Eurogroup President Dijsselbloem confirmed that finance ministers have reached an agreement to prepare a definitive understanding with Greece. The measures that will be taken by the government, he indicated at the conclusion of the Eurogroup meeting, concern the labor market and taxation and attention will also be shifted to social measures to support growth and employment. “We are not talking about austerity alone,” Dijsselbloem pointed out.
“The position of the IMF is unchanged – added Dijsselbloem -, they have a strong will to participate but their request is always to have a serious program and sustainable debt, so the next steps must be with the IMF”. Meanwhile, he reiterated, "there are no deadlines" and "nor serious liquidity needs" for Greece since the next big payment deadline is "in the summer".
For the head of the ESM, Klaus Regling, Athens may need fewer resources than the third aid package provides. “Half of the bailout program is behind us. We paid 32 billion. By the end of the plan in 2018 we will pay less than the 86 billion agreed".
