Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Greece's economy has benefited by 5.66 billion euros from adopting 161 market reforms recommended by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, out of a total of 775 in the OECD's "toolkit," according to provisional calculations by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV).

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that new approaches are needed in the selection and training of teachers, the transformation of school management, the reduction of inequity in schools, but he stressed that all the problems in education cannot be solved "overnight".

Many young Bulgarians graduating secondary school do not want to work in industry, but prefer the services sector. Their choice of profession is to be automechanic, hairdresser, chef or police officer but not financier, research scientist or entrepreneur, BNR reported.

Data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development indicate that Greeks cover 35 percent of their health costs out of their own pockets (compared to an OECD member-country average of 21 percent). 

Lowest life expectancy, high childhood obesity, biggest number of smokers per capita and unusually high medical costs - these are the conclusions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies about Bulgaria's healthcare, BNR reported.

In February or March, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs will visit Bulgaria to discuss the issue of The Visa Waiver Program with the United States. This was made clear during the meeting between Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and US Ambassador Herro Mustafa.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Boyse discussed in Sofia the strategic partnership with the United States, BNR reported.

Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov met with Herro Mustafa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States.

Greeks are particularly underinsured compared with other insurance systems in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The capitalization of the Greek private insurance system amounts to just 0.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product, against 140 percent in the OECD states.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs and Minister of Immigration and Asylum Jean Asselborn reaffirmed Luxembourg's full support for Bulgaria's integration into the Eurozone, the start of membership negotiations with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and full membership in Schengen.