Programme
Bailout talks resume with key issues pending and contingency measures emerging
The International Monetary Fund spring meetings and the discussions of Greek authorities with eurozone and IMF top officials on the sidelines did not yield any meaningful results apart from a proposal apparently made by the institutions for contingent measures of up to 2 percent of GDP (3.6 billion euros) to bridge the difference between the IMF and the eurozone partners on the fiscal gap to 2018.
EU and IMF bailout drafts confirm conditionality as well as differences on primary surplus
Two separate draft documents for the conclusion of the ongoing review were published over the weekend in the Greek media that demonstrate broad convergence in the overall conditionality between the eurozone institutions and the International Monetary Fund on the key policy measures and actions.
Greek bailout talks yet to conclude as start of IMF meetings approaches
Discussions between the Greek government and the mission chiefs continued over the weekend and will resume on Monday at 3pm with an agreement on the key issues of the first programme review remaining elusive over the past few days.
Greece expects review to be completed by May 1 despite IMF objections
In a non-paper released on Thursday night, the Finance Ministry provided an update on the progress made so far in the first programme review.
Range of issues unresolved as programme talks resume in Athens
The Greek government and the mission chiefs representing its lenders are scheduled to resume discussions on the first programme review in Athens on Monday afternoon after a two-week break for Catholic Easter.
This is how things stand as bailout talks head for a brief pause
The Greek government and the institutions seem to have reached a consensus on a fiscal gap in the region of 3 percent of GDP for Greece to meet the primary surplus target of 3.5 percent of GDP in 2018. There is also convergence on the type of fiscal interventions required to achieve this target, broadly stemming from pension reform, tax overhaul and a combination of other measures, each fetching 1 percent of GDP.
Some progress made as Greek programme review heads for break
Greece and its lenders concluded on Sunday the current phase of bailout discussions, which started in Athens on March 9, but with no agreement on the issues that are preventing a conclusion of the first review of the third programme.
Athens and creditors edge closer on tax and pensions but gap remains on NPLs
Following Thursday’s meeting between Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos and mission chiefs, the former appeared optimistic that an agreement on pension reform could be clinched by Saturday.
Greece and lenders hold inconclusive talks on tax and pensions
Following meetings between the Greek finance and labour ministers with the mission chiefs on Wednesday, it appears that most key issues remain unresolved, while notable gaps still exist between the two sides.
Greece and lenders seen making progress on privatisation fund but not on NPLs
Although considerable gaps still exist between the mission chiefs and the government on the key issues of fiscal and tax measures as well as pension reform, progress has been reportedly made on the new privatisation fund.