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This article was published on February 24, 2015 at 09:47.
The last change is the February 24, 2015 at 13:41.
The greek government sent to Brussels a list of the reforms required by the Eurogroup for the understanding on debt. The list has arrived “on time,” said a spokesman for the European Commission. The finance ministers of the euro zone agreed last Friday to renew for another four months the aid program for Greece, due to expire at the end of February, but on condition that Athens present and adopt a list of reforms.
For the EU list of Athens’ is sufficiently comprehensive to be a valuable starting point for a successful conclusion of the review of the program, as requested by the Eurogroup “and” is encouraged by the strong commitment to combat tax evasion and corruption. ” So EU sources: “Additional specifications are expected before the end of April.”
The list “with a first list of reforms” of the greek government has been sent a letter from the Minister of Finance, Yanis Varoufakis, the president of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and representatives of the Commission, ECB and IMF “around midnight”, indicate sources of the European Commission. The dispatch was preceded by a “constructive dialogue” between the Greek authorities and the three institutionsR 17; throughout the weekend, “but – it is emphasized -” the key to a successful conclusion of the review of the program will be ready and determined application of all reform commitments. ”
Dijsselbloem: government greek very serious, but the negotiations will not be easy
Responding to questions from MEPs of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, the President of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem spoke of “seriousness” of the new government greek. “It’s a new government and a political vision very different from the previous one. So, they want some change in the agreement. Now we have to see if the plan guarantees the achievement of the objectives in terms of public finances, financial stability and growth “of Greece. Flexibility “has always been in the program and allows you to change the measures, prejudice to the objectives” and “this is what he wants the new government greek.” “There must be, however – he continued – a strong co-operation, you can not make unilateral moves at least until Athens wants new funds from the eurozone.” Dijsselbloem does not deny the difficulties in the negotiations: “The agreement on Friday is only a first step, it is not a new agreement but only a list of measures. It will take time to design a new agreement in order to obtain an extension of four months. ” The possibility of the output of Greece from the Eurozone, finally, “is not really on the table, not just talk about it and not if they have never discussed. We just have to continue to work together and this is my commitment, “confirmed the President of the Euro.”
The Eurogroup teleconference
The finance ministers of the euro on the agenda at 14 a conference call to discuss the list of reforms presented yesterday night from Athens. The list has already been assessed in the morning by the European and international institutions responsible for payment in Athens (IMF, ECB and EU Commission) for a first opinion. For now, therefore, precise Dijsselbleom, “I can not make an assessment of the proposals,” it is “only a first step and is still much work to do.” An agreement “will be possible at the latest by the end of April” and only examination concluded it will be possible to transfer the funds to Greece.
The content of the letter
The greek government has pledged to reform its tax system, with initiatives for the fight against tax evasion, and to review the pension system, consolidating pension funds and eliminating incentives for early retirement. The document also provides interventions to control expenditure and reform of public wage increases that new blocks without intervening on dips.
The plan calls for “a new smart approach on collective bargaining to balance flexibility with fairness. This includes the ambition to increase the minimum wage “but” it will be done in consultation with the European institutions. “
Other points of the plan: review the VAT because it does not have a” negative impact on social justice “and avoid” unjustified discounts. ” Reinforce the concepts of “fraud and evasion,” replace the exemptions with social measures ‘to ensure that all areas of society, especially the wealthy, contribute a fair share’ spending.
Athens is committed with Brussels not to block the privatizations completed or have already begun. “Greece will respect the privatization for which has already started an auction and will review those for which no process has been established.” The government Tsipras also undertakes “not to revoke privatization already completed.”
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