Brussels, 25/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Monday 25 August that the Greek government has set four priorities for its talks in Paris early next month with representatives of the troika of lenders (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund). It reports that the talks have been brought forward to 2 September because of preparatory meetings ahead of the Eurogroup meeting in Milan on 12 September.
Kathimerini says that one of the aims is to persuade the IMF to complete the fifth troika monitoring mission in Athens in mid-September without waiting for the ECB to unveil the findings of its assessment of European banks. Talks on reducing the Greek debt can begin after the fifth troika mission. The IMF says that the ECB test results will provide greater clarity about Greece's financing needs because the tests will determine the fate of the almost €10 billion set aside to cover the needs of Greek banks. The Greek government is then planning to test how their European partners would be willing to back a third bailout for the country when aid from the European financial stability fund (EFSF) ends at the close of 2014. The talks in Paris are designed to pave the way for the monitoring mission proper, and the Greeks would like to learn which of the 600 actions to be taken for September are crucially important. The Greek press explains that Athens wants to avoid delays in the mission due to minor measures. Finally, the Greeks want to discuss the question of tax cuts.
According to the ANSA press agency, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samara, will meet with the president of the next European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to discuss, the agency says, the Greek debt, illegal immigration and Greece's relationship with the troika.
In parallel, in mid-August, the EFSF gave approval for the disbursement of a loan sub-instalment of €1 billion following the late completion by Greece of the milestones for June. Shortly beforehand, national experts held a special meeting where they noted progress made in Greece (see EUROPE 11124). The reform package was endorsed by a slender majority (50 to 47) in the Greek parliament on 6 August. In a press release, the Greek Finance Ministry welcomed receipt of the aid, which Greece needed to meet its payment deadlines in August. It said that payment of the aid had been made possible through significant structural reforms that would be beneficial for the Greek economy in the long term. After this disbursement, €1.8 billion will remain available for Greece from the EESF. (EL)