In Athens on Tuesday 3 July, Pierre Moscovici, the Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, presented the agreement reached at the Eurogroup on Thursday 21 June on the exit from the third Greek bailout plan (see EUROPE 12046), describing the step as the “start of a new era ” for the Hellenic Republic.
His meetings with Prokopios Pavlopoulos, the Greek President, Euclide Tsakalotos, the finance minister, and the members of a number of parliamentary committees of the Vouli were all held against a backdrop of optimism.
At a joint press conference with Tsakalotos, Moscovici referred to a “solid and credible” agreement on the end of the third bailout plan, on Monday 20 August. He referred to three key points: - the long-term growth strategy; - debt relief measures, and; - the post-bailout plan supervisory framework. The Commissioner also took pains to stress that “there won't be any more programmes for Greece”.
“The agreement on reducing the debt is in line with our ambitions and requirements”, he also told the MPs. The measures on the debt should, he said, make it possible to meet the economic challenges to stimulate job creation and tackle inequality, whilst providing the necessary guarantees to partners and investors to facilitate Greece's return to the markets.
Moscovici also stressed the fact that Athens has returned to autonomy and normality. “It will start in the autumn with the presentation of a draft budget for 2019 in the framework of the 'European Semester' process”, he said.
Finally, beyond economic and political considerations, the Commissioner praised the efforts made by the Greek people and their leaders in recent years, acknowledging that these efforts have had a considerable social impact. He concluded by saying he was pleased that a “new European adventure was starting for Greece, in which it sees Europe as more than just sanctions and constraints, as Greece's destiny is – and will remain – resolutely European”. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)