Brussels, 29/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 29 November, the European Commission said that no decision has been taken about when the troika of lenders (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) will return to Athens, amid rumours that the troika cancelled its return visit due to commitments not being kept by the Greek authorities. A troika source even said that Greece had moved backwards on some commitments.
Commission spokesperson Chantal Hughes said that no decision had yet been taken about exactly when the troika mission would return, but talks were in progress. Reuters reported earlier on Friday that the troika had cancelled its return trip due to lack of progress in implementing the commitments.
A troika source told this newsletter that there were doubts over two issues - whether there was enough to discuss to justify a physical presence in Athens and whether it would be possible to finalise the mission. If the troika representatives return to Athens and fail to reach agreement, this would be the third time of leaving the capital empty-handed (the mission began in September). The source said there were some commitments that haven't been implemented, and backward steps have been made on commitments made earlier in the year. Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Friday morning that Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn and IMF Director General Christine Lagarde had phoned the Greek government to encourage them to ensure rapid conclusion of the talks. The budget gap is another issue to be discussed. The parties have now agreed on the scale of the gap (€1.2 billion). Kathimerini says the troika will be examining measures to fill half of the gap. Other areas under dispute are the corrected version of the property tax (that is reported to have left a funding gap of €400 million) and a number of prior actions for disbursement of the next batch of aid from the eurozone, initially expected in October. The Greek parliament is expected to vote through the country's budget for next year on 7 December. (EL/transl.fl)