Samaras and Venizelos decide on "red lines" for the Troika negotiations

Earlier Monday evening Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki and Labour Minister Yannis Vroutsis.

The discussion included the issues related to mobility, but also the outstanding issues that will have to be closed in view of Troika’s return to Athens early December.

Samaras will meet tomorrow with Deputy Prime Minister and PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos. According to PASOK sources, the meeting will be held after the meeting of the Government Council for Administrative Reform, scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 pm.

Stournaras: We will find a solution with the Troika

After the meeting with Samaras, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras estimated that a solution will be found in the negotiations with the Troika and that it must be found before Greece assumes the presidency of the EU, which means before the new year.

Vroutsis: No question of reducing wages and pensions in SOEs and banks

Labour Minister Yannis Vroutsis, after the meeting, ruled out the possibility of reducing wages and pensions in SOEs and banks, a measure allegedly demanded by the Troika. "We are not discussing any question of reducing wages and pensions. Such a requirement will not be accepted. I think, now, it is not needed. Greece is doing well and we are on the right track."

He also expressed his optimism that the negotiations will be completed by December 9, before the next scheduled Eurogroup meeting.