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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras at Bratislava: Europe needs a vision to inspire citizensEurope must develop a vision to inspire its citizens, otherwise it will be driven to an existential crisis and a deadlock, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday after a meeting of the EU's 27 leaders in Bratislava.He noted that for the first time, a social agenda and the has been added in the joint conclusion of the summit, while it mentions the statements made by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker who spoke about unemployment, inequalities and social cohesion. "If we do not embrace the notion of solidarity we will not escape from the crisis," Tsipras said. "Citizens are not inspired by Europe because their lives have worsened. The stability and growth pact must also help growth," he added. "We must therefore discuss again about the European social acquis, expand social protection and to stop believing that rules [of the stability and growth pact] are Moses' 10 commandments," he said. Commenting on the issues discussed at the summit, he said that differences remain on the measures that have to be taken, but a small step was taken towards establishing a social agenda and this is the direction the EU must take. Asked if he's pessimistic after the meeting, he said: "No, I don't leave more pessimistic, I leave cautiously optimistic that something can be changed. [02] ND leader says wealth is created from innovation during visit to tech companyWealth is created by people who innovate and take risks and the purpose of the government is to create an environment that will allow them to express their creativity, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday during a visit to the offices of the tech firm MLS Multimedia SA in Thessaloniki.He also said that supporting entrepreneurship and innovation is at the heart of the party's economic program. "We state clearly, without asterisks and footnotes that ND is the party of entrepreneurship, the party that is here to the concept of business profit and understands that wealth is created by the private economy," he said. "Wealth is created by people who innovate and take risks and we ought, where possible, to ensure for these people an environment that will allow them to express their creative abilities in the most meaningful way." The country needs more businesses that create jobs, he continued, but for them to stand on their feet there must be a comprehensive framework of political support which unfortunately today doesn't exist, starting from taxation and access to capital, to bureaucracy, overregulation and instability of the business environment. Asked why he chose to visit MLS Multimedia, Mitsotakis said it is a business that innovates. "It's a Greek company that has managed to compete directly with foreign giants in products and services, where one wouldn't think Greece has a natural competitive advantage," he said. [03] Education ministry denies that institutions want recent laws on private schools revokedThe education ministry on Friday denied that the institutions representing Greece's creditors have asked the government to revoke a law governing labour and curriculum-related issues in private schools, passed by Parliament earlier this month. The measures will be implemented normally, the ministry said.The announcement was issued in response to media claims that the institutions had asked Education Minister Nikos Filis to rescind laws on the grounds for dismissal of teachers from private schools, which had prompted strong objections of school owners. [04] European Federation of Journalists voices concerns about media pluralism in GreeceThe European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) on Friday voiced concerns that a new law restricting the number of television broadcasting licences in Greece to four will undermine pluralism and independent journalism in the Greek media. In an announcement posted on the EFJ website, it backed the Athens journalists' union ESHEA in denouncing the closure of four out of eight Greek private TV channels and the thousands of job losses that will result."The EFJ strongly supports the mobilisation of media workers in the protest to safeguard media pluralism and independent journalism in Greece. "Early this year, the Greek government has passed a law to allow only four TV licences to issue to private broadcasters. The European Commission expressed serious concerns about media independence in the country. On 30 August, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's government launched the auctions claiming that it would crack down on corruption in the media sector and enable better regulation," the EFJ announcement said. Prior to the results, it added, ESHEA had expressed their concerns regarding media concentration, media ownership opacity, job losses and threats for journalists' social rights and independence. "The four 10-year licences were successfully bid on 2 September by three shipowners and a construction magnate. Two of them already own the major private TV stations. Currently, Greece has eight TV channels. Following the bid, four of these channels will have to suspend operations within 90 days," EFJ pointed out. It cited ESHEA's statement that the closure could cost the jobs of 1800 journalists, technical staff and employees, while also having an impact on another 3,000 media industry workers. "The case will be submitted to the Council of Europe platform for the protection and safety of journalism. The EFJ will write to the European Commissioner Günther Oettinger regarding the case," the announcement said Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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