WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the second and final part of the speech by President Obama, as prepared for delivery, announcing new efforts as part of his push to expand U.S. exports:

To meet this goal, we launched the National Export Initiative -- an ambitious effort to team up with America's businesses large and small and help them unleash their energy and innovation, grow their markets, and support new jobs selling their goods and services all across the globe.

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the text of the speech by President Obama, as prepared for delivery, announcing new efforts as part of his push to expand U.S. exports:

By Angelika Papamiltiadou

ATHENS (MNI) Some 2.5 million Greek public and private sector employees are expected to go on strike Thursday to protest labor market reforms and a pension reform bill tabled for final parliamentary vote Thursday evening.

The overhaul of the pension system is part of the austerity package launched by the government in May to reduce deficit to 3% of GDP by 2014 from 13.7% in 2009. The bill foresees a rise in the retirement age to 65, curbs on early retirement, especially for women, and cuts in pensions benefits and allowances.

BERLIN (MNI) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Wednesday that Germany will be able to cope with any fallout from the stress tests of German banks given that the government already introduced the necessary instruments some time ago.

"My belief is that the consequences for Germany will be controllable due to the instruments that we created during the crisis," Schaeuble explained.

BRUSSELS (MNI) - The European Parliament's decision to approve new rules on bank bonuses sends a strong message to the financial sector and will help to limit the excessive risk-taking culture which underpinned the crisis, European Commissioner for Internal Markets, Michel Barnier, said on Wednesday.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The main focus of the European Central Bank's monthly press conference Thursday will be the health of the banking system, with upcoming stress tests and future liquidity provisions overshadowing traditional monetary policy issues.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet is expected to release a new collateral framework for securities other than ABS and government bonds and should again be quizzed on the central bank's government bond buys.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The main focus of the European Central Bank's monthly press conference Thursday will be the health of the banking system, with upcoming stress tests and future liquidity provisions overshadowing traditional monetary policy issues.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet is expected to release a new collateral framework for securities other than ABS and government bonds and should again be quizzed on the central bank's government bond buys.

By Johanna Treeck

FRANKFURT (MNI) - The main focus of the European Central Bank's monthly press conference Thursday will be the health of the banking system, with upcoming stress tests and future liquidity provisions overshadowing traditional monetary policy issues.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet is expected to release a new collateral framework for securities other than ABS and government bonds and should again be quizzed on the central bank's government bond buys.