EU Summit: Greece wants “prudent” exit from bailout

Greece’s outlook for exiting its loans program was discussed by PM Antonis Samaras on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and incoming European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker discussed Greek plans for exiting its loans program as well as a pending review by the troika of Greece’s international creditors to be completed before such an exit can occur on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. Sources say that the two men discussed Greece’s outlook following the country’s international bailout that concludes at the end of the year.

Arriving at the summit, Mr. Samaras told reporters that Greece wants a “prudent” exit from its euro and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts. “We are negotiating a prudent exit to normality closely with our lenders on the next day after the end of the program,” he said. The government wants an end to IMF supervision a year ahead of schedule bu sources indicate that authorities are ready to accept a precautionary credit line from Greece’s partners in the euro area.

Athens aims to return some 11 billion euros in residual funding from the recapitalization of Greek banks to reduce its debt but the money will be kept aside to act as a cushion for when Greece taps bond markets.