Greece hopes for bailout deal with lenders within April

The country is also working to bridge differences on labour, pension and energy reforms

Greece hopes for bailout deal with lenders within April
A vendor waits for customers outside his shop in central Athens, Greece
Reuters Athens
Last Updated : Mar 22 2017 | 7:11 PM IST

Greece said on Wednesday it hopes for a deal with its international lenders within the month of April and is working to bridge differences on labour, pension and energy reforms.

The onus for an agreement was not only on the Greek government but on its European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) lenders too, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told reporters.

Three Greek ministers, including its finance minister, are in Brussels this week in an attempt to thrash out a deal with creditors on reforms, necessary for lenders to sign off on a bailout review needed for disbursement of a fresh tranche of aid.

The officials decided to stay on after an inconclusive meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels on March 20.

Athens is eyeing what it calls a "comprehensive deal" with lenders which would also address the intentions of creditors vis-a-vis debt restructuring for the crisis-hit country.

It wants a deal on "technical reforms" covering pending energy and labour issues before moving on to discussions on medium-term measures for debt and agreeing on levels of primary surpluses.

"(Our aim) is to reach a comprehensive agreement the soonest, and if possible, within April," Tzanakopoulos said.

The IMF has yet to decide whether to participate in Greece's latest bailout, worth 86 billion euros, expressing deep concerns over debt sustainability.

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First Published: Mar 22 2017 | 7:10 PM IST

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