Samaras and Venizelos looking to solve problems with Troika
02.12.2013
10:16
All open issues will be discussed - We will not back off to the unreasonable Troika demands, the coalition’s common message
Samaras and Venizelos will discuss at today's meeting at 18:00 in Maximos Mansion the problems in the negotiations with the Troika and the strategy to be followed by the Greek government.
The Greek government says "we want to close the discussion as soon as possible but without the excessive demands of the Troika." They say there's no way to drop their requirements and thus jeopardize political stability and social cohesion for the coming months. Auctions of the first residence, property tax, the defense industry and the recent request for release of layoffs in the private sector are the problematic issues while some steps have been made in the 2014 budget gap where the Greek side has fallen from 500 million euros to 1.5 billion. For the auctions and the EAS (Greek Defence Systems) there have been public commitments that the first will be protected for those proven unable to pay and the second will undergo consolidation while in operation by maintaining its export orientation.
Indicative of the intransigent attitude of the Troika is that it did not return to Greece today as it has not been convinced on the open issues. A deal before the Eurogroup of December 9 is now considered impossible and the Greek government's goal is to find a compromise before the EU summit on December 19 and ratify it by an emergency Eurogroup meeting.
Samaras has said the Greek economy and society have exhausted their limits and can not withstand more because there will be reactions that will destabilize the political system and drive to Greece to very difficult situations amidst the exercise of its EU Presidency. He asks Troika to stop seeing the situation only from an accounting point of view and take into account the political situation in Greece. He insists that after the fiscal adjustment by the enormous sacrifices of the Greek society, the next step should be the structural changes, at a resolute pace that would not cause reform fatigue nor eliminate the effort that has been made.
The Greek government is also concerned with the Troika’s behavior as in recent months it is inconsistent. Sometimes it accepts the progress the country has made and the figures shown by the Greek side and sometimes it insists on extreme positions while bringing forth new issues.
The Greek government says "we want to close the discussion as soon as possible but without the excessive demands of the Troika." They say there's no way to drop their requirements and thus jeopardize political stability and social cohesion for the coming months. Auctions of the first residence, property tax, the defense industry and the recent request for release of layoffs in the private sector are the problematic issues while some steps have been made in the 2014 budget gap where the Greek side has fallen from 500 million euros to 1.5 billion. For the auctions and the EAS (Greek Defence Systems) there have been public commitments that the first will be protected for those proven unable to pay and the second will undergo consolidation while in operation by maintaining its export orientation.
Indicative of the intransigent attitude of the Troika is that it did not return to Greece today as it has not been convinced on the open issues. A deal before the Eurogroup of December 9 is now considered impossible and the Greek government's goal is to find a compromise before the EU summit on December 19 and ratify it by an emergency Eurogroup meeting.
Samaras has said the Greek economy and society have exhausted their limits and can not withstand more because there will be reactions that will destabilize the political system and drive to Greece to very difficult situations amidst the exercise of its EU Presidency. He asks Troika to stop seeing the situation only from an accounting point of view and take into account the political situation in Greece. He insists that after the fiscal adjustment by the enormous sacrifices of the Greek society, the next step should be the structural changes, at a resolute pace that would not cause reform fatigue nor eliminate the effort that has been made.
The Greek government is also concerned with the Troika’s behavior as in recent months it is inconsistent. Sometimes it accepts the progress the country has made and the figures shown by the Greek side and sometimes it insists on extreme positions while bringing forth new issues.
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