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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-09-08
CONTENTS
[01] EU aid for fire-ravaged areas
[02] Énflation slows to 4.7% in Aug
[01] EU aid for fire-ravaged areas
European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner on Monday
signed an agreement with the Greek government for the immediate
allocation of 89.7 million euros for restoration of damages from last
year's wildfires in the Peloponnese and Evia island.
Hübner signed the agreement with Finance and Economy Minister George
Alogoskoufis, with the funds coming from the EU's Solidarity Fund.
According to the Commissioner, Greece will have a year to absorb the
funds.
The Polish EU Commissioner arrived in Athens to attend the European
Economic and Social Committee (EESC) biennial conference, held in
Athens on the subject of "Entrepreneurship with a Human Face".
On his part, Alogoskoufis said other items up for discussion included
completion of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) and
implementation of the National Strategic Framework Reference.
Finally, Hübner expressed her satisfaction for Athens' growing
emphasis on environmental and investments in innovation.
[02] Énflation slows to 4.7% in Aug
Greece's annual inflation rate slowed to 4.7 pct in August, down from
4.9 pct in July, the National Statistics Service announced on Monday.
The statistical service, in its monthly report, said the consumer's
price index fell 0.9 percent in August from July, while the country's
harmonised inflation rate was 4.8 pct in August.
Commenting on the figures, Manolis Kontopyrakis, NSS's
secretary-general, said core inflation was 3.9 pct in August, down from
4.0 pct in July, but significantly up from 2.6 percent in August 2007.
Kontopyrakis said that based on current data regarding international
oil prices, the consumer price rate was expected to remain unchanged in
September.
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