Brussels, 27/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 27 November, the European Commission adopted an extremely cautious attitude regarding the next stages in events following the end of talks in Paris between Athens and its creditors, with the aim of giving new impetus to efforts to conclude the final monitoring mission of the bailout plan.
The initial objective was to resume the mission and conclude it before the Eurogroup meeting of 8 December, so that the finance ministers can make the necessary decisions on the programme exit. However, the troika has refused to resume its mission to Athens until the Greeks have made the required efforts. A two-day meeting was therefore held in Paris. According to reports in the Greek press, the major stumbling block relates to the scale of the effort to be made next year to achieve the budgetary objectives.
“We held intensive and constructive discussions on the key sectors in which reforms are expected; we will continue the dialogue and the objective remains the conclusion of the monitoring mission”, said Mina Andreeva, spokesperson to the Commission. Sources within the European institution states that all efforts are centred on concluding the mission and not at all on putting together a 'plan B' in the event that the adjustment programme tied into the bailout plan is extended. As far as another member of the 'troika' (Commission, ECB, IMF) is concerned, it is expected that an extension of the programme is virtually inevitable, as the mission is taking longer than anticipated. The details for any such extension are more a matter for the Euro group at the Council (which discussed the Greek plan on Thursday: Ed) and the Eurogroup, the source explained.
On Thursday, the Greek Deputy Prime Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, said that the aim was still the payment of the final tranche of eurozone aid before the end of December, when the programme expires, Reuters reports. He added that for technical reasons, the programme could be extended by a couple of days or a week. In Athens and in Thessalonica, more than 25,000 people took to the streets in protest against the continuation of the austerity policy and public and private sector unions observed a 24-hour general strike. (EL)