Παρασκευή 17 Αυγούστου 2012

Meetings Merkel, Hollande and Juncker with Greek Prime Minister Samaras




In the next week the Greek government is going to announce the new measure of austerity. After that the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will meet with German Chansellor Angela Merkel and President of France Francois Hollande and Eurogroup Chairman Jean – Claude Juncker.


Antonis Samaras is determined to put the Greek demands and particularly the extension of the fiscal adjustment program in front of the European partners. After a short vacation, he has returned to his office in Athens and will begin preparing for a difficult and crucial week.

The climate for our country is still not good, especially in Germany, as shown by the recent statements of Philipp Rösler and the articles of the international press. Financial Times report that Samaras will ask a two-year extension of the fiscal adjustment program and that the Greek government suggests ways that the additional funding will not be required to pass by the European Parliament, which would bring further entanglement.

The same newspaper notes that the patience of creditors against Greece is exhausted and another conflict between Athens and Berlin might further destabilize the markets, and that German officials have ruled out any additional funding in Greece and a growing number of politicians are asking for Greece's exit from the eurozone.

Just two days ago vice chancellor Rösler returned to harsh statements saying that there can be no extension for Greece, which must implemented what has been agreed. German magazine Der Spiegel says Greece should go bankrupt, since neither the IMF nor the eurozone can sacrifice their credibility by offering new help. However, the magazine criticizes the German government arguing that if their goal was to save Greece they have failed and the austerity measures only managed to exacerbate the crisis and increase the debt.

Samaras will meet Wednesday in Athens with eurogroup chairman Juncker and then on Friday in Berlin with Merkel and on Saturday in Paris with Hollande.

The Prime Minister's strategy is fixed and described as "stay in the euro at all costs." Until meeting with Juncker, Merkel and Hollande, the government should specify the measures of 11.5 billion eurso that will be presented by Samaras.

He will assure his interlocutors that he will promote privatizations and the reduction of the public sector at a fast pace. Whether he will manage to lift Merkel’s reservations remains a question. It is estimated that Juncker and Hollande are more positive about our country. The meetings will be crucial for the report of the troika who returns at the end of the month in our country. The goal is a positive report so that the eurogroup will give the green light for the next tranche of 31.5 billion euros.

It still has not been decided if Samaras will meet with Venizelos and Kouvelis, the leaders of parties which support the government, before the crucial meetings with the Europeans. As there are disagreements on certain measures related to the pressure from within their parties Samaras would not want to have a disagreement with the government's partners before the meeting with Juncker. He seems determined to assume full responsibility for the 11.5 billion euros package and the overall strategy to promote the plan for the rescue of our country.

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