Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis, speaking in Parliament on the 2016 draft budget, expressed optimism that fiscal data will be improved giving the chance to the government to redistribute funds on social measures.

He also mentioned that capital controls will be lifted until the end of 2016.

According to Chouliarakis, 2015 recession is seen at -1.4 percent compared to a previous forecast of -2.3 percent and 2016 recession is estimated at -1.3 percent from -1.5 percent initially forecast.