Talks between Greece and Troika to resume on Tuesday, April 25

Creditors to push immediate implementation of harsh austerity measures

Talks between the Greek team and the country’s creditors are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 25 in Athens, as the representatives of the Troika are expected to land in Athens. According to sources, talks between the two sides to reach an agreement on the conclusion of the delayed second review on the bailout program, which would release a tranche to the embattled country, will last till the end of the week. The negotiations will focus on achieving a technical staff deal, allowing the May 22 EuroGroup to announce a final conclusion to the second review. Such a technical staff level agreement would be reached under the condition that the Tsipras government agree to legislate a package of harsh measures amounting to 3.6 billion euros, which would would be implemented after the completion of the curet program in 2019-2020. These measures include further cuts in pensions and a reduction on the tax fee threshold level, demands the creditors want realised in order to disburse funds to pay off loans in the upcoming months that end in summer. The Greek authorities are coming off last week’s positive news of a 3.9% primary surplus for 2016, which Eurostat is expected to verify on later on Monday, claiming the news proved it can deliver on its promises. Sources says that the creditors are pushing for the new set of measures to be passed by may 15, while the Greek government had not yet received the draft agreement between the IMF and the European lenders until Sunday. The Greek Finance Minister, Euclid Tsakalotos is aware that the harsh austerity measures will take effect immediately, but he hopes to have a technical level agreement in his hand before the May 22 EuroGroup meeting, where he will be hoping to get some promises from the Europeans regarding a debt relief. On its part the IMF made it clear that it would not push for any details regarding the immediate measures, but would be satisfied with a general outline.