Talks between Greece, institutions to continue but ‘heading toward solution,’ sources say
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
BRUSSELS (ANA/ C. Vasilaki) Greek authorities and the institutions will continue talks on Thursday in order to resolve the issue that has arisen with the suspension of short-term debt relief measures for Greece as soon as possible, European sources said on Wednesday.
The same sources said that the institutions in Brussels were still waiting for the Greek authorities’ to send a letter providing the assurances requested by member-states regarding the social welfare and VAT measures recently passed by Greece’s government. The letter will probably be sent on Thursday, the source said.
According to a Eurozone official, the letter is being drafted after consultations between all the parties involved and will therefore take more time than originally envisaged. The talks were “heading toward a solution,” the same source added, and ruled out the prospect of an emergency Eurogroup meeting.
Greece’s creditors suspended short-term debt relief measures for Greece approved by the Eurogroup on December 5 after the Greek government announced measures awarding a one-off Christmas benefit to low-income pensioners, paid for out of an expected 2016 primary surplus surpassing programme targets, and suspending a VAT hike for islands in the northeast Aegean worst hit by the refugee crisis.A Eurozone source appeared confident that a solution unlocking the debt-relief measures will soon be found:
“We are working constructively with the institutions and Greek authorities, in order to find a solution concerning the implementation of the short-term measures for the debt,” the sources said, adding that the process can be completed “soon”. Consequently, the source added, another emergency EuroWorking Group meeting is not considered necessary.