BRATISLAVA, February 20, (WEBNOVINY) – The decision on the second bailout package for Greece must not be put off any longer, said Finance Minister Ivan Miklos before leaving for Monday’s Eurogroup meeting in Brussels. Greece needs to be able to repay its debt, which would not be possible already in March without international aid. “The time is up and it is inevitable to adopt a decision,” Miklos said.
The finance minister also repeated his statements from a week ago on conditions for Slovakia’s nod to the aid package. The basic requirement of the Slovak side is that the amount of public funds in the second aid package for Greece does not increase to more than the already agreed 130 billion euros. Slovakia is to contribute to this amount in the form of guarantees through the EU bailout fund.
Greece needs to ensure that the conditions are fulfilled in order for the debt to remain sustainable in the future, which would mean stabilizing the public debt at some 120 percent of GDP, the minister emphasized. “Given that Greece implements all agreed-upon measures, the debt should be sustainable,” Miklos said. Continuity of reforms also after parliamentary elections in Greece, however, remains open. Though the biggest parliamentary parties pledge to continue in reforms, no one can predict the situation after the elections.
SITA