Greek Government Racing to Complete Prior Actions within September

The Prime Minister instructed his ministers to complete a series of unresolved prior actions within September, as expected by Greece’s creditors. Greece is due to receive another 2.8 billion euros from the 10.3 billion euro tranche of loans linked to the successful conclusion of the first review. The remaining 7.5 billion euros was disbursed on June 21.
 
According to plan, collection of the tranche will in turn allow the second review to begin, the completion of which is necessary to launch talks on debt relief, which is a high priority for the Greek government.
 
Tuesday’s agenda includes the reform in special payrolls (such as judges and uniformed officers), which is estimated it could affect some 188.000 in the public sector.
 
Finally, the Prime Minister’s speech at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair will be discussed. It appears that PM Tsipras will focus on the government’s targets for equitable growth by 2019, along with highlighting the recent media reforms which the government considers to be a great success. Friday’s September 9 conference with Mediterranean EU member-states in Athens will also be on the ministerial council’s agenda.
 
Meanwhile, Greece's progress in implementing the prior actions needed for the disbursement of further financial support under the Greek program is one of the topics to be discussed by Eurozone finance ministers meeting in Bratislava on Friday, according to the official agenda published by the European Council website.

The Eurogroup will be briefed by representatives of the institutions representing Greece's creditors and Greek authorities on the implementation of intermediate targets and progress in paying off the state's overdue debts to enterprises and its citizens. The agenda reflects the Eurogroup statements about Greece on May 25, which linked the disbursement of a second tranche of loans after the summer to milestones such as privatizations, management of the banks, the General Secretary of Public Revenues and the energy sector, as well as progress in paying the Greek state's overdue debts.