Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-04-20

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] There is no time to lose, EU Commissioner Moscovici says

[02] Brussels Group meeting in Paris continues on Monday and Tuesday

[03] Greek budget records 1.19 bln euro primary surplus in Q1‏

[01] There is no time to lose, EU Commissioner Moscovici says

When asked whether the possibility of Greece's exit is a real threat, Moscovici, who participated in the IMF's meeting in Washington, admitted that "indeed there is real concern."

"It is true that there is concern because we have not managed to negotiate credible reforms in economic, social and financial terms with the Greek government, so that there are guarantees for the financing of Greece. What I am saying this morning is that we must reach an agreement," the Commissioner explained and added:" My wish is to keep Greece in the eurozone. I totally hope so. I wish that for Greece, for the Greeks and for Europe. But this must be done now. There is no time to lose. The Greek government should deliver the reforms we are asking for, put on the table a reform programme that is ambitious, reliable and fair. There is no time to lose."

Moscovici also referred to the very slow progress in the cooperation. "Undoubtedly, we are working together, but we are progressing very slowly, we do not go fast enough, do not go far enough, while in the meantime the financing needs continue to grow and funding sources are inadequate. So now I suggest 'attention'. The issue is urgent. We must proceed decisively, we must move quickly and I am asking the Greek government to proceed with the necessary steps," he said.

"I have no plan B, I only have a plan A, and plan A is Greece in the eurozone, but for Greece to stay in the eurozone we need reforms, we cannot prevaricate," Moscovici concluded.

[02] Brussels Group meeting in Paris continues on Monday and Tuesday

Schinas said that discussions continue both on political and technical level and noted that the pace has accelerated during the last few days. According to Schinas, talks advance ahead of the informal Eurogroup meeting in Riga, Latvia on April 24 during which Eurozone Finance ministers will have the opportunity to take stock of the situation.

He noted that the European Commission on its part continues working intensively on all levels so as to facilitate the reaching of an agreement.

Asked why the Brussels Group meets in Paris, Schinas said this was due purely to practical reasons.

[03] Greek budget records 1.19 bln euro primary surplus in Q1‏

The central bank, in a report, said that the state budget deficit eased to 2.0 billion euros in the first three months of 2015 from 2.34 billion in the same period last year.

In January-March 2015, the central government cash balance recorded a deficit of 918 million euros, compared to a deficit of 1.141 billion in the same period in 2014, the central bank said, adding that during this period, ordinary budget revenue amounted to 10.049 billion euros, compared to 10.529 billion in the corresponding period of last year. Revenue of 55 million euros regarding Securities Markets Programme (SMP) income transfers from the Bank of Greece is excluded from the figures. Ordinary budget expenditure amounted to 11.865 billion euros, from 12.595 billion in January-March 2014.

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