The climate was tense in parliament today as justice requests to have parliamentary immunity lifted for three Golden Dawn deputies was discussed.

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.