POLITICS & POLICY
Greece – Pension funds: Strikes
It happened again. The Seamen Pension Fund’s employees have decided to call a new strike against the scial security reforms poposed by the government. These reforms include major pension cuts even if as national income percentage, pensions are still above the European average in Greece. After a strike earlier this week, the staff of the Seamen Pension Fund will strike again on Friday and Monday.
Source: Ekathimerini, 14/01/2016
Greece – Bailout program: IMF
Greece has been forced to accept that the International Monetary Fund will continue to be a central actor in its bailout program, even though Greek officials were indicating the contrary in the past few weeks. The Greek Prime Minister is expected to focus on debt relief and to substantially restructure the country’s total debt. Nonetheless, Athens intends to ensure that the measures implemented will not put the country’s politics at risk.
Source: Ekathimerini, 14/01/2016
European Union – Tax rule:
In order to fight against multinationals’ illegal practices, the European Commission is studying a set of rules, to be proposed before the end of January, which will restrain corporate tax avoidance. European Union authorities keep controlling multinational corporations since they often reduce tax bills by dialoguing with national governments. This new rules will include binding guidelines (BEPS) whith the ultimate aim to modify gaps present in international tax rules.
Source: timesofmalta, 14/01/2016
THE STATEMENT
“In July 2015, we witnessed a financial coup executed from the European Union and its institutions against the Greek government, condemning the Greek population to keep suffering the austerity policies that it had already rejected twice through the ballot boxes (…) This coup has intensified the debate about the power of the EU institutions, their incompatibility with democracy and their role as guarantors of the basic rights demanded by Europeans”.
Plan B manifesto against austerity and for a democratic Europe.
Source: El Pais, 15/01/2016
NUMBERS
€798 million
The sum that the European Investment Bank (EIB) lent to Slovenia in 2015. This places Slovenia at the top of the ranking if we consider total investment value supported by EIB per inhabitant.
Source: sta, 15/01/2016
Photo credits CC: Mike Janssen
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