In Brief
EU takes Greece back to court over broadcasting BRUSSELS (Combined reports) – The European Commission yesterday announced it would take Greece to court over its failure to liberalize its broadcasting services, seeking heavy fines as punishment. «The European Commission has decided to refer Greece to the European Court of Justice for failure to fully comply with the court’s ruling of April 14, 2005,» the EU’s executive arm said in a statement. That ruling confirmed that Greece had failed to implement EU competition law for its television and radio services, particularly digital broadcasting. The Commission is therefore referring Greece back to court, seeking fines, consisting of daily lump sums totaling 48,442.80 euros for Greece’s continued infringement. «Open and non-discriminatory access for broadcasters to these services is essential for the development and consolidation of digital broadcasting. For too long now Greek consumers have been deprived of the benefits the digital economy is expected to bring about,» EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said. Separately, the Commission announced legal action against six EU countries, including Greece, for failing to provide information needed for the bloc’s efforts to combat climate change. The European Union executive also said it was taking legal steps against 14 member states for not following EU waste landfill regulations. (Reuters, AFP) Aegean takes delivery of first Airbus A320 jets Privately held Greek carrier Aegean Airlines has taken delivery of three new Airbus A320 jets out of an order of 19, as part of its extensive fleet renewal. «Delivery of the new aircraft starts with these three today and will be completed in 2010 when our last Boeing 737 300/400 is replaced,» Chairman Theodoros Vassilakis said yesterday. The carrier, which competes with state-owned Olympic Airlines, carried 4.5 million passengers last year with its fleet of 21 aircraft to more than 50 Greek and European destinations. It placed an 598-million-euro order for 19 Airbus A320 jets and has an option for eight more. He said Aegean will have the youngest fleet in the Balkan region in 2008. The new jets will allow the carrier to expand its flights outside Greece, mainly to European destinations. (Reuters) Security event The Sixth ExpoSec Homeland & Security exhibition-conference is to be hosted at Zappeion Hall in central Athens on March 27 and 28, focusing on security at ports and airports, securing national borders, and safety in banking transactions, telecommunications and information management. Speakers will include Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, former commissioner of City of London police Dr James Hart, and the director of Homeland & Maritime Security of Lockheed Martin, Dr Ted Johnson. Rainbow e-store Listed IT company Rainbow, the official distributor of Apple Computers in Greece, has created a new electronic shop (www.edustore.gr) addressed to pupils, students, teachers and professors. Visitors to the site can enjoy a 10 percent discount on all Apple products, provided they open an account through a written application at an «Open 24» bank branch.
