Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-12-23

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] ECB forecasts 0.1 pct growth in Greece in 2016

[02] Court approves plans for antiquities at Venizelos metro station in Thessaloniki

[01] ECB forecasts 0.1 pct growth in Greece in 2016

For unemployment, the ECB projections see this falling to 23.5 pct in 2016, 22 pct in 2017, 20.5 pct in 2018 and 19 pct in 2019. Inflation is seen rising to 0.1 pct in 2016, 1.1 pct in 2017, followed by 1 pct in 2018 and 1.2 pct in 2019.

Throughout the Euro area, real GDP is expected to rise 1.7 pct in 2016 and 1.6 pct in 2018 and 2019. Unemployment is forecast to reach 10 pct in 2016, while Eurozone inflation will increase from 0.2 pct in 2016 to 1.3 pct in 2017.

[02] Court approves plans for antiquities at Venizelos metro station in Thessaloniki

The municipality resorted to the court to block a 2014 culture ministry decision for the construction of the metro station around the antiquities, which are to be preserved and placed on display inside the station. To this end, the ministry instructed that the remains be removed and stored, then returned to their positions inside the station.

The Thessaloniki Municipality claimed that the ministerial decision violated the constitutional principle of proportionality, since the "worst solution for the protection of the cultural environment was selected, which results in the permanent disappearance of the specific historic monument as a complete whole." It also argued that the decision violated laws on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage.

It failed to convince the court, however, which ruled that the ministerial decisions were legal and in line with the constitution, since the ministry had previously examined all proposals, including that of the municipality. The final decision required that the greater part of Venizelos station be redesigned, structurally and functionally, so that the remains discovered could, in the most part, be restored to their original position, the court noted.

It also pointed out that the Central Archaeological Council had approved the removal for the protection of the remains but also in case deeper finds were revealed, while ruling that the studies for the protection, removal and storage of the finds were legal.

Work on the Thessaloniki metro led to the discovery of remains dating from the 4th century and the early Byzantine years (600-700 AD) at the corner of Egnatia Street and Venizelos Street in the city, at a depth of about six metres and over an area of 1,600 square metres. They included sections of a city with large central streets, public spaces and buildings, as well as a section of Thessaloniki's main road.

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