English

Friday, 17 May 2019

Payout of ’13th pension’ on Fri.; all social security, welfare benefits allocated by next Friday – 2 days before elex

Retirees and other beneficiaries in Greece, exceeding two million, will see a so-called “13th pension” in their bank accounts by Friday, more than a week after Greek Prime Minister Alexis…

Economist scrutinizes Greek PM’s luxury yacht holiday, pre-election handouts

The Economist takes a scrutinizing look at the Greek political scene this week, ahead of the looming European Parliament election, with an article entitled “Alexis Tsipras sails into a social…

Italy’s Scafi purchases haft of Vernicos Tugs & Salvage; new company called Vericos

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] Italy’s Scafi Societe di Navigazione S.p.A. this week announced the purchase of 50 percent of Vernicos Tugs & Salvage’s shares, with the new maritime entity –…

Thursday, 16 May 2019

Greek planters’ association urges vigilance against arrival of olive-killing xylella bacterium

Greece’s Plant Exporters Association (ESEEFY) on Thursday issued an urgent warning to olive tree cultivators in the country to be vigilant against the xylella fastidiosa bacterium, the feared cause of “olive…

Record-breaking WorldChampion Jet begins Aegean routes for Seajets

Greece-based Seajets has officially welcomed the latest addition to its fast ferry fleet, with the WorldChampion Jet already serving the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini route since late April 2019. A relevant ceremony was held…

High single-digit difference between ND, SYRIZA in new poll on Thurs

A 7.6-percentage point difference between main opposition New Democracy (ND) party and ruling SYRIZA is the result of a latest opinion poll unveiled on Thursday evening. The poll, by the…

‘Coolness’, concern by EZ partners to Athens’ announcements; Regling negative

By N. Bellos Several EU leaders commented on Thursday on the poll-trailing Tsipras government’s abrupt announcement – last week – of tax breaks and VAT reductions, before and following a…

Finance ministry: First VAT cuts to take effect on Mon.

The finance ministry on Thursday afternoon announced that reductions in certain categories of VAT rates will come into effect on Monday, a week before a European Parliament election. The first…

ΝΒG announces ambitious goal of reducing NPEs to 5% by 2022

National Bank of Greece (NBG) on Thursday announced a very ambitious target for reducing non-performing exposures (NPEs) until 2022, saying the goal is to ease to 5 percent of its…

Employers’ group: Energy costs in Greece 30% higher than EU average

Greece’s biggest employers’ group, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), on Thursday pointed to the country’s continued disadvantage of featuring amongst the highest energy prices among the EU’s 28. In…

FF in desperate attempt to stay afloat amid financing drought

Βy S. Emmanuil [email protected] Folli Follie’s cash reserves are reportedly running out in the face of a lack of extended credit, while developments on the legal continue to plague the…

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

BoG Gov.: No fiscal space left in 2019 for more benefits

Bank of Greece (Gov) Yannis Stournaras sounded warning bells over the current Tsipras government pre-election measures, saying there is no “fiscal space” this year for further benefits beyond those foreseen…

Self-styled anarchists attack municipal candidate’s event, attended by former PM, ministers

A group of 10 to 15 masked perpetrators on Wednesday afternoon targeted a campaign event by an Athens municipal candidate that was attended by former prime minister Antonis Samaras and…

Five Greek sites on Guardian’s ‘Top 40’ European beaches – Voidokilia in SW Greece first

Five beaches in Greece are included in a “Top 40” list compiled by Guardian’s editors, with Voidokilia, in the extreme southwest Messinia prefecture topping the specific sites in the east…

Eight people detained after latest ‘intervention’ outside US ambassador’s residence; self-styled anarchists step up actions

Eight people were detained by police in the early morning hours of Wednesday after an unknown number of suspects threw paint and a smoke flair outside the residence of US…

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

Eurozone partners may ask for clarifications over recently announced Greek relief package

By N. Bellos [email protected] The sudden announcement, last week, of modest tax breaks and VAT reductions by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has reportedly caused unease amongst the country’s eurozone…

DM: Official Turkish behavior in Aegean ‘unlawful’; illegal activities in Cyprus’ EEZ

Greece’s defense minister on Tuesday referred directly to what he called official Turkey’s “unlawful” behavior in the Aegean and illegal activities in the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).…

Cruise ship sector in Greece forecasts higher 2019 results; BoG reveals figures for per diem spending by passengers

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] Three factors this year are expected to boost the cruise sector in the eastern Mediterranean, namely, the re-inclusion of Turkish ports of call on operators’ itinerary,…

FinMin promises lower VAT rate for Greeks’ beloved coffee – but only on shelves

Greece’s finance minister on Tuesday promised a reduced VAT rate for coffee and other beverages on super market shelves, but not for drinks served on countertops, following negative reactions from…

Draft amendment over so-called ’13th pension’ cites permanent spending measure

By S. Papapetros [email protected] An explanatory memorandum attached to the tabled amendment re-instituting what the Tsipras government calls a “13th pension” refers to a “permanent measure”. The amendment was tabled…

Monday, 13 May 2019

Deloitte sees resurgence in Greek real estate sector

The rapid and continuously evolving nature of technology is expected to create numerous opportunities in the real estate sector, according to an annual report by Deloitte, entitled “Real Estate Report”.…

Delivery of Kiowas Warrior choppers to Greece begins this week

By G. Fokianos [email protected] The first batch of US-made OH-58D “Kiowa Warrior” helicopters for the Greek armed forces will reportedly be off-loaded at a mainland port this week, according to…

Athens 16th in Europe as destination for conventions, conferences

Athens reached 16th place, from 18th, on the relevant European ranking for conferences and conventions in 2018, according to results of a report by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA),…

Nine applications for medical cannabis cultivation-processing units in Greece already approved

Του S. Zisimos [email protected] One “new economy” sector that appears to be attracting investors’ interest in post-bailout Greece is the cultivation and processing of medical cannabis, with initial indications, at…

First, unofficial, reax by European creditors to abruptly announced measures by Tsipras govt expected on sidelines of Eurogroup meeting

Greece’s finance minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, is set to receive European partners’ first “feedback” over recently announced tax cuts and other relief measures at Thursday’s Eurogroup meeting. The modest tax breaks,…

ESM announces extension of maturity of 96.3 bln€ worth of EFSF loans granted to Greece, by 10 years

The maturity for European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) loans extended to Greece over the 2012-2014 bailout period, reaching the stratospheric level of 96.3 billion euros, has been bumped back by…

Sunday, 12 May 2019

Mitsotakis: PM Tsipras must call snap election if SYRIZA loses upcoming Europarliament poll

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared confident his center-right party will win the upcoming European Parliament election at the end of on May 26, while insisting that…

Saturday, 11 May 2019

New Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America elected; current Patriarchate Metropolitan Elpidoforos chosen

A new Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America was elected on Saturday by members of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy Synod, with one of the latter’s Metropolitans, Elpidoforos, succeeding Archbishop Demetrios. The…

Friday, 10 May 2019

P-3B ‘Orion’ returns to service in Greek military arsenal

A Hellenic Air Force P-3B “Orion” again flew through Greek skies on Wednesday, with a test flight of the recently upgraded maritime surveillance and anti-sub turboprop taking place over the…

Fraport Greece continues to post higher passenger traffic, flights; latest figures for Jan-Apr 2019

Fraport Greece on Friday reported an increase in passenger traffic at the 14 regional airports it manages around the country at 7.2 percent, compared with the same month in 2018,…