No substantial progress has been made between the Greek Labour Ministry and the country’s lenders, the ‘Quartet’ who are in discussion over ways to save money so that the cash strapped country can get the ‘green light’ over the progress of the implementation of the fiscal adjustment program it agreed upon with the EU institutions the past summer. The level of the national pension was at the centre of discussions between the two sides during Sunday’s meeting in Athens. The Quartet are pushing for a slash in the current 384-Euro general age pension to 320 Euros its payment after 20 years, instead of 15 that the Greek government wants. The Greek side seems unflinching on satisfying the demands by the Quartet on the reduction of the national pension to 320 Euros, but seems more flexible on the increase on the number years needed for pension payment. The creditors acknowledge that only half of the necessary 1.8nlb Euros has been achieved (1% of GDP) from social pension expenditure for 2016 and doubt whether the proposed plan tabled by Labour Minister George Katrougalos’s can save a further 900mln Euros. The slashing of the ancillary pensions is an issue of contention, with the IMF insisting on implementing harsh measures, something even its partners in talks the EU institutions considers too extreme. The two sides are scheduled to renew their meeting next Wednesday or Thursday to continue talks.