European Commission approves €3bn aid for GreeceDecember 16, 2013 - 17:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, approved 3 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in financial aid to help build four major highways in Greece, according to the Associated Press. Construction on the highways has been halted over the past few years as the country has grappled with a severe debt crisis that's required big budget cutbacks. Johannes Hahn, the commissioner for regional policy, said the investment is "central to the country's economic recovery" and forecast that building the highway will create 6,000 jobs. Of those, 1,700 will be long-term involving the management of the highways once construction is finished by the end of 2015. Hahn said the highways form part of a trans-European road network and are essential for creating a single market for European goods. The EU decision follows a vote in Greece's parliament last week to restart the four projects. The new construction, mostly on the western Greek mainland and southern Peloponnese region, will link several more cities to the country's highway system. The government said the projects would be fully restarted early in the new year and would give a boost to the economy in 2014 — a year many economic forecasters will see the country return to growth following six years of savage recession. Opposition parties in Greece have criticized the terms of the agreements as being too favorable to construction companies, arguing that the money spent by the Greek state should instead go to programs aimed at easing the country's deepening poverty. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |