The participation at protest rallies held in Athens on Wednesday in the framework of the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the umbrella labor unions of the private and public sectors, GSEE and ADEDY, was limited as a result of the heavy rainfall.

The Greek economy is expected to shrink by -4.0% this year, from -6.4% in 2012 and to return to positive rates in 2014 (0.6%) rising to 2.9% in 2015, the European Commission said in its autumn forecasts report released in Brussels on Tuesday.

Prime minister Antonis Samaras met with government vice-president Evangelos Venizelos, today, to discuss the new round of talks between the Greek government and the troika officials here to inspect progress on behalf of the country's creditors.