Economics

BELGRADE - A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has started the talks with Serbian officials in Belgrade on Wednesday on the state of public finances in the country, the IMF Resident Representative Office in Belgrade confirmed for Tanjug.

By Sotiris Nikas

The Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday that it will be issuing short-term debt to cover the cash needs of the state by drawing on some 3 billion euros of cash reserves found lying unused in the coffers of various state agencies.

The number of bank card frauds in Europe has started rising again in 2012.

A survey of the European Central Bank (ECB) shows that the frauds had started increasing for the first time since 2008, mostly due to the increase in online payments.

The euro-area economy will continue to lag behind its main competitors, the U.S. and China, this year and next as high levels of unemployment and debt hinder the currency bloc’s recovery.

BELGRADE - A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is coming to Serbia on Wednesday, Tanjug learnt at the IMF office in Belgrade, and according to a previous announcement, the topics to be discussed will include a potential precautionary arrangement with Serbia.

The International Monetary Fund is considering financial data from two years ago with regard to its estimation for the capital requirements of Greek lenders, local sources have told Skai.

Germany is considering giving Greece more leeway to decide itself which reforms to take if it requires a third bailout package, a German daily reported on Tuesday, citing government sources.

By James Saft

Never a hot-bed of monetary policy activism, the European Central Bank may soon find itself forced into an uncomfortable period of experimentation.

Serbia seeks to improve protection for human rights defenders

Activists and the EU are urging Serbia to increase protection for human rights defenders.

LGBT activists are a main target for extremist groups in Serbia. [Nikola Barbutov/SETimes]

 Banks’ requirements will not exceed 6 bln euros; methodology will be available for scrutiny, sources say

By Yiannis Papadoyiannis