Economy Watch |

24052019Headline:

Premier’s relief measures not on agenda of Thursday’s Eurogroup, official says

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt: Destruction of property is not peaceful protest
US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt posted the following Tweet on Wednesday after the attack outside his residence. “Kalimera, I woke up to more childish vandalism this morning outside the residence [...]

Rouvikonas claims responsibility for paint attack on Pyatt’s residence
The anarchist group Rouvikonas (Rubicon) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack where paint was hurled at the entrance of US Ambassador Pyatt’s residence. In a post on an anti-establishment [...]

Primary residence report positive, Fitch says

Economy
Euro area monthly balance of payments: March 2019
In March 2019 the current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €25 billion, compared with a surplus of €28 billion in February 2019.[1] In the 12-month period to March 2019, the current [...]
Economy
Calls and text msgs cost to drop within EU as of Wed., commission says
Households within the EU will benefit from a drop in pricing for phone calls and text messages within the EU – whether made from landlines or mobile phones – as of Wednesday, the Hellenic Telecommunications [...]
Economy
Supermarkets to slash prices as soon as VAT reductions are voted in
Supermarket chains assured the government that product prices would be adjusted downwards for products with reduced VAT, introduced by the government recently as part of relief measures. Representatives [...]

Economy
ND tables amendment for further VAT cuts in catering sector
Main opposition New Democracy on Tuesday tabled a proposed amendment that would cut VAT from 24 pct to 13 pct for all restaurant and cafeteria products, including coffee, sodas and other non-alcoholic [...]
Economy
Parliament: Vote on bill on VAT reduction and 13th pension on Wednesday
The debate on a draft bill introducing a 120-installment debt settlement option for paying debts to social security funds, tax offices and other public services, will be extended for an additional day [...]
Economy
Gov’t to support low-pension earners, lower VAT on beverages, FinMin says
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Tuesday said the government will restore a special supplement payment to low-pension earners and announced a reduction in VAT on coffee and other beverages sold [...]

PM Tsipras at Egaleo speech: Euroelections, a collision of two worlds

Politics
Pavlopoulos: Dialogue of Civilizations important to the peaceful and creative coexistence
Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos stressed the importance and the value of the Dialogue of Civilizations to the peaceful and creative coexistence of the peoples during his speech in the conference [...]
Politics
Greece, North Macedonia border-crossing bill moves to plenary
An agreement between Greece and North Macedonia for the establishment of border-crossing stations at the Prespes Lakes region and the Greek Promachoi village was sent to the Greek parliament’s plenary [...]

Politics
Zacharaki: ND has tabled amendment to abolish the reduction in tax-free income rates
New Democracy spokeswoman Sofia Zacharaki on Tuesday criticised SYRIZA’s so-called ’13th pension’ measure as a ‘pre-electoral bonus’ and added that “by lowering the [...]
Politics
Defence Min. refers to Turkish provocations in Cyprus EEZ, in Brussels statements
Greece’s policy is to resolve issues with neighbours under international law, Greek National Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said on Tuesday, following the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), [...]

Unidentified individuals target TV reporter’s car with incendiary device

Society
EOT tourism event in Verona to promote Greece as year-round destination
A special event is to be held in the Italian city of Verona today, Tuesday, to promote Greece as an ideal tourist destination throughout the year. The promotional event is organized by the Greek National [...]
Society
Bodossaki Foundation to award US-based Greek scientists on June 19
The Bodossaki Foundation, an Athens-based privately owned public-benefit organization, on Tuesday announced it would present awards to five Greek scientists who have excelled in the fields of applied sciences, [...]
Society
Five orphan bear cubs ‘fostered’ by Arcturos released back into the wild
The brown bear protection organisation “Arcturos” on Tuesday announced that five orphan bear cubs that were cared for at its facilities have now been released back into the wild. The five cubs [...]

Society
Greek Coast Guard rescued 61 migrants
The Greek Coast Guard rescued 61 migrants in the sea region of the islands Symi and Farmakonissi. Specifically, 17 migrants were located in the sea region known as Nimos, near Symi, and were transferred [...]
Society
Discussion with a Cypriot touch at the British Parliament
Cyprus’s name was repeatedly heard at anextraordinary event held on 29 April at the British Parliament. The subject of the discussion was the notorious case of Russian magnate,Alexander Shchukin. British [...]
Society
A high-ranking Vatican delegation is visiting Lesvos
A high-ranking Vatican delegation is visiting Lesvos on Wednesday. According to sources, members of the delegation will visit Moria’s camp and will have contacts with organisations on the island. The [...]

Business
Thomas Cook expands its operations in Greece, buys two hotel properties
Thomas Cook announced on Tuesday that its consortium, Thomas Cook Hotel Investments (TCHI), has acquired two new hotel properties in Greece, including the company’s flagship hotel, Casa Cook Kos. [...]
Business
National Bank reports 131 million euros in profits in Q1
National Bank Group (NBG) on Tuesday said its after-tax earnings from continuing operations totaled 131 million euros in the first quarter of 2019, reflecting a significant increase from net interest revenue, [...]
Business
PPC to securitise 1.5 bln in arrears to raise 300 mln in extra liquidity
The Public Power Corporation (PPC), Greece’s main electricity utility, intends to immediately proceed with the securitisation of arrears amounting to 1.5 billion euros in order to generate more than [...]
Business
Black Sea Bank announces 160-mln-euro loan to PPC
Black Sea Trade and Development Bank on Monday announced the signing of an agreement with Public Power Corporation (PPC) to offer a five-year loan worth 160 million euros. In an announcement, the bank [...]
Business
Central Council for Modern Monuments approves ‘Master Plan’ for Piraeus port development
The Central Council for Modern Monuments on Thursday unanimously approved the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) ‘Master Plan’ for the development of Piraeus port, relating to the ‘Pagoda’ [...]
Business
National Insurance says premium production is up 2.3 pct in 2018
National Insurance on Tuesday reported a 2.3 pct increase in premium production in 2018 compared with the previous year. In an announcement, National Insurance said that premium production in the life [...]

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