Tuesday, August 12, 2025
2:56 AM
Doha,Qatar
RELATED STORIES
Greece's political leaders prepare for a debate in Athens

Greek bailout review in October to pave way for debt talks

* EU finance ministers to meet in Luxembourg on Saturday
* Review must wait for Greek election: Luxembourg minister
* Restructuring discussion to follow review: minister
* Diverging views on how restructuring should happen

Reuters/Brussels

International creditors expect the first review of Greek reforms under the latest bailout to start in October, bringing changes to a memorandum of understanding signed with Athens and paving the way for debt rescheduling talks, euro zone officials said.

Euro zone finance ministers will discuss preparations for Greek reforms envisaged by the third bailout, worth 86 billion euros ($96.8 billion), at an informal meeting in Luxembourg on Saturday. No implementation review is possible before Greece's Sept. 20 parliamentary elections.

"There are elections in Greece. We have to wait for the results," Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told Reuters in an interview.

"The next step is a review in October. After the review we will have to discuss the restructuring of the debt, because there is consensus that debt is too high. How to restructure it? There are diverging views," Gramegna said.

He made clear that talks about debt restructuring would exclude the possibility of a write-off on the principal lent by euro zone governments to Greece under the previous two bailouts -- the total now stands at 196.8 billion euros since 2010.

"You can achieve payment relief by extending the grace period, or delaying payments ... and avoid a nominal haircut," he said.

 

TOUGH TALKS

The review itself, however, may take some time, as it is likely to involve negotiations with the new Greek government that will emerge after the elections. Changes may be necessary as a result of an evolving economic situation.

"The first review is an issue where you negotiate," an EU official involved in the preparations for the meeting of the euro zone ministers said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The changes would be necessary because of changing economic data and forecasts and the results of an asset quality review of Greek banks that the European Central Bank will conduct to establish the sector's recapitalisation needs.

"If you look at the development of Memorandum of Understanding in the first programme, in the second programme -- it is a living thing, which changes in its content as a consequence of each and every review," the official said.

"The same will hold true this time, and will reflect the interactions of the Greek authorities with the institutions representing the creditors," he said.

He said the debt restructuring discussion after the first review would focus on which economic measure had more relevance for Greece -- the debt to gross domestic product ratio, or the ratio of GDP to debt servicing costs.

The choice of the latter would mean that an extension of maturities of euro zone loans and additional grace periods for repayments would be enough to significantly lower the Net Present Value of Greek debt, making debt servicing much easier.

"Technically it is no mystery. Politically, it is not so easy," the official said.

 

Tags
Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details