VALLETTA, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP/AFP) – Greece agreed on a fresh
set of reforms with its eurozone creditors on Friday, boosting
hopes Athens can unlock fresh bailout cash in time to avert a
debt default this summer.
“I welcome the agreement in principle on Greece at the
Eurogroup after several months of difficult negotiations,” EU
Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said in Malta
after a meeting of eurozone finance ministers.
Heavily-indebted Athens and the EU and IMF have been
deadlocked over reforms for months amid disagreements on debt
relief and budget targets for Greece.
The deal is needed to prevent a possible default as early
as July when Athens owes about seven billion euros in debt
repayments.
“The big blocks have now been sorted out and now we just
have the final stretch,” Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem
said after the talks.
Dijsselbloem said the Greek government was now prepared to
reduce pensions in 2019 and increase taxes in 2020 despite
widespread public opposition.