Government hopes for a compromise solution with the troika

The most likely scenario is that the troika and then the majority of Greek Parliament will agree to a compromise solution so that Greece can exit the memorandum

Chinks of light began to emerge between the Greek government and the troika of international creditors from the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the Eurogroup meeting on Thursday. Negotiations have begun though the outcome of the negotiations to take place until the European Summit on December 18 remain uncertain.

Both conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and socialist PASOK Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos are optimistic that the stalemate can be lifted so that an agreement is reached for Greece’s exit from the memorandum by the end of the year. The government hopes a compromise solution can be reached. In this regard, the Greek government sent an e-mail to Troika late on Saturday indicating measures they are willing to discuss if Troika commits to visiting Athens so that the memorandum can be completed by the end of the year.

The measures the government has agreed to:

* Hotel VAT incrase from 6.5% to 13%.
* Increasing the minimum insurance requirements to 20 years for those born after 1975.
* Freezing pension rates in the years 2016-2017.
* Increasin ght pension age to 62 years by 2019.
* Stricter criteria for Social Solidarity Benefits for Pensioners.
* Public sector salary reductions for new employees from January 1, 2015.
* Abolition of special benefits to Greek Finance Ministry employees from January 7, 2015.
* Reduction of travel expenses and overtime in the public sector.

It is hoped that the troika will agree to this compromise and that 180 Greek deputies would agree to these measures.