“Tsipras can now say the Greeks, that one takes him seriously” – Tages-Anzeiger Online

When emergency meeting last night Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a
 Made list of concrete reforms in view. How to interpret this?
 For Tsipras it was all about being able to save face. He wanted to heave with the Rendezvous saving Greece from the technical to the highest political level. Greek Prime Minister can say now back home and his audience that you take it seriously. The Greeks are now put together quite confident the list. That was the real message that we are talking about a Greek reform list and not a dictate of European partners. This now expect, for example, that the government in Athens clarify their plans as they tackle tax evasion and seeking to recover outstanding taxes efficiently.

If the creditor Troika the Greeks against?
 Not really. It changes nothing about the fact that the blocked loans will only be released to reform. However, the small round to Chancellor Angela Merkel and President François Hollande has promised that it can go quickly once the Greeks deliver.

How dramatic situation of Greece? Threatens the end of March actually state bankruptcy?
 Everything indicates that the situation is serious. So just know that but no. That’s part of the problem that the new Greek government has not so far can look into the budget books. The experts of the donors sit in your hotel in Athens and are prevented from working. Tsipras has promised yesterday night, now work closely with the experts.

What is the schedule for the next billion payments to Greece?
 There is talk of a meeting of euro finance ministers, who could already end of next week release a first tranche. Overall still around seven billion euros are reserved for Greece from the current program. In one part of it is profits, which scored with Greek government bonds by the European Central Bank. Dealing more specifically with 1.9 billion euros. What would happen to pretty much cover the financial needs of Greece in the coming weeks. However, the mini-summit also ECB chief Mario Draghi has made it clear that he can release the money only if Greece delivers on reforms.

The Greek reparations on Germany have recently relations between Athens and Berlin charged. Atmosphere in which the meeting between Tsipras Merkel has gone?
 Merkel said after the mini-summit, the verbal sparring the last few days was not an issue. It now go about looking into the future. Tsipras is already next Monday for a first bilateral visit to Berlin. There, the two leaders are expected to continue to work to bring the bilateral relationship from the depth. This is perhaps the most important signal of the midnight mini summit: The Greeks belong to the European family. The EU can be particularly politically not afford to fail in the rescue of Greece.

Theme of the EU summit is also the Ukraine crisis. There to important decisions?
 The Member States have again managed to preserve the unity towards Russia. The economic sanctions are now linked temporally to the implementation of the peace agreement in Minsk. Currently, it is still so that the main punitive measures in July or September expire. But we shall see until the end of the year, if it thinks Russia really serious about relaxation. By the end of year Ukraine would have their outer boundary can fully control again. The summit has now politically paved the way to extend the punitive measures by the end of the year. (Tages-Anzeiger)

(Created: 20/03/2015, 12:45 pm clock)