Greece wants to pay back IMF loan

Greece's Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on the repayment of a loan instalment of around €450m, IMF head Christine Lagarde announced after meeting with the Greek Finance Minister on the 5 April 2015.

Commentators said in various European newspapers that Syriza's representatives were just play acting, and expected a third bailout package to be on the agenda as early as summer 2015.

This Main Focus from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

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The BBC reported on the 9 April 2015 that an EU official had suggested that taking into account weekends and the Greek Easter there were only six working days left for Greece to come up with a revised list of reforms to seal a deal on its next rescue bailout at a Eurogroup meeting planned for 24 April 2015. Later, it was suggested that the deadline would have to slip to a Eurogroup meeting in May 2015.

On 15 April 2015, credit agency Standard & Poor's downgraded Greece’s further into junk territory, from B- to CCC+, with a negative outlook. The agency, as well as the German government, were pessimistic about the possible outcome of the negotiations between the Greek authorities and the EU.

News sources suggested that Greece had been pushed a step closer to default and potential exit from the eurozone after IMF chief Christine Lagarde ruled out on the 16 April 2015 giving Greece more time to pay back the €1 billion it owed to the IMF in May 2015.

ESO: Background information: The Greek debt crisis: Key sources http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-greek-debt-crisis-key-sources/

ESO: Background information: Clock ticking as Greece continues talks with creditors http://www.europeansources.info/record/clock-ticking-as-greece-continues-talks-with-creditors/

Kathimerini, 07.04.15: Greek finance minister heads to Paris http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_07/04/2015_548894

Kathimerini, 07.04.15: IMF willing to show flexibility on Greek reform proposals, says Finance Ministry http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_1_07/04/2015_548899

EurActiv, 06.04.15: Greece pledges to meet all obligations to lenders http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greece-pledges-meet-all-obligations-lenders-313549

IMF: Press Release, No.162, 2015: Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Greece http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2015/pr15162.htm

IMF: IMF and Greece http://www.imf.org/external/country/grc/

Kathimerini, 07.04.15: Government giving mixed signals on reform intentions as creditors push for action http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_07/04/2015_548920

Blog: Social Europe Journal, 07.04.15: The Real Thing: An Anti-austerity European Government http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/04/real-thing-anti-austerity-european-government/

The Guardian, 09.04.15: Greece's €459m debt payment to IMF due on Thursday http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/apr/09/greeces-459m-debt-payment-to-imf-due-on-thursday

BBC News, 09.04.15: Eurozone: Six days for Greece to offer new reforms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32229793

EurActiv, 09.04.15: Varoufakis affirms Greek intention to privatise http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/varoufakis-affirms-greek-intention-privatise-313661

EUObserver, 09.04.15: Greece repays IMF, but future funding in doubt https://euobserver.com/economic/128277

EurActiv, 13.04.15: Greece hits back at German newspaper allegation http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greece-hits-back-german-newspaper-allegation-313703

EUObserver, 14.04.15: Time running out for Greece, warns euro commissioner https://euobserver.com/news/128307

EUObserver, 16.04.15: Greece risks default in mid-May, S&P warns https://euobserver.com/news/128347

EurActiv, 16.04.15: Germany pessimistic about Greek rescue http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/germany-pessimistic-over-prospect-rescuing-greece-313830

The Guardian, 16.04.15: Greece pushed a step closer to eurozone exit after IMF snub http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/apr/16/greece-moves-step-closer-to-grexit-after-imf-snub

EUObserver, 17.04.15: IMF refuses to soften Greek repayment programme https://euobserver.com/economic/128358

Kathimerini, 16.04.15: Athens holds firm as lenders run out of patience http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_16/04/2015_549114

Kathimerini, 17.04.15: Greek finance minister says cannot sign existing loan deal http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_17/04/2015_549160

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 17.04.15: Athens' request for payment deferral rejected http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER161711-Athens-request-for-payment-deferral-rejected

EUObserver, 17.04.15: EU sets 'decisive' 11 may deadline for Greece https://euobserver.com/economic/128365

Politico. 23.04.15: Wall Street: Tsipras is a pain in the Athens http://www.politico.eu/article/print-grexit-wall-street-says-dont-risk-it/

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