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EU and IMF auditors to visit Athens as Greece's agony continues EU and IMF auditors to visit Athens as Greece's agony continues
(about 1 hour later)
The drive to put Greece back on the road to recovery intensifies this week when auditors representing the indebted country’s creditors arrive in Athens for their latest review of the Greek economy.The drive to put Greece back on the road to recovery intensifies this week when auditors representing the indebted country’s creditors arrive in Athens for their latest review of the Greek economy.
Fourteen months after being bailed out to the tune of €86bn (£77bn) – Greece’s third financial rescue since 2010 – representatives of the EU and the International Monetary Fund fly in this week to review progress on economic reforms promised by the government in exchange for rescue funds. Fourteen months after being bailed out to the tune of €86bn (£77bn) – Greece’s third financial rescue since 2010 – representatives of the EU and the International Monetary Fund fly in on Monday to review progress on economic reforms promised by the government in exchange for rescue funds.
The creditors’ visit is taking place against a backdrop of ongoing economic difficulty for Greece. Seven years into its worst slump in post-war history, the eurozone’s weakest link is saddled with anaemic growth, stubbornly high unemployment, poor export growth, consumer pessimism and debt of more than €330bn. The creditors’ visit is taking place against a backdrop of ongoing economic difficulty for the nation. Seven years into its worst slump in post-war history, the eurozone’s weakest link is saddled with anaemic growth, stubbornly high unemployment, poor export growth, consumer pessimism and debt of more than €330bn.
The Bruegel Institute, the Brussels-based economics thinktank, warned last week that Athens would need a fourth bailout when its current lifeline ends in 2018. “Greece will not be able to borrow from the markets,” said Zsolt Darvas, a senior economist at the institute. “Therefore there will be a fourth financial assistance programme.”The Bruegel Institute, the Brussels-based economics thinktank, warned last week that Athens would need a fourth bailout when its current lifeline ends in 2018. “Greece will not be able to borrow from the markets,” said Zsolt Darvas, a senior economist at the institute. “Therefore there will be a fourth financial assistance programme.”
The IMF has said that recovery is impossible until Athens is granted some form of debt forgiveness. With Germany facing national elections next autumn, its hardline finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble remains adamantly opposed to waiving a proportion of Greece’s debt.The IMF has said that recovery is impossible until Athens is granted some form of debt forgiveness. With Germany facing national elections next autumn, its hardline finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble remains adamantly opposed to waiving a proportion of Greece’s debt.
Friction is such that the German press has again raised the spectre of Greece leaving the eurozone – “Grexit” – saying the country’s ejection from the single currency might be the best option to combat falling living standards. Germany’s lower house approved Athens’ latest aid package on the premise that the IMF would be involved.Friction is such that the German press has again raised the spectre of Greece leaving the eurozone – “Grexit” – saying the country’s ejection from the single currency might be the best option to combat falling living standards. Germany’s lower house approved Athens’ latest aid package on the premise that the IMF would be involved.
In May, eurozone finance ministers said the fulfilment of a first review – completed with the disbursement of €1.1bn in funds a week ago – would pave the way to discussion of debt relief. The leftist-led government in Athens has made a debt cut the cornerstone of its economic policy, with officials believing it is the only way to guarantee re-entry into bond markets. This would also allow the European Central Bank to buy Greek government debt under its quantitative easing programme.In May, eurozone finance ministers said the fulfilment of a first review – completed with the disbursement of €1.1bn in funds a week ago – would pave the way to discussion of debt relief. The leftist-led government in Athens has made a debt cut the cornerstone of its economic policy, with officials believing it is the only way to guarantee re-entry into bond markets. This would also allow the European Central Bank to buy Greek government debt under its quantitative easing programme.
The creditors are looking at the implementation of promised reforms that aim to put restrictions on some labour practices, including the ability to negotiate wages collectively and stage industrial action.The creditors are looking at the implementation of promised reforms that aim to put restrictions on some labour practices, including the ability to negotiate wages collectively and stage industrial action.
Addressing delegates at the start of his Syriza party’s congress last week, prime minister Alexis Tsipras threw down the gauntlet, saying it was time creditors kept to their pledges. “The agreement must be honoured by all sides. There is no more ‘lets see’,” he said, blaming lack of progress on the dispute with creditors over debt forgiveness. “The Greek people have suffered for so many years and deserve to be compensated.”Addressing delegates at the start of his Syriza party’s congress last week, prime minister Alexis Tsipras threw down the gauntlet, saying it was time creditors kept to their pledges. “The agreement must be honoured by all sides. There is no more ‘lets see’,” he said, blaming lack of progress on the dispute with creditors over debt forgiveness. “The Greek people have suffered for so many years and deserve to be compensated.”
After basing much of his meteoric career on opposing austerity – the price for receiving more than €300bn in bailout funds to date – Tsipras has wholeheartedly embraced reforms that were once anathema to him, despite plummeting popularity ratings.After basing much of his meteoric career on opposing austerity – the price for receiving more than €300bn in bailout funds to date – Tsipras has wholeheartedly embraced reforms that were once anathema to him, despite plummeting popularity ratings.
If debt relief and access to the QE programme are achieved, aides say it will allow the government to forge ahead with progressive policies helping those hardest hit by the crisis. Pledging to wrap up the review in the coming weeks, Tsipras insisted that creditors should come to a debt deal by December.If debt relief and access to the QE programme are achieved, aides say it will allow the government to forge ahead with progressive policies helping those hardest hit by the crisis. Pledging to wrap up the review in the coming weeks, Tsipras insisted that creditors should come to a debt deal by December.
But implementing the necessary reforms is unlikely to prove easy. The success story the government is so eager to promote has some of its biggest opponents in Syriza itself. Leftwingers, led by Oxford-educated finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos, used the Syriza congress to warn of the vast disconnect between ordinary Greeks and the claim that the latest deal with creditors will be a success. According to those critics, the third bailout was nothing but a defeat, they said. With the upcoming review focusing on implementing labour market reforms, dissent is bound to grow. But implementing the necessary reforms is unlikely to prove easy. The success story the government is so eager to promote has some of its biggest opponents in Syriza itself. Leftwingers, led by Oxford-educated finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos, used the Syriza congress to warn of the vast disconnect between ordinary Greeks and the claim that the latest deal with creditors will be a success. According to those critics, the third bailout was nothing but a defeat for the leftist party. With the upcoming review focusing on implementing labour market reforms, dissent is bound to grow.
“Labour reforms, the key element of this review, are an ideological red line for many Syriza MPs as the party’s traditional leftwing strongly supports workers’ rights and trade union activity,” said Mujtaba Rahman, chief analyst at the Eurasia risk consultancy. To a great degree what happens in Greece depends not on events in Athens “but much more fundamentally on Berlin and the IMF,” he insisted.“Labour reforms, the key element of this review, are an ideological red line for many Syriza MPs as the party’s traditional leftwing strongly supports workers’ rights and trade union activity,” said Mujtaba Rahman, chief analyst at the Eurasia risk consultancy. To a great degree what happens in Greece depends not on events in Athens “but much more fundamentally on Berlin and the IMF,” he insisted.
“If no deal by December seems likely, it is increasingly plausible the government will pull the plug, ditch the second review and opt for early elections in the first half of 2017,” he said. “Adding to the long list of challenges EU leaders will be facing at the time.”“If no deal by December seems likely, it is increasingly plausible the government will pull the plug, ditch the second review and opt for early elections in the first half of 2017,” he said. “Adding to the long list of challenges EU leaders will be facing at the time.”