Programme
Having failed to resolve differences, Greece and lenders enter new week of talks
After calm summer, hectic September lies ahead for Greek government
Although August appears to be a relatively quiet month for the government, particularly compared to the previous months and last year, there is a list of 15 prior actions the government is supposed to implement by mid-September to receive the next aid tranche of 2.8 billion euros.
Finance Ministry says revenues beat revised target by 105 mln in July
In response to Wednesday’s press reports noting that net revenues in July fell short of their target by more than 500 million euros, the Finance Ministry (MoF) clarified via a non-paper that July revenues actually outperformed, but compared to a revised target.
![Photo via IMF photostream on Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/photos/imfphoto/]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2014/08/11/imf_439_1108-medium.jpg "Photo via IMF photostream on Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/photos/imfphoto/]")
IMF’s independent evaluation office identifies mistakes and challenges in Greece’s first programme
The IMF published on Thursday afternoon a report on the key findings and lessons from the IMF’s engagement in the Irish and Portuguese programmes and the first Greek programme. The report, by the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), concludes with a number of recommendations on improving the IMF’s effectiveness in the future.
Moscovici tries to kill discussion of primary surplus targets as easing of capital controls cleared
European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici sought to kill off the discussion about lowering Greece’s post-2018 primary surplus targets when he visited Athens on Monday.
Lenders flag up minimum wage, trade union law among issues to be examined in next review
In a 21-page report that was submitted by the institutions to the Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos at the end of June and was leaked by Greek daily Eleftheros Typos on Sunday, the country’s lenders detail their proposals on the labour market reforms, which would form the base of discussions in the context of the second programme review.
Technical MoU provides more detail on fiscal brake, arrears and privatisations
The technical memorandum of understanding (MoU) that supports the supplemental MoU, which was compiled after the completion of the first programme review, contains some interesting revelations on several issues related to the fiscal brake, arrears clearance and the state-owned entities that will be transferred to the new privatisation and investment fund.
Tsakalotos confident on meeting fiscal targets, sees capital controls being gradually relaxed
In an interview with state broadcaster ERT on Monday night, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos appeared confident this year’s primary surplus target (0.5 percent of GDP) will be met and the fiscal brake would not be triggered next year or in the coming years.
Lenders' report reveals long-term savings from pension reform, which also offset court ruling
The compliance report for the first programme review published by the European Commission (EC) last week revealed, among others, the long term fiscal impact of the pension reform arising from the measures legislated in the summer of 2015 as well as from those recently voted through Parliament.
Commission sees lower Greek financing needs, provides timetable for course of programme
Along with an updated debt sustainability analysis (DSA), the European Commission’s (EC) compliance report for the first programme review included an update on Greece’s financing needs.