The Tsipras government is expected to table a draft bill on Friday that present a new legal framework for protection of primary residences in the country, although reliable sources that spoke with “N” on Wednesday said Athens will absolutely avoid creating the appearance of a “unilateral action” without European creditors’ acquiescence.
The struggling government has so far failed to present a successor framework after the previous law expired last month, despite months of bilateral and three-party negotiations with Greece’s four systemic banks and European creditors.
Failure to legislate a new framework has been cited as one of the reasons that Eurozone member-states’ finance ministers – in the Eurogroup venue – have not signed-off on a nearly one-billion-euro rebate to Athens. The money comprises profits from Greek bonds held by the ECB and EZ countries’ central banks as guarantees.
Sources that spoke with “N” said any unilateral decision would be extremely damaging for Greece and the Tsipras government, as it constitutes a primary “prior actions” envisioned in the post-bailout period.
Negotiations with European creditors are continuing, with the leftist government, at least, saying a final agreement is near.
The European Commission’s mission chief, Declan Costello, is in Athens on Wednesday to attend a conference, with his presence in the country lending weight to reports that negotiations are in their final stage.
Costello called the primary residence protection framework a “complicated matter”, while stressing, however, that creditors are working with Greek officials to achieve a deal before the April 5 Eurogroup meeting.
