Do the Troika inspectors boycott Greece? Have they put their visit to Athens on hold? Reuters reported so on Thursday afternoon citing two “eurozone sources”. According to Reuters, the Troika put its visit on hold because the Greek government rejected more austerity measures.
The news of a possible postponement set Samaras’ government in general and the Greek Finance Ministry in particular on alert. Greek private Skai TV tried to explain that it wasn’t clear whether it would be the EU/IMF/ECB Thomsen & Co who would not come or the units of technical inspectors, as well. “Greek Finance Ministry said, it was still expecting the Troikan to come to Athens next week,” Skai Tv said.
Troika inspectors to put return Greek visit on hold, officials say
* Troika’s visit to Greece put on hold for now* Greek government rejects more austerity measures
* Athens says still expects visit next week
* EU, IMF, ECB want 2 bln euros budget hole closed
BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Reuters) – International inspectors are set to put on hold a trip to Athens because they have been unable to bridge differences with Greece over how to close a 2 billion euro hole in its 2014 budget, euro zone officials said.
A team of officials from the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank – the Troika – visits Athens regularly to check on progress on its bailout commitments and to decide whether to release the next tranche of loans.
Greek government officials said they were expecting them to come next week as scheduled.
“There are growing differences between Athens and the Troika,” one euro zone official said, adding that the planned trip was, for now, on ice.
“The Greeks are saying: ‘We are doing enough’, and the Troika says they need new steps to close the budget,” he said.
Greece has been kept afloat by a financial lifeline from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund since 2010, with 240 billion euros ($330.5 billion) of loans granted in exchange for spending cuts and reforms.
Troika inspectors, who began the current inspection in September, had initially been expected back in Athens at the end of October. Greek officials said last week the inspectors would return on Nov.4 to resume the audit.
…..
“No one is going because no one wants them (the Troika) there,” a second euro zone official said.
Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras has rejected any new tax increases and across-the-board wage or pension cuts but said there was instead scope for “targeted” spending cuts and “structural measures” to plug any fiscal gaps. (Full story REUTERS)
What? The Troika is not coming to Greece “because no one wants them”? I didn’t know, the Troikans felt unloved and unwanted here in Greece. #NoOffence, guys! Honestly.
Nevertheless, this has happened in the past as well and therefore I wouldn’t worry so much.
PS We are out of breath and money anyway.
