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Greece
Greece is making progress on its economy and in cementing its position in the European Union and the eurozone. While much hard work on these issues remains to be done, the country stands to benefit from its position as gateway to the fast-growing south-eastern states of Europe. - -
Content
Regional progress masks uncertainty
Solidarity among south-east Europe’s states is a bright spot but there is little optimism in Athens.
Inward investment: Incentives now look attractive
Obstacles are being cleared away in advance of a decline in EU aid.
Economy: Tough measures are necessary
Athens is under pressure to curb its excessive budget deficit but there are some good reasons for the government’s optimism about medium term growth prospects.
Shipping: Shipowners see attraction of flotation
What was a favourable wind may be turning against listings.
Banking: Serbia is the battleground for expansionism
Banks are increasingly looking towards south-east Europe as domestic credit expansion slows.
Oil gas: Pipelines carry the hope of status as regional hub
Plans are far advanced that will capitalise on the long-awaited full liberalisation of the energy market in 2007.
Environment: Progress on green issues is choked by rising tide of sewage sludge
The issues of rubbish and treatment of human effluent have a bad smell.
Hellenic Petroleum: Dominant player deals with reality
Panos Cavoulacos offered his company’s services to Greece’s state controlled oil group soon after the conservative government took office last year. Shortly afterwards he was hired as Hellenic Petroleum’s chief executive.
Tourism: Incentives will put visitors on fairway to heaven
The drive to reinvigorate visitor numbers by attracting golf tourists has too often in the past been forced into the rough. But it now looks as though it has a clear shot.
Olympic venues: Athens plays slow game to avoid wasting a valuable resource
Amid extensive criticism of a failure to exploit the success of the 2004 summer Games, the government claims that its halting progress is already yielding results.
