There are still huge differences between Greece and its lenders on EKAS (social solidarity allowance for pensioners) and non-performing loans issues, since no agreement reached during yesterday’s teleconference attended by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis and Alternate Finance Minister Giorgos Chouliarakis and the representatives of the institutions.

As government officials said, the government insists that pensioners will not be called to return EKAS retrospectively, but the institutions have not agreed on how to cover this fiscal gap, by using either 2015 primary surplus or state budget reverse, as the government suggested.

Moreover, there is still a great gap between Greece and its lenders on the non-performing loans, since the institutions demand that non-performing loans with Greek state standing as guarantor should be sold in funds.