Brussels, 31/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - The question of debt relief for Greece must be part of the discussions on the first monitoring mission of the third Greek bailout plan, according to the chair of the economic and monetary affairs committee of the European Parliament, Roberto Gualtieri.
“We hope that the first review of the third programme will be concluded quickly and successfully, including an agreement on debt relief”, the Italian Social Democrat said in Athens on Wednesday 30 March, following a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
In early March, the Eurogroup agreed to open discussions on debt relief for Greece in the framework of the first monitoring mission of the creditors of Athens, whereas initially, this sensitive issue was not supposed to have been discussed until the mission was completed (see EUROPE 11506). The fact remains that the creditors' line in the sand has not moved: there will be no haircut on the Greek securities.
At the head of a delegation of 12 members of the European Parliament in Athens on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 March, Gualtieri praised the efforts of the Greek government towards achieving its budgetary objectives and carrying out structural reforms with a view to creating a balance between boosting economic competitiveness and social justice, with Greece facing a humanitarian crisis involving 50,000 migrants on its territory. One of the stumbling blocks between Greece and its creditors regards pensions reform, with the creditors having described the reform project as ambitious when it was tabled. Athens, furthermore, has openly criticised the IMF's requests in terms of budgetary consolidation.
Discussions between the Greek government and the representatives of Greece's creditors will resume in Athens on Monday 4 April with the aim of completing the monitoring mission at the end of that month. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)