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List of reforms wrapped in mystery

23 February 2015 / 20:02:44  GRReporter
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Hours before the end of the day the contents of the list of reforms that the Greek government must submit to the lenders of Greece to continue its funding is wrapped in mystery.

The government has not yet provided official information on what it contains. According to the Greek media, what Athens has sent to date to the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund is the project list that continues to be the subject of discussion between them. They comment that the Greek cabinet thus intends to reduce the likelihood of the list being rejected.

Earlier today, some media had disseminated information that the final text had been sent to Brussels but European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva had denied it minutes later, stating in a Twitter post, "We have not received a list. Deadline is close of business tonight. We are in talks with Greek authorities."According to the Greek media, including Kathimerini, she had stated that the deadline was midnight.

It is expected that Commissioner for Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici, director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde and President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi will discuss the final version of the mysterious document at the time at a teleconference meeting on Tuesday. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for Monday.

According to the highly concise Greek government sources, the list includes a series of structural changes that do not include fiscal measures or specific targets. It contains mostly measures related to the fight against corruption, tax evasion and smuggling of goods and it will probably provide for privatisations, which the government says could bring revenue into the treasury. In addition, the government will provide guarantees for the independence of the central secretariat of revenue.

The German tabloid Bild has presented more specific information on the content of the list. The publication states that the Greek cabinet will present four measures that are intended to provide 7.3 billion euro, in particular 1.5 billion euro from the fight against fuel smuggling, 800 million euro from tobacco smuggling, 2.5 billion euro from taxation of wealthy Greeks and oligarchs, and 3.5 billion euro from the settlement of pending tax cases and from the collection of certified and unpaid taxes.

According to Kathimerini newspaper, in addition to the actions described previously, the list will include the settlement of non-performing bank loans.
 
At the same time, Commissioner Pierre Moscovici was firm that not only was he not reviewing a plan for a possible Greek exit from the euro zone but he had also banned even reviewing such a plan. He made the statement in an interview with France 2 television and commenting on an article in the German magazine Der Spiegel that the European Central Bank was preparing an action plan.

"The European Union Commission wants Greece to stay in the euro zone and there is no plan for the opposite. I believe that we are on the right path. I expect the list of reforms tonight and I think it is clear that we have to be both ambitious and realistic," stressed the Commissioner.

A little later, the German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a comment on the voting for the approval of the Greek reform package by the Bundestag, "Recent days have demonstrated that it is entirely possible to find a solution."

Tags: PoliticsGreek governmentLenders List of reformsEuropean CommissionPierre Moscovici
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