About: Greek austerity
Greek minister: Effective health and pharma policy needs stronger EU Commission role
A number of member states want the European Commission’s competences in health and pharma policy to be upgraded in order to face more effectively the rising challenges in the field, Greek health minister Andreas Ksanthos told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Dijsselbloem: Greek government will gradually access markets more and more
The Greek government will be able to gradually have more and more access to markets as the end of the bailout, the current economic outlook and a sound budget allow Greece to regain its financial independence, former Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said in an interview with EURACTIV's media partner Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA).
A 1950 law discourages investments in Greece
An old-fashioned law of the Greek penal code dated back to 1950 prevents private actors from investing in projects where the public sector also has a share, thus blocking a potential investment boom the country badly needs.
Greece’s unemployment falls under 20% after 7 years of bailout
Greece's unemployment rate, the highest in the European Union, has dropped below 20% for the first time in seven years, statistics bureau Elstat reported on 9 August.
Greek minister: Neoliberalism and xenophobic far-right are ‘two sides of the same coin’
A broad progressive front should be established in order to face rising extreme-right ahead of the EU election in 2019 Greece's Alternate Economy Minister Alexis Charitsis told EURACTIV.com, adding that neoliberalism and far-right are “two sides of the same coin”.
New Democracy scolds Moscovici for backing clean exit from bailout
Greece’s conservative main opposition party “recommended” to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici to be “more careful” in his public speeches when he praises the government and the country’s exit from the bailout.
Germany earned €2.9 billion from Greece’s debt crisis
Germany turns out to be a major beneficiary of Greece’s debt crisis as it earned a total of €2.9 billion between 2010 and 2017. This emerges from a response of the Federal ministry of finance in Berlin to a parliamentary request from the Greens (Bündnis90/Die Grünen) in the German Bundestag obtained by EURACTIV.
S&D chief tells Greek progressives to rally against New Democracy ‘chaos’
S&D President Udo Bullmann called on progressive political forces in Greece to join forces as the “only way to the country’s future” and not turn to a conservative New Democracy government, which has a big responsibility for the crisis.
OECD chief: The only Grexit is from the bailout
The only Grexit scenario that is currently on the table is the one from the bailout programme, Angel Gurría, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said on Monday (30 April).
Eurogroup chief: ‘I see enormous potential in Greece’
Greece has enormous potential and is getting ready to stand on its own feet when it exits its EU bailout in August, Eurogroup leader Mario Centeno told EURACTIV.com's media partner Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) in an interview.
Greek business chief: Novartis scandal must be dealt with quickly to avoid ‘social eruption’
The Novartis scandal in Greece exists and the people responsible for it should be dealt with quickly in order to avoid a “social eruption”, Greek business leader Konstantinos Michalos told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Moscovici: Greece needs no ‘precautionary credit line’ but own growth strategy
Greece will not need a precautionary credit or anything that looks like a forced programme after it exits the bailout, and any new surveillance should treat Greece "as a normal country", EU's Economic and Monetary Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said.
Not the time to discuss Greece after bailout, Commission says
Greece and its creditors will discuss the appropriate type of post-programme surveillance of the country or any support arrangement "at the appropriate time", a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
Tsipras says Greece will exit bailout in August 2018
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday (30 October) that the government’s plan to put the public finances in order was working and that the country would be out of the bailout programme in August 2018.
Greek government on collision course with pharmaceutical companies over innovative drugs
Several pharmaceutical companies in Greece have threatened to stop supplying the market with innovative drugs and said they could even withdraw existing drugs as a result of an obligatory “discount” imposed by the Greek government and applied retroactively.
Moscovici: Greek bailout was a ‘scandal’ for democratic procedures
The Eurogroup’s handling of Greece’s bailout programme was a scandal in terms of democratic processes, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici insisted in an interview with Italian media.
Prosecutor says Greece’s former statistics boss is guilty
A prosecutor said on Monday (31 July) that the former head of Greece’s statistical office was found guilty as he did not consult fellow board members about the much-discussed revised 2009 deficit figures. The prosecutor also said he was an employee of the IMF at the same time.
Greek minister: With progressive federalism EU will regain citizens’ trust
In order for Europe to address the current governance issue and convince citizens that it works in their interest it should turn to a left-wing progressive federalism model, Nikos Pappas told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Greece breaks three-year isolation and returns to debt markets
After three years of “exile”, Greece will return on Monday (24 July) to the international debt markets, testing the waters to see if it can begin to wean itself off bailout loans after tough reforms.
Greece did its part; now it’s the Eurogroup’s turn
Greece has made huge sacrifices and the government has made significant reforms. Now the ball is in the Eurogroup's court to provide the necessary certainty to both people and the markets via a debt deal, writes Roberto Gualtieri.
Greek parliament approves more austerity to unlock bailout funds, debt relief
Greek lawmakers on Thursday (18 May) approved pension cuts and tax hikes sought by the country's lenders to unlock vital financial aid, as angry demonstrators protested outside parliament over new austerity, the latest since the country plunged into crisis seven years ago.
Greek opposition rebukes Commission over praise for Tsipras government
Greece’s main opposition party, New Democracy, felt “surprised” on Wednesday (10 May) when European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip praised the Tsipras government for improvements it has made to the economy.
Greek SMEs vie for center stage in Juncker’s investment plan
The Greek government will try to use the Investment Plan for Europe in order to boost cash-strapped small and medium enterprises. EURACTIV Greece reports. In Greece, so-called “red” loans have exceeded €100 billion, representing 10% of all non-performing loans at...