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ECSA appoints Sotiris Raptis as Secretary General
Sotiris Raptis has been appointed by the General Assembly to lead the European Community Shipowners’ Associations as its new Secretary General. Sotiris Raptis (41) has extensive EU political and policy experience, having worked for different organisations in Brussels over the last 14 years. After joining ECSA as Director of Environment and Safety in 2020, he took on the role of Acting Secretary General for the last seven months. “We warmly welcome Sotiris Raptis in his new role as Secretary General [...]
The first European casualty of push-backs at the Aegean: How Fabrice Leggeri had to walk the plank
The first European casualty of push-backs at the Aegean: How Fabrice Leggeri had to walk the plank by Antonis D. Papagiannidis Fabrice Leggeri’s resignation as head of Frontex – the Warsaw-based border agency of the EU – so as to avoid formal disciplinary procedures that would be initiated against him following the release of initial findings from a probe into misconduct at Frontex made of the 54-year old French-origin official the first European casualty of the disturbing state of things [...]
Greece: Higher minimum wage
The basic wage in Greece increased by 7.5%, as of Sunday, May 1, rising to 713 euros per month from 663 euros previously. The corresponding minimum daily wage increased to 31.85 euros from 29.62 euros. Talking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA), Labour and Social Affairs Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said : "This is an increase that occupies the extreme limits of what the economy can support - in an environment of strong uncertainty". The Greek government believes the increase in [...]
“Growing Together”: the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments partners with four European Development Banks
A European cooperation protocol between five national public banks and investment Institutions was announced in Zappeion Megaron at the “Growing Together” event. This protocol aims at increasing European growth capital funds’ capacity to provide late-stage funding to EU-based technology companies. Over the next 3 to 5 years €3.3 billion will be mobilized as part of this agreement, fostering the development of European global tech leaders. The five partners are: Bpifrance (France), KfW Capital (Germany), Tesi (Finland), Hellenic Development Bank of [...]
Of pats on the back and causes for concern
Of pats on the back and causes for concern by Antonis D. Papagiannidis The pat on the back Greece got from Standard&Poor’s (credit rating upgrade to BB+, with stable prospects, one notch away from investment grade) just one month after a similar move from DBRS, is reason for some rejoicing on part of Greek officialdom. The rating agency made its move – which was less than expected in Athens – notwithstanding the effects of the Ukraine crisis, climbing energy prices [...]
Norway funds for Greek enterprises
A funding programme under the European Economic Area ( EEA) and Norway grants offers 8 million euros to Greek business innovation projects. The focus areas of the programme, that aims are Green Industry, Innovation, Blue Growth and ICT. The eligible applicants are both SMEs and large enterprises, which have the opportunity to access a grant starting with 50,000 euros and reaches up to 1.5 million euros, with funding intensity up to 50%. The funding is available to Greek companies via the "Business Innovation [...]
Greece: Closer to the investment grade
Rating agency S&P Global Rating upgraded the debt rating of Greece, by one notch, to BB+. It is the third rating agency, and the second of those selected by the European Central Bank, that places Greece one "step" before the investment grade. This is the 9th - in a row - upgrade of the Greek economy in the last two and a half years. “The upgrade reflects our expectation of a continuous improvement in Greece’s policy effectiveness, while the fallout [...]
ELPEDISON applies for a Floating Storage Regasification Unit in Thessaloniki
ELPEDISON submitted an application for the granting of an Independent Natural Gas System (INGS) License to the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE). The new project, "Thessaloniki FSRU", will consist of a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FSRU) Storage & Gasification Unit, will be deployed in the Thermaikos Gulf, off the coast of Thessaloniki and is expected to operate in 2025. The FSRU will have a storage capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and will be able to [...]