Greek government hoping to bridge difference with troika within week
Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras will meet with troika officials in Athens Monday as inspection of the country’s adjustment effort continues.
Stournaras said Sunday that an effort is being made to bridge differences and reach an agreement with the troika in time. He did however predict that Monday is too soon for a deal to be struck.
Progress must be made before Thursday, in any case, as the 2014 budget is set to be submitted to Parliament.
Prior actions in order for Greece to receive the next tranche of its rescue loan (EUR 1 billion) include settling debts to EYDAP and EYATH water companies, seeing through the public sector mobility scheme and settling the future of the Hellenic Defense Systems.
The ongoing inspection is also stuck on other important issues such as the limit on home foreclosures and the size of the 2014 fiscal gap and if measures are needed in order for it to be bridged.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visits Berlin on Friday where he is set to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks which may prove critical for the way negotiations with the troika turn out.
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(Photo: Mattes)