EuroGroup meeting (4pm) to decide (?) Greek debt

Ministers expected to ratify second review

Greece hopes to achieve a so-called “global deal” at Monday’s EuroGroup meeting which is scheduled to start at 4pm (Greek time). The aim of the Greek side at the meeting to ensure a wording in the final document detailing the interim measures on the Greek debt reduction. The outcome at the EuroWorking Group which will convene earlier, is expected to set the tone at the subsequent EuroGroup gathering. As things stand now, members of the EuroGroup will ratify the second review of the Greek bailout program after the 4th memorandum was passed in Greek parliament last week. In the event that a global deal is not achieved at the meeting, an emergency EuroGroup will be summoned within the next days, before the next regular meeting on June 15. Meanwhile, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said that there were no more excuses for delaying a solution on the Greek debt issue, expressing optimism that a definitive complete solution could be attained at Monday’s EuroGroup on the Greek debt, allowing Greece to participate in the ECB’s QA program. Earlier on Saturday the German Finance Ministry had made it clear that any talks on the Greek debt would only take place after the successful ending of the current bailout program in 2018, dampening any optimism expressed by the Greek government. The main issue is whether Germany, which has not budged on its position on the Greek debt, will find common grounds with the IMF that has made it clear that action is needed on the sustainability of the Greek debt before it agrees to participate in the program. Another significant matter which is expected to cause friction is the primary surplus targets set in the program for Greece, which the IMF claims is unrealistic over a long term.