Greece sent a list of economic reform plans to European institutions and the IMF around midnight that was “a valid starting point” for talks over its bailout, a source close to the European Commission said yesterday.
Greece needed to present its plans as a condition for extending its bailout program for an additional four months, in a deal struck with eurozone partners on Friday last week.
“In the [European] Commission’s view, this list is sufficiently comprehensive to be a valid starting point for a successful conclusion of the review,” the source said.
“We are notably encouraged by the strong commitment to combat tax evasion and corruption,” the source added.
Eurozone finance ministers were expected to discuss the reform plans in a conference call later yesterday.
The source said that the letter, sent to the troika — the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF — would need to be further worked out to come up with a full reform plan by the end of April, as agreed on Friday.
“Determined and swift implementation of all reform commitments will be key for a successful conclusion of the review,” the source said.
The commission confirmed on Twitter that the list of Greek reform measures had been received on time.
Greek officials said the government was proposing measures that would include tackling what Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called the nation’s “humanitarian crisis,” hardship created during years of economic depression.
The government would also deal with tax arrears and bad loans, and end the foreclosure of primary homes, while fighting tax evasion, smuggling and corruption.
Daily newspaper Handelsblatt yesterday reported that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has paved the way for a possible parliamentary vote this week on a loan extension to Greece.
Schaeuble requested the vote in a letter to Bundestag President Norbert Lammert.
The document makes a vote contingent on reform proposals from Greece being accepted by the troika, the German daily newspaper said.
“Provided Greece avows its obligations and provided there is an agreement in the eurogroup [of finance ministers], the German government would be in favor of the proposed extension,” Schaeuble wrote.
“This petition is being made on the condition that Greece submits a list of reform measures and the three institutions give their opinion on whether these measures provide a sufficient basis for a successful conclusion of the program,” he wrote.
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