Euro-Working Group: Progress in talks with Greece, but reforms pressing

Meeting focuses on need for reforms in labour market

The need for immediate reforms in the labour market and implementation of fiscal measures by the Greek government were at the centre of talks during Monday’s long Euro-Working Group session. The EuroGroup’s preparatory body focused on the Greek situation and the need for the local authorities to push forward with reforms in order to facilitate the successful conclusion of the second review of the Greek program. According to EU sources, the technical level staff of the EuroGroup meeting made reference to “progress in talks” so far. The technical teams discussed the necessary reforms Athens has to implement on both the labour and fiscal fronts for 2017 and 2018 in order to achieve the primary surpluses that have been agreed upon. The same sources say that there was no convergence on the differing views on the future of the Greek economy regarding keeping the 3.5 surplus target after 2018.