BRUSSELS Against the wishes of France and Germany, the most powerful members of the European Union (EU), the authorities block yesterday dismissed any possibility of sealing a quick agreement with Greece plan comprehensive reforms and macroeconomic conditions to be met to unblock financial aid vital to the coffers of Athens.
Invited by the President of the European Commission (EC), Jean-Claude Juncker, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, took part in a working lunch with President of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB), when you have less than 24 hours expires within a payment of 300 million euros with the IMF. It is the first of a total of 1.6 billion to be settled Athens this month.
According Dijsselbloem, discussions with Greece will continue in the coming days after the “very good meeting” yesterday.
“I’m optimistic, we are close to an agreement, we have a basis on which to discuss and in the coming days we will further progress. An understanding is in sight,” he said, meanwhile, Tsipras.
Dijsselbloem discarded before entering the meeting that Athens may have a financial injection this week, although an agreement in the coming hours or days is achieved, because it is not technically possible immediate disbursement. “It is a tough job to do,” said the Dutchman.
Yesterday’s meeting, however, sought to steer a consensus on a list of reforms that permit the transfer of a section of 7.2 billion euros of Greek rescue plan, blocked since last year, shortly after the coming to power of Syriza, a party of the radical left who had threatened not to pay the debts and leave the euro zone.
An agreement between allow both parties to initiate discussions on a possible third save.
Optimistic, French President Francois Hollande said that a possible agreement with Greece was “a few days, a few hours” to be achieved. Hollande yesterday held a new meeting with Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Before traveling to Brussels with a 46-page proposal, Tsipras asked to avoid the division. “I am sure that European leaders will do what is necessary and will join the side of realism,” he added
.
Although the elected Greek government in January promised to end the settings, Tsipras acknowledged yesterday that as part of agreements to unblock financial aid had to make a number of concessions.
“We know that these concessions will be difficult, but present a realistic proposal for a Greek exit from the crisis. A realistic plan whose acceptance by institutions, creditors and our partners in Europe to mark the stages of division of the continent, “he said.
The document contains the reforms and adjustment measures with which Athens creditors expected to unblock 7200 million euros. According to Greek press reports, Athens foresees a VAT reform, the gradual unification of the pension funds, the removal of early retirement and acceleration of the privatization process.
“Most of the measures presented by the Greek government are taxes, some on privatization. There are also elements of pensions and the labor market, but they are not ambitious enough, they are not sufficient to achieve the necessary fiscal consolidation, “a source familiar with the negotiations.
So, it was expected yesterday that the basis of the meeting was the proposed reforms submitted to the Greek government by the three institutions with trading Athens and not list Tsipras, who had been prepared to week and advanced to Berlin and Paris.
The differences between the parties focus on the primary surplus target, labor reforms and VAT.
On this last point, Greece offers maintain three VAT rates (6%, 11% and 23%) to raise additional 1 billion euros, while European negotiators call 2000 Million with two types of taxes.
agencies AFP, EFE, DPA, and ANSA .
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