Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-24 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] President Pavlopoulos: Partners should deliver on their promises [02] Alt. FM Katrougalos discusses promotion of democracy in EU with visiting Portuguese MEP Rangel [03] ND leader Mitsotakis stresses need for completion of excavations in Amphipolis --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] President Pavlopoulos: Partners should deliver on their promises The change of policy in the eurozone is necessary, President Prokopios Pavlopoulos said on Wednesday in a meeting with Economy and Development Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou. "We are not content with the eurozone growth rates," he said. The Greek President underlined that Greece has the right to ask its partners to deliver on their promises since Greece has already met its commitments. He added that following the conclusion of the programme review, there is only one aim: growth. Pavlopoulos also stressed the need to make Greece friendlier to investments and cut down on bureaucracy. [02] Alt. FM Katrougalos discusses promotion of democracy in EU with visiting Portuguese MEP Rangel Institutional issues on the promotion of democracy, the effective governance and the transparency in EU dominated a meeting between Alternate Foreign Minister George Katrougalos with Portuguese eurodeputy and vice president of the European People's Party Paulo Rangel. During the meeting that was held at the Foreign Ministry, the two officials exchanged views on the cooperation of the national parliaments with the European institutions as well as on the operation of the European Parliament. In statements after the meeting, Katrougalos stressed the importance the EU citizens to feel that their opinion is heard which is as he said very important for the Democracy and EU's survival. These issues will be discussed, he noted, at the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament with rapporteur Rangel and estimated that it will contribute in the improvement of the quality of Democracy in Europe. On his part, Rangel said that the matters set by Greece refer to a more democratic dimension in the issues of the European Union and through the democratic control that will applied in the Greek parliament and at EU level. Rangel made a special reference to the governance of the eurozone and noted that the issue set by Greece had to do with specific proposals as for example, the president of the Eurogroup could also be vice president of the European Commission. This would mean that the Eurogroup would have a more democratic legalisation as its president should give account to the European Parliament and would visit the national parliaments. [03] ND leader Mitsotakis stresses need for completion of excavations in Amphipolis New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the need to find the funds for the completion of the excavations works in Kasta Hill, Amphipolis, during his visit on Wednesday to the archaeological site of the ancient Amphipolis. "It is a unique monument of high cultural heritage importance," he said. "It is a monument that will bring life to and wealth to this area of Central Macedonia. New Democracy and myself will support this effort. The excavations contribute to the country's promotion as a world cultural heritage destination. They also allow us, which one of our pillar of our strategy, the conjuction of the tourism with culture and furthermore the systematic promotion of our cultural heritage."