Athens must continue along the path of reforms to safeguard the integrity of the euro area. This is the message that arrived today from Palazzo Chigi, where Prime Minister Mario Monti met with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at the international meeting of the group of Christian Democrats and the center. Just today the Troika (EU, ECB and IMF) has given the go-ahead to an important reform developed by the Greek Executive: the raising of the retirement age from 65 to 67 years.
“President Monti and Prime Minister Samaras reaffirmed their conviction on the absolute the need to safeguard the integrity of the eurozone, stabilize the markets and proceed with the process of European integration along the lines dictated by the report of the President of the EU Council, Herman Van Rompuy”, reads the note.
Monti "praised the work that Prime Minister Samaras is carrying out and encouraged the Greek Government to continue in this direction - continues the statement -, consolidating public finances and implementing all the necessary reforms, which are an essential condition for re-establishing economic growth and support employment”.
The Professor's agenda today is particularly busy. After Samaras, Monti is receiving in the government building Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. Later, there will also be a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Madrid today received good news from the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, who revealed that the recapitalization needs of Spanish banks are lower than expected: about 40 billion euros, not 100 as budgeted by Brussels. Meanwhile, negotiations continue between Europe and Spain on the new reforms to be put in the pipeline to allow Madrid to access ESM funds and the ECB to start unlimited purchases of bonds on the secondary market. Together with the news arriving from Athens, these are positive signs in view of theDecisive Eurogroup on 8 October.
