Christos Staikouras

Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras on Wednesday presented a new package of 15 policies to be implemented from June until October 30 in the framework of the third phase of a plan for economic recovery.

Greece's economy may shrink by 10-13 percent this year following a lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, the country's finance minister said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will announce steps to revive the economy in a televised address on Wednesday. These steps will be mainly focused on tourism but will also concern other sectors affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

During Friday's Eurogroup teleconference, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras is determined to press for swift decisions and efficient procedures so that support programs are immediately implemented in the eurozone.

Greece could limit this year's recession to 5-8 percent after taking into account the government's implemented and planned relief measures which will amount to 24 billion euros, the country's Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Wednesday.

He said if support measures had not been taken, the recession could reach 13 percent this year.

The 57.5-million-euro concession agreement to use and exploit the marina of Alimos, in southern Athens, for a duration of 40 years was signed on Wednesday with Aktor Concessions.

The value of the agreement amounts to at least 177 million euros, including an up-front fee, an annual concession fee and a revenue-sharing expressed as a percentage of the marina's annual turnover.

The Finance Ministry is considering measures to support property owners forced to contribute toward supporting enterprises and workers through the temporary reduction of their rents by 40 percent. Some of the measures may apply from this year.

Greece outperformed all its European Union peers in terms of economic sentiment last month, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras stated on Saturday, following the publication of relevant data by the European Commission.

The Finance Ministry is already planning for the next stage of the country's economic revival, hoping that the first, starting today with the opening of some stores, will go ahead without any significant problems. The main challenges for the government lie in six areas: tourism, transport, exports, investments, employment and banks.

The government is assessing requests by food service professionals for a reduction in the value-added tax in the sector and for the VAT on face masks to be waived, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras told Skai TV on Friday.