21/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 21 February, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the Eurogroup, Mário Centeno, appointed Joaquín Almunia, former Vice-President of the European Commission, to act as high-level independent evaluator in respect of financial assistance provided to the Hellenic Republic between 2010 and 2018 (see EUROPE 12046, 12077). The evaluation in question will be carried out with the assistance of MES staff and external experts. Mr Almunia is expected to prepare and submit a report to the Board of Governors on this matter in June 2020. A similar evaluation was already carried out in 2017 regarding the rescue packages provided to Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Greece until 2014 (see EUROPE 11809). (LT)