BRUSSELS (MNI) – Eurozone finance ministers have agreed to release
the EU’s share of an E8 billion aid payment to Greece after receiving
written commitments from the government in Athens and from the leaders
of Greek political parties, Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the
Eurogroup, said late Tuesday.
Juncker said that he will respond to the Greek authorities to
reconfirm their commitment to fully implement the conditions of an E130
billion bailout plan, as well as a partial writedown of privately held
Greek sovereign debt demanded by EU leaders at their summit on October
27.
Greece’s Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos told reporters that
the IMF will meet on December 5 to decide whether to disburse its E2.2
billion contribution to the aid payment. The EU’s share is E5.8 billion.
Juncker said Athens should receive the money by mid-December. He
also urged that negotiations for a 50% writeoff of Greek sovereign bonds
by the country’s private creditors be expedited with an eye to reaching
an agreement in January.
Venizelos said that inspectors from the European Commission, the
IMF and the European Central Bank are expected to return to Athens in
December and will determine the exact timetable for implementation of
the private sector debt agreement.
He added that negotiations with the Institute of International
Finance, which is representing private banks in the debt talks,
recommenced today. The Eurogroup is expected to advise Greece in the
implementation of the debt accord, once it is finalized.
–Angelika Papamiltiadou; a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com
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