The Dutch FinMin spoke to a small group of journalists in Amsterdam where he told them that “we have to be realists…I would like to hasten the procedures but, unfortunately, I dont have that power”.
When asked when would the evaluation be practically over, the head of the EuroGroup stated that the reforms in the pension scheme, the fund for the privatization of public assets, and some other fiscal matters have to be resolved first. Only after the evaluation has been completed will the EuroGroup meet in order to decide on further tranches to Greece as well as a re profiling of the national debt.
Djisselbloem added that he has yet to see the Greek proposals regarding the national pension scheme but only knows what he has read in the press. Concerning the participation of the International Monetary Fund in the Greek rescue program, he clarified that the Fund is willing to “return to the program and it is expected that it will participate not only as a technical advisor but a financial contributor as well”.