Programme
Lenders put spotlight back on pending reforms ahead of second post-MoU review
As Greece approaches the six-month mark after officially exiting its final bailout programme, the government’s to-do list still remains substantial.
New court verdict adds to concern about impact of backpay on fiscal balance
Another court decision on backpay has revived fears that in the months to come the Greek government could be facing an additional spending outlay that may threaten to derail plans to maintain a primary surplus of 3.5 percent of GDP until 2022.
Fresh reminder about pending reforms for Athens, which remains confident on goals
Speaking at the Capital Link Forum in New York on Tuesday, a day after European Commission official Declan Costello had issued another reminder that Athens must ensure it completes its pending reforms on time, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos appeared confident that there would not be any delays.
Athens moves quickly to scrap pension cuts as Eurogroup inches forward on euro reform
The Greek government wasted no time following the conclusion of the Eurogroup on Tuesday, as it submitted to Parliament draft legislation that will lead to the pension cuts that had been lined up for next year being cancelled.
After 2019 budget, lenders turn attention to Greek post-MoU reform tasks
Greece is not expected to feature prominently at Monday’s Eurogroup but eurozone finance ministers are expected to give the 2019 budget the final green light and urge Athens to quickly shift its attention to the 16 post-programme actions that have to be completed by February.
European Commission approves 2019 budget, urges focus to meet end of year reform goals
As part of the European semester package, the European Commission issued on Wednesday the first report for Greece under the enhanced surveillance framework that came into effect following the conclusion of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme last August.
Athens prepares final 2019 budget after green light to ditch pension cuts
The government is set to submit the final version of the 2019 budget to Parliament on Wednesday without the pension cuts that were pre-legislated in 2017 but with the so-called “positive” measures announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Thessaloniki Expo in September.
Athens and lenders search for budget compromise by Thursday's EWG
Greece and the European institutions appear to be just days away from a compromise over next year’s budget, although the form that their agreement will take is a matter of some dispute.
Lenders focus on closing any fiscal gap for 2019 ahead of November 19 Eurogroup
Monday’s Eurogroup did not provide any definitive answers regarding the negotiations between Greece and the institution over the 2019 budget but the indications are that Athens will be allowed to scrap next year’s pension cuts if it can re-assure the lenders that the 3.5 percent of GDP primary surplus will not be put at risk.
Athens ready to start legislating fiscal measures despite ongoing talks over 2019 budget
All eyes will be on the dispute of Italy’s budget at Monday’s Eurogroup, but in Greece the government is preparing to start legislating fiscal measures even though the disagreement over its own economic plan for 2019 does not seem to have been settled yet.