“Greece has gone through a very long period of economic adjustment and is now preparing to stand on its own feet as the program is approaching its expiration in August,” Eurogroup President Mario Centeno told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) in an interview on Tuesday, noting he sees “enormous potential” in the country.
The Portuguese finance minister also cautioned that ownership of the reforms is crucial in maintaining the positive trend in the country’s economy.
Centeno tweeted important parts of his interview.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Greece?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Greece</a> is getting ready to stand on its own feet, following best practices of former prog countries: Implementing program w/ no delays; building a significant buffer; rebuilding its name in the credit market. <a href=”https://twitter.com/amna_news?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@amna_news</a></p>— Mário Centeno (@mariofcenteno) <a href=”https://twitter.com/mariofcenteno/status/971044096235261952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The end of the program will represent a new political reality in Greece. Whatever the framework of surveillance, Greece will regain control. There will be more options for parties & the Greek people. It will be good for democracy.
All additional debt relief to #Greece will be developed 1st at technical level. It’ll only be adopted if 2 conditions are verified: the program ends successfully & debt relief is needed for debt to be sustainable.
It is critical to preserve growth-enhancing structural changes in #Greece adopted during program. The post-prog framework will be discussed later, alongside possible new debt relief.
8 years of adjustment was too long a process. Stronger ownership by #Greece could’ve delivered much sooner good results we see today. I hope current trend remains, I want Greece to continue to prosper.
Except from Centeno’s interview:
“We are working with Greece towards a successful completion of the program. The debate about the day after hasn’t started yet. At this point, the only thing I can say is that it is critical to preserve growth-enhancing structural changes implemented during the program. The post-program framework will be discussed later, alongside possible new debt relief measures. I look forward to see the holistic long-term growth strategy the Greek government is preparing. This is the way to go. Greece is taking the helm.”
Full interview here
PS So far, Centeno appears to have more descent approach to Greece and a much less aggressive-smart-aleck attitude than Dijsselbloem. But “holistic”? That is the term Lagarde has used in her austerity narrative again and again. In his first interview about Greece since he assumed office, he does not say anything groundbreaking or breathtaking. It’s “neither fish nor meat”, as the Germans say. Time will show whether he has a bit of his own opinion or he will wait for the government to be established in Berlin.
