The release of a double tranche totaling 3.5 billion euros to Greece is expected to be approved today by the Governing Board of the IMF, which will discuss the evaluation report of our country.

According to sources, the report prepared by Thomsen’s team points out the need for additional funding to Greece for the first half of 2015, in order to cover the country’s financial needs. According to the IMF, these needs cannot be met by the markets, as it would significantly increase the borrowing costs of our country and adversely affect on the sustainability of public debt.

IMF officials seem to be pointing in the direction of a third loan grant from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), to Greece, since the alternative use of the EFSF’s 11 billion “cushion” is opposed by the Fund’s technocrats.