MacroPolis

Lenders set to highlight reform delays, leaving fiscal gap concerns until after elections

04/06/2019 - 11:27

The European Commission is due to publish on Wednesday the third enhanced surveillance report, highlighting that recent fiscal interventions by the government have cast doubt over whether this year’s primary surplus target will be reached.

PBO sees fiscal target being reached despite expansionary measures

30/05/2019 - 12:34

In its quarterly report published on Wednesday, Parliament’s Budget Office (PBO) does not share the concerns of the country’s lenders about the impact of the latest expansionary measures on fiscal targets.

Primary surplus target still on lenders' agenda despite snap elections

28/05/2019 - 12:41

There have been reports that the European Commission might not publish its third enhanced surveillance report next week, but it is certain that the issue of meeting this year’s fiscal targets will not disappear for the current Greek government or its successor.

Payment plans for overdue debts launched as Athens looks for revenue boost

23/05/2019 - 13:09

There appears to have been keen interest in the schemes launched this week allowing taxpayers to settle their unpaid taxes and social security contributions in up to 120 instalments, possibly boosting the government’s efforts to convince the institutions that Greece will be able to meet its fiscal targets this year.

IMF highlights bailout shortcomings in latest admission of programme errors

21/05/2019 - 11:17

A new internal evaluation document published by the International Monetary Fund on Monday can be added to the existing material that has been released by the IMF on Greece outlining what a formidable task the country faced in 2010 when it signed the first programme with the eurozone and the Washington-based organisation.

Athens warned about missing fiscal targets rather than changing them unilaterally

17/05/2019 - 10:47

Thursday’s Eurogroup resulted in a warning from European Stability Mechanism managing director Klaus Regling that Greece may miss its primary surplus target this year as a result of the so-called positive measures adopted.

Finance Ministry, Stournaras disagree over fiscal space for expansionary measures

16/05/2019 - 14:09

The Greek government is in an awkward position regarding the expansionary fiscal measures announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last week and adopted by Parliament on Wednesday.

Athens moves ahead with expansionary measures as it waits for lenders' response

14/05/2019 - 15:23

The Greek government is set to find out this week what the institutions think about the package of positive measures submitted to Parliament on Monday and due to be voted into law by Wednesday.

Lenders highlight risks of 'short-term popular' measures unveiled by government

10/05/2019 - 11:22

There has been a highly sceptical reaction from the institutions to the fiscal expansionary measures announced by the Greek government this week, including a reduction to VAT rates and a bonus for pensioners.

Athens plans to use cash buffer to create fiscal leeway for expansionary measures

08/05/2019 - 12:14

The package of expansionary measures announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday is due to be covered by the fiscal space the government expects over the coming years but also creates some doubt about the primary surplus targets agreed with the lenders.