Greece’s government has posted online for public consultation a draft legislation with the aim to optimize the wiretapping procedures the National Intelligence Service (EYP) is required to take to wiretap citizens. At the same time, the draft bill updates the process of lifting the confidentiality of communications, and upgrades the …
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“Totally unacceptable”: Cyprus and Greece join forces, reject EU draft on Turkey
Cyprus has rejected the draft on Turkey prepared for the summit of European Union leaders as “totally unacceptable.” Also Greece has raised objections saying that it does not reflect the balanced report submitted on Monday by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Both the Cypriot …
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Bill for acquisition of 18 French Rafale submitted to Greek Parliament
A draft bill of the Ministry of Defense for the acquisition of 18 French Rafale fighter aircraft has been submitted to the Defense Committee of the Greek Parliament, a step before the voting. The bill with the title “Approval of draft defense contracts” contains five articles. The main ones are …
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EU to toughen sanctions on Turkish drilling: Summit draft
The European Union will impose sanctions on more Turkish individuals and companies responsible for drilling in contested waters in the Mediterranean, according to a draft statement prepared for EU leaders to agree at a summit on Thursday. If agreed, the EU will “prepare additional listings” on the basis of a …
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Greek Parliament budget office: “Draft state budget provisions uncertain”
The 2021 draft state budget is tabled under unprecedented conditions that make macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts uncertain, the Parliament’s State Budget Office said in a report on Thursday. In its assessment over the draft budget, the Office said that macroeconomic forecasts see an 8.2 pct economic contraction this year and …
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“Pissarides draft report”: 14 proposals for Greece’s development policy
The Greek government released for public consultation on Monday the preliminary draft of the road map for the development of the Greek economy prepared by the “Pissarides Commission.” Main goal is to boost productivity, increase exports, better connect production with technology and innovation, and support labor. He stressed that several …
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Human Rights Watch: Greece’s Asylum overhaul threatens refugees’ rights
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Greece to remove specific articles on its new Asylum draft Law as they threaten to restrict access to protection for asylum seekers from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Greek parliament should scrap provisions in a new bill that threaten to limit asylum seekers’ access …
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“Development” law to flood beaches with umbrellas, allow seaside buildings
The New Democracy government and the Development Ministry are bringing major upheavals to the seaside and the beaches in Greece apparently in an effort to attract investors. The monstrous legislation changes will give the green light for the setting up of unlimited number of sun umbrellas along the beaches thus …
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EU envoys approve sanctions against Turkey over illegal drilling off Cyprus
European Union member states have approved sanctions against Turkey over its illegal drilling off Cyprus. The draft statement approved by envoys of EU member states foresees: Suspension of negotiations of Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement Temporary suspension of high-level dialogue Reduction of per-accession assistance for Turkey in 2020 European Investment Bank …
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EU Migration draft nicely tailored to ease German concerns
Provisional draft ‘conclusions’ of the mini-summit on Migration on Sunday have angered several leaders of European Union member states. Italy is threatening to abstain from the summit, the Visegrad Group has called for an emergency session. The draft distributed to state leaders ahead of the summit is focusing on protection …
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Greek gov’t unveils guidelines for farming and use of medical cannabis
The Greek government is proceeding in fast-track with the regulations for the legalization of the farming and use of medical cannabis. At a press conference, Health Minister Andreas Xanthos, Rural Development and Foods Minister Vangelis Apostolou and Economy and Development Minister Dimitri Papadimitriou unveiled details of the relevant draft bill …
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IMF demands €450mn austerity cuts in unemployment, poverty allowances for 2018
The austerity nightmare has no end. Despite the fact that the International Monetary Fund has only an adviser role in the third bailout program, it keeps pushing and pushing for cuts and more cuts without end. It wants cuts in unemployment allowance – currently at 360 euro. Cuts in poverty …
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Tough bargain with Turkey on Refugees, but will EU states stick to their commitments?
The day in Brussels started with a breakfast. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council president Donald Tusk, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and an army of assistants sat around the long table do discuss Refugees and Migrants. Juncker and Tusk present a draft of the EU-Turkey deal that they …
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“Six Principles” Draft for EU-Turkey deal released
A load of papers has been produced by officials and commissioners and presidents and vice presidents in Brussels just a couple of hours before the EU Leaders Summit meet to find solutions for the Refugee and Migration. One of these documents is a Six Principles draft aiming to strike a …
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Bargaining at EUCO bazaar: Turkey wins, refugees lose
European Unions leaders needed 12 hours to buy the famous Turkish Carpet. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was in Brussels with a meter-long Wish List that he put on the table. Then… well.. we all know how a bargain in the bazar looks like: client asks for price, seller tells a …
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EU-Summit Draft confirms Greece’s Migration Minister: Balkan Route will be closed
The European Commission has allegedly prepared a Draft proposal that the EU leaders will be called to sign tomorrow Monday in Brussels. “The European Union leaders plan to officially announce the Closure of the Balkan Route for refugees and the internal borders of Schengen for economic migrants.” According to an …
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Eurogroup draft demands from Greece’s govt what toppled Greece’s previous govt
“Greece needs to do more to start third bailout talks” is the Eurogroup finance ministers conclusion on Sunday and it was the same on Saturday. Already yesterday a draft was on the making but the strong disagreement among the 18 EZ FinMins and it has been supposedly to be finishing …
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Stick & Carrot: EC & ECB work on draft for Greece’s debt relief, but “agreement, first”
The European Commission and the European Central Bank are reportedly working on a draft for a Greek debt relief, in an effort to break the impasse of bailout talks. According to an exclusive story of daily Kathimerini,the draft will be in form of a statement and thus only in case …
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…and here is Greece’s Draft Proposal to creditors with Reforms for 7/2015-End 3/2016)
Greek government sent a 47-page long draft plan to the creditors on Monday. In the lost list of austerity reforms the government has among others: privatizations and early retirement, debt restructuring and Primary Surplus 2015-2018, tax revenues, minimum wage and collective bargain. The signals from the country’s creditors were rather …
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Creditors’ absurd austerity demands to promote Social Darwinism in Greece
It was a shock late last night when some of creditors austerity demands were leaked to the press. They were included in a 5-page draft plan European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had handed out to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during their emergency meeting in Brussels in an effort to strike …
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