BRUSSELS (MNI) – Eurozone finance ministers could decide to release
a E31.5 billion tranche to Greece on November 8, earlier than planned, a
spokesman for Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday.
Finance ministers from the 17 countries that use the euro currency
could meet in Brussels on November 8, four days earlier than an
already-scheduled November 12 meeting, if a report on Athens’ compliance
with the terms of its bailout programme is finalized before November 6,
the spokesman said.
“The first condition is that the ‘Troika’ report be ready before
the sixth, which is not certain. The second condition is that the Euro
area Working Group (EWG) must look at the matter.” The EWG is composed
of senior financial officials from Eurozone governments whose job it is
to prepare for meetings of the euro area finance ministers, or
Eurogroup.
November 8 is the earliest date possible for Eurozone finance
ministers to meet after November 6th, because Juncker will be in South
East Asia until then, the spokesman explained.
A decision on the tranche had been planned for November 12, “but if
it can be done quicker than that, then the 8th is a possibility,” he
said, stressing that it was “only a possibility.”
No decision is expected to emerge from a conference call among
Eurozone finance ministers scheduled for 1300 GMT/0900 ET Wednesday. The
spokesman said the planned call is intended to be “purely a stock-taking
exercise.”
Greek officials have warned that Athens risks running out of cash
by mid-November. But a decision to release the aid is being been held up
by disagreements among the members of the Troika – the European
Commission, European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund –
and between them and Greek government.
–Brussels Newsroom, +324-952-28374; pkoh@mni-news.com
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