Eurozone finance ministers agreed yesterday to give the green light for the return of the mission chiefs to Greece so that deliberations on the pending review can continue on the ground.
The heads of the institutions will return to Athens on Tuesday, sources with knowledge of the talks taking place at Monday’s Eurogroup said.
The same sources said that Eurozone finance ministers were informed by Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem that talks on debt relief for Greece will start on April.
On his part, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed statements by the Eurogroup on Monday according to which Greek debt relief talks will start as soon as the first program review has concluded.
“We welcome the Eurogroup’s commitment to proceed with debt relief as soon as the review of the program is completed,” he tweeted on his official account.
Dijsselbloem-Moscovici dialogue on debt caught on microphone
After the end of a joint press conference on the outcomes of Eurogoup meeting, the Head of Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem was caught on microphone admitting at European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici that he intentionally provoked a Greek debt relief debate.
“I think you launched a huge debate on debt relief,” Moscovici told Dijsselbloem regarding an answer he gave to reporters.
“I did it on purpose!” Dijsselbloem replied.
IMF sets a lower bar
The International Monetary Fund and European lenders decided to make mutual concessions on Greek program review and the ‘Quartet’ is expected to return to Athens on Thursday evening to meet with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and try conclude the review.
Greece’s lenders do not want to put more pressure on Greece because of the refugee, while the IMF will set a lower bar regarding its requirements for primary surplus. Instead of 3.5% of GDP, IMF’s representatives are willing to discuss about 2% of primary surplus, according to sources, meaning the measures for 2018 and beyond will be 2 billion euros less.
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