The Greek Minister for Labour, Social Insurance and Social Solidarity, George Katrougalos sets a new ‘red line’ for pensions of up to 1,300 euros saying that pensioners receiving an aggregate of up to 1,300 from their main and ancillary pensions would not be affected by the cuts in pensions under consideration with Greece’s lenders in Athens.

It seems Katrougalos is backtracking from previous statements regarding the governments ‘red lines’ regarding pension cuts. Talking to Greek media he stressed that the 1,300 Euros per month pension is the ‘absolute red line’ for the Greek government in the talks under way in Athens with the creditors.

‘There will be no reductions in pensions that include both main and supplementary pensions that add up to 1,300 Euros’, he underlined.

Commenting on the talks so far with the ‘Quartet’, the minister pointed out that there were some issues were the two sides did not see eye to eye on, like the character of the social security system, as the creditors were opting for proportionality, while the Greek side wanted a redistribution model; on the regulation of matters concerning personal differences on pensions; and on talks associated with the introduction of supplementary improvements for farmers, freelance professionals and scientists