Programme
IMF distances itself from budget talks, leaving Athens and EU to hammer out deal
The International Monetary Fund has officially indicated that although it believes Greece should implement the pension cuts it has agreed for next year, it will leave it up to Athens and its European lenders to come to an arrangement over the 2019 budget.
Athens aims for November agreement with lenders on pension cuts
It appears that Greece and its European lenders will attempt to settle the pension cuts issue at a special Eurogroup meeting that is due to take place on November 19 with the primary aim of preparing eurozone reform measures for the European Council to discuss in December.
Athens edges towards compromise on pension cuts but may have to plug fiscal gap
It appears that the institutions are set to grant the Greek government’s request regarding the cancellation of the pension cuts that were due to kick in next year, but reports suggest that Athens and its lenders may still need to agree on a way to bridge an apparent fiscal gap in 2019.
Athens to send draft budget to Brussels after talks with IMF on pensions
The Greek government is expected to submit to the European Commission a version of its 2019 budget that is along the lines of the draft plan submitted to Greek Parliament on October 1, which includes a scenario in which the 1 percent of GDP in pension cuts agreed with the institutions are applied and one in which they are not.
Eurogroup suggests there is scope for pension cuts to be called off
The Greek government was given the clearest indication yet on Monday that its European lenders may agree to its request to scrap the pension cuts that are due to be implemented from the start of next year.
Question mark over pension cuts in 2019 draft budget as Athens looks to lenders
The Greek government will not include next year’s pension cuts in the 2019 draft budget due to be submitted to Parliament on Monday as it steps up its efforts to scrap the measure, which was pre-legislated last year.
Athens prepares 2019 draft budget amid pension cuts dilemma
The Greek government is set to take the next step in its efforts to call off next year’s pension cuts, when it submits the draft 2019 budget but finds itself in a delicate balancing act between domestic political pressures and the creditors’ concerns.
Tsakalotos states case on pension cuts in bid to overcome lenders' reluctance
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos is due to speak with investors in London on Thursday but it is the discussion with the institutions over next year’s pension cuts, rather than market access or investments, that is topping the agenda at home.
No imminent decision on pension cuts as Athens moves ahead with minimum wage increase
The latest indications received by the Greek government from its lenders suggest that a final decision on whether next year’s pension cuts will have to be implemented will not be taken before the Eurogroup meeting on December 3.
Lenders' visit concludes with no firm answer on pension cuts
The first post-programme inspection by the institutions is due to be wrapped up on Friday with no final decision on whether the pension cuts due to be implemented next year will be called off, but with the Greek government confident that it will be granted this concession by its lenders.