The hours leading up to the decisive meeting on Monday in Brussels, which can determine the permanence or Greek exit from the euro zone, have been intense for the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, who heard his executive and multiplied into contact with European leaders, which presented new proposals.
The head of the Athens government on Sunday chaired a Council of Ministers and called, according to his office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President, Francois Hollande, and President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. European sources said they also spoke with the director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde.
Tsipras had predicted still travel on Sunday to Brussels, where on Monday arise discussions decisive for the permanence, or exit of Greece from the euro zone. European source said the Greek leader was in contact with Juncker on Saturday and should meet with him even before the meeting of ministers of the Eurogroup, mid-morning, and the turning point is the summit of Heads of Government of countries the single currency, in the evening.
The Greek government said it also planned a meeting of Tsipras to the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk on Monday, and its presence in an enlarged meeting called by this. At this meeting will participate Juncker, Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, and the head of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem. The ECB also called a meeting to assess the situation of emergency lending to Greek banks.
“There is no time to lose” and “every second has its importance,” said Francois Hollande, already after It has been reported contacts made by Tsipras. The French President spoke in Milan, next to the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who thinks that the conditions for an agreement “beneficial for everyone.” “It would be a mistake not to take advantage of this window of opportunity,” the Italian leader, which proved optimistic a “positive conclusion”.
The president’s main Greek bank also believes that there will be understanding. “I think that common sense will prevail, there will be an agreement,” said Louka Katseli, President of the National Bank of Greece, former Minister of Economy by the socialists of Pasok, in an interview with BBC.
Failure an understanding that will allow the release of a tranche EUR 7200 million previously agreed loans is dependent on the current negotiations and a failure could prevent Greece to pay EUR 1600 million should repay the IMF . until the end of the month
The Tsipras cabinet statement said that the telephone contacts with European leaders keep the language commonly used by Greek negotiators – says that its proposals seek a “mutually beneficial agreement.” It also states that “should lead to a permanent solution and not temporary” debt problem.
There is in advance if the proposals Tsipras announced the partners are new or will meet the demanded by the EU, ECB and IMF. Several European leaders have said that without new proposals of no avail meetings on Monday.
Possible compromise
Bloomberg agency reported, however, that among the measures discussed on Sunday by the Greek Government are new taxes, the end of the early retirement of workers, a tax on companies with incomes above 500,000 euros per year and a “solidarity tax” for people earning more than 30,000 euros.
The Greek private television Mega reported that, in tax terms, Athens is ready to move on VAT on some food or hospitality to increase revenues. For pensions, although no hard data, was advanced that Greece would be receptive to end early retirement already in 2016 and to reduce higher supplementary pensions. Could still keep a controversial tax on real property that had undertaken to eliminate this year. Tsipras will continue, according to the same source, to claim the debt restructuring and to not want to end up with an allowance for pensioners or the 10 points increase in VAT for electricity.
On Saturday, the Minister of State Alekos Flambouraris, had suggested the possibility of adjustments to approximate positions, provided there is agreement on two conditions “indispensable”: acceptance by creditors of fiscal loosening and a debt restructuring – the latter is a condition that Athens attaches particular importance. In an interview with the Ethnos , another cabinet minister, Nikos Pappas said that the Government does not accept cuts in pensions and wages and insisted on a debt restructuring.
No comments:
Post a Comment