Negotiations between Greece and its creditors are progressing at an accelerated pace and representatives of both sides are expected to convene for a Brussels Group meeting on Tuesday afternoon, a eurozone source said.
Earlier, European Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said that Monday night’s ‘mini-summit’ with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and the heads of the three institutions representing the creditors – European Commission, ECB and IMF – had evaluated the progress in negotiations between Greek authorities and the institutions, adding that the contacts will continue.
Breidthardt said that Greece’s international partners speak with one voice and that talks are continuing on all levels, while the institutions remain in close contact with Greek authorities in order to complete the negotiations, adding that Monday’s meeting was held in this framework.
Taking these developments into account, it is believed that a plan for a joint agreement will start being drafted in the next few hours , the Athens News Agency wrote
Commission sources noted that Monday’s mini summit meeting was aimed at smoothing out differences between the institutions and forming a common political line. They also said it is possible that a decision will be adopted which will have a medium- rather than a long-term nature, since it will not include final arrangements for the Greek debt.
Greece has sent 47-page draft agreement to creditors
The Greek government submitted a comprehensive draft agreement running to 47 pages to the institutions representing Greece’s creditors on Monday and is now awaiting their reply, government sources said on Tuesday.
They said this proposal provides for a primary surplus of 0.8 pct in 2015 and 1.5 pct in 2016, as well as three VAT rates of 6 pct, 11 pct and 23 pct.
Decision for realism and not for a divided Europe belongs to European leaders
“We are negotiating with a plan and strategy amid difficult conditions. All Greeks know the difference between a government that negotiates and the previous governments that signed whatever they were asked to.The Greeks should be proud, regardless of the party they belong to. Greece has tabled proposals, we have made concessions – a normal practice in a negotiation – but we have submitted a realistic plan for the country to get out of the crisis.
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