Troika mission to continue next week, EU Commission sources say

21:50 7/3/2014 - Πηγή: Matrix24

The EU-IMF troika’s mission in Athens will continue in the coming week, European Commission sources said in Brussels on Friday, adding that an agreement on a technical level is unlikely before the Eurogroup meets on Monday.

They said the heads of the troika mission in Athens will fly

to Brussels for the Eurogroup meeting on Monday and then return to Athens, while the rest of the mission will remain in Greece to continue talks on a technical level.

During the daily press briefing at the European Commission, Commissioner Olli Rehn’s spokesman Simon O” Connor noted that the troika mission was still underway.

«At this time there is emphasis on structural reforms that will help the recovery of growth and create jobs,» he said, adding that Eurogroup on Monday will discuss the progress made in the review of the Greek programme.

«We are continuing to work very hard to achieve a deal on a technical level the soonest possible,» he added.

Asked about the results of stress tests on Greece’s banks, O” Connor said these were conducted by the Bank of Greece, which was responsible for them. He noted that the parameters of the stress tests are not part of the Greek fiscal adjustment programme. He also noted that the funds that will be used for the recapitalisation of Greek banks will not necessarily reach the full amount of the banks” recapitalisation needs because the banks must also try to raise funds from private sources.

source: ΑΜΝΑ