- Greece: The Greek government intends to speed up its privatisation and liberalisation programme. Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou has announced, for this year and next, the liberalisation of energy, telecommunications, transport and financial services. With this goal in mind, several state-owned shares will be placed on the Athens stock exchange, including stakes in the electricity company DEH. The kick-off will be given in May and June with the sale of 49% of ELVO (armaments) and the state's share in EAV (aerospace), to be followed by the partial privatisation of the commercial bank, the Athens stock exchange and the agency charged with the administration of the Corinth canal. In July, the state will sell off shares in OPAP (the national lottery), the postal services, the horce racing agency and OLYMPIC AIRWAYS. A 20% stake in OLYMPIC is expected to be sold to BRITISH AIRWAYS, subject to certain conditions. At the end of the summer, the privatisation effort will focus on the Salonica water company (at least 25% of its capital), the port agencies OLP and OLTH (100% of the latter), the agricultural bank, DEH and the telecoms company OTE, for which the state will be seeking a new partner willing to buy 10%, while 49% will be sold to the private sector.