On November 17, the Head of the EU Task Force for Greece (TFGR) Horst Reichenbach presented the findings of the first quarterly report on Greek economy and expressed cautious optimism concerning the country’s efforts to consolidate crucial reforms.
Reichenbach outlined three priority areas on which technical assistance is needed. First, growth and employment boosting measures are necessary in order to speed up access to EU funds as well as to create improved business environment and sectoral measures for energy, tourism, agribusiness and waste management.
Secondly, a major action plan has to be devised, involving several Member States and the IMF in the crucial tax, budget and public expenditure areas. And thirdly, the country needs to implement concrete administrative reforms, based on an OECD analysis with possible support from a number of Member States.
On the occasion of the presentation of the first report, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "Fiscal consolidation should go hand in hand with the structural reforms needed to transform Greece's growth potential and generate the jobs its people so urgently need.
The Task Force has mobilised offers of technical assistance from many sides, thus demonstrating the unique European endeavour to support Greece in addressing its challenges."
source:http://www.greeknewsagenda.gr
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed on December 9 two agreements totalling €135 million in support of real economy in Greece.
Following the decision to turn the Ai Stratis island into a "Green island," another study is being put forward concerning the island complex of Fourni, in northeastern Aegean Sea, between Samos, Ikaria and Patmos.
The International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), organised a roundtable discussion on Energy Cooperation and Environmental Protection in the wider Black Sea area, on November 29.
The 2012 Draft State Budget was unveiled by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and was approved earlier on November 18 by a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.
Government Vice President and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, speaking in Parliament yesterday, referred to the agreement between the three political party leaders.
Greece’s National Procurement Commission held the third electronic tender yesterday, on November 14, in an effort to curtail state hospital pharmaceutical expenditure.
The installed photovoltaics operating in Greece have been doubled in the nine months from January to September 2011, with significant increases in other renewable energy sources during the same period.
Environment, Energy and Climate Change ministry announced plans to invest €400 million from the 'Green Fund' to improve urban environment through parks and refurbishing buildings, as well as actions to prevent forest fires.
Following a marathon negotiating session of European Council yesterday in Brussels, Heads of State and Government of the Eurozone member states agreed on a comprehensive set of measures .
Chinese senior official of the People's Republic of China, Jia Qinglin,is currently in Athens (October 23-27), upon invitation by the Greek Minister of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping, Michalis Chryssohoidis.
National Geographic Magazine ranked Sifnos in the top ten of the most prefered global destinations, among other famous holiday hot spots such as the Bahamas, Seychelles, French Polynesia, the Netherlands Antilles and other exotic islands.
The “independent” revealed the best and worst places to be a woman in the world; and Greece came first as the best place to give birth
The tourism campaign «Up Greek Tourism», which began on February 15 and will last until the first week of March, aims to support Greek Tourism.
The Environment, Energy and Climatic Change Ministry announced an international open-door call for hydrocarbon exploration in three areas of Greece.
Despite the grim headlines and the overall economic crisis, Greek companies continue to invest and prosper both abroad and at home.
Zagori is an area of great natural beauty and unique architecture in the Pindus Mountains in Epirus in Northwestern Greece. The area is of about 1.000 square kilometers and contains 46 villages. Zagoria villages is called by Greeks “Zagorochoria” meaning the villages behind the mountain.
Read more...
In 1989, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Helen Ahrweiler is appointed Chairman of the Cultural Centre Pompidou in Paris