The members of the so-called “Quartet” of Greece’s creditors (EC, ECB, ESM and IMF) are preparing for their next visit to Greece around February 1 say sources. They will stay at a central hotel in Athens and meet with Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos as well as a number of other MPs.

The technical groups have already prepared their agenda with the main focus of talks centered around social security, non-performing “red” loans (NPLs) and the course of fiscal measures. The first discussions will focus on pensions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected to push for more cuts to be made effectively unless of course additional measures are deemed adequate to economise 1% of the GDP per annum as required for Social Security.

The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government is waiting to see if Tsakalotos’ tour around Europe was convincing enough to champion Greece’s cause though messages received from Washington and Paris indicate that Delia Velculescu, the IMF representative, will show an even harsher and more austere face to that of earlier negotiations. The government is counting on the mediation of the European Commission and the EC’s representative Declan Costello.