Βy Nikos Bellos
A top Eurozone official in Brussels appeared optimistic on Thursday that Greece’s institutional creditors will overcome their internal differences vis-à-vis the still pending review of the “Greek program” and return together to Athens for talks with the Greek government within days.
The unnamed source said progress has been made, without however saying whether that optimism extended to an agreement before the March 7 Eurogroup meeting here.
Asked about the disagreements between the creditors – Europeans versus IMF – over the extent of the projected budget gaps in Greece’s state finances, the source said the issue has been exaggerated, stressing that creditors’ representatives will return to Athens with a unified position.
The same source said the significant matter at hand is completing the review as soon as possible, with economic and political considerations at stake.
Asked whether the increasingly acute refugee crisis could delay the review, the source said it was not in Athens’ best interest to push back the program’s implementation, although recognizing that the crisis could have fiscal and social repercussions on the recession-battered country.
