ATHENS (MNI) – The European Central Bank, the European Commission
and the International Monetary Fund are prepared to discuss a possible
extension of the emergency lending agreement signed with Greece last
May, their representatives said today.
Speaking at a press conference in Athens, after they concluded
their third official followup inspection of the Greek economy, the
officials of the so-called “troika” said there was a question mark over
Greece’s ability to refinance its obligations after 2013, when the
current agreement expires.
IMF representative Paul Thomsen revealed that there are discussions
ongoing and various contingency plans exist regarding the period from
2014 onwards. The options include extending the current agreement or
creating new financing plans, he said. He did not elaborate.
The delegation said that the Greek government is committed to
taking all additional measures that may be needed in order to achieve
its deficit targets for 2011. They said the measures must cover the
revenue shortfall for 2010, as well as the gap created by Eurostat’s
recent upward revision of the 2009 deficit.
They also said that the Greek lending program is at a critical
juncture and that restructural reforms in the health care system, the
broader public sector and in taxation must be implemented.
–Angelika Papamiltiadou, a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com
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