Secret documents reveal sabotage schemes of Ukrainian security ahead of fleeing Kherson – SANA

A number of documents revealed that, ahead of fleeing from Kherson city, the Ukrainian security service recruited members of the local defense to carry out sabotage operations in this area.

Turkey court jails officers over 2016 coup plot - BBC News

A court in Turkey has given life sentences to dozens of defendants in one of the biggest trials linked to the 2016 coup attempt.

Protests erupt in Iran over high cost of living

Hundreds of protesters have rallied in several Iranian cities against rising prices, unemployment and economic inequality, according to anti-government activists and Iran's semi-state news agency Fars.

Turkey fires more than 900 public workers in latest decree

The Turkish government on Friday issued a new state of emergency decree to dismiss 928 public workers suspected of having links with terrorist organizations and groups.

EU calls on Turkey to "respect rule of law" one year after failed coup

The European Union (EU) on Friday reiterated its condemnation of the coup attempt in Turkey one year after the plot was routed, but called on Turkish government to "respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law" when bringing the individual perpetrators to justice.

Turkey dismisses thousands of police and civil servants

Turkey's government has issued a new executive decree under the ongoing state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup, dismissing more than 7,000 police, civil servants and academics.

Portugal to re-introduce 35-hour working week for civil servants

Portugal's parliament on Wednesday adopted the 35-hour working week law for the public servants.

Portuguese parliament to vote on restoration of 35-hour week

The Portuguese parliament is to vote on the bills submitted by leftist parties on the restoration of the 35-hour week for public servants, after more than two years of a 40-hour week imposed by the previous centre-right coalition government.

Israel and Palestinians 'reach accord' on frozen taxes. Tel Aviv to transfer more than $450 million of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority...

Israel has agreed to transfer in full hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes collected for the Palestinian Authority but frozen in a row over the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Palestinian president said.

Mahmoud Abbas said that  "There is an agreement; the money will be sent in full.''

Abbas threatens Israel with ICC over frozen tax cash

Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, says he has returned funds from frozen tax revenues handed over by Israel because they amounted to only a third of the total owed.

US welcomes Israel release of withheld Palestinian tax revenue

The United States said on Friday it welcomed Israel's decision to release withheld tax revenue to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Israel to resume tax revenue transfers to the Palestinian Authority

After months of freezing tax revenue transfers as punishment for the Palestinian Authority's application to the Rome Statute, Israel announced on Friday that it will release the money to the interim government in Ramallah.

Statement by Vice-President Katainen on Greece (EC -16.10.14)

European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 16 October 2014:

"Greece has made immense progress in creating a basis for a sustainable growth model, based on sound public finances, a more competitive economy and a robust, effectively supervised financial sector.

This unprecedented programme of reforms and the necessary large fiscal adjustment have entailed very difficult choices. The Commission and the euro area as a whole have stood by Greece throughout this process. While there is a clear need to maintain the momentum of reform, there is strong evidence that the country has now turned a corner.

European Commission prefers to settle Putin-Barroso conversation issue diplomatically

BRUSSELS, September 03. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Commission prefers to settle the issue involving the contents of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and EC chief Jose Manuel Barroso diplomatically, the EC press-service has told ITAR-TASS, when asked if Barroso had any objections to the possibility the Russian presidential staff may disclose the contents of the conversation in full to eliminate confusion.
The EC press-service said it was a major diplomatic issue and steps were being taken to settle it diplomatically, not through the mass media.

Russian presidential administration ready to make public Putin-Barroso conversation

MOSCOW, September 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s presidential administration has both the transcript and the audio recording of a recent phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and “is ready to make public its content to remove all misunderstandings”, Russia’s Ambassador to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said in a letter to Barroso.
“Over the past few days, some media, including the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, have been publishing comments regarding your phone conversation with President Putin last Friday, August 29,” the letter said.

Portugal's constitutional court partially rejects salary cuts, pension tax

Portugal's Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected a government proposal to cut salary for public sector employees between 2016 and 2018 and to impose a tax on public sector pensions.

But the court approved salary cuts for public sector workers in 2014 and 2015.

The salary cut and pension tax proposal is part of the government austerity measures submitted by President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho on July 31.

Speaking points at ECOFIN press conference ("a successful Italian Presidency - and I believe this will be a serious Presidency"--Vice-President Siim KALLAS)

European Commission, ECOFIN press conference, Brussels, 8 July 2014:

"Thank you, Pier Carlo. Let me begin by wishing you “In bocca al lupo!” for a successful Italian Presidency.

Of course, the major challenge for the coming months will be to strengthen the economic recovery in Europe. Our long-term growth strategy, Europe 2020, which we discussed today, contains the right reform priorities – but we must ensure that we deliver on the commitments made. 

Λαγκάρντ: Ενίσχυση της παγκόσμιας οικονομικής δραστηριότητας (οι χώρες πρέπει να αναλάβουν δράση)

Η Λαγκάρντ τόνισε ότι η χαλαρή νομισματική πολιτική των κεντρικών τραπεζών έχει μόνο περιορισμένες συνέπειες και οι χώρες πρέπει να αναλάβουν δράση ώστε να βοηθήσουν την ανάπτυξη, κυρίως με επενδύσεις στις υποδομές, την παιδεία και την υγεία, όσο το χρέος τους εξακολουθεί να είναι βιώσιμο. ....

Greece to sack thousands of public workers. Latest austerity measures could pave way for more than 20,000 lay-offs by end of next year, despite days of protests.

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Greece's parliament has approved reforms making it easier to sack thousands of public sector workers, clearing the way for the receipt of a $9.2 billion tranche of bailout money.
Members of parliament voted 153 to 140 in favour of the most contentious parts of an austerity bill early on Thursday. The reforms will loosen rules on sacking public workers, whose jobs are currently protected by the constitution.

European Union demands more austerity in Greece

Il pensait même très joliment autrefois

By Robert Stevens
13 April 2013

Officials from the “troika” of the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank held talks with representatives of the Greek coalition government this week, calling for more social cuts amid an on-going economic collapse in Greece.
The talks are centred on the demands by the “troika” for further austerity measures in exchange for the disbursement to Greece of a €2.8 billion tranche from a €130 billion loan previously agreed. Also under discussion are the terms for the release of a further €6 billion due for the second quarter of the year. 

None of this “bailout” money ever reaches Greece’s impoverished population. It is all immediately handed over to pay off debts to the banks. Greece has bonds worth €5.6 billion set to expire on May 20, which it must pay to the bondholders.