The European Commission is believed to be supportive to the reduction of Greece’s primary surpluses, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said during a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is Athens on Thursday. “I believe that the European Commission is certainly supportive of the start of this discussion. The decision …
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Greece among the 9 EZ countries compliant with Stability & Growth Pact
European Commissioner Vice President Valdis Dobrovskis slightly opened the window for a possible decrease of primary surplus targets for Greece. “If we see clearly positive trends in debt sustainability analysis, this can be reflected in the primary surpluses, as these two are closely linked,” he said in Brussels on Wednesday. …
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Athens proclaimed the European Capital of Innovation for 2018
The Greek capital Athens has been proclaimed the European Capital of Innovation for 2018. In a special event organized in Lisbon, the Greek capital was declared the winner of the European Commission iCapital Awards. “The prize awarded Athens for its ability to harness innovation in order to improve the lives …
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Controversial AI “lie detector” to be used at borders of Greece, Hungary and Latvia
A controversial system of Artificial Intelligence powered “lie detector” will be used at some borders in Greece, Hungary and Latvia to identify illegal migrants. The system sponsored by the European Commission is supposed to identify illegal migrants by analyzing their micro-expressions. The project that is to be used initially for …
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Creditors’ statement following first post-bailout mission to Greece
Staff from the European Commission, in liaison with staff from the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, visited Athens from 10 to 14 September for the first post-programme mission to Greece. Staff from the European Stability Mechanism participated in the meetings in the context of its Early Warning …
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Cyprus drill ship: EU tells Turkey to avoid damaging actions
The European Union on Monday called on Turkey to avoid threats and “refrain from any actions that might damage good neighborly” ties after Cyprus, a member of the bloc, accused the Turkish military of obstructing a ship exploring for gas. Cyprus is one of several states, also including Israel and …
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Is Juncker trying to establish an EU “deep state”?
With Brexit bickering on hold at this week’s EU summit as leaders prepare for a second phase of talks, the drama will be provided instead by national capitals’ efforts to rein in what some see as a brazen attempt at overreach by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. European leaders worry …
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Battle won: End of roaming charges when traveling within the EU
Long awaited …To be implemented soon. Groundbreaking decision on roaming charges within the European Union! EU negotiators agreed on wholesale prices, the final piece to make it happen. With the new agreement, when traveling in the European Union consumers will be able to call, send SMS or surf on their …
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MNI European lenders & IMF in “political deadlock” over Greek dept
Greece’s European lenders and the International Monetary Fund are in political deadlock over the Greek debt. German news agency MNI reports of a secret meeting last Saturday in Washington where high-ranking representatives from European institutions (ECB, ESM and EU Commission) and Poul Thomsen from the IMF talked about the Greek …
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EU Commission works towards a EU-wide minimum wage
The idea of adaption of a European minimum wage is not new. European Commission President-designate Jean-Claude Juncker said in July 2014 that he would work towards the introduction of a minimum social wage in each member state of the EU. Two years later, the discussion on the issue is high …
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EC plans toll fees of €13-€50 for travelers entering EU countries
The European Commission plans to impose an entrance free between 13 and 50 euros for those travelers entering the European Union member-states. According to a EC statement the so called “European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)” will provide additional control over the external EU borders as it will determine …
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EU Court landmark decision opens door for legal cases by EU citizens in bailout countries
An important decision for the protection of human rights in times of bailouts and austerity. For the first time, the European Court of Justice explicitly stated that the European institutions and in particular the European Commission are bound by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and are obliged to protect …
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Commission suspends EU Funds due to “cartels” in Greece’s construction sector
The European Commission temporary suspended all projects funded through the European Regional Developments Funds for the period 2014-2020 claiming there is a suspicion that a construction cartel has been exploiting the funds flowing into Greece. EC’s official justification for the suspension of funds amounting €13.5 million is the “distortion in …
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EC Juncker claims: “I spoke with leaders of other planets” (video)
They exist. They live among us. And they are concerned about the European Union. Who? the Extraterrestrials! They proof that all this is true came from the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. During a speech on the 28th of June in the European in Parliament in Brussels, EU …
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Power struggle among Merkel, Schulz, Juncker, when they could solve EU problems with a Referendum
It came as it was expected to come after the Brexit vote. Germany and the German European Parliament President are determined to out Jean-Claude Juncker from the European Commission Presidency. Berlin and Strasbourg blame Juncker for the Brexit win and have launched a campaign against him. The issue is how …
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Greek Program Review talks: IMF insists on further pensions cuts 6%-30%
The International Monetary Fund is alive and kicking. And insists to apply its famous wrong “remedies” to the Greek problem, no matter what. The IMF’s representative in charge of the Greek program has arrived in Athens together with the representatives of European commission, the European Stability Mechanism and the European …
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EC’s Costello – Greece’s creditors never heard, ‘Colonialism’ died last century
I wouldn’t know that the neo-colonists of creditors believe that they can intervene into the procedures of hiring personnel. But so it is. Creditors’ representative for European Commission Declan Costello sent a letter to Greek education Minister Nikos Filis and … criticized him for the hiring of primary and secondary …
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Refugee crisis escalates: violent clashes on Lesvos, eggs & boos against EU-officials on Kos
On the island of Lesvos, hundreds of migrants attempted to get on board of a ferry without the necessary papers, clashes erupted between security units and the angry people. In Kos, a mob of angry residents hurled tomatoes and eggs, swore and booed the EU Migration Commissioner Avramopoulso and EC …
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+++Greece rejects IMF’s proposals for Corporate Tax, Pension Cuts & 23% VAT in food
Hardly had Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stepped at Brussels airport and the creditors started to throw stones on his way to the meeting with Institutions. They have reportedly submitted a new proposal as they do not agree with Greece’s equivalent measures. It is said that especially the IMF rejects …
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Tsipras meets Institutions heads at noon, Eurogroup to “work all night” for deal
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras flew to Brussels on Wednesday morning and meet with the heads of the Three Institutions , EC Jean-Claude Juncker, ECB Mario Draghi and IMF Christine Lagarde. The meeting is reportedly scheduled for 1 pm local time (2 pm GR time). The Tsipras-Institutions meeting takes place …
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