Press Review May 7: Recovery OECDon΄t-think-so

The OECD refutes the government, predicting the recession will continue on 2014; international investors are returning, lured by privatizations; Golden Dawn MPs are between prison and the polls; a parliamentary amendment recognizes private university degrees; and 188 kilos of gold and platinum go missing. (photo by Stock Monkeys via Flickr)

The Press Project
7 Μαΐου 2014 | 08:37:10

	ELEFTHEROTYPIA The OECD leaves the government and the EU exposed as it predicts the recession will continue in 2014 Before the ink has even dried the OECD has dealt a blow to over-optimistic predictions made by the government in its Medium Term Fiscal plan and by the European Commission. The organisation foresees a mild recession continuing in 2014 with a new recovery in investment, continuation of deflation in 2014 and 2015 at -1%, while it considers a fall in unemployment (currently at about 27%) exceptionally difficult and slow. Finally it sees difficulties in the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio which will remain at high levels (177%) in 2015. And these predictions are according to the optimistic scenario which assumes a smooth recovery in the European and international economy.
	IMERISIA International investors are returning Major deals in the private sector as well The privatisations of state owned companies and property are a draw to investors G. Emiris Major interest from institutional investors “The example of the Piraeus Port Authority S.A. is indicative of the change in the investment climate,” CEO of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, G. Emiris. At the same time he said that a privatisation of a state owned company (DEKO) via the stock market was being planned. Sheikh Abdullah al Nahyan High level meetings with Arabs in Athens “Greece has successfully met its challenges and we believe that there is the political will to attract investment and tourism from the entire world,” the Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates said.
	TA NEA Between the polls and prison Golden Dawn MPs Germenis and Boukouras with handcuffs today in parliament The Golden Dawn MPs Boukouras and Germenis will be led today in handcuffs to parliament to counter the judicial request that their parliamentary immunity be suspended. Antonis Samaras expressed his personal opinion against Golden Dawn being banned as a political party.
	EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON A gift to the merchants of education One more step towards the recognition of private universities An amendment in parliament recognizes private American and Greek institutions as universities An amendment by Education Minister Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos included in the Finance Ministry’s bill for street markets was passed into law (!) which, among other issues, legislates for the recognition of the professional equivalence of degrees from higher education institutions of third countries which are issued by accredited colleges or ‘franchises’ of foreign institutions. The American colleges and well-known Greek businessmen who have been pressing for the favour for years are rubbing their hands. The new measure is runs directly counter to national and European legislation, as well as the constitution. The minister is also planning to put abolition of article 16 of the constitution on the table [which states that universities must be public].
	KATHIMERINI Missing: 188 kilos of gold and platinum The owner of a recycling plant in Aspropyrgos in west Attica, is linked to the mysterious disappearance of a shipment of precious metals. The financial police found at the plant several days ago guns and 1.3 million euros in cash. In the company’s facilities according to court documents 5 crates were packaged containing 16 kilos of gold and 142 kilos of platinum in order to be exported to Frankfurt, yet which never arrived…