Government invites opposition to pension reform dialogue

[Ellinas]

Government unveils short-term priority legislation; invites opposition to pension reform dialogue

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Tuesday announced a list of draft bills due to be tabled in Parliament on a priority basis, as agreed during an earlier Inner Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, while he also read out a message by Employment Minister Vassilis Magginas inviting political party leaders to take part in a dialogue on the imperative issue of social security reform.

The first three bills will go to Parliament on Thursday, in accordance with government pledges before the elections, Roussopoulos stressed.

Among these is bill on combatting tax evasion, which includes new tax breaks (with discounts for receipts of various services); another bill increases public-sector pensions for 2007 and one deals with the management, control and implementation of 4th Community Support Framework (CSF) projects, also known as the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

Other draft bills due to be tabled in short order are a finance ministry bill for the foundation of the National Social Cohesion Fund, an interior ministry bill regulating issues dealing with independent authorities and a general inspector for public administration, as well as a public administration inspectors' corps, Roussopoulos added.

Also pending are a national defence ministry bill on invalids of war and personnel issues, a legislative framework for research and technology -- being prepared by the development ministry -- and an environment ministry draft bill ratifying the construction contract for the Elefsina-Corinth-Patras-Pyrgos-Tsakonas national highway, a National Spatial Planning bill and individual special town planning bills, an employment ministry bill on creating an e-government company for social insurance, a bill on protecting cultural goods and a bill on the rights and obligations of passengers and owners of shipping companies regarding safety in ships, ports and port facilities.

ANA