Politics
![Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasure.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2013/10/15/acropolis_esenbel_900_1510-medium.jpg "Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasure.com]")
Substantial ground for Greece and lenders to cover before May 9 Eurogroup
A Eurogroup meeting that will potentially be decisive for the conclusion of Greece’s bailout review is due to be held on May 9 but it is still not clear how Athens and its creditors will arrive at an agreement on the process of defining the extra 2 percent of GDP in standby measures needed for the negotiations to be wrapped up successfully.
Greek effort to heal rift with Balkan neighbours may have come too late
A quadrilateral meeting between Greece and three of its Balkan neighbours that took place in Thessaloniki recently may provide a springboard for an improvement in relations that have been severely tested by differing views on the handling of the refugee crisis.
Tension rises in Greece but creditors see potential for agreement soon
Prospects for a deal between Greece and its lenders hang in the balance going into the Orthodox Easter weekend after another round of inconclusive talks on Wednesday.
Failure to agree on contingent measures causes further delay in conclusion of review
Greece and its lenders appear to have hit a new wall in their negotiations over the first bailout review after failing to agree on a mechanism for the automatic implementation of fiscal measures should the programme targets not be met.
Hopes of swift deal on contingent measures doused by technical, political complications
The chances of Greece and its lenders achieving an agreement this week so an emergency Eurogroup can be held on Thursday appear to be receding by the hour.
Mitsotakis takes first step in remoulding New Democracy
Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the first step towards shaping New Democracy according to his vision over the weekend, when the conservative party’s congress resulted in significant gains for the recently-elected leader.
Eurogroup decision on contingent measures, debt leave Tsipras with tough task at home
Friday’s Eurogroup in Amsterdam ended with a clearer picture of what needs to be achieved for Greece to complete its bailout review but with more doubts about whether the government has the political capacity needed to push through the required measures.
Significant fall in migrant arrivals but camp conditions a growing concern
The continuing decline in migrant arrivals is providing Greek authorities with some respite as they tackle the refugee crisis but severe challenges remain at island hotspots and camps on the mainland.
Bailout talks inch forward as Juncker comments complicate matters
Wednesday brought Greece and its lenders closer together in terms of the measures that will be adopted to conclude the bailout review but doubts about how remaining key differences will be bridged were exacerbated by comments from European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker that appeared to support Athens’s position.
Greek-Turkish relations back in focus amid overflights and NATO chief's visit
The state of Greek–Turkish relations will be the main issue under discussion at the National Council of Foreign Affairs to be convened under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, next Tuesday.