Greece and its lenders could not agree on the debt relief the night to Tuesday.
But they are very close and aiming at a settlement at the next eurogroup meeting on 15 June.
It said the president of the eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem at a press conference after the eurogroup meeting around midnight.
”We have made tremendous progress. I think we are very close to a settlement,” he said.
When it comes to conclude the second review of Greece’s rescue programme – which meant that Greece should decide on the 140 reform measures – is the eurogroup and the IMF very close to giving the go-ahead.
Ekonomikommissionär Pierre Moscovici said that Greece has now decided on the 115 of the 140 measures.
A green light that all actions have been implemented would make it possible to approve the next tranche of emergency loans to Greece.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem said, however, not clear whether the euro area countries set as conditions by the IMF to fully participate in the. for they themselves shall decide on the payment of their emergency loans.
So far the IMF has not contributed with emergency loans, but only with the comments and requirements in the design of reform programmes.
Concerning the course of Greece’s budget balance after räddningsprogrammets end 2018 managed the euro countries and the IMF now agree that the primary budget surplus to at least reach 3.5 per cent by 2022.
Thereafter, the stability pact, the normal rules apply.
Monday’s eurogroup meeting discussed for the first time, debt relief in depth, said Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
The IMF has asked debt relief as a requirement for their full participation. This has prevented the eurozone countries do not decide on debt relief until after the räddningsprogrammets the end of 2018.
”I think we are very near a deal on debt relief. New alternatives or adjustments of expectations would bring us to a conclusion at the next eurogruppsmötet about three weeks,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
The negotiations between the eurozone countries and the IMF, among other things, extended repayment period and deferment. But a settlement must remain within the framework that the euro area countries ruled in may 2016, said Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
And skuldlättnaderna should only be put in when needed, he stressed.
Tradingportalen/Agency Directly.
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