Hopes of big natural gas reserves
Hopes of big natural gas reserves The Greek government, the country’s Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (EDEYEP) and the companies involved in exploring for hydrocarbons – mainly natural gas, but also oil – west and southwest of the Greek coast, have to balance the need for quick results with the geopolitical realities of the […]
Περισσότερα
Government monitors opinion polls for warning signs
Government monitors opinion polls for warning signs With elections, possibly two of them, looming in the first half of 2023, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his aides are closely following opinion polls for signs that ruling New Democracy’s lead might be weakening. In one of the latest batch of polls, opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, who […]
Περισσότερα
Some changes made to draft surveillance bill
Some changes made to draft surveillance bill The government has decided to make some changes to the draft bill on surveillance and wiretappings as the result of the public consultation process. The changes introduce greater accountability, with the National Intelligence Agency (EYP) and the police’s counterterrorism division having to justify their requests for surveillance in […]
Περισσότερα
Power consumption declines
Power consumption declines The government announced on Friday it will spend another 435 million euros next month to support households and companies facing extremely high electricity rates, but data show Greeks are increasingly saving on energy consumption with tangible results. For a fourth consecutive month in October, according to grid operator ADMIE’s monthly energy report, […]
Περισσότερα
EU to resume talks on Russian oil price cap Friday evening: diplomat
EU to resume talks on Russian oil price cap Friday evening: diplomat European Union government representatives will resume talks on the level of a price cap on Russian seaborne oil on Friday evening, EU diplomats told Reuters. On Thursday, European Union governments remained split over the level at which to cap Russian oil prices to […]
Περισσότερα
Attiki Odos: new motorway toll could fall to €2.50
Attiki Odos: new motorway toll could fall to €2.50 The government will lower tolls for the use of a major ring road in Athens in a renewed concession agreement after 2024, as part of efforts to alleviate the pressure on drivers facing rising living costs, its infrastructure minister said on Friday. Greek construction groups Ellaktor […]
Περισσότερα
Electricity subsidies in December to come to 435 mln euros
Electricity subsidies in December to come to 435 mln euros The government has earmarked a total of 435 million euros to subsidize households’ electricity bills in December, while the horizontal subsidy for natural gas will come to 15 euros per thermal megawatt hour, Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Friday. The minister noted […]
Περισσότερα
What the government is asking of Greek banks for loans and interest rates
What the government is asking of Greek banks for loans and interest rates The Minister of Finance will apply new pressures on banks – following a relevant order from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – in order to pass on the benefit of the increase in interest rates to citizens and deposits. It is also expected […]
Περισσότερα
New administration takes over at Ark of the World charity
New administration takes over at Ark of the World charity A new administration appointed by the government took over on Tuesday at the Ark of the World, as the children’s charity is being investigated over allegations of widespread physical, mental and sexual abuse. The new board of directors comprises seven members with significant expertise in […]
Περισσότερα
Digital tax: Commercial world expresses its opposition to the government
Digital tax: Commercial world expresses its opposition to the government Institutional, productive and consumer bodies expressed their strong opposition and dissatisfaction to the continuation of the unfair, anti-development, anti-community and anti-social burden, “digital tax”. The Ministry of Culture insists, despite the commitments of ruling New Democracy party when it was in the position of main […]
Περισσότερα
Contingency cash set aside in the budget
Contingency cash set aside in the budget The budget the government is submitting to Parliament on Monday will be harmonized with the fall forecasts of the European Commission, which bring down growth and raise inflation estimates for 2023. It will be a budget returning to primary surpluses, but at the same time it will not lack […]
Περισσότερα
Short-term rental categories
Short-term rental categories The government, local authorities and tourism businesses are trying to strike a balance between regulating the largely unregulated short-term rental market and maintaining tourism’s growth momentum. Short-term rentals are now an integral part of the local tourism product. A recent Grant Thornton study showed that the turnover they generate amounts to 14.41% […]
Περισσότερα
Government to replace controversial charity’s management
Government to replace controversial charity’s management The government said on Monday it will replace Ark of the World’s administration amid a barrage of sexual abuse allegations against the well-known children’s charity. The decision was announced by government spokesman Ioannis Oikonomou after a meeting at Maximos Mansion focused on ensuring the protection of the children living […]
Περισσότερα
Property sale prices increase
Property sale prices increase Government receipts from the transfer of apartments and plots of land increased by 35% in the year’s first nine months, according to Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) data. Despite the energy crisis, on a daily basis there were approximately 900-1,000 declarations of sales, parental benefits and real estate donations through […]
Περισσότερα
Ex-minister will not attend special court
Ex-minister will not attend special court Former minister of state for the SYRIZA government Nikos Pappas has chosen not to attend the special court during the hearing of the case for his handling of the TV license tender, stating that he will be represented by his lawyers. The former minister, a key defendant in the […]
Περισσότερα
Parties clash over wiretapping bill provisions
Parties clash over wiretapping bill provisions Ahead of a parliamentary debate, government and opposition clashed Wednesday over whether the provisions of a draft bill on wiretapping address privacy concerns raised by recent revelations that the cellphones of political leaders, ministers, journalists and others were tapped using spyware. With elections looming in the first half of […]
Περισσότερα
Bill tightens wiretapping procedures
Bill tightens wiretapping procedures The government has put to public consultation draft legislation that would update the procedures the country’s intelligence service is required to take to wiretap citizens. The draft bill upgrades the use of illegal spyware to a felony from a misdemeanor. The joint legislative initiative, drafted by Justice Minister Konstantinos Tsiaras and […]
Περισσότερα
Government seeks to control unregulated growth of short-term rentals
Government seeks to control unregulated growth of short-term rentals Years after short-term rentals took a hold in Greece’s tourism industry, the government is seeking to legislate to impose some order on an activity that has seen explosive, largely unregulated growth. Tourism is arguably Greece’s most important economic activity, accounting for at least a fifth of […]
Περισσότερα
Gov’t hopeful will find hydrocarbons to last a decade
Gov’t hopeful will find hydrocarbons to last a decade The government is hopeful it has hydrocarbon reserves in the west of the country to cover the country’s energy consumption for a decade, Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Friday. While environmental campaigners are pushing for a shift to zero-carbon fuel, Greece is among the countries […]
Περισσότερα
Greek PM: The government will support farmers and livestock breeders
Greek PM: The government will support farmers and livestock breeders The amount of 4.5 million euros will be allocated for the replacement of the water supply network in Eginio, Pieria, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced during a visit on Thursday to the Municipality of Pydna-Kolindros. The prime minister referred to the importance of the project […]
Περισσότερα
Ex-minister accused of corrupting investigations
Ex-minister accused of corrupting investigations The trial of a former government official and a prosecutor charged with obstruction of justice in corruption cases continued Tuesday, with a retired prosecutor accusing the minister of trying to direct his investigations to target specific individuals. Panagiotis Athanasiou, a retired deputy Supreme Court prosecutor, testified that when he was […]
Περισσότερα
Government policies boost profits for the few, Androulakis says
Government policies boost profits for the few, Androulakis says Opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis met with the Union of Working Consumers of Greece in his office in the Parliament. During the talks, Androulakis referred to the inflation of profits and surplus profits favoured by government choices in a number of sectors, such as […]
Περισσότερα
Alexandroupoli port sale is off
Alexandroupoli port sale is off The government has decided to proceed with the development of Alexandroupoli port with funding from state asset fund TAIPED’s own resources, as the development of the railway corridor from Alexandroupoli to Ormenio on the Greek-Bulgarian border and from there to Central and Eastern Europe has made this port infrastructure central […]
Περισσότερα
Probe into Androulakis’ wiretapping deepens
Probe into Androulakis’ wiretapping deepens Even before the new allegations of spying on government ministers and other people surfaced Sunday, the investigation on the original case that brought to light the use of spyware on public figures’ cellphone is gathering steam again. Kathimerini understands that the former director of the National Intelligence Service (EYP), Panagiotis […]
Περισσότερα
Ending abuse of the law
Ending abuse of the law The government and the prime minister himself were elected on the promise that environmental protection would be high on their list of priorities. There are many indications that promises are not being kept. It has even been observed that related bills are being withdrawn – by order of the prime […]
Περισσότερα
Revision of projections for next year
Revision of projections for next year The government is revising downwards its forecasts for growth and inflation in 2023, following a corresponding deterioration in the European Commission’s forecasts, expected to be reflected in its fall forecasts in the coming days, due to the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis. The new government forecasts will […]
Περισσότερα
PM: Gov’t will keep supporting households and businesses
PM: Gov’t will keep supporting households and businesses The government has made it clear that it will continue to support households and businesses against the spike in high prices to the extent of its ability, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, responding to a question about the “household basket” measure launched in Greece after […]
Περισσότερα
Politics hardens in runup to elections
Politics hardens in runup to elections Relations between the government and the main opposition have never been anything less than contentious, but now the government is accusing opposition leader Alexis Tsipras of creating a “toxic” environment which he intends to maintain until elections take place in spring. A recent interview given by Tsipras, the leader […]
Περισσότερα
Pensioners to see their first raise in 12 years
Pensioners to see their first raise in 12 years The Greek government will pay the first pension increases in 12 years to around 1.3 million pensioners in January, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said on Wednesday. In comments made to Skai Radio, Hatzidakis said the government will table new legislation envisaging the unfreezing […]
Περισσότερα
Industry faces 5% energy cut
Industry faces 5% energy cut Government officials are busy working out the plan for reducing energy consumption by 5%, which is to become mandatory for industries from December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The first draft, presented last week by the Energy Ministry and Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) to representatives of industrial companies, […]
Περισσότερα