Troika
Cyprus
Troika Likely to Seek Cyprus Cut in State Payroll
International lenders negotiating a bailout for cash-strapped Cyprus are likely to seek cutbacks in its public payroll and some increases in taxation, the Cypriot finance minister said on Tuesday.
Officials from the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central...
Economy
Cash Running Out, Samaras Meets Troika for Urgent Budget Talks
ATHENS – With signs that his coalition government is fraying, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met for urgent talks on July 31 with officials from international lenders who are pressing him to make more cost-saving measures. Samaras was unable...
Economy
Greek Coalition Budget Talks Stymied, No Details on Cuts
ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partners missed their own deadline on July 30 to reveal the details of a $14.16 billion savings plan demanded by international lenders to keep rescue loans coming as the...
Economy
Greek Coalition Eyes More Pension, Wage Cuts to Close Gap
ATHENS – Days after Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partners said they would not again cut wages and pensions as part of a $14.16 billion savings plan to satisfy international lenders, they are reportedly ready to...
Economy
Samaras Says Greece Needs More Time But Won't Ask
ATHENS – With new estimates that a five-year-recession worsened by austerity measures demanded by international lenders has created a $37 billion gap in recovery plans, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has given Greece’s creditors a letter explaining that the country...
Economy
Piraeus Bank Takes Over Ailing ATEbank
ATHENS – The Greek government has agreed to hand over the performing loans and healthy assets of nearly-insolvent state-run ATEbank to the privately-run Piraeus Bank to keep it from closing, but the toxic assets will be given to the...
Economy
ECB, Eurozone Taxpayers Could Get 30% Greek Haircut
ATHENS – After stiffing private investors for 74 percent losses earlier this year on their holdings in Greek bonds, Greece may also give a so-called “haircut” of 30 percent losses to the European Central Bank (ECB) and the 16...
Economy
Greece Set to Slash Health Care, Welfare, Pensions, Salaries
ATHENS - Backtracking from campaign promises to hold the line on more austerity measures, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was set to meet on July 27 with international lenders providing critical bailouts to Greece as his government is reportedly ready...
Economy
Barroso Tells Samaras: We Want Results, Not Words
ATHENS – European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, in his first visit to Greece in three years, told new Prime Minister Antonis Samaras that international lenders want results in implementing more reforms if the country wants to keep rescue...
Economy
Another Delay in Deciding $15 Billion in Budget Cuts
ATHENS – After vowing during the campaign before the June 17 election to hold the line on more austerity measures demanded by international lenders in return for bailouts, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ uneasy coalition government has reportedly agreed...