Economy Watch |

FYROM: VMRO called for an immediate vote, no changes in positions
Discussion on an amendment to the country’s constitution continued for the third day in the plenary of FYROM’s Parliament without changes in the stances of parties or deputies. The change is a key [...]

Prime Minister Tsipras accepts Foreign Minister Kotzias’ resignation
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday accepted Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias’ resignation, the prime minister’s press office announced. Tsipras thanked Kotzias warmly for his contribution [...]

Greece revises GDP growth upwards to 1.5 pct in 2017

Economy
Flambouraris meets with Hellenic Financial Stability Fund
Minister of State Alekos Flambouraris met with the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund on Wednesday. According to an announcement from the minister, their meeting focused on conditions in the financial sector [...]
Economy
Credit expansion for business loans seen positive in 2019
The liquidity of banks is improving, deposits are returning and 2019 will be the first year that there will be credit expansion for business loans. These were the conclusions of a meeting on Tuesday between [...]
Economy
UAE, Greece discuss cooperation in land, maritime transport
Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, and Chairman of Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime, received on Sunday, Dr. Catherine Boura, Ambassador [...]

Economy
Greece has no immediate problem tapping the markets, Dragasakis says
Government Vice President and Economy and Development Minister Yiannis Dragasakis referred to the reconstruction of the party that can deal with all situations. Dragasakis was speaking to the central committee [...]
Economy
Despite positive figures, Greece is still in transitional period, Liakos says
“Despite the positive elements it has to show, Greece is still in a transitional period and is therefore affected by the climate of instability,” Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Dimitris [...]
Economy
Stournaras stresses need to shield Greek economy against international turmoil
Bank of Greece (BoG) governor Yannis Stournaras in an interview with ‘Parapolitika’ newspaper on Saturday stressed the need to shield the Greek economy against international turmoil and align [...]

US Department thanks Kotzias; reiterates support to Prespes Agreement

Politics
Everyone made their choices on their partners, Kotzias tweets following his resignation
Former Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in a tweet following the acceptance of his resignation by the prime minister that he will continue to exist “like a seed buried deep.” “There [...]
Politics
Commissioner Hahn: Kotzias’ political legacy, esp. Prespes Agreement, must be preserved
European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn on Wednesday expressed his appreciation to Nikos Kotzias, former Foreign Minister, for their collaboration [...]

Politics
Athens and Nicosia will continue working closely together, Cypriot minister says
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras knows the Cyprus issue in depth and is in daily and close contact with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus Deputy Minister to the President Vassilis Palmas said on [...]
Politics
Movement for Change leader Gennimata commenting on FM Kotzias’ resignation
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras chose to support National Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, Movement for Change party leader Fofi Gennimata said in Brussels on Wednesdsay, following the resignation of Nikos [...]

Policeman found beaten, tied up in Nikea apartment

Society
4.2 Richter earthquake shakes Zakynthos
An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale shook the island of Zakynthos, according to the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens. The announcement said the tremor struck [...]
Society
Tensions run high at Chios city council meeting attended by Migration Min
Tensions ran high at a meeting of the city council on Chios on Wednesday that was attended by Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas. A handful of residents from the area of Halkious, which accommodates a [...]
Society
Ministry of Culture simplifies licensing for use of ancient sites as event venues
Cultural heritage sites may be used for high-quality public events involving the arts and lectures, the Ministry of Culture and Sports announced on Wednesday, and the approval for events rests directly [...]

Society
Large quantity of marijuana found in ship docked at Piraeus
The Greek Coast Guard on Wednesday confiscated 52 kilos and 730 grams of marijuana, which were hidden inside a propane tank in a freighter that was docked at Keratsini, Piraeus port. The Portuguese-flagged [...]
Society
11 migrants killed in car accident in Kavala, northern Greece
A car carrying migrants collided with a truck in Kavala, northern Greece, on Saturday, killing 11 people. After the collision, both vehicles burst into flames. All the migrants in the car were killed. [...]
Society
Fallen Greek soldiers of WWII reinterred in Albanian military cemetery
The remains of 573 Greek soldiers and officers who fought in the Greek-Italian war of 1940-1941 and died in Albania were reburied at the military cemetery of Dragoti on Friday. The event is part of a bilateral [...]

Business
Piraeus Bank seeks opportunity to return to capital markets
Piraeus Bank is monitoring developments in capital markets to find the opportunity for a bond issue, in the framework of a capital strengthening plan, Christos Megalou, the bank’s CEO told Reuters [...]
Business
PPC presents plan for transformation into energy services company
PPC on Tuesday presented a business plan designed to lead the electricity utility towards promoting cyclical economy and its transformation into an energy services company. The plan was presented by Ioannis [...]
Business
Attica Bank reports pre-provision earnings of 6.8 mln euros
Attica Bank on Thursday said its pre-tax and pre-provisions earnings totaled 6.8 million euros in the first half of 2018, from 8.4 million euros in the same period last year, negatively affected by lower [...]
Business
OPAP to buy 36.75 pct in Stoiximan for 50 million euros
OPAP Group on Monday announced a new strategic investment. In an announcement, OPAP said its subsidiary OPAP Investment Ltd has signed a pre-agreement for the acquisition of a 36.75 pct stake in TCB Holdings [...]
Business
Greek authorities give green light to 300-mln-euro energy project by Mytilineos
Greece’s Energy Regulatory Authority issued a production license for a new electrical power unit of 665 MW by Mytilineos Group to be built in the group’s energy center in Aghios Nikolaos, Viotia. [...]
Business
Eurobank says net profit reached 113 mln euros in H1
“Eurobank continued a solid performance in the second quarter, highlighted by sustained profitability, increased pre-provision income and positive results in the area of non-performing exposures (NPE) [...]