Germany: Greek aid extension only makes sense if Athens upholds reforms
[BERLIN] Discussion about a debt reduction for Greece is not in tune with reality and Greece can only get an extension of its aid programme if it is prepared to uphold the promised reforms, a spokesman for the German finance ministry said on Friday. "The reality is simple - at the end of February an aid programme expires which in order to have an orderly ending, needs extra efforts by Greece," Martin Jaeger said at a government news conference.
He added that it was up to the 'troika' of international lenders to decide whether Greece had achieved that. "If some of the new measures announced by the new Greek government are put into practice, then we need to ask if the programme is being substantially put into question, and is irrelevant," he said. "We are prepared to work further with Greece ... But we will not force our help onto Athens," Jaeger said, adding an extension would only be possible if Greece carried out reforms. "Announcements so far from Athens appear to go in the other direction," he added.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Sri Lanka’s economy expected to grow 3% in 2024, central bank says
Yellen says US can bring inflation down without hurting jobs
US dollar briefly falls versus yen after GDP data
US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall
US economic growth slows more than expected in Q1
Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons