Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-12-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Finance ministry releases letter sent by Tsakalotos to Eurogroup/ESM heads

[02] ND spox: Tsakalotos' letter to institutions shows 'repentance and subordination'

[01] Finance ministry releases letter sent by Tsakalotos to Eurogroup/ESM heads

In it, Tsakalotos explains that concerning the pension bonus, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the minister had clarified publically that it would be a one-off payment and there is no intention to make it a permanent part of the pension reforms. Concerning the suspension of the VAT, the minister says it will only be applied in 2017 and will be fully funded by the 2017 budget. The letter also presented the views expressed at the EuroWorking Group teleconference on December 20.

The full letter sent by the ministry is as follows:

"Dear Mr. President,

Dear Managing Director,

In response to the institutions' preliminary assessment of the measures on pensions and VAT which were recently legislated and implemented by the Greek authorities and the views expressed at the extraordinary EWG teleconference on 20 December, I would like to clarify the following.

As regards the pension measure, please note that both the Prime Minister and myself have made it publicly clear, and will continue to do so, that this is a one-off payment that is not intended to become a permanent feature of the recently enacted pension reform. As regards the temporary suspension of the VAT for selected Aegean islands, the measure is limited to 2017 only and is fully funded in the 2017 budget.

The Greek authorities remain fully committed to pursue the agreed fiscal path that is based on primary surplus targets of 0.5, 1.75 and 3.5 percent of GDP in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. The Greek authorities will activate the contingency fiscal mechanism, put in place in the context of the first review, as foreseen in Law 4389/16, in case outturn data validated by Eurostat shows that those agreed targets were not met. In particular, in the event that the budgetary outturn for 2016 does not meet the agreed target, which we consider extremely unlikely, the Greek authorities commit to undertake compensatory measures in the area of pension expenditures, to make up the difference between the outcome and the fiscal target for 2016.

On process, I recognize that measures with fiscal implications need to be discussed and agreed with the institutions in line with our MoU commitments. In particular, in case of permanent fiscal over-performance vis-à-vis the programme targets as confirmed by the annual budgetary outturns validated by Eurostat, the Greek authorities will agree with the institutions, in the context of the reviews, on the use of the available fiscal space. We recognize that the available fiscal space may be used on targeted measures to strengthen social protection (especially the Social Solidarity Income Programme) and/or to reduce tax burdens subject to MoU commitments. Otherwise, we will use the over-performance to build cash buffers and/or clear arrears.

The Greek authorities fully recognize that the Eurogroup statements of 25 May and 5 December are premised on continuous adherence to the MoU commitments.

I hope that these clarifications reassure the Eurogroup on our full commitment to remain compliant with our obligations under the MoU, both as regards the substance as well as the process of cooperation with our partners.

Yours faithfully

Euclid Tsakalotos

Minister of Finance."

[02] ND spox: Tsakalotos' letter to institutions shows 'repentance and subordination'

"Everyone understood now why they were hiding the letter which was published after pressure by New Democracy and after it had been leaked to the press," Kikilias said. "In it, Mr. Tsakalotos and Mr. Tsipras are apologizing for the pension bonus and pledge never to give it again in the future. They repeat five times that they will do everything to implement their commitments deriving from the memorandum, by cutting pensions again. A letter of repentance, subordination and admittance," he added.

"From this day on, the concept of humiliation has a name and surname: Euclid Tsakalotos and Alexis Tsipras.

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