Greek negotiations with its EU partners are taking place in Brussels and Paris with three “institutions” (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) and are no longer focused on a political level but on technical issues. Nonetheless, political discord has intensified between Athens and Berlin, casting a shadow over the technical negotiations before they have begun.
Political Negotiations in Paris
Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is in Paris seeking support after unexpectedly departing from Brussels by train late on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected. Initially, it had been planned that he would stay in Brussels for the day after the Ecofin conference to oversee and coordinate the start of technical consultations with the three institutions, however he hurriedly left for a meeting with his French counterpart Michel Sapin in Paris.
Technical Negotiations in Brussels
The Greek delegation is still in Brussels to work with the three institutions on the final configuration of the complete package of commitments that the Greek government will need to implement over the next 100 days of the “bridge deal” that ends in June before the third Memorandum is prepared in order to loosen the “noose” strangulating the Greek economy.
Athens vs. Berlin
Negotiations are taking place in the shadow of comments made by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Tuesday night stating that Varoufakis is “looking for enemies” and that time was wasted for no reason. Meanwhile, foreign publications warn that Greece is facing cash flow problems and is in danger of not being able o make its payments over the coming weeks of March.
On his part, State Minister Nikos Pappas responded to the Schaeuble’s statements by stating that Schaeuble’s plan was “to stifle Greece” and his attitude was “incompatible with a united and democratic Europe.”
No “Troika in Athens
Plans for a group of representatives from the three institutions formerly known as Troika that were expected to arrive in Greece on Wednesday were suddenly cancelled at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
The government considered it “diplomatically unfair” – using these words – that EU partners should send auditors for spot checks of the Greek economic situation. Athens is insisting that negotiations with Greece’s international creditors should be held “away” from Greece unless it is deemed necessary. The old and familiar images of foreign auditors inspecting Greek accounts and giving orders to ministers is something that the Greek government wants to put an end to.
An announcement on Wednesday said that the talks with the three institutions would eventually take place on Thursday.
