Brussels, 19/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - After the meeting of EU27 heads of state in Brussels on Friday 19 October 2012, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that a new summit would not be needed for Greece to obtain the disbursement of the next instalment of aid (€31.5 billion).
The decision about disbursement of the €31.5 bn will be based on a report by the country's troika of lenders (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund). The troika fact-finders left Athens on Wednesday “close to agreement” (see EUROPE 10713), with negotiations continuing internally at each institution.
Time is pressing because Greece says it can hold out until 16 November, on which day it will have run out of cash. The Greek prime minister said that the two-day European summit has left him feeling “optimistic” because his partners have recognised the huge efforts made by Greece and are “certain that Greece will keep to its commitments”. He added that the atmosphere at the talks had changed and he had the impression he was not the only person to get that impression.
The eurozone congratulated the Greek government on its determination to implement its commitments. In a joint press release, the eurozone leaders hailed the remarkable efforts made by the Greek population. The French president, François Hollande, even talked about “substantial” progressand pointed out that the eurozone was determined that Greece must remain in the eurozone.
This unanimous attitude was also expressed by the prime minister of Luxembourg and head of Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, who said it was now clear that nobody is thinking or calling for Greece to be removed from the eurozone or put in a position where it would remove itself from the euro. This message will be repeated shortly by the French president on an official visit to Athens upon invitation from Samaras, but no date has yet been fixed.
The Italian prime minister, Mario Monti, who has also responded favourably to a request by the Greek prime minister to visit Athens, said that at the Summit Europe had taken note of the social suffering caused by implementation of the budget austerity programme negotiated in return for the second Greek bailout. Antonis Samaras said the savings about to be endorsed by parliament was the final series of painful measures before turning the page and returning to growth. Samaras said in this connection that he would be supported by his partners in the PASOK and Dimar parties, Evangélos Vénizélos and Fotis Kouvélis respectively, adding that all the parties involved know that the stakes are high and he was certain that Kouvelis and Venezelos were determined to do everything needed to save the country. He added that the “sacrifices” would be used to ensure a better future for citizens and that young people, not being able to dream, must not be tolerated in Europe (EL and EH, AN, FG/transl.fl).