life partner Maria passed away. A few days later, on February 27, 1943 Palamas died. At his funeral, about 100,000 Greeks paid their respects to the “National Poet” in front of the amazed eyes of their German occupiers. Renowned poet Aggelos wrote and recited the poem “Palamas” for the funeral service.
One of the greatest Greek poets of modern literature was also one of the most inspiring figures of Hellenism, as the works of Kostis Palamas became beacons of the newly independent Greek State.
Born in Patras on January 13, 1859, Palamas lived long enough to see Greece occupied by the Germans, as he died on February 27, 1943.
Palamas’ enormous poetic work is imbued with history, Hellenism and the formation of the “Great Idea” for his homeland, while at the same time it dealt with everyday people and their feelings. He was named Greece’s National Poet.
The poet’s lyricism and word-making skills were remarkable. But as well as being an exemplary poet, Palamas was known for his work as a literature critic, a literary writer and a literary philosopher.
Palamas lost both his parents at an early age. In 1864, his mother Penelope died during a premature birth, while less than a year later, his father Michael passed away as well. The six-year old Kostis was taken in by his uncle, Dimitrios Palamas and moved to his house in Mesolonghi. The young boy stayed there from 1867 until 1875. He started writing poems and literature as early as high school.
As soon as he finished high school, in 1876, he moved to Athens, where he enrolled in the Law School at Athens University. His studies, however, did not last long, as the heart of young Palamas belonged to poetry and literature. He started working as a journalist to make a living using different aliases and wrote feverishly.
Palamas soon stood out from his colleagues. He became the founder of the “New Athenian School” in poetry and in 1886 he published his first poem collection, “Songs of My Fatherland”.
In 1887 he married to Maria Valvi, with whom he had three children: Nafsika, Leandros and Alkis. His youngest son, Alkis, died at the age of five and the poet was lost in grief. In memory of Alkis, he wrote “Tomb” (1898), a magnificent elegy.
In 1879 he was appointed secretary of the University of Athens and, until his resignation in 1928 as Secretary-General, he won many honorary distinctions, the most important being that of Academy Member in 1926.
In 1924, the French Government honoured Palamas with the “Legion of Honour” title. In 1929 he was appointed President of the Academy of Sciences. Early in 1933, he was honoured with the “Goethe” medal by the German Ambassador to Athens. He was declared the Interim President of the newly established section of the International Writers’ Union. In 1934, the Spanish Government honoured him with the “Del la plaque del l’Ordre de la Republique” medal and a year later with the Medal of the Milanese Library of Congress.
In 1936, Palamas celebrated his fifty-year contribution to Greek poetry and literature. He received the title of Dean of the Royal Order for his contribution in the “Letters and Art” of the Ministry of Education. In 1937 his statue was raised in Messolonghi.
On February 9, 1943, his life partner Maria passed away. A few days later, on February 27, 1943 Palamas died. At his funeral, about 100,000 Greeks paid their respects to the “National Poet” in front of the amazed eyes of their German occupiers. Renowned poet Aggelos wrote and recited the poem “Palamas” for the funeral service.
Novartis :
Parliamentary Committee to investigate the 10
24.2.2018
On Thursday, following a marathon 20-hour session, the Greek Parliament decided to establish a special committee that will investigate the role of politicians in the alleged Novartis scandal.
Ten high-ranking politicians, all belonging to the opposition parties of New Democracy and PASOK feature in the case file and will be investigated as to whether they took bribes from the Swiss Pharmaceutical Company Novartis. Among them are former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras and the EU’s Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
Under Greek law, Parliament must first investigate the allegations which include bribery, breach of duty, and possibly money laundering against MPs before they can be stripped of their immunity and prosecuted by judicial authorities.
All the politicians have denied the allegations claiming that it is a Government fabrication against its political rivals. Some of them have also sued the protected witnesses and prosecutors, as well as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Former PM Samaras has filed a lawsuit accusing witnesses of slander, prosecutors of breach of duty and PM Tsipras and “a Minister” of morally assisting them.
Mr. Venizelos, former leader of PASOK, has also filed a lawsuit against one of the witnesses, requesting that his identity be revealed for credibility checks. He called the case “the biggest and sloppiest plot” in decades.
The witnesses’ names have not been disclosed. They are protected from prosecution, court officials said on Tuesday.
Deputy Justice Minister Dimitris Papaggelopoulos accused the opposition parties of trying to intimidate prosecutors and judges by accusing them of participating in the Government’s machinations and procedural wrongdoings.
The Novartis investigation was launched in mid-December 2016 gathering evidence of bribery of thousands of state officials and doctors in order to obtain for Novartis preferential treatment in the market.
The Greek probe followed a two-year investigation conducted by USA authorities into the methods Novartis allegedly used to win dominance in the market.
Ten high-ranking politicians, all belonging to the opposition parties of New Democracy and PASOK feature in the case file and will be investigated as to whether they took bribes from the Swiss Pharmaceutical Company Novartis. Among them are former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras and the EU’s Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.
Under Greek law, Parliament must first investigate the allegations which include bribery, breach of duty, and possibly money laundering against MPs before they can be stripped of their immunity and prosecuted by judicial authorities.
All the politicians have denied the allegations claiming that it is a Government fabrication against its political rivals. Some of them have also sued the protected witnesses and prosecutors, as well as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Former PM Samaras has filed a lawsuit accusing witnesses of slander, prosecutors of breach of duty and PM Tsipras and “a Minister” of morally assisting them.
Mr. Venizelos, former leader of PASOK, has also filed a lawsuit against one of the witnesses, requesting that his identity be revealed for credibility checks. He called the case “the biggest and sloppiest plot” in decades.
The witnesses’ names have not been disclosed. They are protected from prosecution, court officials said on Tuesday.
Deputy Justice Minister Dimitris Papaggelopoulos accused the opposition parties of trying to intimidate prosecutors and judges by accusing them of participating in the Government’s machinations and procedural wrongdoings.
The Novartis investigation was launched in mid-December 2016 gathering evidence of bribery of thousands of state officials and doctors in order to obtain for Novartis preferential treatment in the market.
The Greek probe followed a two-year investigation conducted by USA authorities into the methods Novartis allegedly used to win dominance in the market.
In his contribution to the Parliamentary debate, PM Tsipras emphasised that the investigation will go ahead and justice will be done. New Democracy abstained from the vote.
“How did this [scandal] happen? Was it a natural phenomenon? Who is to blame for this?” Alexis Tsipras wondered. “We will not cover up [the scandal],” he said during the debate. “The Greek people must learn who turned pain and illness into a means of enrichment.”
“For this scandal of mismanagement that caused huge damage to the Greek state, is there political responsibility?” he asked, adding that it is impossible for such a huge scandal to have taken place without the political leadership being aware of it.
“We won’t ignore the Greek people’s mandate,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said before the vote. “We won’t help cover up or bury one of the biggest scandals in modern Greek history.”
The case has hit a nerve in Greece, slowly emerging from the debt crisis that many blamed on a corrupt political elite and a spendthrift state that ran up huge deficits. Greece was forced to slash healthcare spending to shore up its finances. It is estimated that Greece has lost more than €3 billion due to the scandal.
Meanwhile, Prosecutors already have a new list with the names of about 300 public and private doctors who are being investigated for taking bribes from the pharmaceutical industry with amounts ranging from 1,000€ to 5,000€. The list, concerning bribes during January 2016-January 2017, is included in material confiscated by prosecutors in their raid on the offices of Novartis. The new list of 300 doctors comes to be added to the nearly 4,000, against whom the prosecutor's office is expected soon to initiate criminal proceedings, as this strand of the investigation, involving bribes, has almost been completed.
At the same time, the corruption prosecutors are preparing a new round of protected witnesses’ depositions on other aspects of the pharmaceutical industry case.
The Prosecutor's investigation has focused on that part of the case concerning the offence of money laundering. In this context, the prosecution has submitted dozens of requests for legal assistance to Switzerland and Cyprus, seeking information not only on Novartis’ corporate accounts, called "Feeders", but also on several companies that are involved and may have been used as "vehicles" for "laundering" sums of money earmarked for bribes.
Background
Greece’s spending on pharmaceuticals from 2000 to 2009 increased by 385% - an annual rate of increase averaging 20%, when the corresponding annual increase in OECD countries was just 3.5%.
Insurance Funds were plundered in the same period, as doctors, contracted to the public health system, prescribed three times more than the average in other OECD countries.
At the same time, the Insurance Funds were called upon to pay the lion's share of the total health expenditure. The private sector contributed in total just 2.3% in the same period. The facts confirmed by the investigation into the period in question are as follows:
1. With regard to pharmaceutical expenditure from 2000 to 2009 in Greece, there was an increase of around 385% i.e. an average rate of increase of 19.6%, unlike the OECD countries, where it reached 3.5%. Also during the same period the consumption of medicines produced here in Greece came close to 15% of total consumption compared to 56% in Portugal and 70% in Austria (i.e. countries with approximately the same population).
2. Due to the large number of contracts doctors had with insurance funds, three times more prescriptions were written in Greece compared to the OECD countries.
3. The most recent OECD data shows total health spending in 2009 in Greece amounted to 9.6% of GDP, slightly above the average percentage of OECD countries (9.5%). The highest percentage was recorded in the USA (17.4% of GDP) followed by Holland (12%), France (11.8%) and Germany (11.5%). Greece is classified below the average of OECD countries in terms of per capita health expenditure.
4. From 2000 to 2009 there was an increase in per capita health expenditure at a rate of 6.9%, when in OECD countries this figure did not exceed 4% on average.
“How did this [scandal] happen? Was it a natural phenomenon? Who is to blame for this?” Alexis Tsipras wondered. “We will not cover up [the scandal],” he said during the debate. “The Greek people must learn who turned pain and illness into a means of enrichment.”
“For this scandal of mismanagement that caused huge damage to the Greek state, is there political responsibility?” he asked, adding that it is impossible for such a huge scandal to have taken place without the political leadership being aware of it.
“We won’t ignore the Greek people’s mandate,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said before the vote. “We won’t help cover up or bury one of the biggest scandals in modern Greek history.”
The case has hit a nerve in Greece, slowly emerging from the debt crisis that many blamed on a corrupt political elite and a spendthrift state that ran up huge deficits. Greece was forced to slash healthcare spending to shore up its finances. It is estimated that Greece has lost more than €3 billion due to the scandal.
Meanwhile, Prosecutors already have a new list with the names of about 300 public and private doctors who are being investigated for taking bribes from the pharmaceutical industry with amounts ranging from 1,000€ to 5,000€. The list, concerning bribes during January 2016-January 2017, is included in material confiscated by prosecutors in their raid on the offices of Novartis. The new list of 300 doctors comes to be added to the nearly 4,000, against whom the prosecutor's office is expected soon to initiate criminal proceedings, as this strand of the investigation, involving bribes, has almost been completed.
At the same time, the corruption prosecutors are preparing a new round of protected witnesses’ depositions on other aspects of the pharmaceutical industry case.
The Prosecutor's investigation has focused on that part of the case concerning the offence of money laundering. In this context, the prosecution has submitted dozens of requests for legal assistance to Switzerland and Cyprus, seeking information not only on Novartis’ corporate accounts, called "Feeders", but also on several companies that are involved and may have been used as "vehicles" for "laundering" sums of money earmarked for bribes.
Background
Greece’s spending on pharmaceuticals from 2000 to 2009 increased by 385% - an annual rate of increase averaging 20%, when the corresponding annual increase in OECD countries was just 3.5%.
Insurance Funds were plundered in the same period, as doctors, contracted to the public health system, prescribed three times more than the average in other OECD countries.
At the same time, the Insurance Funds were called upon to pay the lion's share of the total health expenditure. The private sector contributed in total just 2.3% in the same period. The facts confirmed by the investigation into the period in question are as follows:
1. With regard to pharmaceutical expenditure from 2000 to 2009 in Greece, there was an increase of around 385% i.e. an average rate of increase of 19.6%, unlike the OECD countries, where it reached 3.5%. Also during the same period the consumption of medicines produced here in Greece came close to 15% of total consumption compared to 56% in Portugal and 70% in Austria (i.e. countries with approximately the same population).
2. Due to the large number of contracts doctors had with insurance funds, three times more prescriptions were written in Greece compared to the OECD countries.
3. The most recent OECD data shows total health spending in 2009 in Greece amounted to 9.6% of GDP, slightly above the average percentage of OECD countries (9.5%). The highest percentage was recorded in the USA (17.4% of GDP) followed by Holland (12%), France (11.8%) and Germany (11.5%). Greece is classified below the average of OECD countries in terms of per capita health expenditure.
4. From 2000 to 2009 there was an increase in per capita health expenditure at a rate of 6.9%, when in OECD countries this figure did not exceed 4% on average.
Fitch upgrades Greece's credit rating
The Fitch Ratings Agency on Friday upgraded Greece's sovereign debt grade, citing budget surpluses, greater political stability and the growing economy.
The Ratings Agency raised the debt rating one notch to 'B' from 'B-,' leaving the country in the "highly speculative" category but with a positive outlook.
The decision followed a similar move last month by S&P Global Ratings, which said the long-suffering economy's improving fiscal situation was coinciding with growing employment.
Also the Eurozone is expected to provide "substantial debt relief" this year, Fitch said.
"The concessional nature of Greece's public debt implies that debt servicing costs are low despite the high stock of public debt," Fitch said in announcing its decision.
The agency noted that Greece saw three straight quarters of GDP growth for the first time in 11 years, causing per capita incomes to rise as well, while political risks have receded.
"Between 2015 and 2017, the Greek Government has adopted “painful measures” under the bailout programme. Greece has also recorded rising budget surpluses and while the banking sector remains weak, banks have committed to plans to reduce their non-performing exposures by the end of next year."
More Paradise Papers
The Greek interest of the new leak concerns, among others, entrepreneurs, shipowners, media owners and politicians
The website of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has moved on to a fresh leak of thousands of names of people on the lists of the “Paradise Papers”of interest to Greece. The list includes 2,594 entries originating from corporate registries in Malta.
The new leak concerns, among others, entrepreneurs, shipowners, media owners and politicians. The first leak only included 235 names of Greeks.
It should be noted, of course, that this leak does not automatically mean illegality. The Paradise Papers simply demonstrate that the ways in which companies, but also individuals, avoid taxes using artificial structures, are, if executed correctly, legal.
It also shows, however, the methodical way in which an international system of legal tax avoidance was set up, which thousands of people used, and not only in Greece.
So the question that arises again is whether a legal process of avoiding the taxation of wealth within the country, contributing substantially to its economy, is an ethical or patriotic act.
At the same time, the revelations of the lists gives the State the tool and the obligation to make in- depth checks on where the wealth of the elites of our country is going.
The Fitch Ratings Agency on Friday upgraded Greece's sovereign debt grade, citing budget surpluses, greater political stability and the growing economy.
The Ratings Agency raised the debt rating one notch to 'B' from 'B-,' leaving the country in the "highly speculative" category but with a positive outlook.
The decision followed a similar move last month by S&P Global Ratings, which said the long-suffering economy's improving fiscal situation was coinciding with growing employment.
Also the Eurozone is expected to provide "substantial debt relief" this year, Fitch said.
"The concessional nature of Greece's public debt implies that debt servicing costs are low despite the high stock of public debt," Fitch said in announcing its decision.
The agency noted that Greece saw three straight quarters of GDP growth for the first time in 11 years, causing per capita incomes to rise as well, while political risks have receded.
"Between 2015 and 2017, the Greek Government has adopted “painful measures” under the bailout programme. Greece has also recorded rising budget surpluses and while the banking sector remains weak, banks have committed to plans to reduce their non-performing exposures by the end of next year."
More Paradise Papers
The Greek interest of the new leak concerns, among others, entrepreneurs, shipowners, media owners and politicians
The website of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has moved on to a fresh leak of thousands of names of people on the lists of the “Paradise Papers”of interest to Greece. The list includes 2,594 entries originating from corporate registries in Malta.
The new leak concerns, among others, entrepreneurs, shipowners, media owners and politicians. The first leak only included 235 names of Greeks.
It should be noted, of course, that this leak does not automatically mean illegality. The Paradise Papers simply demonstrate that the ways in which companies, but also individuals, avoid taxes using artificial structures, are, if executed correctly, legal.
It also shows, however, the methodical way in which an international system of legal tax avoidance was set up, which thousands of people used, and not only in Greece.
So the question that arises again is whether a legal process of avoiding the taxation of wealth within the country, contributing substantially to its economy, is an ethical or patriotic act.
At the same time, the revelations of the lists gives the State the tool and the obligation to make in- depth checks on where the wealth of the elites of our country is going.
NOVARTIS SCANDAL: Government seeks a Parliamentary Enquiry
17.2.2018
The Government has proposed that a parliamentary inquiry be set up to investigate the allegations that two former Prime Ministers and eight former Ministers accepted bribes from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis.
On Monday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced the Government’s intention to ask for a preliminary judicial inquiry into the claims made by three protected witnesses. He said it was the only “institutional path” available to the government. “The case file has to be examined and it has to be established whether there are satisfactory indications that offences have been committed.”
He rejected criticism by the opposition that his government has orchestrated a judicial "witch hunt" against political opponents. He also said his government will not succumb to the attack by the opposition and "vested interests", as he said, adding that the independent justice system is responsible for the investigation.
“Responsibility, democratic consistency, constitutional loyalty, courage and political determination are now being tested,” he said.
“The Government has the responsibility to stop the waste of state funds and shed light to corruption cases.
He also stressed the importance of respecting the law and the regulations now more than ever with “sobriety, calmness and absolute commitment to the discovery and revelation of the truth”. “Our aim is the truth and nothing but the truth.”
He suggested that the purchase of overpriced medicines by previous Governments had cost the country 23€ billion and that had played a key part in forcing Greece to require a bailout in 2010. According to first estimates, the overpricing of medicines in the 2000-2010 period cost as much as €23 billion. “It is equivalent to one Memorandum. More than 10% of GDP.” “If that 23€ billion had remained in the public coffers, perhaps we would have avoided the adventure we have been on since 2010.”
PM Tsipras also insisted that his Government would seek damages from Novartis, which has vowed to investigate the graft claims. He contrasted this approach with the decision by the then New Democracy-led Government in 2012 to seek an out-of-court settlement with Siemens following the cash-for-contracts scandal involving the German engineering firm.
The parliamentary inquiry requested by the Government is to examine whether there were cases of giving or accepting bribes and if any money laundering took place. The view among MPs is that the parliamentary committee will complete its work swiftly and refer the matter back to the justice system, which will have to decide whether further action should be taken against any of the accused.
Protected Witnesses
"I personally am convinced that the only way to avoid the sense of "omertà", that is to say to avoid the cover-up and the use of the law concerning the liability of Ministers was for the case to have protected witnesses" emphasized Health Minister Xanthos.
He went on to explain that the international dimension of the issue "makes the theory of frame-up ridiculous". No scandal of this magnitude in the world has been investigated without the mechanism of protected witnesses and he adds that "it is foolish and hypocritical to say that the “hoods” must go. The allegations are serious, and refer to high level political figures and state officials, which is why witnesses must be protected.
He noted that the aim of the Government is neither the revenge against its political opponents nor the distraction from the problems of society, but the ensuring of an environment for a thorough investigation and the establishing of responsibility when cases of corruption in public life arise. "However, the most important, taking into account the evidence from the scrutiny of the cases, is that interventions in the legal hardening are taken forward so that these phenomena are not perpetuated."
"Here we have a “party”, proven, over a period of time and known to all. No one disputes this. Until now there was no political will for this “party” to be investigated. And just on the basis of the fact that there was a “party”, the political responsibilities are self-evident. Now, from the case file it is clearly demonstrated that there was an organised system of exercising influence by interested parties and of corruption in the field of medicine. Whether one or the other person made the contribution attributed to them by the witnesses, that remains to be decided by the courts. We do not want either collective guilt or collective acquittal. When someone in his term of office, either with omissions and errors or with conscious involvement and self-interested behaviour covers up such a large party, it means negating their political role."
“A Sordid Conspiracy”
Former Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Deputy Justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos, Judicial Officers and the protected witnesses who testified in the Novartis scandal.
Mr. Samaras accused PM Tsipras of being personally responsible for a “sordid conspiracy” that was being set up, while noting that this was “cobbled together so badly that it is collapsing on its own.” The charges mentioned in the lawsuit included abuse of power, breach of jurisdiction and confidentiality, while allegations against the witnesses concern the charges of slander and perjury.
Mr. Samaras explained that he decided to sue Alexis Tsipras because he has “set up a defamatory conspiracy” using the Novartis case. He also argued that conspiracy was put in motion publicly by the Government, just one day after the big rally in Syntagma square to protest the Government’s handling of the talks to resolve the FYROM name dispute, implying that the sole motivation of the Government was to take attention away from this sensitive issue.
Moreover, he further accused the government of lying and defaming its political rivals, while using divisive tactics. The former premier added that he also filed the lawsuit in order to prevent any future government from resorting to the tactic of “using perjurers to destroy political opponents”.
Responding to Mr. Samaras’ lawsuit, the Prime Minister’s Press Office issued a brief statement: “We are looking forward to reading the new conspiracy theory of Mr. Samaras, who is suffering from a permanent state of “persecution mania”. Yet, the only thing that is “persecuting” him is his past. We recommend that he files a lawsuit against it too”.
On Monday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced the Government’s intention to ask for a preliminary judicial inquiry into the claims made by three protected witnesses. He said it was the only “institutional path” available to the government. “The case file has to be examined and it has to be established whether there are satisfactory indications that offences have been committed.”
He rejected criticism by the opposition that his government has orchestrated a judicial "witch hunt" against political opponents. He also said his government will not succumb to the attack by the opposition and "vested interests", as he said, adding that the independent justice system is responsible for the investigation.
“Responsibility, democratic consistency, constitutional loyalty, courage and political determination are now being tested,” he said.
“The Government has the responsibility to stop the waste of state funds and shed light to corruption cases.
He also stressed the importance of respecting the law and the regulations now more than ever with “sobriety, calmness and absolute commitment to the discovery and revelation of the truth”. “Our aim is the truth and nothing but the truth.”
He suggested that the purchase of overpriced medicines by previous Governments had cost the country 23€ billion and that had played a key part in forcing Greece to require a bailout in 2010. According to first estimates, the overpricing of medicines in the 2000-2010 period cost as much as €23 billion. “It is equivalent to one Memorandum. More than 10% of GDP.” “If that 23€ billion had remained in the public coffers, perhaps we would have avoided the adventure we have been on since 2010.”
PM Tsipras also insisted that his Government would seek damages from Novartis, which has vowed to investigate the graft claims. He contrasted this approach with the decision by the then New Democracy-led Government in 2012 to seek an out-of-court settlement with Siemens following the cash-for-contracts scandal involving the German engineering firm.
The parliamentary inquiry requested by the Government is to examine whether there were cases of giving or accepting bribes and if any money laundering took place. The view among MPs is that the parliamentary committee will complete its work swiftly and refer the matter back to the justice system, which will have to decide whether further action should be taken against any of the accused.
Protected Witnesses
"I personally am convinced that the only way to avoid the sense of "omertà", that is to say to avoid the cover-up and the use of the law concerning the liability of Ministers was for the case to have protected witnesses" emphasized Health Minister Xanthos.
He went on to explain that the international dimension of the issue "makes the theory of frame-up ridiculous". No scandal of this magnitude in the world has been investigated without the mechanism of protected witnesses and he adds that "it is foolish and hypocritical to say that the “hoods” must go. The allegations are serious, and refer to high level political figures and state officials, which is why witnesses must be protected.
He noted that the aim of the Government is neither the revenge against its political opponents nor the distraction from the problems of society, but the ensuring of an environment for a thorough investigation and the establishing of responsibility when cases of corruption in public life arise. "However, the most important, taking into account the evidence from the scrutiny of the cases, is that interventions in the legal hardening are taken forward so that these phenomena are not perpetuated."
"Here we have a “party”, proven, over a period of time and known to all. No one disputes this. Until now there was no political will for this “party” to be investigated. And just on the basis of the fact that there was a “party”, the political responsibilities are self-evident. Now, from the case file it is clearly demonstrated that there was an organised system of exercising influence by interested parties and of corruption in the field of medicine. Whether one or the other person made the contribution attributed to them by the witnesses, that remains to be decided by the courts. We do not want either collective guilt or collective acquittal. When someone in his term of office, either with omissions and errors or with conscious involvement and self-interested behaviour covers up such a large party, it means negating their political role."
“A Sordid Conspiracy”
Former Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Deputy Justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos, Judicial Officers and the protected witnesses who testified in the Novartis scandal.
Mr. Samaras accused PM Tsipras of being personally responsible for a “sordid conspiracy” that was being set up, while noting that this was “cobbled together so badly that it is collapsing on its own.” The charges mentioned in the lawsuit included abuse of power, breach of jurisdiction and confidentiality, while allegations against the witnesses concern the charges of slander and perjury.
Mr. Samaras explained that he decided to sue Alexis Tsipras because he has “set up a defamatory conspiracy” using the Novartis case. He also argued that conspiracy was put in motion publicly by the Government, just one day after the big rally in Syntagma square to protest the Government’s handling of the talks to resolve the FYROM name dispute, implying that the sole motivation of the Government was to take attention away from this sensitive issue.
Moreover, he further accused the government of lying and defaming its political rivals, while using divisive tactics. The former premier added that he also filed the lawsuit in order to prevent any future government from resorting to the tactic of “using perjurers to destroy political opponents”.
Responding to Mr. Samaras’ lawsuit, the Prime Minister’s Press Office issued a brief statement: “We are looking forward to reading the new conspiracy theory of Mr. Samaras, who is suffering from a permanent state of “persecution mania”. Yet, the only thing that is “persecuting” him is his past. We recommend that he files a lawsuit against it too”.
The FYROM Name Issue
PM Tsipras referred to the negotiations and said Greece is not being called on “to give up something achieved by previous governments, but to take something back”.
He explained that “the neighbours [Skopje] must be persuaded to stop using the term ‘Macedonia’. That country’s designation must make clear that it has nothing to do in historical or geographical terms with the Greek Macedonia. “They must be persuaded to give back names and symbols that do not belong to them.” He said negotiations would not be easy, but said they were the only way.
Meanwhile in Skopje…
Skopje Mayor Petre Shilegov has said Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are showing a willingness to resolve their decades-old name dispute.
In an interview with Greek Sunday newspaper Documento, Mayor Shilegov said: “When you want to solve a problem, you solve it. When you don’t, you don’t […] We want to solve problems, not create them.”
Asked whether he agrees with a statement made decades ago by late FYROM President Kiro Gligorov, that FYROM nationals are Slavs and have no connection to Alexander the Great, Mayor Shilegov agreed.
“Alexander the Great was never a part of our official history. It was introduced into our history in the last 10 years.
“Basically, when you talk about such nationalities, states and peoples, you are referring to the last 300 years, while Alexander the Great was 2,300 years ago. I prefer to see him more as the leader who civilized the whole world,” he said.
The Mayor, who is also vice-president of the ruling Social Democratic Union (SDSM), said FYROM had already made constitutional amendments in 1992 and there are no articles in the current document concealing wider irredentist territorial claims.
“We changed our Constitution on this issue in 1992. There is no article in our constitution that claims such a thing in relation to any country.
“In fact, there is an article that says that we don’t have any territorial claims towards neighbouring countries. Therefore this should not constitute a threat to anyone in Greece,” he said.
PM Tsipras referred to the negotiations and said Greece is not being called on “to give up something achieved by previous governments, but to take something back”.
He explained that “the neighbours [Skopje] must be persuaded to stop using the term ‘Macedonia’. That country’s designation must make clear that it has nothing to do in historical or geographical terms with the Greek Macedonia. “They must be persuaded to give back names and symbols that do not belong to them.” He said negotiations would not be easy, but said they were the only way.
Meanwhile in Skopje…
Skopje Mayor Petre Shilegov has said Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are showing a willingness to resolve their decades-old name dispute.
In an interview with Greek Sunday newspaper Documento, Mayor Shilegov said: “When you want to solve a problem, you solve it. When you don’t, you don’t […] We want to solve problems, not create them.”
Asked whether he agrees with a statement made decades ago by late FYROM President Kiro Gligorov, that FYROM nationals are Slavs and have no connection to Alexander the Great, Mayor Shilegov agreed.
“Alexander the Great was never a part of our official history. It was introduced into our history in the last 10 years.
“Basically, when you talk about such nationalities, states and peoples, you are referring to the last 300 years, while Alexander the Great was 2,300 years ago. I prefer to see him more as the leader who civilized the whole world,” he said.
The Mayor, who is also vice-president of the ruling Social Democratic Union (SDSM), said FYROM had already made constitutional amendments in 1992 and there are no articles in the current document concealing wider irredentist territorial claims.
“We changed our Constitution on this issue in 1992. There is no article in our constitution that claims such a thing in relation to any country.
“In fact, there is an article that says that we don’t have any territorial claims towards neighbouring countries. Therefore this should not constitute a threat to anyone in Greece,” he said.
The Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia: Those “threatening” Articles
Coincidentally …..
“Greece will not tolerate any challenges to its territorial integrity”, stated PM Tsipras following Monday’s collision between Turkish and Greek coastguard vessels close to the disputed islet of Imia in the Aegean Sea.
Seeking international support, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras underlined that Greece’s border was also that of the 28-nation European Union. “Our message, now, tomorrow and always, is clear ... Greece will not allow, accept or tolerate any challenge to its territorial integrity and its sovereign rights,” he said. “Greece is not a country which plays games.” “Challenges and aggressive rhetoric against the sovereign rights of an EU member state are against the EU in its entirety.”
In Brussels, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos briefed U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Turkey’s “provocative behaviour”. “I had the opportunity to show them material of proof that dismisses Turkish claims that (the incident at Imia) was an accident,” Minister Kammenos said in a statement. “Turkey is provoking and violating Greek and EU waters, it proceeds with acts that violate any notion of maritime law and is coming close to (causing) an ‘accident’ in the Aegean. It has full responsibility.”
Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday."We explicitly expressed to him [Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras] that staying away from tensions will be better, with regards to relations between the two countries." "It is not only Turkey that should be careful in avoiding such violations; at the same time, actors in the field from Greece should be more careful and act in accordance with the law and stay away from disputed areas," he said.
Yigit Bulut, the chief advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Turkey’s TRT TV channel that he is “in no doubt” that the USA has a plan to make Greece attack Turkey while its military is engaged in Syria. Turkey’s response, he said, will be tough, adding that Greece is no match for Turkey’s might. It would be like a "fly picking a fight with a giant," he said and warned that terrible consequences would follow for Greece. "We will break the arms and legs of any officers, of the prime minister or of any minister who dares to step onto Imia in the Aegean," Mr. Bulut said,
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has described the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as “our brothers” and insisted Ankara would always stand by Skopje.
The Turkish leader said any insistence by Greece that FYROM change its name before joining NATO was “unfair” and said Athens was in the wrong over the long-running name dispute.
“For us Ankara and Skopje have no differences and we will not leave our brothers alone and we will always be with them,” Erdogan said.
During his visit to Turkey earlier this week, FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev issued an invitation to Turkey to invest in Macedonia "without taxes for 10 years".
PM Zaev met with his Turkish counterpart and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and said "Turkey is not just supporting us. It is a partner who respects our perspectives, especially our NATO membership," while expressing his gratitude to Ankara for its friendly attitude.
Turkey's President Erdogan supported the "good neighbourly policies followed by Macedonia" and its efforts to resolve the dispute with Greece on the name issue.
Coincidentally …..
“Greece will not tolerate any challenges to its territorial integrity”, stated PM Tsipras following Monday’s collision between Turkish and Greek coastguard vessels close to the disputed islet of Imia in the Aegean Sea.
Seeking international support, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras underlined that Greece’s border was also that of the 28-nation European Union. “Our message, now, tomorrow and always, is clear ... Greece will not allow, accept or tolerate any challenge to its territorial integrity and its sovereign rights,” he said. “Greece is not a country which plays games.” “Challenges and aggressive rhetoric against the sovereign rights of an EU member state are against the EU in its entirety.”
In Brussels, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos briefed U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Turkey’s “provocative behaviour”. “I had the opportunity to show them material of proof that dismisses Turkish claims that (the incident at Imia) was an accident,” Minister Kammenos said in a statement. “Turkey is provoking and violating Greek and EU waters, it proceeds with acts that violate any notion of maritime law and is coming close to (causing) an ‘accident’ in the Aegean. It has full responsibility.”
Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday."We explicitly expressed to him [Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras] that staying away from tensions will be better, with regards to relations between the two countries." "It is not only Turkey that should be careful in avoiding such violations; at the same time, actors in the field from Greece should be more careful and act in accordance with the law and stay away from disputed areas," he said.
Yigit Bulut, the chief advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Turkey’s TRT TV channel that he is “in no doubt” that the USA has a plan to make Greece attack Turkey while its military is engaged in Syria. Turkey’s response, he said, will be tough, adding that Greece is no match for Turkey’s might. It would be like a "fly picking a fight with a giant," he said and warned that terrible consequences would follow for Greece. "We will break the arms and legs of any officers, of the prime minister or of any minister who dares to step onto Imia in the Aegean," Mr. Bulut said,
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has described the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as “our brothers” and insisted Ankara would always stand by Skopje.
The Turkish leader said any insistence by Greece that FYROM change its name before joining NATO was “unfair” and said Athens was in the wrong over the long-running name dispute.
“For us Ankara and Skopje have no differences and we will not leave our brothers alone and we will always be with them,” Erdogan said.
During his visit to Turkey earlier this week, FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev issued an invitation to Turkey to invest in Macedonia "without taxes for 10 years".
PM Zaev met with his Turkish counterpart and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and said "Turkey is not just supporting us. It is a partner who respects our perspectives, especially our NATO membership," while expressing his gratitude to Ankara for its friendly attitude.
Turkey's President Erdogan supported the "good neighbourly policies followed by Macedonia" and its efforts to resolve the dispute with Greece on the name issue.
Bailout Programme – the final straight
The Government's negotiations with the Institutions are entering the final straight by the end of this month, leading to the country's exit from the programme in August this year. On 26th February the Heads of the Institutions’ teams (Peter Dolman of the IMF, Declan Costello from the European Commission, Francesco Drudi of the European Central Bank and Nikola Tziamaroli of the European Stability Mechanism are expected in Athens.
This visit will be short and the discussions will be the agenda and the timing of subsequent contacts, as well as the implementation of some of the most important prerequisites. It is planned for the Team Leaders to return after Easter for the final negotiations, included in which will be the details of “Greek Programme” that will be implemented after the Memorandum, the arrangements for the debt, and the kind of post-programme oversight -without a precautionary credit line.
Government sources reported that the "Greek Programme" will be of about 5 years’ duration, with two main strands: Development including the Welfare State and a Plan for the Debt.
The Development Part will include:
• Support priorities by sector (e.g. energy, the complete food chain etc.)
• The Support Plan for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Identifying and resolving problems in key areas (e.g. dealing with bureaucracy, quicker administration of Justice, "red" loans, etc.)
• The programming of grants.
The Social Arm will set goals for strengthening the Welfare State (e.g. hospital staffing, benefits, raising the minimum wage).
The final exit from the programme will be accompanied by some kind of supervision, which, among other things, will focus on:
• The implementation of some "end pieces" of the current agreement, such as the completion of the privatisation programme.
• The commitment that there will not be changes made to what has been implemented (e.g. the tax collecting mechanism will remain independent)
• The commitments that major reforms in areas that are considered important (e.g. Justice, public administration, etc.) will continue.
The Plan for the Debt
With the IMF's attitude currently an "unknown x" and a new report expected from the Fund on the sustainability of the debt, Greece and its European partners are in agreement that the settlement on the debt should be based on the so-called "French model" and consists of the following: on the one hand, linking ,on an annual basis, debt repayment to the growth of the Greek economy, until 75% of the Public Debt has been repaid. For example, if there are periods of stagnation in the economy, the amounts required for debt repayment will decrease. And, on the other hand, the debt relief is on condition that the agreed reforms are implemented.
Government officials stated that by the Eurogroup in June (or shortly thereafter) agreement will have concluded with the Institutions on all the above. At the same time, however, in the coming months until the deadline the remaining 88 prerequisites must have been implemented.
Government officilas said that on the list of prerequisites there are five "snags", which, however, can be easily resolved.
In May to June the discussion about public finances will take place (the already enacted measures on pensions and tax allowances for 2019 and 2020, as well as the countermeasures). The Greek side has as its "ace in the hole" the very high Primary Surplus for this year, which is estimated at 4% of GDP (or 2.9% of GDP after subtracting the social dividend and "security cushion"). However, up until now the IMF has systematically made much lower estimates.
Among the other "thorns" are the changes to the Property Tax [ΕΝΦΙΑ] after the reshaping of objective values, the revision of the "Katseli Law" (Government wants greater protection for borrowers), the promotion of "hot" privatisations mainly in the energy sector and the reform of disability allowances.
Talking about Greece’s exit from the Bailout Programme, Alexis Tsipras said “We are on the final stretch of the negotiations to exit the supervision in summer of 2018,” adding that the Greek economy has turned a page. “The conditions were never better for tapping into the markets.” Greece in the last week raised billions of euros with the sale of seven-year bonds.
The Government's negotiations with the Institutions are entering the final straight by the end of this month, leading to the country's exit from the programme in August this year. On 26th February the Heads of the Institutions’ teams (Peter Dolman of the IMF, Declan Costello from the European Commission, Francesco Drudi of the European Central Bank and Nikola Tziamaroli of the European Stability Mechanism are expected in Athens.
This visit will be short and the discussions will be the agenda and the timing of subsequent contacts, as well as the implementation of some of the most important prerequisites. It is planned for the Team Leaders to return after Easter for the final negotiations, included in which will be the details of “Greek Programme” that will be implemented after the Memorandum, the arrangements for the debt, and the kind of post-programme oversight -without a precautionary credit line.
Government sources reported that the "Greek Programme" will be of about 5 years’ duration, with two main strands: Development including the Welfare State and a Plan for the Debt.
The Development Part will include:
• Support priorities by sector (e.g. energy, the complete food chain etc.)
• The Support Plan for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Identifying and resolving problems in key areas (e.g. dealing with bureaucracy, quicker administration of Justice, "red" loans, etc.)
• The programming of grants.
The Social Arm will set goals for strengthening the Welfare State (e.g. hospital staffing, benefits, raising the minimum wage).
The final exit from the programme will be accompanied by some kind of supervision, which, among other things, will focus on:
• The implementation of some "end pieces" of the current agreement, such as the completion of the privatisation programme.
• The commitment that there will not be changes made to what has been implemented (e.g. the tax collecting mechanism will remain independent)
• The commitments that major reforms in areas that are considered important (e.g. Justice, public administration, etc.) will continue.
The Plan for the Debt
With the IMF's attitude currently an "unknown x" and a new report expected from the Fund on the sustainability of the debt, Greece and its European partners are in agreement that the settlement on the debt should be based on the so-called "French model" and consists of the following: on the one hand, linking ,on an annual basis, debt repayment to the growth of the Greek economy, until 75% of the Public Debt has been repaid. For example, if there are periods of stagnation in the economy, the amounts required for debt repayment will decrease. And, on the other hand, the debt relief is on condition that the agreed reforms are implemented.
Government officials stated that by the Eurogroup in June (or shortly thereafter) agreement will have concluded with the Institutions on all the above. At the same time, however, in the coming months until the deadline the remaining 88 prerequisites must have been implemented.
Government officilas said that on the list of prerequisites there are five "snags", which, however, can be easily resolved.
In May to June the discussion about public finances will take place (the already enacted measures on pensions and tax allowances for 2019 and 2020, as well as the countermeasures). The Greek side has as its "ace in the hole" the very high Primary Surplus for this year, which is estimated at 4% of GDP (or 2.9% of GDP after subtracting the social dividend and "security cushion"). However, up until now the IMF has systematically made much lower estimates.
Among the other "thorns" are the changes to the Property Tax [ΕΝΦΙΑ] after the reshaping of objective values, the revision of the "Katseli Law" (Government wants greater protection for borrowers), the promotion of "hot" privatisations mainly in the energy sector and the reform of disability allowances.
Talking about Greece’s exit from the Bailout Programme, Alexis Tsipras said “We are on the final stretch of the negotiations to exit the supervision in summer of 2018,” adding that the Greek economy has turned a page. “The conditions were never better for tapping into the markets.” Greece in the last week raised billions of euros with the sale of seven-year bonds.
The "Macedonian Question" :
Latest Developments
10.02.2018
According to the police estimate, approximately 140,000 demonstrators, clearly less than expected, participated in the rally on the “Macedonian Question” which took place in Syntagma Square last Sunday.
Following the Government Cabinet meeting in Skopje on Monday, the Prime Minister of FYROM, Zoran Zaev said that the name of the largest airport in the country, “Alexander the Great” has been changed to “Skopje’s International Airport”, while the highway along Corridor 10 has been re-named “Highway of Friendship”. According to him, this is a big step to confirm relations of friendship and trust with Greece.
“For the sake of the ongoing process of talks with Greece, I do not want to make any further comments, but we’re acting very cautiously”, he said, adding that he’s optimistic on finding a solution.
“It looks very difficult, but we have never expected it to be easy. As a government, we are committed in finding a solution for this problem”, PM Zaev said.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through an official announcement, that the fYROM decision regarding the name change of the national airport in Skopje and the national highway which leads to the border with Greece is a positive one.
"We welcome today's decision by the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to rename Skopje's national airport to 'International Airport of Skopje' and their main highway to "Highway of Friendship'."
It is an important development towards fighting irredentism and we hope that it will signal the opening of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries", the Foreign Ministry's announcement reads.
PM Tsipras : "The need for a new patriotism"
From the platform of the 9th Regional Development Conference in Patras, Alexis Tsipras delivered a clear message. He underlined the need for a new patriotism in contrast to those "who made patriotism a flag of convenience for them to serve the most narrow-minded self-interest."
"If the homeland needs something today, now, from all of us, up to and including the last Greek, it is a modern, resolute, unyielding patriotism. A patriotism that responds to difficult times, not with inflammatory rhetoric, but in terms of everyday virtue", in contrast to the flag waiving expressed by Antonis Samaras and the extreme wing of New Democracy
"There can be no patriotism in the Panama Papers, in off shore activity,in greasing palms, in serving vested interests, in defrauding the State, in the misappropriation of public funds, in pay-offs and corruption", characterising as "criminally disingenuous" those politicians who on the one hand engage "in a competition of patriotism and on the other consider it legal and ethical for their names to be registered on the tax evasion lists. Or denouncing as political persecution the reporting of their names in criminal proceedings.
"Patriotism is not a show and rhetoric nor is it standing to attention at the raising of the flag", it is the practice of everyday virtue, and above all of honesty - in every action, every movement, every initiative, especially by those who the people appoint to manage the country's fortunes. But also by each of us individually."
Athens Rally: "No use of the name Macedonia"
According to the police estimate, approximately 140,000 demonstrators, clearly less than expected, participated in the rally on the “Macedonian Question” which took place in Syntagma Square last Sunday. According to the police, 283 buses arrived in Attica for the event, of which 189 came through the Afidnes toll station and 94 through the toll station of Eleusis.
Many Greeks object to the country of the same name calling itself Macedonia, saying it implies a territorial claim on Greece's northern Macedonia region.
Organisers of Sunday's protest estimated that 1.5 million people had attended but the police said turnout was less than one tenth of that.
At the rally Mikis Theodorakis said "We appeal to Members of Parliament to call for a debate on the issue in Parliament and to mobilize on this issue of national importance." "Only we Greeks can give or refuse to give to the people of Skopje the right to appropriate, in the future by means of the name “Macedonia”, an integral part of Hellenism".
"I believe absolutely, we must face up to this huge problem united like a fist."
Mr.Theodorakis then said that Skopje is misrepresenting history : "It is not possible for us to agree with this falsification of history. Then we would become complicit with the forces that are openly targetting our territorial integrity."
"Macedonia is and was a unity, is and will always be Greek. Long live the Greek people," he ended by saying.
The Metropolitan of Syros, Dorotheos, read the message from the Holy Synod.
"The Church of Greece supports every expression of righteous defence of Macedonia. I cannot accept the term "Macedonia" or any derivative as a component of another name. It is a sacred responsibility of the Church to minister to the unity of all Greeks without discrimination. Let us make this rally today a message of national unity. Macedonia is in the hearts of all Greeks."
George Patoulis, President of KEDE [The Central Union of the Municipalities of Greece Ed]: "We will not tolerate the sell off of our history. Macedonia is Greek. Local Government is at the forefront of the national struggle to defend the values of Hellenism" "Today in the heart of Athens, more than 1.5 million [sic] people are shouting that Macedonia is Greek. We are sending a clear message to those who are ready to come to terms that we will not compromise."
The roots of the conflict run deep. When the Ottoman Turks were driven from the region in 1912, Macedonia was carved up by Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria. The bits grabbed by Serbia ended up as part of the new Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia collapsed in 1991, Greece objected to that part of it being recognised as the Macedonian republic, arguing that this implied a claim to its own region of the same name. From then on Greece, the United Nations, the EU and many other international organisations have had to call it FYROM—the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
In response
On Monday, Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said “The shift of Mr. Theodorakis to intolerant and politically extreme positions is a sad development.”
Mr. Tzanakopoulos criticized the presence and speech of renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis who spoke at Sunday’s protest rally.
“I do not think it was a good decision to appear and speak the way he spoke at the rally. I do not know if referring to leftist fascism was referring to himself and his past. I do not know if he honours the way that people of the far-right and well-known fascists greeted him,” Mr.Tzanakopoulos said.
Mr. Tzanakopoulso said that the Government definitely takes note of the large mobilization of Greek people, but insisted that the tone of the rally was set by extremist political elements.
“The slogan of yesterday’s rally was “no use of the term Macedonia” for the name of the neighbouring country. But is this a position that Greek foreign policy can adopt?” he said.
He criticised New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis accusing him of not making his position clear on the use of the term “Macedonia” in the name of Greece’s Balkan neighbour.
The Press Office of SYRIZA was scathing in its comment on Sunday’s rally:
“Today’s rally has completely confounded the expectations of the organizers, who all the previous days have raised very high the expectation of a mass mobilisation, with the assistance of a large segment of the mass media, which operated as its director of communications.
The nationalistic and bigoted message that the speeches expressed and the presence of the whole of Golden Dawn made its message very clear. In addition, the presence of former Prime Minister and President of the New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, highlighted the opportunistic attitude of the main opposition party, which does not hesitate to align itself fully with the extreme right to divide the Greek people and exploit their patriotic concerns. The attitude of Mr. Mitsotakis on this issue is a monument of hypocrisy and irresponsibility, as he does not dare to put forward in public dialogue a clear position on the name issue.
SYRIZA supports the efforts of the Government in the negotiations to resolve the issue of the name of the neighbouring country. The peaceful coexistence of peoples, security and stability in the Balkans is the strongest guarantee for the safeguarding of national interests and expresses the desire of the majority of the Greek people for a future beyond blind alleys and fruitless isolationism.
“For the sake of the ongoing process of talks with Greece, I do not want to make any further comments, but we’re acting very cautiously”, he said, adding that he’s optimistic on finding a solution.
“It looks very difficult, but we have never expected it to be easy. As a government, we are committed in finding a solution for this problem”, PM Zaev said.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through an official announcement, that the fYROM decision regarding the name change of the national airport in Skopje and the national highway which leads to the border with Greece is a positive one.
"We welcome today's decision by the government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to rename Skopje's national airport to 'International Airport of Skopje' and their main highway to "Highway of Friendship'."
It is an important development towards fighting irredentism and we hope that it will signal the opening of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries", the Foreign Ministry's announcement reads.
PM Tsipras : "The need for a new patriotism"
From the platform of the 9th Regional Development Conference in Patras, Alexis Tsipras delivered a clear message. He underlined the need for a new patriotism in contrast to those "who made patriotism a flag of convenience for them to serve the most narrow-minded self-interest."
"If the homeland needs something today, now, from all of us, up to and including the last Greek, it is a modern, resolute, unyielding patriotism. A patriotism that responds to difficult times, not with inflammatory rhetoric, but in terms of everyday virtue", in contrast to the flag waiving expressed by Antonis Samaras and the extreme wing of New Democracy
"There can be no patriotism in the Panama Papers, in off shore activity,in greasing palms, in serving vested interests, in defrauding the State, in the misappropriation of public funds, in pay-offs and corruption", characterising as "criminally disingenuous" those politicians who on the one hand engage "in a competition of patriotism and on the other consider it legal and ethical for their names to be registered on the tax evasion lists. Or denouncing as political persecution the reporting of their names in criminal proceedings.
"Patriotism is not a show and rhetoric nor is it standing to attention at the raising of the flag", it is the practice of everyday virtue, and above all of honesty - in every action, every movement, every initiative, especially by those who the people appoint to manage the country's fortunes. But also by each of us individually."
Athens Rally: "No use of the name Macedonia"
According to the police estimate, approximately 140,000 demonstrators, clearly less than expected, participated in the rally on the “Macedonian Question” which took place in Syntagma Square last Sunday. According to the police, 283 buses arrived in Attica for the event, of which 189 came through the Afidnes toll station and 94 through the toll station of Eleusis.
Many Greeks object to the country of the same name calling itself Macedonia, saying it implies a territorial claim on Greece's northern Macedonia region.
Organisers of Sunday's protest estimated that 1.5 million people had attended but the police said turnout was less than one tenth of that.
At the rally Mikis Theodorakis said "We appeal to Members of Parliament to call for a debate on the issue in Parliament and to mobilize on this issue of national importance." "Only we Greeks can give or refuse to give to the people of Skopje the right to appropriate, in the future by means of the name “Macedonia”, an integral part of Hellenism".
"I believe absolutely, we must face up to this huge problem united like a fist."
Mr.Theodorakis then said that Skopje is misrepresenting history : "It is not possible for us to agree with this falsification of history. Then we would become complicit with the forces that are openly targetting our territorial integrity."
"Macedonia is and was a unity, is and will always be Greek. Long live the Greek people," he ended by saying.
The Metropolitan of Syros, Dorotheos, read the message from the Holy Synod.
"The Church of Greece supports every expression of righteous defence of Macedonia. I cannot accept the term "Macedonia" or any derivative as a component of another name. It is a sacred responsibility of the Church to minister to the unity of all Greeks without discrimination. Let us make this rally today a message of national unity. Macedonia is in the hearts of all Greeks."
George Patoulis, President of KEDE [The Central Union of the Municipalities of Greece Ed]: "We will not tolerate the sell off of our history. Macedonia is Greek. Local Government is at the forefront of the national struggle to defend the values of Hellenism" "Today in the heart of Athens, more than 1.5 million [sic] people are shouting that Macedonia is Greek. We are sending a clear message to those who are ready to come to terms that we will not compromise."
The roots of the conflict run deep. When the Ottoman Turks were driven from the region in 1912, Macedonia was carved up by Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria. The bits grabbed by Serbia ended up as part of the new Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia collapsed in 1991, Greece objected to that part of it being recognised as the Macedonian republic, arguing that this implied a claim to its own region of the same name. From then on Greece, the United Nations, the EU and many other international organisations have had to call it FYROM—the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
In response
On Monday, Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said “The shift of Mr. Theodorakis to intolerant and politically extreme positions is a sad development.”
Mr. Tzanakopoulos criticized the presence and speech of renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis who spoke at Sunday’s protest rally.
“I do not think it was a good decision to appear and speak the way he spoke at the rally. I do not know if referring to leftist fascism was referring to himself and his past. I do not know if he honours the way that people of the far-right and well-known fascists greeted him,” Mr.Tzanakopoulos said.
Mr. Tzanakopoulso said that the Government definitely takes note of the large mobilization of Greek people, but insisted that the tone of the rally was set by extremist political elements.
“The slogan of yesterday’s rally was “no use of the term Macedonia” for the name of the neighbouring country. But is this a position that Greek foreign policy can adopt?” he said.
He criticised New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis accusing him of not making his position clear on the use of the term “Macedonia” in the name of Greece’s Balkan neighbour.
The Press Office of SYRIZA was scathing in its comment on Sunday’s rally:
“Today’s rally has completely confounded the expectations of the organizers, who all the previous days have raised very high the expectation of a mass mobilisation, with the assistance of a large segment of the mass media, which operated as its director of communications.
The nationalistic and bigoted message that the speeches expressed and the presence of the whole of Golden Dawn made its message very clear. In addition, the presence of former Prime Minister and President of the New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, highlighted the opportunistic attitude of the main opposition party, which does not hesitate to align itself fully with the extreme right to divide the Greek people and exploit their patriotic concerns. The attitude of Mr. Mitsotakis on this issue is a monument of hypocrisy and irresponsibility, as he does not dare to put forward in public dialogue a clear position on the name issue.
SYRIZA supports the efforts of the Government in the negotiations to resolve the issue of the name of the neighbouring country. The peaceful coexistence of peoples, security and stability in the Balkans is the strongest guarantee for the safeguarding of national interests and expresses the desire of the majority of the Greek people for a future beyond blind alleys and fruitless isolationism.
Novartis: Greek Parliament
to consider bribery indictments
Greece's Parliament has received indictments linking ten prominent politicians to a bribery scandal involving Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Parliament announced on Tuesday the results of a judicial investigation into alleged bribes paid to public officials by Basel-based Novartis over nearly a decade to promote the use of its products in public hospitals.
"This is a massive scandal that has stunned Greek society," Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said.
Under Greek law, politicians do not face prosecution directly from judicial authorities. Allegations must first be referred to Parliament for review before MPs vote on whether to strip the accused of their automatic immunity.
The politicians named include current Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, plus former New Democracy Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotos Pikramenos in 2012 and five former Health Ministers. They have all denied the allegations and told To Bima newspaper that there is a slander operation at work and that they will sue for slander.
Antonis Samaras, the former ND Prime Minister who served between 2012 and 2015, said the allegations against him were politically motivated, and vowed to file a lawsuit against Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"This is the most ruthless but also most ridiculous conspiracy ever," he said.
Pharmaceutical expenditures stood at 1.27€ billion in 2000, then skyrocketed to 5.1€ billion in 2009. It was gradually reduced during the crisis to 2€ billion in 2014 where it has stabilised.
A legal formula is being sought for compensation to the Public Treasury - 50€ million is close to the amount earmarked for corrupting politicians – Up to 3€ billion is the damage to the Public Treasury from the transactions of Novartis, up to 23€ billion is the damage between 2000 and 2015 from the practices of all pharmaceutical companies.
The details of the indictment reveal dizzying amounts were traded as bribes to win Novartis a dominant role in the Greek medicine market causing pharmaceutical expenditure in Greece to skyrocket. According to them, about 50€ million flowed to two former Prime Ministers and eight former Ministers, while the damage caused to the Public Treasury from its dealings with Novartis touches 3€ billion. The damage to the Public Treasury from 2000 up to 2015 from the practices of all pharmaceutical companies reaches 23€ billion.
The Public Prosecutor of Corruption is now seeking a legal formula so that the Public Treasury can be compensated for the mountain of money lost.
Prosecution sources speak of the "shocking testimonies" of three protected witnesses who gave revealing evidence about the trading of "black" money, naming the politicians directly.
The Prosecutor's Office continues to work closely with the US authorities, ahead of requests for judicial assistance sent to Switzerland and Cyprus.
So far, however, it has been revealed from the testimony of the protected witnesses that around 45-50€ million were directed to the ten politicians. Total bribes reached around 60€ million, which, apart from the politicians, were shared by four or five General Secretaries of Ministries, members of committees, administrators of public organizations, political consultants etc.
One protected witness also reportedly submits that "the big “party” took place before the Memoranda", during which about 40€ million were given in bribes for the purchase of flu vaccine and also for anti-cancer drugs.
From 2000 onwards pharmaceutical expenditure in Greece was twice the European average.
Overpricing and pressure to give preference to its own medications are practices attributed to Novartis.
Novartis succeeded in getting paid as an absolute priority by insurance organizations ahead of their competitors, while its medicines were supplied at inflated prices and were focused mainly on the areas of Oncology and Ophthalmology.
According to information so far about the unfair practices of Novartis, approximately twenty witnesses have made depositions speaking about preferential pricing and approval processes and even the delay of the approval of drugs from other companies.
In its communiqué on this issue, Novartis states: "We have taken note of the publications concerning our business practices in Greece. We continue to work with the authorities in Greece and abroad. Novartis is committed to the highest standards of ethical business conduct and regulatory compliance in all aspects of our work. We take every allegation about possible misconduct extremely seriously and are considering thoroughly all reports."
A "put-up scandal" and "false witnesses"
With lawsuits, threats, and attacking the credibility of witnesses, those implicated in the Novartis scandal are responding on the TV, talking about political prosecution and conspiracy by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Government Ministers.
The former Prime Minister, Panagiotos Pikramenos and former Health Ministers, Marios Salmas, George Koutroumanos, Adonis Georgiadis all appeared on Ant1 and SKAI.
The former Deputy Health Minister, Marios Salmas spoke about a “put-up scandal” and labelled witnesses as "false witnesses" and defended himself by saying that during his period of office Novartis’ turnover decreased by 30%. He maintained that the case is "political".
On ANT1, 'A Nightmare ' is how former Prime Minister Pikrammenos described what is happening while he attempted to give a political dimension to his own "involvement" as a friend of the family of Mr. Mitsotakis. "Over 5 years nothing had been heard from anyone, and now all of a sudden?" "I'll talk to my lawyer, I don't know if I'll file lawsuits, or not." "I will not sit with folded hands".
"There will be legal moves" George Koutroumanos revealed, denouncing as "machination" and dishonest the Government’s political method.
He in turn attacked the witnesses claiming that "it is being accused by a witness who does not appear". He wondered why they consider that "the witnesses are at risk from politicians or from officers of the administration." However, according to the report of Prosecutor Papadatos who spoke to ERT "one witness has already been threatened" while on camera Mr Salmas publicly threatened the witnesses.
Mr. Mantas stressed that "it is not expected by the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure nor by the constitutional processes for the case file to be given publicity. That could make it invalid."
Antonis Lykourentzos on ERT stated that he would appeal directly to the courts, to pursue as he said every legal means in the prosecution of those involved in tarnishing his name. "I will appeal directly to the Courts and I want them to access my phones to prove that I had no contact with Mr. Frouzi."
"If I don’t put them in prison, I will not rest," said former Health Minister Adonis Georgiades while he talked about "false witnesses" and " hooded witnesses" whose names should be published. "Mr. Tsipras has organized everything," he said making threats against the Prime Minister.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, named by prosecutors among the 10 Greek politicians, denounced the corruption investigation as an "unprecedented plot". The allegations relate to a period between 2006 and 2015 - including when Mr Avramopoulos was Greece's Health Minister. In a statement on Wednesday, he condemned what he called an "unsubstantiated and flawed case file".
"It is now clear that it is an unprecedented plot which cannot stand in any member state of the European Union. Only sick minds could have invented and attempted it."
Mr Avramopoulos said the investigation was a bid to "exterminate political opponents".
All former Health Ministers declare that when they were in office, Novartis suffered losses.
Parliament announced on Tuesday the results of a judicial investigation into alleged bribes paid to public officials by Basel-based Novartis over nearly a decade to promote the use of its products in public hospitals.
"This is a massive scandal that has stunned Greek society," Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said.
Under Greek law, politicians do not face prosecution directly from judicial authorities. Allegations must first be referred to Parliament for review before MPs vote on whether to strip the accused of their automatic immunity.
The politicians named include current Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, plus former New Democracy Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotos Pikramenos in 2012 and five former Health Ministers. They have all denied the allegations and told To Bima newspaper that there is a slander operation at work and that they will sue for slander.
Antonis Samaras, the former ND Prime Minister who served between 2012 and 2015, said the allegations against him were politically motivated, and vowed to file a lawsuit against Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"This is the most ruthless but also most ridiculous conspiracy ever," he said.
Pharmaceutical expenditures stood at 1.27€ billion in 2000, then skyrocketed to 5.1€ billion in 2009. It was gradually reduced during the crisis to 2€ billion in 2014 where it has stabilised.
A legal formula is being sought for compensation to the Public Treasury - 50€ million is close to the amount earmarked for corrupting politicians – Up to 3€ billion is the damage to the Public Treasury from the transactions of Novartis, up to 23€ billion is the damage between 2000 and 2015 from the practices of all pharmaceutical companies.
The details of the indictment reveal dizzying amounts were traded as bribes to win Novartis a dominant role in the Greek medicine market causing pharmaceutical expenditure in Greece to skyrocket. According to them, about 50€ million flowed to two former Prime Ministers and eight former Ministers, while the damage caused to the Public Treasury from its dealings with Novartis touches 3€ billion. The damage to the Public Treasury from 2000 up to 2015 from the practices of all pharmaceutical companies reaches 23€ billion.
The Public Prosecutor of Corruption is now seeking a legal formula so that the Public Treasury can be compensated for the mountain of money lost.
Prosecution sources speak of the "shocking testimonies" of three protected witnesses who gave revealing evidence about the trading of "black" money, naming the politicians directly.
The Prosecutor's Office continues to work closely with the US authorities, ahead of requests for judicial assistance sent to Switzerland and Cyprus.
So far, however, it has been revealed from the testimony of the protected witnesses that around 45-50€ million were directed to the ten politicians. Total bribes reached around 60€ million, which, apart from the politicians, were shared by four or five General Secretaries of Ministries, members of committees, administrators of public organizations, political consultants etc.
One protected witness also reportedly submits that "the big “party” took place before the Memoranda", during which about 40€ million were given in bribes for the purchase of flu vaccine and also for anti-cancer drugs.
From 2000 onwards pharmaceutical expenditure in Greece was twice the European average.
Overpricing and pressure to give preference to its own medications are practices attributed to Novartis.
Novartis succeeded in getting paid as an absolute priority by insurance organizations ahead of their competitors, while its medicines were supplied at inflated prices and were focused mainly on the areas of Oncology and Ophthalmology.
According to information so far about the unfair practices of Novartis, approximately twenty witnesses have made depositions speaking about preferential pricing and approval processes and even the delay of the approval of drugs from other companies.
In its communiqué on this issue, Novartis states: "We have taken note of the publications concerning our business practices in Greece. We continue to work with the authorities in Greece and abroad. Novartis is committed to the highest standards of ethical business conduct and regulatory compliance in all aspects of our work. We take every allegation about possible misconduct extremely seriously and are considering thoroughly all reports."
A "put-up scandal" and "false witnesses"
With lawsuits, threats, and attacking the credibility of witnesses, those implicated in the Novartis scandal are responding on the TV, talking about political prosecution and conspiracy by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Government Ministers.
The former Prime Minister, Panagiotos Pikramenos and former Health Ministers, Marios Salmas, George Koutroumanos, Adonis Georgiadis all appeared on Ant1 and SKAI.
The former Deputy Health Minister, Marios Salmas spoke about a “put-up scandal” and labelled witnesses as "false witnesses" and defended himself by saying that during his period of office Novartis’ turnover decreased by 30%. He maintained that the case is "political".
On ANT1, 'A Nightmare ' is how former Prime Minister Pikrammenos described what is happening while he attempted to give a political dimension to his own "involvement" as a friend of the family of Mr. Mitsotakis. "Over 5 years nothing had been heard from anyone, and now all of a sudden?" "I'll talk to my lawyer, I don't know if I'll file lawsuits, or not." "I will not sit with folded hands".
"There will be legal moves" George Koutroumanos revealed, denouncing as "machination" and dishonest the Government’s political method.
He in turn attacked the witnesses claiming that "it is being accused by a witness who does not appear". He wondered why they consider that "the witnesses are at risk from politicians or from officers of the administration." However, according to the report of Prosecutor Papadatos who spoke to ERT "one witness has already been threatened" while on camera Mr Salmas publicly threatened the witnesses.
Mr. Mantas stressed that "it is not expected by the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure nor by the constitutional processes for the case file to be given publicity. That could make it invalid."
Antonis Lykourentzos on ERT stated that he would appeal directly to the courts, to pursue as he said every legal means in the prosecution of those involved in tarnishing his name. "I will appeal directly to the Courts and I want them to access my phones to prove that I had no contact with Mr. Frouzi."
"If I don’t put them in prison, I will not rest," said former Health Minister Adonis Georgiades while he talked about "false witnesses" and " hooded witnesses" whose names should be published. "Mr. Tsipras has organized everything," he said making threats against the Prime Minister.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, named by prosecutors among the 10 Greek politicians, denounced the corruption investigation as an "unprecedented plot". The allegations relate to a period between 2006 and 2015 - including when Mr Avramopoulos was Greece's Health Minister. In a statement on Wednesday, he condemned what he called an "unsubstantiated and flawed case file".
"It is now clear that it is an unprecedented plot which cannot stand in any member state of the European Union. Only sick minds could have invented and attempted it."
Mr Avramopoulos said the investigation was a bid to "exterminate political opponents".
All former Health Ministers declare that when they were in office, Novartis suffered losses.
“I pledge that in the coming period
I will, with patriotic responsibility, seek a mutually acceptable solution”
3.2.2018
“I pledge that in the coming period I will, with patriotic responsibility, seek a mutually acceptable solution” stated Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after his meetings last Saturday with the political leaders in order to brief them on the developments on the FYROM name issue.
On the extremely crucial and difficult issue of our differences with FYROM, the PM said that he had briefed the political leaders in detail and explained to them that “an opportunity window has opened as FYROM’s new political leadership is showing a willingness to negotiate for a mutually acceptable solution to a problem that has undermined our relations for the last 25 years”.
He said that “FYROM’s political leadership has to some extent withdrawn from the irredentist rhetoric of the previous years” and he gave as an example FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev’s move to rename Skopje’s international airport and the Thessaloniki-Skopje motorway from “Alexander the Great” to the “Highway of Friendship”.
He, however, clarified that “the symbolic gestures do not mean that the irredentist problem has been resolved as our neighbours’ political will must take the form of clear and specific engagements in the context of the deliberations conducted at a bilateral level as well as in the framework of UN mediation”.
“We have made progress in the last period but a long way remains to be covered to reach a mutually acceptable solution of a compound name for universal use [erga omnes].”
“Everybody must understand that a non solution will be against Greece’s interest and against stability in the wider region”.
He also recommended “realism, prudence, modesty and spirit of understanding if we want to serve the national interest”.
“It is, to say the least, hypocritical, for some political forces but also for certain individuals to exploit the susceptibilities and the agony of the Greek people to serve a completely ineffective and hopeless objective, which ultimately goes against our national interests.”
He said that with most of the political leaders he had had a sincere and responsible discussion that could lead to political convergence and consensus. “Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the leader of the opposition. The attitude of Mr. Mitsotakis shows unreliability and a failure to state his political position clearly. He constantly wavers, changing positions and opinions depending on internal political developments, but also with the pressure put on him by an extreme section of his party."
Concluding, he underlined: “On my part I pledge that in the coming future I will seek with patriotic responsibility a mutually acceptable solution.”
Athens and Skopje have agreed to step up negotiations to reach an accord in a dispute which has blocked the ex-Yugoslav republic from joining NATO and the European Union. As a member of both, Greece’s assent is needed for its neighbour to join NATO and the EU, but Greece objects to the former Yugoslav republic’s use of the name Macedonia, arguing that it, along with contentious articles in Skopje’s constitution, could imply territorial claims over its own northern region of the same name.
Greeks are proud of their links to Macedonian empire-builder Alexander the Great, who spread Hellenistic culture across the ancient world.
“In life, Alexander the Great ... proved we should cut Gordian Knots. At some point we must finish with such issues,” Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told Reuters in an interview.
Mr. Kotzias said there was a new momentum to settle the dispute since a more moderate government was elected in Macedonia last year and following three years of trust-building efforts.
“We want to solve it. It’s in our national interest and in the interests of the region, for stability, security and economic growth,” He said Greece was working on a draft that would be ready in February which could form the basis of discussion.
“It won’t be a Greek text containing only our views, nor a done deal-compromise. It will be a text which we consider could be the basis upon which we could start to cooperate,” he said.
Other Views
“We will not divide Greeks to unite Skopje,” Conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address following his meeting with PM Tsipras. He said resolving the name dispute was not just a foreign policy matter but a serious issue relating to Greece’s history and “the very identity of Greeks”.
PM Tsipras accused New Democracy of a “hypocritical” stance on the issue in taking advantage of the sensitivities of Greeks. He said now was not the time for nationalist fervour or cries of fanaticism.
On Friday, Greece’s influential Orthodox Church entered the fray, saying it was against any accord with the neighbouring country which included the name “Macedonia”.
In response to the suggestion that disagreement over the name issue between SYRIZA and ANEL might jeopardise the Government Coalition, Independent Greeks (ANEL) President, Panos Kammenos, made a statement on Monday saying his party had made an “honest agreement with SYRIZA and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and this honest agreement will be honoured to the end, to the end of four years [of this Parliament Ed]”.
Mr. Kammenos, Greece’s Defence Minister, also said he “trusted” Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to lead Greek negotiators and confirmed that his family would attend Sunday’s planned rally in Athens against the use of ‘Macedonia’ in any future name for Greece’s northern neighbour.
“The rallies are organized by the citizens. We [ANEL] are involved. The participants are Greek citizens expressing a national position and helping the national negotiation,” he said.
FYROM PM Zoran Zaev insisted that his plans to hold a national referendum over the name dispute with Greece would not be an obstacle to a solution but rather will serve as a guarantee of its permanence.
“The referendum will be an added guarantee to Greece that the solution will be permanent and will remain forever,” PM Zaev said in remarks that were seen as part of the effort by Skopje to expedite negotiations for a settlement.
According to sources, the names proposed as a solution are namely Republika Nova Makedonija (Republic of New Macedonia), Republika Gorna Makedonija (Republic of Upper Macedonia), Republika Severna Makedonija (Republic of Northern Macedonia), Republika Vardarska Makedonija (Republic of Vardarska Macedonia) and Republika Makedonija (Skopje).
Talks between the two states have been inconclusive since 1991, when Macedonia withdrew from former Yugoslavia. It was admitted into the United Nations in 1993 under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). More than 140 countries worldwide refer to the republic as Macedonia.
"Linguistic Acrobatics"
“Let me tell you a paradox. Let’s say we don’t reach agreement today, what name is left?” said Foreign Minister Kotzias. “Internationally, we will be left with plain ‘Macedonia’, therefore we will have no gain, and in our bilateral relations we will be left with ‘Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’. “Grammatically, it’s a name which still includes the name Macedonia, which is compound and with chronological definition. So we are just fooling ourselves with linguistic acrobatics.”
“The demonstrations [in Thessaloniki two weeks ago and this Sunday in Athens Ed] are signs of democracy. In both countries, people who do not agree to a good compromise ... do not have bad intent,” he said. “They are simply people who see the problem from a different angle, without taking into account the historical background or future prospects for cooperation.”
“We have to respect this history and learn from it, but not be trapped in it.”
On the extremely crucial and difficult issue of our differences with FYROM, the PM said that he had briefed the political leaders in detail and explained to them that “an opportunity window has opened as FYROM’s new political leadership is showing a willingness to negotiate for a mutually acceptable solution to a problem that has undermined our relations for the last 25 years”.
He said that “FYROM’s political leadership has to some extent withdrawn from the irredentist rhetoric of the previous years” and he gave as an example FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev’s move to rename Skopje’s international airport and the Thessaloniki-Skopje motorway from “Alexander the Great” to the “Highway of Friendship”.
He, however, clarified that “the symbolic gestures do not mean that the irredentist problem has been resolved as our neighbours’ political will must take the form of clear and specific engagements in the context of the deliberations conducted at a bilateral level as well as in the framework of UN mediation”.
“We have made progress in the last period but a long way remains to be covered to reach a mutually acceptable solution of a compound name for universal use [erga omnes].”
“Everybody must understand that a non solution will be against Greece’s interest and against stability in the wider region”.
He also recommended “realism, prudence, modesty and spirit of understanding if we want to serve the national interest”.
“It is, to say the least, hypocritical, for some political forces but also for certain individuals to exploit the susceptibilities and the agony of the Greek people to serve a completely ineffective and hopeless objective, which ultimately goes against our national interests.”
He said that with most of the political leaders he had had a sincere and responsible discussion that could lead to political convergence and consensus. “Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the leader of the opposition. The attitude of Mr. Mitsotakis shows unreliability and a failure to state his political position clearly. He constantly wavers, changing positions and opinions depending on internal political developments, but also with the pressure put on him by an extreme section of his party."
Concluding, he underlined: “On my part I pledge that in the coming future I will seek with patriotic responsibility a mutually acceptable solution.”
Athens and Skopje have agreed to step up negotiations to reach an accord in a dispute which has blocked the ex-Yugoslav republic from joining NATO and the European Union. As a member of both, Greece’s assent is needed for its neighbour to join NATO and the EU, but Greece objects to the former Yugoslav republic’s use of the name Macedonia, arguing that it, along with contentious articles in Skopje’s constitution, could imply territorial claims over its own northern region of the same name.
Greeks are proud of their links to Macedonian empire-builder Alexander the Great, who spread Hellenistic culture across the ancient world.
“In life, Alexander the Great ... proved we should cut Gordian Knots. At some point we must finish with such issues,” Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told Reuters in an interview.
Mr. Kotzias said there was a new momentum to settle the dispute since a more moderate government was elected in Macedonia last year and following three years of trust-building efforts.
“We want to solve it. It’s in our national interest and in the interests of the region, for stability, security and economic growth,” He said Greece was working on a draft that would be ready in February which could form the basis of discussion.
“It won’t be a Greek text containing only our views, nor a done deal-compromise. It will be a text which we consider could be the basis upon which we could start to cooperate,” he said.
Other Views
“We will not divide Greeks to unite Skopje,” Conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address following his meeting with PM Tsipras. He said resolving the name dispute was not just a foreign policy matter but a serious issue relating to Greece’s history and “the very identity of Greeks”.
PM Tsipras accused New Democracy of a “hypocritical” stance on the issue in taking advantage of the sensitivities of Greeks. He said now was not the time for nationalist fervour or cries of fanaticism.
On Friday, Greece’s influential Orthodox Church entered the fray, saying it was against any accord with the neighbouring country which included the name “Macedonia”.
In response to the suggestion that disagreement over the name issue between SYRIZA and ANEL might jeopardise the Government Coalition, Independent Greeks (ANEL) President, Panos Kammenos, made a statement on Monday saying his party had made an “honest agreement with SYRIZA and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and this honest agreement will be honoured to the end, to the end of four years [of this Parliament Ed]”.
Mr. Kammenos, Greece’s Defence Minister, also said he “trusted” Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to lead Greek negotiators and confirmed that his family would attend Sunday’s planned rally in Athens against the use of ‘Macedonia’ in any future name for Greece’s northern neighbour.
“The rallies are organized by the citizens. We [ANEL] are involved. The participants are Greek citizens expressing a national position and helping the national negotiation,” he said.
FYROM PM Zoran Zaev insisted that his plans to hold a national referendum over the name dispute with Greece would not be an obstacle to a solution but rather will serve as a guarantee of its permanence.
“The referendum will be an added guarantee to Greece that the solution will be permanent and will remain forever,” PM Zaev said in remarks that were seen as part of the effort by Skopje to expedite negotiations for a settlement.
According to sources, the names proposed as a solution are namely Republika Nova Makedonija (Republic of New Macedonia), Republika Gorna Makedonija (Republic of Upper Macedonia), Republika Severna Makedonija (Republic of Northern Macedonia), Republika Vardarska Makedonija (Republic of Vardarska Macedonia) and Republika Makedonija (Skopje).
Talks between the two states have been inconclusive since 1991, when Macedonia withdrew from former Yugoslavia. It was admitted into the United Nations in 1993 under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). More than 140 countries worldwide refer to the republic as Macedonia.
"Linguistic Acrobatics"
“Let me tell you a paradox. Let’s say we don’t reach agreement today, what name is left?” said Foreign Minister Kotzias. “Internationally, we will be left with plain ‘Macedonia’, therefore we will have no gain, and in our bilateral relations we will be left with ‘Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’. “Grammatically, it’s a name which still includes the name Macedonia, which is compound and with chronological definition. So we are just fooling ourselves with linguistic acrobatics.”
“The demonstrations [in Thessaloniki two weeks ago and this Sunday in Athens Ed] are signs of democracy. In both countries, people who do not agree to a good compromise ... do not have bad intent,” he said. “They are simply people who see the problem from a different angle, without taking into account the historical background or future prospects for cooperation.”
“We have to respect this history and learn from it, but not be trapped in it.”
Finance Minister Tsakalotos
prepares Post-Bailout Plan
Greece expects to make a clean break with official lenders when its international bailout expires in August and has no reason to seek a precautionary credit line, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told Reuters.
In a press interview, he said the country is building up its own protective buffer that, along with unused European bailout funds, will cover Greece “for well over a year”, if needed.
In coming months, he said, the country would be preparing its own post-bailout plan with an emphasis on reforms, social policies and growth.
He also said discussions would soon commence with Eurozone lenders on debt relief along the lines of a French proposal to link the level of debt restructuring to economic performance.
“We feel we have built credibility over the last three years,” Finance Minister Tsakalotos said.
The Government has vowed to end the austerity imposed by its international lenders, but Greece still has a debt burden of 178% of GDP and some European policymakers believe the country cannot go it alone without debt relief and a standby line of credit. A precautionary credit line, though, would come with yet more “measures” attached, so the Greek Government is proposing its own plan. It is also creating a safety net of up to 19€ billion drawn from unused bailout funds and from bond issues.
The Minister continued: “Post-programme surveillance schemes after the exit from the Memoranda are common practice for other countries that have received assistance. Greece, however, is preparing its own programme that will include more initiatives. We think, by Easter, we will have prepared our own plan, including social and development policies, to show both the Institutions and the markets that this is our own programme, that we have ownership of it. It hasn’t been imposed; it’s not a matter of compromise. It will show lenders and the markets that Greece has ownership over its own programme of future reforms and growth strategies, rather than Brussels.”
He said that the economy was turning a corner and the country would soon be ready to stand on its own feet. “We’ve been outperforming our fiscal targets, the economy is returning,” he said. “To those people who think we need something more, like a precautionary credit line or whatever, they are just pushing the key question back and I don’t see any reason for that.
The IMF has not yet decided if it will participate in Greece’s latest bailout programme, having repeatedly voiced concern at the sustainability of the country’s debt.
“I think their inclination and their strategy is to get a deal that makes the Greek debt sustainable so they can come on board,” Minister Tsakalotos.
Greece and its lenders are expected to flesh out a French proposed mechanism which was presented in June and will link debt relief to Greece’s growth rates. The economy is expected to grow by up to 2.5% this year and in 2019.
“What we will be going over the next month or so is working out the nitty-gritty of it, the mechanism, how it will kick in, when it will kick in.”
Details on the cash buffer, the growth mechanism along with the implementation of the measures agreed in June would give investors clarity over Greece’s trajectory, he said.
Greece returned to bond markets in July after three years of market isolation. Another issue would follow “soon”, he said.
“The only outstanding issue is the composition of that buffer, how much will come from Greece’s own funds, and how much will come from the ESM and I‘m looking forward to that debate.”
Greek banks are saddled with about €100 billion in non- Performing Loans (NPLs), after a seven-year depression that cut economic output by a quarter and pushed more than a fifth of the population into unemployment.
The results of stress tests on the banks by euro zone supervisors are expected in May.
“We shall see what the results of the stress tests are,” said the Minister. “I think that a lot of people would want to give banks a chance to see all these bits of the puzzle that we put in to work through, and to address the NPL problem.”
“The good thing is that it’s going to have the same criteria across the European banking system, it’s not treating Greece as an exceptional case.”
He pondered at a question on the Government’s achievements. It was, he said, a mixed picture but the foundations for a sustainable economic recovery had been laid.
“There are the pillars there, and it will be up to our government and if we are elected again, to see whether we can build on that,” he said, referring to elections in 2019.
“… The difference between a happy ending and a sad ending is where you cut the film, yes? The movie is still in development.”
Eurostat: Latest Unemployment Figures
The unemployment rate in Greece is steadily decreasing. Eurostat announced that Greece recorded the largest decline in the level of unemployment in the EU between October 2016 and October 2017, from 23.3% to 20.7%.
Altogether in December, there were 17,961 million unemployed in the EU and 14,137 million unemployed in the euro area.
The highest unemployment rates in the EU are recorded in Greece (20.7% in October) and in Spain (16.4%). The lowest unemployment rates were in the Czech Republic (2.3%), Malta and Germany (3.6%).
In Greece, the number of unemployed in October 2017 stood at 990,000. The unemployment rate for men was 17% and for women 25.4%.
The unemployment rate for young people (under 25) in Greece dropped to 40.8% in October, compared with 40.3% in September. The highest unemployment rates among young people in the EU are recorded in Greece (40.8%), Spain (36.8%) and Italy (32.2%). The lowest rates are recorded in the Czech Republic (4.9%) and Germany (6.6%).
In December youth unemployment in the euro area stood at 17.9% and in the EU at 16.1%.
“The public’s shift toward reusable bags has been significant”
Just a month in, a Government initiative aimed at reducing consumers’ dependence on plastic carrier bags by charging for them appears to be bearing fruit, as some supermarkets have recorded a drop of as much as 50%.
“The application of the measure at supermarkets is very widespread, though there are still some problems at small retail outlets in the countryside,” the managing director of the Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA), Lefteris Kioses, told a forum held as part of the EU’s Life Debag initiative on Thursday.
Since the 4 cent charge for regular plastic bags was introduced on January 1st , an increasing number of retailers now offer reusable shopping bags. Stores that are not implementing the measure include those that sell clothing and footwear, as well as fast-food restaurants. “They appear worried that charging for the bag will displease their customers,” said Mr.Kioses.
He said the public response has been mostly positive, with “some reaction from those who think it is just a revenue-raising measure.”
“The public’s shift toward reusable bags has been significant. Many businesses had underestimated demand and ran out,” he added.
The news is also good from Syros, the Cycladic island that has been campaigning against the use of plastic bags for the past two years.
“We are seeing the effect of our efforts in the sea and on our beaches,” says Patras University Professor and Life Debag’s coordinator in Greece Giorgos Papatheodorou.
More Local Health Units
A Ministry of Heath statement announced that on Friday February 2nd the inauguration of the 1st and 2nd TOMY in Chania would take place, while on the same day at 5pm the opening of the 1st TOMY in Rethymnon would be held.
“The establishment and operation of Local Health Units [TOMY] comes to cover one of the most critical deficiencies in the National Health Service, - the need for an organized system of Primary Health Care” especially in urban centres. Filling this gap is one of the main priorities of the political leadership of the Ministry of Health. The operation of the TOMY means the provision of free, universal, suitable, effective, efficient, high quality and people-centred primary health care to the population.
“Dynamically and steadily, we are continuing to implement our vision for Primary Health Care by the establishment of Local Health Units, staffed by medical and other health personnel and fully equipped.”
Anti-smoking law to be enforced
Greece’s Health Minister Andreas Xanthos on Wednesday called on the authorities responsible to enforce the country’s anti-smoking law, and to start strict checks on public places where smoking is continuing.
The 2010 anti-smoking law that bans smoking in enclosed spaces such as public buildings, restaurants, coffee shops and theatres, has never been properly enforced. Apart from some random checks and fines in the first few months, smoking in public places continues to be commonplace.
The Ministry issued a new memorandum as part of an effort to combat smoking and its negative effects on the population as a whole.
The Memorandum calls on all responsible authorities to enforce the law by doing checks on establishments that allow smoking, and impose harsh fines on offenders.
Civil servants and public sector employees are not allowed to smoke at work, and if they do, disciplinary action against them will be taken.
Smokers in public places will be fined 50€ to 500€, according to the circumstances.
Owners of businesses such as bars, restaurants and coffee shops will be fined between 500€ to 10,000€ if they allow customers to smoke. Repeat offenders will be fined and their licence will be revoked after five offences.
A fine of between 500€ and 10,000€ will be imposed to those who sell tobacco products to minors. The same fines will apply to those who advertise tobacco products.
To protect minors from second hand smoking, a fine of 1,500€ will be imposed on drivers who smoke with a child under 12 in the car.
In a press interview, he said the country is building up its own protective buffer that, along with unused European bailout funds, will cover Greece “for well over a year”, if needed.
In coming months, he said, the country would be preparing its own post-bailout plan with an emphasis on reforms, social policies and growth.
He also said discussions would soon commence with Eurozone lenders on debt relief along the lines of a French proposal to link the level of debt restructuring to economic performance.
“We feel we have built credibility over the last three years,” Finance Minister Tsakalotos said.
The Government has vowed to end the austerity imposed by its international lenders, but Greece still has a debt burden of 178% of GDP and some European policymakers believe the country cannot go it alone without debt relief and a standby line of credit. A precautionary credit line, though, would come with yet more “measures” attached, so the Greek Government is proposing its own plan. It is also creating a safety net of up to 19€ billion drawn from unused bailout funds and from bond issues.
The Minister continued: “Post-programme surveillance schemes after the exit from the Memoranda are common practice for other countries that have received assistance. Greece, however, is preparing its own programme that will include more initiatives. We think, by Easter, we will have prepared our own plan, including social and development policies, to show both the Institutions and the markets that this is our own programme, that we have ownership of it. It hasn’t been imposed; it’s not a matter of compromise. It will show lenders and the markets that Greece has ownership over its own programme of future reforms and growth strategies, rather than Brussels.”
He said that the economy was turning a corner and the country would soon be ready to stand on its own feet. “We’ve been outperforming our fiscal targets, the economy is returning,” he said. “To those people who think we need something more, like a precautionary credit line or whatever, they are just pushing the key question back and I don’t see any reason for that.
The IMF has not yet decided if it will participate in Greece’s latest bailout programme, having repeatedly voiced concern at the sustainability of the country’s debt.
“I think their inclination and their strategy is to get a deal that makes the Greek debt sustainable so they can come on board,” Minister Tsakalotos.
Greece and its lenders are expected to flesh out a French proposed mechanism which was presented in June and will link debt relief to Greece’s growth rates. The economy is expected to grow by up to 2.5% this year and in 2019.
“What we will be going over the next month or so is working out the nitty-gritty of it, the mechanism, how it will kick in, when it will kick in.”
Details on the cash buffer, the growth mechanism along with the implementation of the measures agreed in June would give investors clarity over Greece’s trajectory, he said.
Greece returned to bond markets in July after three years of market isolation. Another issue would follow “soon”, he said.
“The only outstanding issue is the composition of that buffer, how much will come from Greece’s own funds, and how much will come from the ESM and I‘m looking forward to that debate.”
Greek banks are saddled with about €100 billion in non- Performing Loans (NPLs), after a seven-year depression that cut economic output by a quarter and pushed more than a fifth of the population into unemployment.
The results of stress tests on the banks by euro zone supervisors are expected in May.
“We shall see what the results of the stress tests are,” said the Minister. “I think that a lot of people would want to give banks a chance to see all these bits of the puzzle that we put in to work through, and to address the NPL problem.”
“The good thing is that it’s going to have the same criteria across the European banking system, it’s not treating Greece as an exceptional case.”
He pondered at a question on the Government’s achievements. It was, he said, a mixed picture but the foundations for a sustainable economic recovery had been laid.
“There are the pillars there, and it will be up to our government and if we are elected again, to see whether we can build on that,” he said, referring to elections in 2019.
“… The difference between a happy ending and a sad ending is where you cut the film, yes? The movie is still in development.”
Eurostat: Latest Unemployment Figures
The unemployment rate in Greece is steadily decreasing. Eurostat announced that Greece recorded the largest decline in the level of unemployment in the EU between October 2016 and October 2017, from 23.3% to 20.7%.
Altogether in December, there were 17,961 million unemployed in the EU and 14,137 million unemployed in the euro area.
The highest unemployment rates in the EU are recorded in Greece (20.7% in October) and in Spain (16.4%). The lowest unemployment rates were in the Czech Republic (2.3%), Malta and Germany (3.6%).
In Greece, the number of unemployed in October 2017 stood at 990,000. The unemployment rate for men was 17% and for women 25.4%.
The unemployment rate for young people (under 25) in Greece dropped to 40.8% in October, compared with 40.3% in September. The highest unemployment rates among young people in the EU are recorded in Greece (40.8%), Spain (36.8%) and Italy (32.2%). The lowest rates are recorded in the Czech Republic (4.9%) and Germany (6.6%).
In December youth unemployment in the euro area stood at 17.9% and in the EU at 16.1%.
“The public’s shift toward reusable bags has been significant”
Just a month in, a Government initiative aimed at reducing consumers’ dependence on plastic carrier bags by charging for them appears to be bearing fruit, as some supermarkets have recorded a drop of as much as 50%.
“The application of the measure at supermarkets is very widespread, though there are still some problems at small retail outlets in the countryside,” the managing director of the Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA), Lefteris Kioses, told a forum held as part of the EU’s Life Debag initiative on Thursday.
Since the 4 cent charge for regular plastic bags was introduced on January 1st , an increasing number of retailers now offer reusable shopping bags. Stores that are not implementing the measure include those that sell clothing and footwear, as well as fast-food restaurants. “They appear worried that charging for the bag will displease their customers,” said Mr.Kioses.
He said the public response has been mostly positive, with “some reaction from those who think it is just a revenue-raising measure.”
“The public’s shift toward reusable bags has been significant. Many businesses had underestimated demand and ran out,” he added.
The news is also good from Syros, the Cycladic island that has been campaigning against the use of plastic bags for the past two years.
“We are seeing the effect of our efforts in the sea and on our beaches,” says Patras University Professor and Life Debag’s coordinator in Greece Giorgos Papatheodorou.
More Local Health Units
A Ministry of Heath statement announced that on Friday February 2nd the inauguration of the 1st and 2nd TOMY in Chania would take place, while on the same day at 5pm the opening of the 1st TOMY in Rethymnon would be held.
“The establishment and operation of Local Health Units [TOMY] comes to cover one of the most critical deficiencies in the National Health Service, - the need for an organized system of Primary Health Care” especially in urban centres. Filling this gap is one of the main priorities of the political leadership of the Ministry of Health. The operation of the TOMY means the provision of free, universal, suitable, effective, efficient, high quality and people-centred primary health care to the population.
“Dynamically and steadily, we are continuing to implement our vision for Primary Health Care by the establishment of Local Health Units, staffed by medical and other health personnel and fully equipped.”
Anti-smoking law to be enforced
Greece’s Health Minister Andreas Xanthos on Wednesday called on the authorities responsible to enforce the country’s anti-smoking law, and to start strict checks on public places where smoking is continuing.
The 2010 anti-smoking law that bans smoking in enclosed spaces such as public buildings, restaurants, coffee shops and theatres, has never been properly enforced. Apart from some random checks and fines in the first few months, smoking in public places continues to be commonplace.
The Ministry issued a new memorandum as part of an effort to combat smoking and its negative effects on the population as a whole.
The Memorandum calls on all responsible authorities to enforce the law by doing checks on establishments that allow smoking, and impose harsh fines on offenders.
Civil servants and public sector employees are not allowed to smoke at work, and if they do, disciplinary action against them will be taken.
Smokers in public places will be fined 50€ to 500€, according to the circumstances.
Owners of businesses such as bars, restaurants and coffee shops will be fined between 500€ to 10,000€ if they allow customers to smoke. Repeat offenders will be fined and their licence will be revoked after five offences.
A fine of between 500€ and 10,000€ will be imposed to those who sell tobacco products to minors. The same fines will apply to those who advertise tobacco products.
To protect minors from second hand smoking, a fine of 1,500€ will be imposed on drivers who smoke with a child under 12 in the car.
Eurogroup releases funding; "technical work on debt relief measures to start soon"
27.1.2018
Eurozone Finance Ministers reached a "political agreement" to grant Greece 6.7€ billion in bailout money. The Ministers praised Greece's progress, putting it on track to leave its bailout programme in August 2018. Afterwards, the country is expected to finance itself by directly borrowing from investors.
Announcing the agreement in Brussels, Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno, the new President of the Eurogroup said "We have some good news." He added that the agreement "reflects the huge effort and excellent cooperation between the Greek Government and the Institutions."
"The Greek authorities have over-achieved the fiscal targets set over the last three years," the Eurogroup said in a statement, adding that "Greek authorities have also continued to strengthen tax collection."
Eurogroup President Centeno also said "technical work on debt relief measures" for after the end of the bailout programme in August 2018 would start soon.
Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos said it was a "very good meeting" and that the Eurogroup's mentions of debt relief were "particularly significant."
"People are now convinced that things have turned around, and people are beginning to talk about the future and Greece's exit from the programme," he told reporters.
the Ministers said they would start technical work on debt relief measures
92 of the agreed 110 “prior actions” have been implemented.
“The Eurogroup welcomes the implementation of almost all of the agreed prior actions,” the statement said. “The Eurogroup calls on the Greek authorities to complete the outstanding prior actions as a matter of urgency,” it said.
“Following the full implementation of the prior actions and subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to ... approve the disbursement of the fourth tranche,” the Ministers’ statement said.
The new loans worth 6.7€ billion will be disbursed in two tranches, starting in February with 5.7€ billion for debt servicing needs. A further 1€ billion is to be paid out in April, ESM head Klaus Regling told a news conference.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters it was a "very good meeting" and that the Eurogroup's mentions of debt relief were "particularly significant."
"People are now convinced that things have turned around, and people are beginning to talk about the future and Greece's exit from the programme," he told reporters. He said Greece was pleased with the result because the last stage of the bailout did not foresee as many prior actions as the one just completed and talks could start on debt relief. He said that "there is now going to be a working group to do more work on specifying what has come to be known as the 'French mechanism' that ties further debt to relief to growth as was agreed in the June Eurogroup meeting."
The technical work will be done by junior finance ministers and treasury officials from Eurozone countries - the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) – designed to link the size of potential debt relief to Greece’s economic performance over time.
“The Eurogroup confirms the start of the technical work by the EWG on the growth-adjustment mechanism, as part of the medium-term debt relief measures to be implemented, if needed, following the successful conclusion of the programme,” the statement said.
Such a growth-linked mechanism could help bridge the gap between some Eurozone countries like Germany, which believe Greece may not need any further debt relief, and the International Monetary Fund, which insists on substantial debt relief for Greece now, as a condition of its taking part in the bailout.
One of the main reasons why the IMF and Germany are at odds over the need for debt relief is different growth forecasts for Greece over the next 40 years.
The Eurozone is more optimistic about growth in Greece than the IMF and even small differences in forecasts, accrued over such a long period, produce starkly different effects on debt projections.
Eurozone Ministers called on the various Institutions involved to converge in their views in order to produce a reliable debt sustainability analysis (DSA).
“The Eurogroup invites the European Institutions and the IMF to take into account the holistic Greek growth strategy when updating the DSA,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held a series of important meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos this week that could prove highly significant in the course towards sustained economic recovery and political stability in the country.
The complete official Eurogroup statement
“The Eurogroup welcomes the implementation of almost all of the agreed prior actions for the Third Assessment, following the staff level agreement on the policy package that was presented to the 4 December Eurogroup. Notably, the Greek authorities have adopted the 2018 State Budget which is compliant with the agreed primary surplus target of 3.5% of GDP.
Moreover, the European institutions’ compliance report shows that the Greek authorities have over-achieved the fiscal targets set over the last three years (2015-2017).
The Greek authorities have also continued to strengthen tax collection through the Independent Authority of Public Revenue and enhanced the fairness and effectiveness of the social welfare system.
The business environment has been improved by further actions aimed at opening up regulated professions, improving the investment licensing system, lifting regulations that unnecessarily restrict competition in product markets as well as the opening-up of energy markets.
Progress in the framework supporting Non Performing Loans resolution was achieved through further actions related to the effective operationalization of the out-of-court workout scheme and the start-up of electronic auctions.
The Eurogroup reconfirms the importance of an ambitious comprehensive growth strategy with strong ownership from the Greek authorities. The authorities are invited to finalize it in cooperation with the institutions well before the end of the programme.
The Eurogroup calls on the Greek authorities to complete the outstanding prior actions as a matter of urgency.
The Eurogroup mandates the EWG to verify the full implementation of the outstanding prior actions on the basis of an assessment by the European institutions.
This will include an assessment to confirm that a continuous and unimpeded flow of electronic auctions is ensured as well as the completion of government pending actions in the field of privatization.
Following the full implementation of the prior actions and subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to endorse the supplemental MoU and approve the disbursement of the fourth tranche of the ESM programme.
The fourth tranche under the ESM programme amounting to 6.7€ bn will be disbursed to Greece in two disbursements, starting with a first disbursement in February of 5.7€ bn to cover debt servicing needs, to allow the further clearance of arrears and to support the build-up of the cash buffer of the Greek State, in order to support Greece’s return to the market.
The subsequent disbursement for arrears clearance may be approved by the EWG in Spring, subject to a positive reporting by the European Institutions on the clearance of net arrears using also own resources and a confirmation from the European institutions that the unimpeded flow of e-auctions has continued.
The Eurogroup will now turn its attention to the final stages of the ESM programme, which is expected to end in August 2018.
The Eurogroup confirms the start of the technical work by the EWG on the growth-adjustment mechanism, as part of the medium-term debt relief measures to be implemented, if needed, following the successful conclusion of the programme, in line with the agreement in the Eurogroup of 15 June 2017.
The Eurogroup invites the European institutions and the IMF to take into account the holistic Greek growth strategy when updating the DSA.”
2018 - The Year of the Child
Referring to the kindergartens, Mrs Fotiou said that currently 110,000 children enter kindergarten at no cost, next year this will increase to 120,000 and in 2020, 165,000 children will be enrolled, with the creation of an additional 2,200 kindergartens in addition to the current 1,800.
2018 will be the year of the child, said the Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou. She said the objective is the design of a network of children’s benefits and services. As she said, the results of the Third Assessment are particularly important in this regard: “In this Assessment, the Government managed to achieve a situation in which all the money from the savings made from each Ministry, which was 315€ million, should be used to provide exclusively for children. Specifically, 260€ million are earmarked for Family Allowances, 40€ million for school meals -130,000 school meals are currently provided throughout Greece - and 15€ million will be given for new kindergartens.”
Speaking on television, in response to the criticism received about school meals, the Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity said that school lunches are normal in all countries.
Regarding Family Allowances, she noted that there is a gross iequality in the system. She reported that 800,000 families are receiving Family Allowances and 92% of these, i.e. 738,000 families, will see increases. "In less than 50% of families with three or more children, who belong to the two upper income echelons, there will be some reductions, which will be addressed in the course of 2018."
"State Provision concerns everyone, not just the homeless. A system with 240community centres, with 13 regional offices and with a direct line to the Ministry is being created." "There is a single information system, an electronic platform, where the citizen, using the ΑΦΜ, can get information about what allowances and what benefits they are entitled to. The second registry provides information on services and the third provides information on programmes that "are running". In this way, the clientelist state is being ended. This signifies assistance and social solidarity."
Announcing the agreement in Brussels, Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno, the new President of the Eurogroup said "We have some good news." He added that the agreement "reflects the huge effort and excellent cooperation between the Greek Government and the Institutions."
"The Greek authorities have over-achieved the fiscal targets set over the last three years," the Eurogroup said in a statement, adding that "Greek authorities have also continued to strengthen tax collection."
Eurogroup President Centeno also said "technical work on debt relief measures" for after the end of the bailout programme in August 2018 would start soon.
Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos said it was a "very good meeting" and that the Eurogroup's mentions of debt relief were "particularly significant."
"People are now convinced that things have turned around, and people are beginning to talk about the future and Greece's exit from the programme," he told reporters.
the Ministers said they would start technical work on debt relief measures
92 of the agreed 110 “prior actions” have been implemented.
“The Eurogroup welcomes the implementation of almost all of the agreed prior actions,” the statement said. “The Eurogroup calls on the Greek authorities to complete the outstanding prior actions as a matter of urgency,” it said.
“Following the full implementation of the prior actions and subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to ... approve the disbursement of the fourth tranche,” the Ministers’ statement said.
The new loans worth 6.7€ billion will be disbursed in two tranches, starting in February with 5.7€ billion for debt servicing needs. A further 1€ billion is to be paid out in April, ESM head Klaus Regling told a news conference.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters it was a "very good meeting" and that the Eurogroup's mentions of debt relief were "particularly significant."
"People are now convinced that things have turned around, and people are beginning to talk about the future and Greece's exit from the programme," he told reporters. He said Greece was pleased with the result because the last stage of the bailout did not foresee as many prior actions as the one just completed and talks could start on debt relief. He said that "there is now going to be a working group to do more work on specifying what has come to be known as the 'French mechanism' that ties further debt to relief to growth as was agreed in the June Eurogroup meeting."
The technical work will be done by junior finance ministers and treasury officials from Eurozone countries - the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) – designed to link the size of potential debt relief to Greece’s economic performance over time.
“The Eurogroup confirms the start of the technical work by the EWG on the growth-adjustment mechanism, as part of the medium-term debt relief measures to be implemented, if needed, following the successful conclusion of the programme,” the statement said.
Such a growth-linked mechanism could help bridge the gap between some Eurozone countries like Germany, which believe Greece may not need any further debt relief, and the International Monetary Fund, which insists on substantial debt relief for Greece now, as a condition of its taking part in the bailout.
One of the main reasons why the IMF and Germany are at odds over the need for debt relief is different growth forecasts for Greece over the next 40 years.
The Eurozone is more optimistic about growth in Greece than the IMF and even small differences in forecasts, accrued over such a long period, produce starkly different effects on debt projections.
Eurozone Ministers called on the various Institutions involved to converge in their views in order to produce a reliable debt sustainability analysis (DSA).
“The Eurogroup invites the European Institutions and the IMF to take into account the holistic Greek growth strategy when updating the DSA,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held a series of important meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos this week that could prove highly significant in the course towards sustained economic recovery and political stability in the country.
The complete official Eurogroup statement
“The Eurogroup welcomes the implementation of almost all of the agreed prior actions for the Third Assessment, following the staff level agreement on the policy package that was presented to the 4 December Eurogroup. Notably, the Greek authorities have adopted the 2018 State Budget which is compliant with the agreed primary surplus target of 3.5% of GDP.
Moreover, the European institutions’ compliance report shows that the Greek authorities have over-achieved the fiscal targets set over the last three years (2015-2017).
The Greek authorities have also continued to strengthen tax collection through the Independent Authority of Public Revenue and enhanced the fairness and effectiveness of the social welfare system.
The business environment has been improved by further actions aimed at opening up regulated professions, improving the investment licensing system, lifting regulations that unnecessarily restrict competition in product markets as well as the opening-up of energy markets.
Progress in the framework supporting Non Performing Loans resolution was achieved through further actions related to the effective operationalization of the out-of-court workout scheme and the start-up of electronic auctions.
The Eurogroup reconfirms the importance of an ambitious comprehensive growth strategy with strong ownership from the Greek authorities. The authorities are invited to finalize it in cooperation with the institutions well before the end of the programme.
The Eurogroup calls on the Greek authorities to complete the outstanding prior actions as a matter of urgency.
The Eurogroup mandates the EWG to verify the full implementation of the outstanding prior actions on the basis of an assessment by the European institutions.
This will include an assessment to confirm that a continuous and unimpeded flow of electronic auctions is ensured as well as the completion of government pending actions in the field of privatization.
Following the full implementation of the prior actions and subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to endorse the supplemental MoU and approve the disbursement of the fourth tranche of the ESM programme.
The fourth tranche under the ESM programme amounting to 6.7€ bn will be disbursed to Greece in two disbursements, starting with a first disbursement in February of 5.7€ bn to cover debt servicing needs, to allow the further clearance of arrears and to support the build-up of the cash buffer of the Greek State, in order to support Greece’s return to the market.
The subsequent disbursement for arrears clearance may be approved by the EWG in Spring, subject to a positive reporting by the European Institutions on the clearance of net arrears using also own resources and a confirmation from the European institutions that the unimpeded flow of e-auctions has continued.
The Eurogroup will now turn its attention to the final stages of the ESM programme, which is expected to end in August 2018.
The Eurogroup confirms the start of the technical work by the EWG on the growth-adjustment mechanism, as part of the medium-term debt relief measures to be implemented, if needed, following the successful conclusion of the programme, in line with the agreement in the Eurogroup of 15 June 2017.
The Eurogroup invites the European institutions and the IMF to take into account the holistic Greek growth strategy when updating the DSA.”
2018 - The Year of the Child
Referring to the kindergartens, Mrs Fotiou said that currently 110,000 children enter kindergarten at no cost, next year this will increase to 120,000 and in 2020, 165,000 children will be enrolled, with the creation of an additional 2,200 kindergartens in addition to the current 1,800.
2018 will be the year of the child, said the Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou. She said the objective is the design of a network of children’s benefits and services. As she said, the results of the Third Assessment are particularly important in this regard: “In this Assessment, the Government managed to achieve a situation in which all the money from the savings made from each Ministry, which was 315€ million, should be used to provide exclusively for children. Specifically, 260€ million are earmarked for Family Allowances, 40€ million for school meals -130,000 school meals are currently provided throughout Greece - and 15€ million will be given for new kindergartens.”
Speaking on television, in response to the criticism received about school meals, the Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity said that school lunches are normal in all countries.
Regarding Family Allowances, she noted that there is a gross iequality in the system. She reported that 800,000 families are receiving Family Allowances and 92% of these, i.e. 738,000 families, will see increases. "In less than 50% of families with three or more children, who belong to the two upper income echelons, there will be some reductions, which will be addressed in the course of 2018."
"State Provision concerns everyone, not just the homeless. A system with 240community centres, with 13 regional offices and with a direct line to the Ministry is being created." "There is a single information system, an electronic platform, where the citizen, using the ΑΦΜ, can get information about what allowances and what benefits they are entitled to. The second registry provides information on services and the third provides information on programmes that "are running". In this way, the clientelist state is being ended. This signifies assistance and social solidarity."
Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev met on January 24th on the fringe of the Davos summit
Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) appear to be moving closer to resolving their 25 year-old name dispute
Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) appear to be moving closer to resolving their 25-year-old name dispute, which should pave the way for fYROM to join NATO this year and possibly remove a major obstacle for its EU integration. Until now, Greece has vetoed both fYROM's applications under the name "Republic of Macedonia" . Greece opposes the one-word name ‘Macedonia’ because its own northern province has the same name and insists on a compound name before the word “Macedonia”.
Relations between the two Balkan neighbours have thawed after Social Democrat Zoran Zaev came to power in Skopje and set about undoing the legacy of his nationalist predecessors.
Some background
On February 14th 1992, one million people, 10% of the entire population of Greece, marched in Thessaloniki in defence of brand Macedonia. Greece imposed an economic blockade on its fragile neighbour, which was desperately trying to stay out of the war raging in other parts of former Yugoslavia at the time.
Today Greece is the third largest investor in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) - the interim name the UN assigned the state in 1993 - after the Netherlands and Austria. Greeks travel freely across the border in order to work, shop or holiday.
In fYROM, then Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski used isolation from the West to strengthen his grip on power, providing benefits to his political and business associates. He refashioned the capital Skopje's city centre as a nationalist theme park, featuring a huge statue of Alexander The Great mounted on a water fountain, a vast triumphal arch ("Porta Makedonija") and a string of neoclassical buildings.
Gruevski's downfall, after a two-year long political crisis triggered by revelations of high-profile corruption, elections rigging and obstruction of justice, raised hopes for a new beginning. The new Government, led by Social Democratic Union's Zoran Zaev and inaugurated in May 2017, wants a settlement in order to facilitate fYROM’s entry into NATO and the EU. The SDU’s ethnic Albanian coalition partners agree.
NATO and the EU are clearly supportive. fYROM was a frontrunner to join both entities in the early and mid-2000s. Its accession to NATO and the EU would demonstrate that it is Brussels, rather than Moscow or Beijing, which has the decisive influence in the Balkans. At the NATO Bucharest summit in 2008, the then Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis (New Democracy-EPP) blocked Skopje’s bid to join NATO under its provisional name of fYROM. Its EU accession has also been on hold, in part due to the name dispute.
NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Skopje on January 18/19 to reassure his hosts. "I encourage you to continue on the path of reform. We want you to succeed," he said.
“Macedonia” remains a treasured piece of Greek national heritage. Use of ‘Macedonia’ by fYROM is viewed by some as a claim on Greek territory, identity and history.
The Greek Government’s stance is: the name "Macedonia" cannot be anyone's exclusive property, as the historic region by the same name is divided into three countries, Greece, fYROM and Bulgaria.
"The problem is that people think that fYROM will take away our identity. No one is doing that; they are no threat to us. People are ill-informed," said the Mayor of Thessaloniki Yannis Boutaris. In a gesture of goodwill, Mayor Boutaris hosted Macedonia's Prime Minister Zaev in Thessaloniki on New Year's Eve.
Nationalist sentiments are being stirred on both sides, spurred on by a spin put on the interview PM Tsipras gave to Greek newspaper Ethnos (The Nation) [see below Ed]. Advanced publicity for the interview stated: "Tsipras: A Macedonian nation never existed". It was a classical manipulation. The editors conveniently dropped the sentence's ending: "… in ancient times, as there was not a nation of Athenians or Spartans."
Thessaloniki last Sunday
Senior Clerics, members of New Democracy, of AN-EL, of the Union of Centrists, armed services veterans, Golden Dawn storm troopers and ordinary citizens - about 90,000 protesters demonstrated at the White Tower in Thessaloniki on Sunday to demand that the term "Macedonia" should not be included in the name of FYROM.
Tens of thousands of protesters chanted slogans such as "Greece-Greece-Macedonia", "no to the double name – No to a new treason" and sang the anthem "Macedonia the famous." According to a statement of the police, the rally was attended by 90,000 protesters.
Present at the rally were Metropolitan [Archbishop Ed.] Anthimos of Thessaloniki and ten other senior clerics, according to the organizers. "Brothers on the land and on the seas, on televisions and on radios, in the open spaces, shout that Macedonia was and is a homeland of the Greeks. Where Macedonia equals Greece and where Greece equals Macedonia,"said the Archbishop.
Differences then emerged within the Greek Orthodox Church over approaches to the ‘Macedonia’ issue.
Ieronymos II, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, in comments broadcast on Greek channel ERT and posted by the Proto Thema news site, said although the Church overall remained opposed to the use of ‘Macedonia’, “prudence, unity and sobriety” should prevail.
He also pointed out that only nine senior bishops took part in Sunday’s demonstration in Thessaloniki out of 82 senior clergy.
PM Tsipras Interview in “Ethnos”
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, in that interview with the Sunday edition of the daily "Ethnos", adopted a clear position on the name of fYROMacedonia, saying that "if there is an opportunity for a solution, it will be national foolishness not to use it".
The Greek Prime Minister gave assurances that he respects "the concerns and especially the sensitive heart strings of his compatriots in northern Greece. Besides, I myself am half Macedonian."
"However, what I urge them is to appreciate soberly what promotes the national interest and what undermines it. A non-solution undermines it. For 25 years, our neighbours have been recognized by the name "Republic of Macedonia" by many countries, and we are fighting everywhere for everyone to call them fYROM. That is, a composite name, which includes the term 'Macedonia', but without any definition that allows the appropriation of geography and history. So if there is a chance of a solution that will reverse this negative situation that was loaded on to us in 1992, then it would be a national foolishness not to use it."
"A Macedonian nation never existed in ancient times, just as there was not a nation of Athenians or Spartans. Ancient Macedonia was a powerful force of the ancient Greek world that expanded, especially at the time of Alexander the Great, much wider than the present geographical area of Macedonia. From the 7th century onwards, in this place, Slavs, Bulgarians, Serbs, Jews, Ottomans successively settled in addition to the Greeks. Today, this wider geographical area is occupied by three different states. In this sense, it is absolutely unrealistic and absurd for some to ask for the exclusivity of Macedonia, particularly in the sense of ethnic identification. It is not unreasonable, however, to include the term 'Macedonia' in a composite name, either with a geographic or temporal specification, for everyday use, so that it is absolutely clear that no one claims territory or other people’s history."
Regarding the distinctive attitude of the Government partner, PM Tsipras acknowledged that "Panos (Kammenos) is aware of the problem and is an honest and patriotic politician. He has reservations and has expressed them to the governing council, but he has stated his confidence in the efforts of the Foreign Minister and his desire to have a broad consensus of the political forces on this issue, provided of course a satisfactory agreement is reached", adding that "Governments fall if they lose a vote of confidence. Let some not be fooled. Kammenos is an honest man, he will not become Samaras".
PM Tsipras condemned the attitude of the New Democracy leader: "Mr. Mitsotakis is committing a tragic political error. In the name discussion he has an opportunity to show an attitude of national responsibility. He does not dare to be straightforward about New Democracy’s stance. First he distances himself from the rallies and then he criticises those who prevent his MPs from participating. This proves to the Greeks that he is capable of serving any viewpoint, provided he has a vote-gaining benefit, and to Europeans that he is an unreliable politician, a classic spokesman for the old political staff that bankrupted the country."
The Prime Minister noted, however, that the major issue is not the name but the irredentism - a movement aiming to reclaim and reoccupy areas considered "lost" or "unredeemed". "If we want to find a viable solution, we need to look not just for a name but also for a broader framework of an agreement that will not leave any room for irredentist nationalism or claims that ignore history. Both sides need to approach the problem with realism but also with wisdom."
However, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that a nationally beneficial solution will be voted through by many more MPs than those who make up the current parliamentary majority."All those who play games of demagogy and populism guided by the domestic political game, in the end will get their fingers burned.
Alexis Tsipras noted that "the biggest challenge is for Greece to leave this national adventure of the Memoranda that lasted eight years, to become again a country that is firmly on the map – a country that walks on strong legs - a pillar of security and stability in the most critical area of Europe. A country that solves problems, and does not create them."
Foreign Minister Kotzias in Brussels
Speaking to Greek journalists following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, Minister Kotzias referred to latest developments in the name row and Sunday's protests in Thessaloniki.
"We are close to a solution on certain issues. I believe topics to be discussed in Davos on Wednesday will show the direction," says Foreign Minister Kotzias.
He rejected any type of pressure on Greece or meddling by third parties.
"No one is putting pressure and we do not allow anyone to pressure us. Greece is using the pressure of the other side in order to open its European perspective," he stressed and added that the bilateral talks have been facilitated by the fact that the Europeans and Americans realized they should not meddle.
According to him, Greece will veto fYROM from joining NATO unless the required criteria are met and the name issue is resolved.
Regarding yesterday's protest, he said this is a democratic right and does not affect the name talks.
"The protest reflected the agony of many Greeks, who sometimes have misconceptions about the name talks, identifying them with the destiny of Greek Macedonia. This protest adds to the forms of public debate, but I believe it will not affect the name talks. With regards to the irredentism issue, it is obvious that each action that condemns it is welcome. We will solve the name issue based on the future perspectives of stability in the region, the role of the Greek diplomacy and the necessity for our country to play a leading role in the area."
Davos Meeting – positive step forward
Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev met on January 24th on the fringe of the Davos summit.
"We don't want to simply solve the issue of the name, but we want to put the relations between our two countries on solid foundations, the foundations of mutual respect and good neighbourliness, that means that first you have to deal with irrendentist claims about “lost territory” in all their forms and above all with guarantees that we will not leave any window of opportunity open for similar challenges to be made in the future."
This was underlined by Alexis Tsipras in his joint statement with the PM Zaef, after their meeting which lasted about two and a half hours and he noted that Mr. Zaef during today's meeting, informed him that is willing to take significant initiatives, directly towards this. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Zaef announced, in his statement, the renaming of the airport and national highway in Skopje, which up to now bear the name "Alexander The Great". The highway, he announced, will be called: " Friendship Highway". Greece, in turn, unblocked the implementation of Macedonia's EU association agreement. A new border crossing is to open in the Prespa Lake region.
Mr. Tsipras spoke about the frank discussion he had with his counterpart and assured the people of the two countries listening to him, either with scepticism or with sincere hope, saying that both of them have the desire to deal with their very real differences in a realistic and responsible manner.
The Greek PM, however, noted that in order for the European integration process and the NATO membership wanted by the neighboring country to move forward, "we must find a solution to all of the outstanding issues". In particular, Mr. Tsipras made it clear that "we must agree on a composite name that is used in all international dealings ("erga omnes")", adding that in this context certainly, ideas were exchanged and "we agreed to intensify under our supervision the discussions already being carried out under the aegis of the UN".
Alexis Tsipras thanked Zoran Zaef for today’s talks: "We are two people who belong to a new generation, two progressive politicians in an extremely tough neighborhood and I believe that we are both striving to bring to the fore those things that unite our peoples, while also attempting to find solutions to those things that divide us. "
"My deep belief is that the Balkans have been greatly plagued by nationalism and tensions. What is needed therefore is to promote an agenda for cooperation and co-development, in order to strengthen the European perspective of the Western Balkans, for the region to go forward and for it to be able to face the great challenges of the 21st century, on the economy, security, regional stability ".
Prime Minister Zoran Zaef said: “The time has come to find a solution”
"We are committed to building confidence between our countries, with the aim of working together to overcome the problems between our countries. We are at a moment when we can create good neighbourly relations." "We want to be partners in the EU and allies in NATO, to face all the difficulties."
"The time has come for us to find a solution because it is vital for our perspective towards NATO and the EU." "The final solution must be acceptable to both sides and the solution must take account of the national dignity of our peoples."
It was in this context that he announced that his country will change the name to its airport and main streets.
"Our actions demonstrate our good faith. This illustrates the fact that we have not irredentist aspirations at the expense of our neighbour."
"We will remain committed to the process under the aegis of the UN and Mr Nimitz," added Mr. Zaef and noted that "the Foreign Ministers will be responsible for the process and for all the negotiations, under our own supervision".
Relations between the two Balkan neighbours have thawed after Social Democrat Zoran Zaev came to power in Skopje and set about undoing the legacy of his nationalist predecessors.
Some background
On February 14th 1992, one million people, 10% of the entire population of Greece, marched in Thessaloniki in defence of brand Macedonia. Greece imposed an economic blockade on its fragile neighbour, which was desperately trying to stay out of the war raging in other parts of former Yugoslavia at the time.
Today Greece is the third largest investor in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) - the interim name the UN assigned the state in 1993 - after the Netherlands and Austria. Greeks travel freely across the border in order to work, shop or holiday.
In fYROM, then Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski used isolation from the West to strengthen his grip on power, providing benefits to his political and business associates. He refashioned the capital Skopje's city centre as a nationalist theme park, featuring a huge statue of Alexander The Great mounted on a water fountain, a vast triumphal arch ("Porta Makedonija") and a string of neoclassical buildings.
Gruevski's downfall, after a two-year long political crisis triggered by revelations of high-profile corruption, elections rigging and obstruction of justice, raised hopes for a new beginning. The new Government, led by Social Democratic Union's Zoran Zaev and inaugurated in May 2017, wants a settlement in order to facilitate fYROM’s entry into NATO and the EU. The SDU’s ethnic Albanian coalition partners agree.
NATO and the EU are clearly supportive. fYROM was a frontrunner to join both entities in the early and mid-2000s. Its accession to NATO and the EU would demonstrate that it is Brussels, rather than Moscow or Beijing, which has the decisive influence in the Balkans. At the NATO Bucharest summit in 2008, the then Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis (New Democracy-EPP) blocked Skopje’s bid to join NATO under its provisional name of fYROM. Its EU accession has also been on hold, in part due to the name dispute.
NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Skopje on January 18/19 to reassure his hosts. "I encourage you to continue on the path of reform. We want you to succeed," he said.
“Macedonia” remains a treasured piece of Greek national heritage. Use of ‘Macedonia’ by fYROM is viewed by some as a claim on Greek territory, identity and history.
The Greek Government’s stance is: the name "Macedonia" cannot be anyone's exclusive property, as the historic region by the same name is divided into three countries, Greece, fYROM and Bulgaria.
"The problem is that people think that fYROM will take away our identity. No one is doing that; they are no threat to us. People are ill-informed," said the Mayor of Thessaloniki Yannis Boutaris. In a gesture of goodwill, Mayor Boutaris hosted Macedonia's Prime Minister Zaev in Thessaloniki on New Year's Eve.
Nationalist sentiments are being stirred on both sides, spurred on by a spin put on the interview PM Tsipras gave to Greek newspaper Ethnos (The Nation) [see below Ed]. Advanced publicity for the interview stated: "Tsipras: A Macedonian nation never existed". It was a classical manipulation. The editors conveniently dropped the sentence's ending: "… in ancient times, as there was not a nation of Athenians or Spartans."
Thessaloniki last Sunday
Senior Clerics, members of New Democracy, of AN-EL, of the Union of Centrists, armed services veterans, Golden Dawn storm troopers and ordinary citizens - about 90,000 protesters demonstrated at the White Tower in Thessaloniki on Sunday to demand that the term "Macedonia" should not be included in the name of FYROM.
Tens of thousands of protesters chanted slogans such as "Greece-Greece-Macedonia", "no to the double name – No to a new treason" and sang the anthem "Macedonia the famous." According to a statement of the police, the rally was attended by 90,000 protesters.
Present at the rally were Metropolitan [Archbishop Ed.] Anthimos of Thessaloniki and ten other senior clerics, according to the organizers. "Brothers on the land and on the seas, on televisions and on radios, in the open spaces, shout that Macedonia was and is a homeland of the Greeks. Where Macedonia equals Greece and where Greece equals Macedonia,"said the Archbishop.
Differences then emerged within the Greek Orthodox Church over approaches to the ‘Macedonia’ issue.
Ieronymos II, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, in comments broadcast on Greek channel ERT and posted by the Proto Thema news site, said although the Church overall remained opposed to the use of ‘Macedonia’, “prudence, unity and sobriety” should prevail.
He also pointed out that only nine senior bishops took part in Sunday’s demonstration in Thessaloniki out of 82 senior clergy.
PM Tsipras Interview in “Ethnos”
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, in that interview with the Sunday edition of the daily "Ethnos", adopted a clear position on the name of fYROMacedonia, saying that "if there is an opportunity for a solution, it will be national foolishness not to use it".
The Greek Prime Minister gave assurances that he respects "the concerns and especially the sensitive heart strings of his compatriots in northern Greece. Besides, I myself am half Macedonian."
"However, what I urge them is to appreciate soberly what promotes the national interest and what undermines it. A non-solution undermines it. For 25 years, our neighbours have been recognized by the name "Republic of Macedonia" by many countries, and we are fighting everywhere for everyone to call them fYROM. That is, a composite name, which includes the term 'Macedonia', but without any definition that allows the appropriation of geography and history. So if there is a chance of a solution that will reverse this negative situation that was loaded on to us in 1992, then it would be a national foolishness not to use it."
"A Macedonian nation never existed in ancient times, just as there was not a nation of Athenians or Spartans. Ancient Macedonia was a powerful force of the ancient Greek world that expanded, especially at the time of Alexander the Great, much wider than the present geographical area of Macedonia. From the 7th century onwards, in this place, Slavs, Bulgarians, Serbs, Jews, Ottomans successively settled in addition to the Greeks. Today, this wider geographical area is occupied by three different states. In this sense, it is absolutely unrealistic and absurd for some to ask for the exclusivity of Macedonia, particularly in the sense of ethnic identification. It is not unreasonable, however, to include the term 'Macedonia' in a composite name, either with a geographic or temporal specification, for everyday use, so that it is absolutely clear that no one claims territory or other people’s history."
Regarding the distinctive attitude of the Government partner, PM Tsipras acknowledged that "Panos (Kammenos) is aware of the problem and is an honest and patriotic politician. He has reservations and has expressed them to the governing council, but he has stated his confidence in the efforts of the Foreign Minister and his desire to have a broad consensus of the political forces on this issue, provided of course a satisfactory agreement is reached", adding that "Governments fall if they lose a vote of confidence. Let some not be fooled. Kammenos is an honest man, he will not become Samaras".
PM Tsipras condemned the attitude of the New Democracy leader: "Mr. Mitsotakis is committing a tragic political error. In the name discussion he has an opportunity to show an attitude of national responsibility. He does not dare to be straightforward about New Democracy’s stance. First he distances himself from the rallies and then he criticises those who prevent his MPs from participating. This proves to the Greeks that he is capable of serving any viewpoint, provided he has a vote-gaining benefit, and to Europeans that he is an unreliable politician, a classic spokesman for the old political staff that bankrupted the country."
The Prime Minister noted, however, that the major issue is not the name but the irredentism - a movement aiming to reclaim and reoccupy areas considered "lost" or "unredeemed". "If we want to find a viable solution, we need to look not just for a name but also for a broader framework of an agreement that will not leave any room for irredentist nationalism or claims that ignore history. Both sides need to approach the problem with realism but also with wisdom."
However, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that a nationally beneficial solution will be voted through by many more MPs than those who make up the current parliamentary majority."All those who play games of demagogy and populism guided by the domestic political game, in the end will get their fingers burned.
Alexis Tsipras noted that "the biggest challenge is for Greece to leave this national adventure of the Memoranda that lasted eight years, to become again a country that is firmly on the map – a country that walks on strong legs - a pillar of security and stability in the most critical area of Europe. A country that solves problems, and does not create them."
Foreign Minister Kotzias in Brussels
Speaking to Greek journalists following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, Minister Kotzias referred to latest developments in the name row and Sunday's protests in Thessaloniki.
"We are close to a solution on certain issues. I believe topics to be discussed in Davos on Wednesday will show the direction," says Foreign Minister Kotzias.
He rejected any type of pressure on Greece or meddling by third parties.
"No one is putting pressure and we do not allow anyone to pressure us. Greece is using the pressure of the other side in order to open its European perspective," he stressed and added that the bilateral talks have been facilitated by the fact that the Europeans and Americans realized they should not meddle.
According to him, Greece will veto fYROM from joining NATO unless the required criteria are met and the name issue is resolved.
Regarding yesterday's protest, he said this is a democratic right and does not affect the name talks.
"The protest reflected the agony of many Greeks, who sometimes have misconceptions about the name talks, identifying them with the destiny of Greek Macedonia. This protest adds to the forms of public debate, but I believe it will not affect the name talks. With regards to the irredentism issue, it is obvious that each action that condemns it is welcome. We will solve the name issue based on the future perspectives of stability in the region, the role of the Greek diplomacy and the necessity for our country to play a leading role in the area."
Davos Meeting – positive step forward
Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev met on January 24th on the fringe of the Davos summit.
"We don't want to simply solve the issue of the name, but we want to put the relations between our two countries on solid foundations, the foundations of mutual respect and good neighbourliness, that means that first you have to deal with irrendentist claims about “lost territory” in all their forms and above all with guarantees that we will not leave any window of opportunity open for similar challenges to be made in the future."
This was underlined by Alexis Tsipras in his joint statement with the PM Zaef, after their meeting which lasted about two and a half hours and he noted that Mr. Zaef during today's meeting, informed him that is willing to take significant initiatives, directly towards this. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Zaef announced, in his statement, the renaming of the airport and national highway in Skopje, which up to now bear the name "Alexander The Great". The highway, he announced, will be called: " Friendship Highway". Greece, in turn, unblocked the implementation of Macedonia's EU association agreement. A new border crossing is to open in the Prespa Lake region.
Mr. Tsipras spoke about the frank discussion he had with his counterpart and assured the people of the two countries listening to him, either with scepticism or with sincere hope, saying that both of them have the desire to deal with their very real differences in a realistic and responsible manner.
The Greek PM, however, noted that in order for the European integration process and the NATO membership wanted by the neighboring country to move forward, "we must find a solution to all of the outstanding issues". In particular, Mr. Tsipras made it clear that "we must agree on a composite name that is used in all international dealings ("erga omnes")", adding that in this context certainly, ideas were exchanged and "we agreed to intensify under our supervision the discussions already being carried out under the aegis of the UN".
Alexis Tsipras thanked Zoran Zaef for today’s talks: "We are two people who belong to a new generation, two progressive politicians in an extremely tough neighborhood and I believe that we are both striving to bring to the fore those things that unite our peoples, while also attempting to find solutions to those things that divide us. "
"My deep belief is that the Balkans have been greatly plagued by nationalism and tensions. What is needed therefore is to promote an agenda for cooperation and co-development, in order to strengthen the European perspective of the Western Balkans, for the region to go forward and for it to be able to face the great challenges of the 21st century, on the economy, security, regional stability ".
Prime Minister Zoran Zaef said: “The time has come to find a solution”
"We are committed to building confidence between our countries, with the aim of working together to overcome the problems between our countries. We are at a moment when we can create good neighbourly relations." "We want to be partners in the EU and allies in NATO, to face all the difficulties."
"The time has come for us to find a solution because it is vital for our perspective towards NATO and the EU." "The final solution must be acceptable to both sides and the solution must take account of the national dignity of our peoples."
It was in this context that he announced that his country will change the name to its airport and main streets.
"Our actions demonstrate our good faith. This illustrates the fact that we have not irredentist aspirations at the expense of our neighbour."
"We will remain committed to the process under the aegis of the UN and Mr Nimitz," added Mr. Zaef and noted that "the Foreign Ministers will be responsible for the process and for all the negotiations, under our own supervision".
Multi-Bill passed to satisfy Lenders
21.1.2018
Multi-Bill Passed to satisfy Lenders
Introducing the latest Multi-Bill, tabled last Tuesday evening, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos noted the recent change in the agenda of the political discussion attributing it to the seriousness with which the Government is addressing the problems the country is facing.
For the first time the Multi-Bill enacting the prerequisites for the closing of the Third Assessment contained no new “measures”, he said evoking the positive atmosphere from the Euro-Working Group.
He commented that the Government is being forced to find solutions to chronic problems, since it does not subscribe to the policy of previous Governments of “never do today what you can do tomorrow.”
He observed that every time he appeared before Parliament the economic indicators were doing better than the time before. As an example, he mentioned the reduction of “spreads” to 3.88 from the 4.01 that it had been when he talked about the 2018 budget [A spread is the difference between the bid and the ask price of a Government Bond Ed.] , the emphatic shift in the market at Christmas but also the record (since 2008) increase in shop sales. On Family allowances: 730,000 families will get more money, he said while stressing that the policy to deal with child poverty cannot be limited to family allowances. He recalled Government initiatives such as the tax-free social dividend, and also the expansion of kindergartens that will benefit three-child and large families.
Concerning the provision for announcing strikes in Primary Trade Union Associations, Minister Tsakalotos said he did not think that is contradictory rhetoric from the Government which on the one hand recognises the concession that is represents and at the same time asks questions about trade union practices and asks why the labour movement cannot rally the workers.
With regard to the casinos, he pointed out that the Casino licenses on Mykonos and Santorini will be seasonal, while he noted that an amendment to the Bill satisfied the request of workers that they receive 70% of earnings for the months that the casino is closed. He dismissed the scaremongering about the ability of players to get into debt to the casino by observing that that relates to amounts exceeding 50,000€ and so it affects "gamblers people who have too much money."
Finally, concerning the abolition of the Public Holding Company, he stressed that its abolition is linked to the Government's intention to support the public nature of Public Businesses and Organisations. Furthermore, the Board of the Management Fund will include two members who specialize in public companies, so that just private sector criteria do not prevail in the discussions on the utilization of the Management Fund criteria.
Measures promise enhanced development through a variety of methods, which start from facilities and incentives for entrepreneurial activity in bakeries and degraded areas of the historical centre of Athens through to "tax bonuses" for introducing innovation and the strengthening of the tourism sector crucial to the Greek economy through "associated" sectors, such as casinos.
Tax changes mean that the Tax Office will be able to suspend the use of Tax Numbers if it is found that the taxpayer has ceased economic activity or commits fraud or has declared false or inaccurate information about their property.
This has multiple benefits. On the one hand, the risk of the ΑΦΜ being taken away can act as a disincentive to tax violation and can address to some extent the "corporate seal" or "corporate ghost", as it is also known. They have neither staff nor do they exercise any real activity, simply providing a vehicle for tax evasion, but also more general taxation and financial criminal offences. This will clean up to some degree the market since at the moment honest taxpayers cannot compete and even go out of the market because of unfair competition.
Other provisions are for the haircut of fines, as the timeframes change within which taxpayers can submit overdue or amending statements. If the due taxes (excluding statements of withheld payroll taxes) are repaid within a specified time limit of 30 days, the "haircut" will reach 60%.
Introducing the latest Multi-Bill, tabled last Tuesday evening, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos noted the recent change in the agenda of the political discussion attributing it to the seriousness with which the Government is addressing the problems the country is facing.
For the first time the Multi-Bill enacting the prerequisites for the closing of the Third Assessment contained no new “measures”, he said evoking the positive atmosphere from the Euro-Working Group.
He commented that the Government is being forced to find solutions to chronic problems, since it does not subscribe to the policy of previous Governments of “never do today what you can do tomorrow.”
He observed that every time he appeared before Parliament the economic indicators were doing better than the time before. As an example, he mentioned the reduction of “spreads” to 3.88 from the 4.01 that it had been when he talked about the 2018 budget [A spread is the difference between the bid and the ask price of a Government Bond Ed.] , the emphatic shift in the market at Christmas but also the record (since 2008) increase in shop sales. On Family allowances: 730,000 families will get more money, he said while stressing that the policy to deal with child poverty cannot be limited to family allowances. He recalled Government initiatives such as the tax-free social dividend, and also the expansion of kindergartens that will benefit three-child and large families.
Concerning the provision for announcing strikes in Primary Trade Union Associations, Minister Tsakalotos said he did not think that is contradictory rhetoric from the Government which on the one hand recognises the concession that is represents and at the same time asks questions about trade union practices and asks why the labour movement cannot rally the workers.
With regard to the casinos, he pointed out that the Casino licenses on Mykonos and Santorini will be seasonal, while he noted that an amendment to the Bill satisfied the request of workers that they receive 70% of earnings for the months that the casino is closed. He dismissed the scaremongering about the ability of players to get into debt to the casino by observing that that relates to amounts exceeding 50,000€ and so it affects "gamblers people who have too much money."
Finally, concerning the abolition of the Public Holding Company, he stressed that its abolition is linked to the Government's intention to support the public nature of Public Businesses and Organisations. Furthermore, the Board of the Management Fund will include two members who specialize in public companies, so that just private sector criteria do not prevail in the discussions on the utilization of the Management Fund criteria.
Measures promise enhanced development through a variety of methods, which start from facilities and incentives for entrepreneurial activity in bakeries and degraded areas of the historical centre of Athens through to "tax bonuses" for introducing innovation and the strengthening of the tourism sector crucial to the Greek economy through "associated" sectors, such as casinos.
Tax changes mean that the Tax Office will be able to suspend the use of Tax Numbers if it is found that the taxpayer has ceased economic activity or commits fraud or has declared false or inaccurate information about their property.
This has multiple benefits. On the one hand, the risk of the ΑΦΜ being taken away can act as a disincentive to tax violation and can address to some extent the "corporate seal" or "corporate ghost", as it is also known. They have neither staff nor do they exercise any real activity, simply providing a vehicle for tax evasion, but also more general taxation and financial criminal offences. This will clean up to some degree the market since at the moment honest taxpayers cannot compete and even go out of the market because of unfair competition.
Other provisions are for the haircut of fines, as the timeframes change within which taxpayers can submit overdue or amending statements. If the due taxes (excluding statements of withheld payroll taxes) are repaid within a specified time limit of 30 days, the "haircut" will reach 60%.
Greece on Friday (19.1.2018) was given a green light for more bailout cash from its eurozone creditors.
A senior eurozone official said "There was a political agreement for the conclusion of the Third Assessment, the necessary step to disburse to Greece." This decision will now go to Finance Ministers on Monday for a formal decision to disburse bailout loans. The amount of the disbursement is expected to be more than 6.7€ billion and will be paid in instalments. Of this amount, 3.3€ billion is earmarked to service the country's debt from February to June 2018; 1.5€ billion will be used to pay matured bonds and 1.9€ billion will be added to the reserves.
The IMF
The IMF Board will need to meet again to reach the final decision to activate the programme in Greece, clarified Gerry Rice, the IMF’s Press Representative.
He reiterated that the decision is based on two parts: progress with the “reforms” and debt relief that will make the Greek debt viable. Discussions about both situations continue; when reaching the ultimate decision, we will go to the Board of Directors of the Fund.
"If one looks back to 2015, one will see that we have made considerable progress on the debt issue. But not all the differences have been bridged and we are working hard for a good result so that the country can pursue sustainable growth," Mr. Rice said.
He expressed the Fund’s willingness to work with Greece’s European partners for a solution that will credibly reduce the country’s debt, and lead it to a viable recovery.
Greece and European Institutions seem to be near the end of the completion of the Third ESM Assessment and we are waiting for the final announcement at Monday's Eurogroup, he said.
Credit Rating Up
Credit Ratings Agency S&P Global Ratings on Friday raised the rating of Greek Government debt by a notch citing the improved outlook for the crisis-stricken country´s finances and economic growth.
The rating on Greece’s long-term debt was improved to "B" from "B-" with a positive outlook, which means the ratings agency could raise the grade further in the next year.
"The upgrade reflects Greece´s steadily improving general government finances and its gradually recovering economic prospects," S&P said in a statement.
The agency notes the government had budget surpluses in 2016 and 2017 and "the economy exited a multiyear recession last year." S&P projects Greece will see its economy grow 2% this year.
A senior eurozone official said "There was a political agreement for the conclusion of the Third Assessment, the necessary step to disburse to Greece." This decision will now go to Finance Ministers on Monday for a formal decision to disburse bailout loans. The amount of the disbursement is expected to be more than 6.7€ billion and will be paid in instalments. Of this amount, 3.3€ billion is earmarked to service the country's debt from February to June 2018; 1.5€ billion will be used to pay matured bonds and 1.9€ billion will be added to the reserves.
The IMF
The IMF Board will need to meet again to reach the final decision to activate the programme in Greece, clarified Gerry Rice, the IMF’s Press Representative.
He reiterated that the decision is based on two parts: progress with the “reforms” and debt relief that will make the Greek debt viable. Discussions about both situations continue; when reaching the ultimate decision, we will go to the Board of Directors of the Fund.
"If one looks back to 2015, one will see that we have made considerable progress on the debt issue. But not all the differences have been bridged and we are working hard for a good result so that the country can pursue sustainable growth," Mr. Rice said.
He expressed the Fund’s willingness to work with Greece’s European partners for a solution that will credibly reduce the country’s debt, and lead it to a viable recovery.
Greece and European Institutions seem to be near the end of the completion of the Third ESM Assessment and we are waiting for the final announcement at Monday's Eurogroup, he said.
Credit Rating Up
Credit Ratings Agency S&P Global Ratings on Friday raised the rating of Greek Government debt by a notch citing the improved outlook for the crisis-stricken country´s finances and economic growth.
The rating on Greece’s long-term debt was improved to "B" from "B-" with a positive outlook, which means the ratings agency could raise the grade further in the next year.
"The upgrade reflects Greece´s steadily improving general government finances and its gradually recovering economic prospects," S&P said in a statement.
The agency notes the government had budget surpluses in 2016 and 2017 and "the economy exited a multiyear recession last year." S&P projects Greece will see its economy grow 2% this year.
4th Summit of the Mediterranean/Southern
countries of the EU
13.1.2018
Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, was in Rome on Wednesday 10th January to participate in the 4th Summit of the Mediterranean/Southern countries of the EU.
The Summit was attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Paolo Gentiloni, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Joseph Muscat and the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Antonio Costa.
PM Tsipras in his statement at the conclusion of the Summit said that the necessary steps towards a more forceful, social and democratic Europe, which can serve as a basic model in the world, had been discussed in Rome by the leaders of the countries of the South.
"It is a symbolic fact that the crisis ends with the exit of Greece from the fiscal adjustment programmes in August 2018 both practically and symbolically where it began, in the South.".
It was a meeting that gave new momentum to the project of a social Europe which will be the central debate at the upcoming extraordinary EU Summit. At the same time issues were raised with an eye on the European Councils of February and March, such as reform of the Eurozone focusing on the common budget, but also the revision of the Dublin Convention on the basis of solidarity.
"Europe's future can be bright only if we make the necessary and courageous steps towards the necessary reforms which Europe needs," he noted, pointing out that the Summit highlights the importance of gradually pursuing this initiative in a very crucial period for the future of the EU and the Eurozone.
He characterised 2018 as a "landmark" year for the end of the crisis in Europe and stressed the need for a fundamental debate on taking protective measures to prevent a repeat of the crisis.
"It is our common belief that we have taken very important steps to address international and regional challenges. However, only if it changes can Europe have a bright future for its citizens, but that is not enough; we must not repeat our errors; we need to anticipate the likely event of new crises."
He stressed that today's debate is necessary for Europe and the common future of the States which have the language of common principles and values and not the language of crisis. "Let us speak with the language of democracy, solidarity and unity, because, if there is something missing today from Europe, it is not fiscal adjustment rules and their application. If something is missing, it is the common rules for solidarity and convergence, social and economic ".
As regards the refugee issue, Alexis Tsipras noted that countries of the South which are receiving the flows of migrants are also the southern borders of the EU: "In this context it is not just the ability of Europe to manage a global challenge that is being tested, but also the very cohesion of the EU itself. The countries of the South must work for the implementation of an "effective common immigration policy with a view to effective border management but also solidarity especially towards countries that receive the largest flows".
He stressed that the EU must put its stamp of approval in favour of international law, of security and of resolving crises especially in the Mediterranean. At the same time he pointed out the necessity for the Aegean to be a sea of peace and cooperation, without threats, a place where international law will be respected by all of Greece’s neighbours.
The need for Economic and Monetary Union, for growth and new jobs, greater solidarity, democracy, participation of citizens were all referred to by the leaders of the Euro-Mediterranean countries of the South, undertaking to shape a common agenda of positions of the European South ahead of the discussions about the future of the EU and the Eurozone.
The Summit’s "host", the Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, stated that "We are a team that believes in the future of Europe" and expressed the view that it is a positive moment for the seven countries to try to create a greater convergence within the EU: "We need an EU with greater cohesion, where the differences North and South will be reduced."
He pointed out that the countries of the european South know that they make up 47% of the EU budget and that they have their own voice, which is expressed in the positions on development and investment, the social pillar, common goals for the migration policy, while he did not fail to note that the EU also requires internal rules.
French President Macron described the role of the "team" of seven countries that share a common fate and a common geographic location as complementary to the other EU countries and not in competition with them. He concentrated on three points of convergence of the seven. For a more democratic Europe, "we must consult the citizens, this debate in Europe must be revitalised ."
He spoke about the necessity for the reconstruction of Europe. He mentioned the need to strengthen solidarity and to strengthen EU borders, "to respond to the inconsistencies of the Dublin Regulations".
As to the issue of Monetary Union, with a real European budget, he said that this is a key point for a more United Europe, "so we can have more growth, jobs and solidarity, all those things we have not had in recent years to respond to the crisis, and from which some countries suffered direct consequences ".
Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades, announcing that the next meeting will be hosted in Cyprus no later than next March, agreed:
"Through the completion of Economic and Monetary Union, the creation of conditions for attracting investment that will lead to an increase in jobs will achieve the objective of greater prosperity for our peoples."
He noted that concerns remain regarding migration flows "which are shaped according to the choices of people traffickers". Solidarity, he said, demands the fullest possible support for the countries in the frontline of receiving migrants.
He noted that the continuation of the unsolved problem of Cyprus hinders the enhancement of a better Europe and reiterated the fixed objective of finding a mutually acceptable solution on the basis of the European acquis, for the creation of a truly independent country, far from guarantors, rights of intervention and armies of occupation.
He also said they had discussed the energy security issues of Europe, with himself informing the meeting about developments in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone. "Discoveries in the area are a very important development and that with the pipeline East Med can offer a source of security to the EU ". He also pointed out the "violations that we are experiencing in the exercise of our sovereign rights as a result of illegal actions who unfortunately observed on the part of the Turkish side."
The Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said "We are meeting not to sparate ourselves from the E.U., but to help it, because we believe in a single E.U. that focuses on the needs of its citizens." He argued that there are conditions for better cooperation with regard to migratory flows, while he stressed the need to build growth and jobs, putting forward as priorities for investment in innovation, in the digital market and in energy.
He said that there should be consultation with regard to Monetary Union, referring to the importance of the EU having mechanisms that can deal with and prevent new crises. He added that only if our development models converge will long-lasting development be possible. "We believe in an even more democratic and united Europe," he concluded.
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said that the major objective should be the continuation of economic growth and job creation and that the seven countries converge on the objective of Monetary Union. He mentioned migration as the biggest challenge for the future of Europe, asking for the EU to help more on border controls."
"We want a more democratic Europe, where everyone participates," he said.
"We must understand how Europe can change the lives of its citizens," said the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat stating that the Declaration adopted by the meeting clearly shows "where we want to go".
The Summit was attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Paolo Gentiloni, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Joseph Muscat and the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Antonio Costa.
PM Tsipras in his statement at the conclusion of the Summit said that the necessary steps towards a more forceful, social and democratic Europe, which can serve as a basic model in the world, had been discussed in Rome by the leaders of the countries of the South.
"It is a symbolic fact that the crisis ends with the exit of Greece from the fiscal adjustment programmes in August 2018 both practically and symbolically where it began, in the South.".
It was a meeting that gave new momentum to the project of a social Europe which will be the central debate at the upcoming extraordinary EU Summit. At the same time issues were raised with an eye on the European Councils of February and March, such as reform of the Eurozone focusing on the common budget, but also the revision of the Dublin Convention on the basis of solidarity.
"Europe's future can be bright only if we make the necessary and courageous steps towards the necessary reforms which Europe needs," he noted, pointing out that the Summit highlights the importance of gradually pursuing this initiative in a very crucial period for the future of the EU and the Eurozone.
He characterised 2018 as a "landmark" year for the end of the crisis in Europe and stressed the need for a fundamental debate on taking protective measures to prevent a repeat of the crisis.
"It is our common belief that we have taken very important steps to address international and regional challenges. However, only if it changes can Europe have a bright future for its citizens, but that is not enough; we must not repeat our errors; we need to anticipate the likely event of new crises."
He stressed that today's debate is necessary for Europe and the common future of the States which have the language of common principles and values and not the language of crisis. "Let us speak with the language of democracy, solidarity and unity, because, if there is something missing today from Europe, it is not fiscal adjustment rules and their application. If something is missing, it is the common rules for solidarity and convergence, social and economic ".
As regards the refugee issue, Alexis Tsipras noted that countries of the South which are receiving the flows of migrants are also the southern borders of the EU: "In this context it is not just the ability of Europe to manage a global challenge that is being tested, but also the very cohesion of the EU itself. The countries of the South must work for the implementation of an "effective common immigration policy with a view to effective border management but also solidarity especially towards countries that receive the largest flows".
He stressed that the EU must put its stamp of approval in favour of international law, of security and of resolving crises especially in the Mediterranean. At the same time he pointed out the necessity for the Aegean to be a sea of peace and cooperation, without threats, a place where international law will be respected by all of Greece’s neighbours.
The need for Economic and Monetary Union, for growth and new jobs, greater solidarity, democracy, participation of citizens were all referred to by the leaders of the Euro-Mediterranean countries of the South, undertaking to shape a common agenda of positions of the European South ahead of the discussions about the future of the EU and the Eurozone.
The Summit’s "host", the Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, stated that "We are a team that believes in the future of Europe" and expressed the view that it is a positive moment for the seven countries to try to create a greater convergence within the EU: "We need an EU with greater cohesion, where the differences North and South will be reduced."
He pointed out that the countries of the european South know that they make up 47% of the EU budget and that they have their own voice, which is expressed in the positions on development and investment, the social pillar, common goals for the migration policy, while he did not fail to note that the EU also requires internal rules.
French President Macron described the role of the "team" of seven countries that share a common fate and a common geographic location as complementary to the other EU countries and not in competition with them. He concentrated on three points of convergence of the seven. For a more democratic Europe, "we must consult the citizens, this debate in Europe must be revitalised ."
He spoke about the necessity for the reconstruction of Europe. He mentioned the need to strengthen solidarity and to strengthen EU borders, "to respond to the inconsistencies of the Dublin Regulations".
As to the issue of Monetary Union, with a real European budget, he said that this is a key point for a more United Europe, "so we can have more growth, jobs and solidarity, all those things we have not had in recent years to respond to the crisis, and from which some countries suffered direct consequences ".
Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades, announcing that the next meeting will be hosted in Cyprus no later than next March, agreed:
"Through the completion of Economic and Monetary Union, the creation of conditions for attracting investment that will lead to an increase in jobs will achieve the objective of greater prosperity for our peoples."
He noted that concerns remain regarding migration flows "which are shaped according to the choices of people traffickers". Solidarity, he said, demands the fullest possible support for the countries in the frontline of receiving migrants.
He noted that the continuation of the unsolved problem of Cyprus hinders the enhancement of a better Europe and reiterated the fixed objective of finding a mutually acceptable solution on the basis of the European acquis, for the creation of a truly independent country, far from guarantors, rights of intervention and armies of occupation.
He also said they had discussed the energy security issues of Europe, with himself informing the meeting about developments in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone. "Discoveries in the area are a very important development and that with the pipeline East Med can offer a source of security to the EU ". He also pointed out the "violations that we are experiencing in the exercise of our sovereign rights as a result of illegal actions who unfortunately observed on the part of the Turkish side."
The Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said "We are meeting not to sparate ourselves from the E.U., but to help it, because we believe in a single E.U. that focuses on the needs of its citizens." He argued that there are conditions for better cooperation with regard to migratory flows, while he stressed the need to build growth and jobs, putting forward as priorities for investment in innovation, in the digital market and in energy.
He said that there should be consultation with regard to Monetary Union, referring to the importance of the EU having mechanisms that can deal with and prevent new crises. He added that only if our development models converge will long-lasting development be possible. "We believe in an even more democratic and united Europe," he concluded.
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said that the major objective should be the continuation of economic growth and job creation and that the seven countries converge on the objective of Monetary Union. He mentioned migration as the biggest challenge for the future of Europe, asking for the EU to help more on border controls."
"We want a more democratic Europe, where everyone participates," he said.
"We must understand how Europe can change the lives of its citizens," said the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat stating that the Declaration adopted by the meeting clearly shows "where we want to go".
National Council for Radio and Television begins new auction process
By Thursday, six media groups had applied for TV licences in Greece in the latest effort by Government to bring order to what it sees as a debt-ridden, unregulated broadcasting sector.
Licencing Greece’s television broadcasters has been one of SYRIZA’s major objectives, regarding them as “vampires” living on borrowed funds that they cannot repay.
The 2016 licence auction cut the number of nationwide broadcasters’s licences to four. But that was ruled unconstitutional by Greece’s top administrative court, the Council of State because the auction process had not been conducted by the independent regulator, the National Council for Radio and Television (NCRT).
Last year, the NCRT invited media groups to express their interest in seven 10-year licenses, at a starting price of 35€ million. “Six applications were submitted to the NCRT,” its website reported.
According to the tender announcement, if the final bidders were fewer than seven then each would be automatically granted a license -- provided they qualify. Any unallocated licenses would be re-tendered.
The six tenderers are SKAI TV, STAR channel, Alpha, Antenna, E TV and the newly-founded Tileoptiki Elliniki. All have already submitted a bid bond of 3.5€ million.
Greek state-owned broadcaster ERT already has a de facto licence.
The applications will be unsealed on Monday and reviewed by the NCRT which will then announce a list of which tenderers qualify.
Minister for Digital Policy Nikos Pappas expressed his satisfaction at the completion of the process for the six TV Licences.
"The National Council for Radio and Television has organised an impeccable procedure in a very short time. Very quickly we will move into a phase where the TV scene will be regulated and with prospects of growth in the advertising market, and on the basis of current legislation we shall have job growth in television."
"The television scene in Greece will begin to take the necessary steps for the future involving the latest technological developments. When there is the political will and the alertness and preparedness on the part of the regulators, everything is possible."
By Thursday, six media groups had applied for TV licences in Greece in the latest effort by Government to bring order to what it sees as a debt-ridden, unregulated broadcasting sector.
Licencing Greece’s television broadcasters has been one of SYRIZA’s major objectives, regarding them as “vampires” living on borrowed funds that they cannot repay.
The 2016 licence auction cut the number of nationwide broadcasters’s licences to four. But that was ruled unconstitutional by Greece’s top administrative court, the Council of State because the auction process had not been conducted by the independent regulator, the National Council for Radio and Television (NCRT).
Last year, the NCRT invited media groups to express their interest in seven 10-year licenses, at a starting price of 35€ million. “Six applications were submitted to the NCRT,” its website reported.
According to the tender announcement, if the final bidders were fewer than seven then each would be automatically granted a license -- provided they qualify. Any unallocated licenses would be re-tendered.
The six tenderers are SKAI TV, STAR channel, Alpha, Antenna, E TV and the newly-founded Tileoptiki Elliniki. All have already submitted a bid bond of 3.5€ million.
Greek state-owned broadcaster ERT already has a de facto licence.
The applications will be unsealed on Monday and reviewed by the NCRT which will then announce a list of which tenderers qualify.
Minister for Digital Policy Nikos Pappas expressed his satisfaction at the completion of the process for the six TV Licences.
"The National Council for Radio and Television has organised an impeccable procedure in a very short time. Very quickly we will move into a phase where the TV scene will be regulated and with prospects of growth in the advertising market, and on the basis of current legislation we shall have job growth in television."
"The television scene in Greece will begin to take the necessary steps for the future involving the latest technological developments. When there is the political will and the alertness and preparedness on the part of the regulators, everything is possible."
For Greece, 2018 is a crucial year.
“Things are looking better for Greece, having regained access to markets and with the recovery gathering speed,” Fabio Balboni, European Economist at HSBC Bank Plc in London, said in a January 4th note to clients. “In 2018, the country might finally exit its bailout programme, but a clean exit might prove challenging if the eurozone fails to deliver substantial and credible debt relief.”
Since 2010, Greece has had three lifelines from euro-area countries and the IMF with stringent conditions in terms of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms. It has also gone through two debt restructurings. In the next six to eight months, the Greek Government and the country’s creditors have to work through some thorny issues if they want to avert yet another bailout programme.
There are 10 crucial items on Greece’s calendar before the end of the bailout programme:
“Things are looking better for Greece, having regained access to markets and with the recovery gathering speed,” Fabio Balboni, European Economist at HSBC Bank Plc in London, said in a January 4th note to clients. “In 2018, the country might finally exit its bailout programme, but a clean exit might prove challenging if the eurozone fails to deliver substantial and credible debt relief.”
Since 2010, Greece has had three lifelines from euro-area countries and the IMF with stringent conditions in terms of fiscal consolidation and structural reforms. It has also gone through two debt restructurings. In the next six to eight months, the Greek Government and the country’s creditors have to work through some thorny issues if they want to avert yet another bailout programme.
There are 10 crucial items on Greece’s calendar before the end of the bailout programme:
- This week, the Government plans to submit to parliament a bill to implement all the measures needed to conclude the Third Bailout Assessment. The Multi-Bill must be voted on by January 17th so that auditors monitoring the programme can present Greece’s compliance report at the January 22nd Eurogroup meeting, which will then approve the disbursement of the next bailout tranche.
- In late January, European banking authorities will finalize the scenarios under which the balance sheets of Greek lenders will be stress-tested. The banks have to conclude these audits of their capital adequacy successfully.
- By early February, Greece intends to issue a new bond, with a maturity most likely of three or seven years, as part of its efforts to regain full market access.
- During the first 10 days of February, the European Stability Mechanism is expected to disburse the bailout tranche attached to the implementation of the Third Assessment’s conditions. The amount of money Greece will get has yet to be agreed on, but it will be at least 5.5€ billion, according to the Greek Finance Ministry.
- In February, Greek banks will start sending data to the National Bank of Greece and European authorities for the stress tests.
- In February the Greek Government expect its creditors to start discussing further debt relief measures.
- In early March, the Fourth Bailout Assessment is expected to begin. The Assessment has to start in March if Greece is to complete a forther 82 “measures” on time.
- In Washington on April 20th-22nd, the IMF’s spring meetings will give creditors the opportunity to discuss debt relief and what’s next for Greece.
- In early May, the stress test results will be announced. This will show if Greek lenders need more capital and, if so, how serious the problem is for them and for Greece.
- By the end of May or June, both the Greek Government and its creditors want to conclude the Fourth Bailout Assessment and reach agreement on the conditions for any further debt relief and the post-programme life for Greece.
The Directorate of Financial Crime Investigation
A new service - "The Directorate of Financial Crime Investigation " to combat the large-scale financial crime is to be based in the Ministry of Finance. It will have 135 Inspectors and report directly to the Minister of Finance and will be guided and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor for Financial Crime.
The service’s sole remit is the investigation to identify major tax crimes and any other relevant financial crimes which seriously damage the interests of the Greek State and the European Union.
New Democracy’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis slams nepotism and corruption
Both German and US media are calling the leader of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis a "star of the people" offering Greece "a glimmer of hope".
A sworn reformist, he slams nepotism and corruption. And yet that international praise ignores hard facts - such as the inclusion of his wife in the Paradise Papers tax avoidance / evasion scandal or his personal involvement in the biggest corruption scandal of the last 30 years in Greece - Siemens.
The Paradise Papers, an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) into the offshore world, have tarnished the reputation of politicians, sports idols and royals all around the globe.
But Greece, a firm favourite among new agencies when corruption is being discussed, has strangely avoided even the slightest media attention. Undeservingly so. Because in the latest round of leaks, one name stood out: Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, the wife of Mr. Mitsotakis. She is one of 130 Greeks whose name shows up in the Paradise Papers.
Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis owned 50% of Eternia Capital Management, an offshore company based in the Cayman Islands which managed a fund in the British Virgin Islands.
Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis dismissed allegations of suspicious transactions, stressing that she "had little to do with the administrative aspect of the fund and was not aware of the specific legislation that applies in the Cayman Islands".
The party New Democracy dismissed the story as irrelevant.
It argued that Mr. Mitsotakis and his wife were separated at the time (before reuniting a few years later), therefore Mitsotakis had no legal obligation to declare his spouse's financial interests.
It is also the case that Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis has a professional life of her own: formerly, she was an executive at Deutsche Bank, and she now runs her own business.
However, an important question remains unanswered: what was the motive of the setup of this double offshore structure? There's no evidence that Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis has broken any law or that Mitsotakis himself was involved in any of this. However, a coincidence does link Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis's offshore arrangements back to her husband’s New Democracy.
Back in 2012, Stavros Papastavrou, Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis' lawyer, at the same time as dealing with Eternia on behalf of Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis, held a top position, first inside the New Democracy party (where he was Director of International Relations) and then inside the Government as Greece's top negotiator on tax haven issues.
In fact, he was Greece's envoy in talks with the Swiss authorities regarding Greek bank accounts.
For his involvement in a separate case, the Swiss leaks/HSBC affair (called the Lagarde List), Mr. Papastavrou paid a fine of 3.5€ million to settle tax evasion and money-laundering charges.
No news outlet outside Greece has picked up this particular Paradise Papers story.
Before the Paradise Papers, there was Siemens
According to evidence presented in judicial procedures in Germany, the USA and Greece, German multinational Siemens routinely bribed politicians in PASOK and New Democracy to the tune of hundreds of millions of euros in order to secure lucrative state contracts.
In 2008 Mr. Mitsotakis he was caught accepting for free Siemens telecoms equipment to a value of €137,000. He paid for this later, after witnesses testified about the presents before prosecutors. Similar "presents" were given to the whole Mitsotakis family, including his wife Mareva, according to invoices provided during the Siemens court case and on the testimony of Michael Christoforakos' [the former head of Siemens Greece Ed] personal secretary, Ekaterini Tsakalou.
Court evidence shows Mr. Mitsotakis maintained a more-than-close relationship with Michael Christoforakos, who has evaded his bribery trial in Greece by returning to Germany. The Court was told that Mr. Christoforakos had contact (either in person or by phone) with the Mitsotakis family on 356 occasions. This amounts to 60% of the total number of such contacts he had with all political figures at the time. This and other facts linking Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Siemens scandal have been out in the public for almost a decade.
Since his election as leader of New Democracy, four profiles or interviews have been published by some of Germany's biggest papers (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Die Taz, Die Welt); not one of them even mentions Siemens.
Recently Mr.Mitsotakis has taken to slamming clientelism and nepotism. While Mr. Mitsotakis campaigns for a smaller state, several members of his family are being remunerated by this "fat" Greek state. He is, after all, the heir of one of Greece’s biggest political dynasties with political roots dating back to the 19th century.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis' father, Constantine Mitsotakis was Prime Minister in the 1990s.
The Constantine Mitsotakis Foundation, with three family members on its Board, has been generously funded by the state to the tune of millions of euros.
Three members of the core family are active on the main political scene: besides Kyriakos Mitsotakis, his sister, Dora Bakoyannis is a former foreign minister and currently an MP; and Kostas Bakoyannis, nephew of Kyriakos, is a regional governor of Central Greece.
A new service - "The Directorate of Financial Crime Investigation " to combat the large-scale financial crime is to be based in the Ministry of Finance. It will have 135 Inspectors and report directly to the Minister of Finance and will be guided and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor for Financial Crime.
The service’s sole remit is the investigation to identify major tax crimes and any other relevant financial crimes which seriously damage the interests of the Greek State and the European Union.
New Democracy’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis slams nepotism and corruption
Both German and US media are calling the leader of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis a "star of the people" offering Greece "a glimmer of hope".
A sworn reformist, he slams nepotism and corruption. And yet that international praise ignores hard facts - such as the inclusion of his wife in the Paradise Papers tax avoidance / evasion scandal or his personal involvement in the biggest corruption scandal of the last 30 years in Greece - Siemens.
The Paradise Papers, an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) into the offshore world, have tarnished the reputation of politicians, sports idols and royals all around the globe.
But Greece, a firm favourite among new agencies when corruption is being discussed, has strangely avoided even the slightest media attention. Undeservingly so. Because in the latest round of leaks, one name stood out: Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, the wife of Mr. Mitsotakis. She is one of 130 Greeks whose name shows up in the Paradise Papers.
Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis owned 50% of Eternia Capital Management, an offshore company based in the Cayman Islands which managed a fund in the British Virgin Islands.
Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis dismissed allegations of suspicious transactions, stressing that she "had little to do with the administrative aspect of the fund and was not aware of the specific legislation that applies in the Cayman Islands".
The party New Democracy dismissed the story as irrelevant.
It argued that Mr. Mitsotakis and his wife were separated at the time (before reuniting a few years later), therefore Mitsotakis had no legal obligation to declare his spouse's financial interests.
It is also the case that Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis has a professional life of her own: formerly, she was an executive at Deutsche Bank, and she now runs her own business.
However, an important question remains unanswered: what was the motive of the setup of this double offshore structure? There's no evidence that Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis has broken any law or that Mitsotakis himself was involved in any of this. However, a coincidence does link Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis's offshore arrangements back to her husband’s New Democracy.
Back in 2012, Stavros Papastavrou, Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis' lawyer, at the same time as dealing with Eternia on behalf of Mrs. Grabowski-Mitsotakis, held a top position, first inside the New Democracy party (where he was Director of International Relations) and then inside the Government as Greece's top negotiator on tax haven issues.
In fact, he was Greece's envoy in talks with the Swiss authorities regarding Greek bank accounts.
For his involvement in a separate case, the Swiss leaks/HSBC affair (called the Lagarde List), Mr. Papastavrou paid a fine of 3.5€ million to settle tax evasion and money-laundering charges.
No news outlet outside Greece has picked up this particular Paradise Papers story.
Before the Paradise Papers, there was Siemens
According to evidence presented in judicial procedures in Germany, the USA and Greece, German multinational Siemens routinely bribed politicians in PASOK and New Democracy to the tune of hundreds of millions of euros in order to secure lucrative state contracts.
In 2008 Mr. Mitsotakis he was caught accepting for free Siemens telecoms equipment to a value of €137,000. He paid for this later, after witnesses testified about the presents before prosecutors. Similar "presents" were given to the whole Mitsotakis family, including his wife Mareva, according to invoices provided during the Siemens court case and on the testimony of Michael Christoforakos' [the former head of Siemens Greece Ed] personal secretary, Ekaterini Tsakalou.
Court evidence shows Mr. Mitsotakis maintained a more-than-close relationship with Michael Christoforakos, who has evaded his bribery trial in Greece by returning to Germany. The Court was told that Mr. Christoforakos had contact (either in person or by phone) with the Mitsotakis family on 356 occasions. This amounts to 60% of the total number of such contacts he had with all political figures at the time. This and other facts linking Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the Siemens scandal have been out in the public for almost a decade.
Since his election as leader of New Democracy, four profiles or interviews have been published by some of Germany's biggest papers (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Die Taz, Die Welt); not one of them even mentions Siemens.
Recently Mr.Mitsotakis has taken to slamming clientelism and nepotism. While Mr. Mitsotakis campaigns for a smaller state, several members of his family are being remunerated by this "fat" Greek state. He is, after all, the heir of one of Greece’s biggest political dynasties with political roots dating back to the 19th century.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis' father, Constantine Mitsotakis was Prime Minister in the 1990s.
The Constantine Mitsotakis Foundation, with three family members on its Board, has been generously funded by the state to the tune of millions of euros.
Three members of the core family are active on the main political scene: besides Kyriakos Mitsotakis, his sister, Dora Bakoyannis is a former foreign minister and currently an MP; and Kostas Bakoyannis, nephew of Kyriakos, is a regional governor of Central Greece.
The Citizens’ Register
The Citizens’ Register is due to go online on Monday, January 22nd with the aim of reducing bureaucracy by making it much easier for people to obtain documents that prove their identity.
The new register will be created by linking 1,036 registry offices and 325 municipal registries electronically.
This means that citizens will no longer need to go to town halls or Citizens’ Service Centres (KEPs) to obtain personal documents as these will be available to other public agencies online.
The Interior Ministry, which is overseeing the process, said that the goal is to “simplify and speed up the processes and to limit needless bureaucracy by reducing the amount of signatures needed and relieving citizens of the need to produce multiple documents for simple administrative procedures.”
The Citizens’ Register is due to go online on Monday, January 22nd with the aim of reducing bureaucracy by making it much easier for people to obtain documents that prove their identity.
The new register will be created by linking 1,036 registry offices and 325 municipal registries electronically.
This means that citizens will no longer need to go to town halls or Citizens’ Service Centres (KEPs) to obtain personal documents as these will be available to other public agencies online.
The Interior Ministry, which is overseeing the process, said that the goal is to “simplify and speed up the processes and to limit needless bureaucracy by reducing the amount of signatures needed and relieving citizens of the need to produce multiple documents for simple administrative procedures.”
“2018 – a watershed year
for the country”
PM Alexis Tsipras’ New Year Message
6.1.2018
"After almost eight years, we are finally exiting the Memoranda and have a breathing space. The time that is coming it will be a landmark time for the country and the people, leaving behind the era of the stewardship, harsh measures and humiliations," stressed the Prime Minister in his televised New Year's Eve message.
The Prime Minister referred to the "sacrifices of the Greek people in the battle that the Government waged in 2017 to get the country out of the crisis with the society standing on its own two feet" and he gave assurances that 2018 will not be 2008, we will not return to the regime that gave birth to the Greek tragedy.
2018 – a watershed year for the country
"At the dawn of the new year we usually share our hopes, aspirations, wishes, and dreams for the future," said Alexis Tsipras
"Today, however, let me share with you one certainty: the coming year will be a milestone year for the country. After an almost eight-year period, we are finally emerging from the Memoranda and have a breathing space. We are leaving behind us the era of stewardship, the harsh measures and the humiliations. And that's a great reason for optimism that 2018 will be a good year for our country and for our people."
The Prime Minister recalled that for us to get here, our people had to submit to great sacrifices, but the Government put up a tough fight. " Millions of people had to put up their own fight so that we could escape from the swamp. But from our side, a tough battle had to be and is having to be waged on two fronts. On the front of the negotiations on the one hand, against the extremists among the creditors. But also on the domestic front, against the diseases, the distortions, the cronyism, the party clientelism, the vested interests and the corruption, against everything that has held us immobilised for years."
He also emphasized that it is not his intention to celebrate, because he knows, like everyone, how many problems still lie ahead of us and how much effort it is taking for growth to reach from statistics to people and to each household. "I also know, however, and each of us should know, that we have left the dark times behind. The regime which was imposed on the country in 2010, finally ends in 2018."
2018 will not be 2008
"At the same time another certainty is that 2018 will not be and must not be 2008. We must not go back and we will not go back to the regime that gave birth to the Greek tragedy - to growth for the few and the crumbs for the many; to the interweaving of political power and economic power, and to the old powerful families that undermined the economy, democracy and the country."
Referring to 2017, the Prime Minister said that the Government put up a tough fight to extricate Greece from the crisis, with society standing on its own two feet and added: "We also gave, however, a graphic example of a different politics. A politics that puts the interests of the country and of the many above the interests of a privileged oligarchy".
These policies of the Government have produced tangible results, stated the Prime Minister and said:
-The economy has again started to move forward, as all the data show.
-Unemployment has been markedly reduced.
-Greece has found again its position on the international scene. It is no longer a cause of problems, but is a catalyst for solutions, while hope and optimism are returning, timidly but steadily, to our society, a society tortured by the harsh measures.
-The social dividend has given a breathing space to millions of our fellow citizens.
-The welfare State is making steps forward, despite the financial difficulties.
-Reforms in Health, in Education, in the public administration, are proceeding with determination and despite the reactions of the old political elite.
Development with social justice
"We will continue with these policies. With new strength, but also with the new possibilities that the end of stewardship brings. Because growth without social justice has neither depth nor vision; it does not even make sense. Because inequality is not a law of nature. It is a result of that policy which agitates for destruction today to achieve restoration tomorrow. But we will not let that happen. We will not let Greece go back."
Finally, Alexis Tsipras wished everyone " a creative, peaceful, and happy 2018, with optimism, with the certainty that Greece is embarking on the road of democratic normality, economic progress, equality and justice, but also with the awareness that nothing will be handed to us unless we claim it with hard work and our struggle."
Alexis Tsipras again ruled out an early general election
Speaking later on Greek radio about his expectations for the year ahead, PM Tsipras stressed that the country is regaining its place in the international landscape, along with its economic autonomy.
Speaking to Real FM radio station, PM Tsipras said he expected 2018 to be “a year that will bring back lost hope”. “A new era for Greece will begin with the expiry of the Greek bailout programme in August 2018 that will signify the end of the diseases afflicting Greece’s economy in order to avoid falling back into a “vicious circle”.
Elaborating his vision for the future of the economy, the PM said Greece must learn from the bailout years and the “tragedy” it went through so that it never loses control of its finances again and emerges from the crisis stronger. He went on to say that a continuous struggle is underway to reform the country’s production model, stamp out corruption and deliver justice.
Alexis Tsipras yet again ruled out the prospect of an early general election, while also accusing the opposition of spreading propaganda and not desiring the end of the bailout but the restoration of the old regime instead.
“Elections will not happen in 2018, but in 2019 at the end of our term of office, as stipulated by the Constitution. And this is because not only will comparisons be more favorable with respect to where we were and the state of the country we will deliver, but mainly because the country needs to restore the trust of its partners, and therefore needs political stability which the Government can provide.”
The Prime Minister referred to the "sacrifices of the Greek people in the battle that the Government waged in 2017 to get the country out of the crisis with the society standing on its own two feet" and he gave assurances that 2018 will not be 2008, we will not return to the regime that gave birth to the Greek tragedy.
2018 – a watershed year for the country
"At the dawn of the new year we usually share our hopes, aspirations, wishes, and dreams for the future," said Alexis Tsipras
"Today, however, let me share with you one certainty: the coming year will be a milestone year for the country. After an almost eight-year period, we are finally emerging from the Memoranda and have a breathing space. We are leaving behind us the era of stewardship, the harsh measures and the humiliations. And that's a great reason for optimism that 2018 will be a good year for our country and for our people."
The Prime Minister recalled that for us to get here, our people had to submit to great sacrifices, but the Government put up a tough fight. " Millions of people had to put up their own fight so that we could escape from the swamp. But from our side, a tough battle had to be and is having to be waged on two fronts. On the front of the negotiations on the one hand, against the extremists among the creditors. But also on the domestic front, against the diseases, the distortions, the cronyism, the party clientelism, the vested interests and the corruption, against everything that has held us immobilised for years."
He also emphasized that it is not his intention to celebrate, because he knows, like everyone, how many problems still lie ahead of us and how much effort it is taking for growth to reach from statistics to people and to each household. "I also know, however, and each of us should know, that we have left the dark times behind. The regime which was imposed on the country in 2010, finally ends in 2018."
2018 will not be 2008
"At the same time another certainty is that 2018 will not be and must not be 2008. We must not go back and we will not go back to the regime that gave birth to the Greek tragedy - to growth for the few and the crumbs for the many; to the interweaving of political power and economic power, and to the old powerful families that undermined the economy, democracy and the country."
Referring to 2017, the Prime Minister said that the Government put up a tough fight to extricate Greece from the crisis, with society standing on its own two feet and added: "We also gave, however, a graphic example of a different politics. A politics that puts the interests of the country and of the many above the interests of a privileged oligarchy".
These policies of the Government have produced tangible results, stated the Prime Minister and said:
-The economy has again started to move forward, as all the data show.
-Unemployment has been markedly reduced.
-Greece has found again its position on the international scene. It is no longer a cause of problems, but is a catalyst for solutions, while hope and optimism are returning, timidly but steadily, to our society, a society tortured by the harsh measures.
-The social dividend has given a breathing space to millions of our fellow citizens.
-The welfare State is making steps forward, despite the financial difficulties.
-Reforms in Health, in Education, in the public administration, are proceeding with determination and despite the reactions of the old political elite.
Development with social justice
"We will continue with these policies. With new strength, but also with the new possibilities that the end of stewardship brings. Because growth without social justice has neither depth nor vision; it does not even make sense. Because inequality is not a law of nature. It is a result of that policy which agitates for destruction today to achieve restoration tomorrow. But we will not let that happen. We will not let Greece go back."
Finally, Alexis Tsipras wished everyone " a creative, peaceful, and happy 2018, with optimism, with the certainty that Greece is embarking on the road of democratic normality, economic progress, equality and justice, but also with the awareness that nothing will be handed to us unless we claim it with hard work and our struggle."
Alexis Tsipras again ruled out an early general election
Speaking later on Greek radio about his expectations for the year ahead, PM Tsipras stressed that the country is regaining its place in the international landscape, along with its economic autonomy.
Speaking to Real FM radio station, PM Tsipras said he expected 2018 to be “a year that will bring back lost hope”. “A new era for Greece will begin with the expiry of the Greek bailout programme in August 2018 that will signify the end of the diseases afflicting Greece’s economy in order to avoid falling back into a “vicious circle”.
Elaborating his vision for the future of the economy, the PM said Greece must learn from the bailout years and the “tragedy” it went through so that it never loses control of its finances again and emerges from the crisis stronger. He went on to say that a continuous struggle is underway to reform the country’s production model, stamp out corruption and deliver justice.
Alexis Tsipras yet again ruled out the prospect of an early general election, while also accusing the opposition of spreading propaganda and not desiring the end of the bailout but the restoration of the old regime instead.
“Elections will not happen in 2018, but in 2019 at the end of our term of office, as stipulated by the Constitution. And this is because not only will comparisons be more favorable with respect to where we were and the state of the country we will deliver, but mainly because the country needs to restore the trust of its partners, and therefore needs political stability which the Government can provide.”
Ecotax to “change the behaviour of consumers”
As from Monday January 1st 2018, Greece introduced an ecotax of four euro cents on each plastic bag supplied by shops in order to reduce the use of polythene bags and tackle the pollution of non- biodegradable material.
From January 1st 2019, the ecotax will be increased to 9 euro cents. At the same time, the recycling of the plastic bags and the use of reusable cloth bags and other eco-friendly alternatives will be promoted.
"The plastic bag must be removed from our habitual consumption. We are seeking to change the behaviour of consumers so that they, as citizens, will understand the environmental consequences," Greek Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Socrates Famellos said.
According to the report by the Greek Environment Ministry, plastic bag usage is twice the European average. Plastic bags make up half of the waste in Greece’s waters.
Athens aims to reduce the use of plastic bags per person by 75% by the end of 2020 and by 90% per person by 2025, in accordance with the 2015 EU directives.
As from Monday January 1st 2018, Greece introduced an ecotax of four euro cents on each plastic bag supplied by shops in order to reduce the use of polythene bags and tackle the pollution of non- biodegradable material.
From January 1st 2019, the ecotax will be increased to 9 euro cents. At the same time, the recycling of the plastic bags and the use of reusable cloth bags and other eco-friendly alternatives will be promoted.
"The plastic bag must be removed from our habitual consumption. We are seeking to change the behaviour of consumers so that they, as citizens, will understand the environmental consequences," Greek Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Socrates Famellos said.
According to the report by the Greek Environment Ministry, plastic bag usage is twice the European average. Plastic bags make up half of the waste in Greece’s waters.
Athens aims to reduce the use of plastic bags per person by 75% by the end of 2020 and by 90% per person by 2025, in accordance with the 2015 EU directives.
Islands to produce own medical oxygen
Deputy Minister of Economy and Development, Alexis Charitsis has signed off a project to create facilities for manufacturing medical oxygen in the hospitals of the Islands at a cost of 1.8€ million.
Medical oxygen units will be established in hospitals on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos and Leros making a decisive contribution to the reduction in a very significant item of expenditure.
Five years ago the European Pharmacopoeia set the standard of 93% purity for oxygen to be suitable for medical purposes.
Today the average cost of producing oxygen from units located in medical centres is 0.26€ per cubic metre, as opposed to the purchase of oxygen which today costs 0.67€ per cubic metre plus shipping costs. The average transport costs for transporting gas to most islands is 2€ per cubic metre, which dramatically increases the costs of medical centres in the Aegean Islands procuring medical oxygen.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Development, Alexis Charitsis has signed off a project to create facilities for manufacturing medical oxygen in the hospitals of the Islands at a cost of 1.8€ million.
Medical oxygen units will be established in hospitals on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos and Leros making a decisive contribution to the reduction in a very significant item of expenditure.
Five years ago the European Pharmacopoeia set the standard of 93% purity for oxygen to be suitable for medical purposes.
Today the average cost of producing oxygen from units located in medical centres is 0.26€ per cubic metre, as opposed to the purchase of oxygen which today costs 0.67€ per cubic metre plus shipping costs. The average transport costs for transporting gas to most islands is 2€ per cubic metre, which dramatically increases the costs of medical centres in the Aegean Islands procuring medical oxygen.
Greece tops ESPA Absorption Rates in the EU –again!
30.12.2017
Greece has again topped the list of EU Countries in its success in absorbing the resources of the new ΕΣΠΑ, following the full utilization of the funds of the previous programming period (2007-2013).
"Our first concern at the Finance Ministry is the channelling of substantial liquidity into the economy and ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of the necessary infrastructure and support for businesses" stressed Deputy Finance Minister Alexis Charitsis.
"Our effort has yielded to the Greek economy more than 11€ billion over the last three year period, while, thanks to the very close cooperation that we have developed with the European Investment Bank, we brought a large amount of new capital into the economy."
For 2018, Mr. Charitsis confirmed that the Government is continuing with greater intensity in the same direction, "with more programmes to support businesses and municipalities, but also with new targeted financial tools for the more efficient support of a number of sectors of the economy."
"In the case of absorption of resources of ESPA, Greece up to the end of 2017 has absorbed 25% of the resources of the new ESPA Programme (2014-2020), achieving the highest absorption in Europe. For a comparison, the absorption rate achieved by the Governments of New Democracy and PASOK at the corresponding point (2009) of the previous programming period (ESPA 2007-2013) was just 1.5%."
"Thanks to this effort a multitude of small and large projects have been implemented across the country. Infrastructure critical to the health and quality of life of citizens, such as the water systems of the city of Heraklion and Corfu, the biological purification of Lake Pamvotis in Ioannina. Projects that should have been implemented decades ago.
With these resources, there have also been significant interventions in the social sector and vulnerable social groups have been supported. For the second consecutive year all associate teachers have been recruited in a timely manner and schools opened on time. More than 108,000 children found places in nursery schools and kindergartens without any financial burden on their parents. The great reform in Healthcare is being funded, with the creation, for the first time in Greece, of integrated primary health structures (TOMY).”
"Our first concern at the Finance Ministry is the channelling of substantial liquidity into the economy and ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of the necessary infrastructure and support for businesses" stressed Deputy Finance Minister Alexis Charitsis.
"Our effort has yielded to the Greek economy more than 11€ billion over the last three year period, while, thanks to the very close cooperation that we have developed with the European Investment Bank, we brought a large amount of new capital into the economy."
For 2018, Mr. Charitsis confirmed that the Government is continuing with greater intensity in the same direction, "with more programmes to support businesses and municipalities, but also with new targeted financial tools for the more efficient support of a number of sectors of the economy."
"In the case of absorption of resources of ESPA, Greece up to the end of 2017 has absorbed 25% of the resources of the new ESPA Programme (2014-2020), achieving the highest absorption in Europe. For a comparison, the absorption rate achieved by the Governments of New Democracy and PASOK at the corresponding point (2009) of the previous programming period (ESPA 2007-2013) was just 1.5%."
"Thanks to this effort a multitude of small and large projects have been implemented across the country. Infrastructure critical to the health and quality of life of citizens, such as the water systems of the city of Heraklion and Corfu, the biological purification of Lake Pamvotis in Ioannina. Projects that should have been implemented decades ago.
With these resources, there have also been significant interventions in the social sector and vulnerable social groups have been supported. For the second consecutive year all associate teachers have been recruited in a timely manner and schools opened on time. More than 108,000 children found places in nursery schools and kindergartens without any financial burden on their parents. The great reform in Healthcare is being funded, with the creation, for the first time in Greece, of integrated primary health structures (TOMY).”
Bank of Greece Report on Tax Evasion and the Underground Economy
“Previous Greek Governments, made up of New Democracy and PASOK in the main imposed unbearable taxes on citizens, while leaving the country at the mercy of tax evasion and the underground economy,” stated the interim report of the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Giannis Stournaras, which showed that 15€ billion could have been saved in the Treasury of the Greek state, if the underground economy and tax evasion had been fought against, instead of past governments' choices to increase taxes in order to achieve the Primary Surplus financial goals demanded by the country’s creditors.
Taking the reference period 2010-15, the premiss is that Greece entered the Memoranda with the underground economy and tax evasion together accounting for 25% of GDP.
The report suggests that if tax evasion and the underground economy had been dealt with effectively and there had been no tax increases instead, the result would have been a recession of less than seven percentage points of the GDP. With the underground economy at 25% of GDP, each increase in tax revenue by 1% results in a 2.8% reduction in the Gross Domestic Product but just a 1.5% reduction in the absence of an underground economy.
Moreover, the Report’s analysis shows that tax increases of 1% lead to a shift of production and employment from the official to the underground economy by 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively. As a result, tax revenues are reduced and higher increases in tax rates are required to reach budgetary targets.
“This creates a vicious circle of constant tax rate increases and constant expansion of the underground economy leading to a further shrinking of official production activity.
In addition, to increase income tax revenue by one percentage point of GDP, it is necessary to increase the tax rate by two percentage points when there is no underground economy, as against a required increase of three percentage points when an underground economy exists.
Greece has one of the highest rates of underground economy in the European Union. It is estimated that the underground economy in Greece, in the period 2003-2015, averaged 25% of the GDP, compared with 19% on average in the Euro area and 20% across the EU.”
“Previous Greek Governments, made up of New Democracy and PASOK in the main imposed unbearable taxes on citizens, while leaving the country at the mercy of tax evasion and the underground economy,” stated the interim report of the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Giannis Stournaras, which showed that 15€ billion could have been saved in the Treasury of the Greek state, if the underground economy and tax evasion had been fought against, instead of past governments' choices to increase taxes in order to achieve the Primary Surplus financial goals demanded by the country’s creditors.
Taking the reference period 2010-15, the premiss is that Greece entered the Memoranda with the underground economy and tax evasion together accounting for 25% of GDP.
The report suggests that if tax evasion and the underground economy had been dealt with effectively and there had been no tax increases instead, the result would have been a recession of less than seven percentage points of the GDP. With the underground economy at 25% of GDP, each increase in tax revenue by 1% results in a 2.8% reduction in the Gross Domestic Product but just a 1.5% reduction in the absence of an underground economy.
Moreover, the Report’s analysis shows that tax increases of 1% lead to a shift of production and employment from the official to the underground economy by 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively. As a result, tax revenues are reduced and higher increases in tax rates are required to reach budgetary targets.
“This creates a vicious circle of constant tax rate increases and constant expansion of the underground economy leading to a further shrinking of official production activity.
In addition, to increase income tax revenue by one percentage point of GDP, it is necessary to increase the tax rate by two percentage points when there is no underground economy, as against a required increase of three percentage points when an underground economy exists.
Greece has one of the highest rates of underground economy in the European Union. It is estimated that the underground economy in Greece, in the period 2003-2015, averaged 25% of the GDP, compared with 19% on average in the Euro area and 20% across the EU.”
“Relations between Greece and Turkey are not a bilateral issue”
Alexis Tsipras at the Council of Europe
23.12.2017
“The European pillar of social rights is crucial and must be implemented,” said PM Tsipras at last Friday’s meeting of the Council of Europe.
“The social dimension is a necessary condition for a United Europe. The social pillar will balance budgetary agreements. The coordination of economic and budgetary policies should include binding social goals.”
On the issue of refugees, the PM stressed that, for Greece, the important thing is not whether some countries accommodate 200 or 1,000 refugees, but that they persist in undermining the principles on which the EU is based.
He stressed that Greece respects EU rules and the sensitivities of other Member States and complies with European solidarity, although it disagreed with a series of policies on the economy (austerity), but also on foreign policy (sanctions against third countries). All Member States should do the same today to address this european issue, he insisted.
On the issue of funding, he agreed that the financial instruments (possibly also new ones) should be made more flexible in order to respond to today's realities and to enable third countries to absorb the funding. The issue is not only more money but to connect up our goals on immigration to EU foreign policy.
Alexis Tsipras noted that funding for third countries should be related to their effectiveness in dealing with the networks of traffickers, the reduction of migrant flows and the acceptance of returnees. He stressed that major initiatives must be undertaken to address the root causes of refugee and migration flows (poverty, wars) and for these to be included in an upgrading of foreign and defence policy.
At the same time, the Prime Minister added that we should establish a European return mechanism should be established and a European resettlement mechanism set up with applications centres in third countries of transit and origin.
“Relations between Greece and Turkey are not a bilateral issue”
He emphasized that issues around migration were one of the main reasons for the invitation to the Turkish President to visit Athens, despite all the national and ideological differences. He pointed out that while the region is submerged in destabilisation (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon, Jerusalem, the attempted coup in Turkey, human rights restrictions, the Kurdish question) Greek-Turkish relations cannot be considered simply as a bilateral issue.
"It is a question of maintaining the Southeast European borders which have become increasingly important. European security and the management of refugee and migratory flows are based on smooth relations between Greece and Turkey."
“The social dimension is a necessary condition for a United Europe. The social pillar will balance budgetary agreements. The coordination of economic and budgetary policies should include binding social goals.”
On the issue of refugees, the PM stressed that, for Greece, the important thing is not whether some countries accommodate 200 or 1,000 refugees, but that they persist in undermining the principles on which the EU is based.
He stressed that Greece respects EU rules and the sensitivities of other Member States and complies with European solidarity, although it disagreed with a series of policies on the economy (austerity), but also on foreign policy (sanctions against third countries). All Member States should do the same today to address this european issue, he insisted.
On the issue of funding, he agreed that the financial instruments (possibly also new ones) should be made more flexible in order to respond to today's realities and to enable third countries to absorb the funding. The issue is not only more money but to connect up our goals on immigration to EU foreign policy.
Alexis Tsipras noted that funding for third countries should be related to their effectiveness in dealing with the networks of traffickers, the reduction of migrant flows and the acceptance of returnees. He stressed that major initiatives must be undertaken to address the root causes of refugee and migration flows (poverty, wars) and for these to be included in an upgrading of foreign and defence policy.
At the same time, the Prime Minister added that we should establish a European return mechanism should be established and a European resettlement mechanism set up with applications centres in third countries of transit and origin.
“Relations between Greece and Turkey are not a bilateral issue”
He emphasized that issues around migration were one of the main reasons for the invitation to the Turkish President to visit Athens, despite all the national and ideological differences. He pointed out that while the region is submerged in destabilisation (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon, Jerusalem, the attempted coup in Turkey, human rights restrictions, the Kurdish question) Greek-Turkish relations cannot be considered simply as a bilateral issue.
"It is a question of maintaining the Southeast European borders which have become increasingly important. European security and the management of refugee and migratory flows are based on smooth relations between Greece and Turkey."
Renewable Energy in Greece
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has advanced to Greece greater funding than ever before in the field of renewable sources of energy by entering into a contract for financing a loan of 85€ million with the ΔΕΗ Renewables.
Specifically, the contract signed on behalf of the EIB by Mr Nicholas Jennett, Deputy Director and Head of the Investment Group to Greece, and Mr. Manolis Panagiotakis, Chairman of the Board, and CEO Mr. Elias Monacholias on behalf of ΔΕΗ Renewables.
The new renewable energy programme will provide investment in small wind farms in various regions of the country, including the islands of Cephalonia, Chios, Lesbos, Crete, Mykonos, Samos, Evia, Lemnos, Karpathos, Ikaria, Tinos and Psaros, and in Kardítsa on mainland Greece.
The programme includes repowering existing wind farms, some of which have been operating for more than 25 years, as well as the construction of small wind farms in new areas. In addition it will support the restoration of two old small hydropower plants – a station in Arta and one in Vermio in northern Greece – as well as the construction of two new small hydropower stations – one in Smokovo and one in Makrochori in Central Greece.
Once the programme is completed, by the end of 2019, the production of renewable energy in Greece will be increased by 90 MW and will contribute significantly to the achievement of both national and European targets for renewable energy projects. The design, construction and operation of individual projects is expected to be completed within the next two years.
The expansion of the use of renewable energy sources is a strategic priority of the ΔΕΗ Group and the new cooperation between ΔΕΗ Renewables and the EIB will help the ΔΕΗ Group to achieve its strategic goal to become a major supplier of green energy in Greece. New investments for the improvement of existing and the construction of new wind farms will boost energy self-sufficiency, will create new job opportunities and will bring benefits to local communities.
Mr. Jonathan Taylor, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, said: "The new investment in renewable energy is critical to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and to support investments in this area. It is a priority for both the Greek Government and the European Investment Bank."
Mr Manolis Panagiotakis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ΔΕΗ Renewables, said: "This loan will boost the production of electricity from renewable energy sources in mainland Greece and the Greek Islands. It will also contribute to a change in the energy mix produced at group level of the ΔΕΗ and will make the supply of energy in Greece more sustainable and safer."
Mr. Elias Monacholias, CEO of ΔΕΗ Renewables, said: "Today ΔΕΗ Renewables enters a new era, as it is the first time that the company has signed a loan agreement for the financing of a total of 18 projects in the field of renewable sources of energy. The loan granted by the European Investment Bank, on favourable terms compared to the normal interest rates for lending to businesses, is very important for the ΔΕΗ Renewables because it will allow the full restoration of old wind farms and small hydropower plants and building new capacity. We look forward to our cooperation with the EIB and the success of this cooperation."
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has advanced to Greece greater funding than ever before in the field of renewable sources of energy by entering into a contract for financing a loan of 85€ million with the ΔΕΗ Renewables.
Specifically, the contract signed on behalf of the EIB by Mr Nicholas Jennett, Deputy Director and Head of the Investment Group to Greece, and Mr. Manolis Panagiotakis, Chairman of the Board, and CEO Mr. Elias Monacholias on behalf of ΔΕΗ Renewables.
The new renewable energy programme will provide investment in small wind farms in various regions of the country, including the islands of Cephalonia, Chios, Lesbos, Crete, Mykonos, Samos, Evia, Lemnos, Karpathos, Ikaria, Tinos and Psaros, and in Kardítsa on mainland Greece.
The programme includes repowering existing wind farms, some of which have been operating for more than 25 years, as well as the construction of small wind farms in new areas. In addition it will support the restoration of two old small hydropower plants – a station in Arta and one in Vermio in northern Greece – as well as the construction of two new small hydropower stations – one in Smokovo and one in Makrochori in Central Greece.
Once the programme is completed, by the end of 2019, the production of renewable energy in Greece will be increased by 90 MW and will contribute significantly to the achievement of both national and European targets for renewable energy projects. The design, construction and operation of individual projects is expected to be completed within the next two years.
The expansion of the use of renewable energy sources is a strategic priority of the ΔΕΗ Group and the new cooperation between ΔΕΗ Renewables and the EIB will help the ΔΕΗ Group to achieve its strategic goal to become a major supplier of green energy in Greece. New investments for the improvement of existing and the construction of new wind farms will boost energy self-sufficiency, will create new job opportunities and will bring benefits to local communities.
Mr. Jonathan Taylor, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, said: "The new investment in renewable energy is critical to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and to support investments in this area. It is a priority for both the Greek Government and the European Investment Bank."
Mr Manolis Panagiotakis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ΔΕΗ Renewables, said: "This loan will boost the production of electricity from renewable energy sources in mainland Greece and the Greek Islands. It will also contribute to a change in the energy mix produced at group level of the ΔΕΗ and will make the supply of energy in Greece more sustainable and safer."
Mr. Elias Monacholias, CEO of ΔΕΗ Renewables, said: "Today ΔΕΗ Renewables enters a new era, as it is the first time that the company has signed a loan agreement for the financing of a total of 18 projects in the field of renewable sources of energy. The loan granted by the European Investment Bank, on favourable terms compared to the normal interest rates for lending to businesses, is very important for the ΔΕΗ Renewables because it will allow the full restoration of old wind farms and small hydropower plants and building new capacity. We look forward to our cooperation with the EIB and the success of this cooperation."
“It is time for everyone to help”
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday met with the board of the Hellenic Banking Association (HBA). PM Tsipras noted that it was now time to translate the good climate that exists in the Greek economy into more than figures and statistics.
“The messages are positive; 10-year Greek bonds broke the 4% barrier and this marks a return to pre-crisis conditions.
It is time for everyone to help so that this good climate in the economy can be translated – in addition to numbers and statistics – in a real sense to society, especially among the weaker and most vulnerable and the middle class.”
He asked the bankers to “chase the big-timers who have managed to bankrupt their businesses while remaining wealthy themselves by taking their money abroad and not paying their debts.”
He also urged them to put a stop to the dissemination of “fake news” regarding f
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday met with the board of the Hellenic Banking Association (HBA). PM Tsipras noted that it was now time to translate the good climate that exists in the Greek economy into more than figures and statistics.
“The messages are positive; 10-year Greek bonds broke the 4% barrier and this marks a return to pre-crisis conditions.
It is time for everyone to help so that this good climate in the economy can be translated – in addition to numbers and statistics – in a real sense to society, especially among the weaker and most vulnerable and the middle class.”
He asked the bankers to “chase the big-timers who have managed to bankrupt their businesses while remaining wealthy themselves by taking their money abroad and not paying their debts.”
He also urged them to put a stop to the dissemination of “fake news” regarding f