Eurozone ministers reset Greece’s goals

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Series Details 4.10.11
Publication Date 04/10/2011
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At a Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg on the 3 October 2011 Eurozone finance ministers gave a clear indication they were preparing to paper over Greece’s failure to hit international lenders’ mandated budget targets for 2011, saying they would now evaluate Athens’ performance based on goals that combine both 2011 and 2012.

By combining 2011 with 2012 targets instead, the EU appeared to be preparing to fudge the missed benchmarks for 2011, paving the way for the closely watched aid payment, which Athens says it needs in a matter of days or it will run out of cash. However, the payment would be delayed beyond the anticipated 13 October 2011. Senior eurozone officials warned they were likely to extract new concessions for 2013 and 2014 in the forthcoming days before signing off on the new money.

Related Links
ESO: Background information: Greek cabinet approves budget cuts / Greece unveils draft budget for 2012 / Lenders want Athens to show more zeal http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-cabinet-approves-budget-cuts-greece-unveils-draft-budget-for-2012-lenders-want-athens-to-show-more-zeal/
BBC News, 4.10.11: Eurozone delays decision on next Greek payout http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15161809
Deutsche Welle, 4.10.11: Bailout delay keeps Greece on tenterhooks http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15434105,00.html
France24, 4.10.11: Eurozone delays decision on crucial loans to Greece http://www.france24.com/en/20111004-eurozone-delays-decision-crucial-loans-greece-deficit-targets-luxembourg-eu-economy
Kathimerini, 4.10.11: Eurozone delays decision on Greek loan http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_04/10/2011_409252
Kathimerini, 3.10.11: Labor deal row brewing over contracts http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_03/10/2011_409248
Eleftherotypia / To Vima, 4.10.11: EU hits Athens with “fatal bullet” (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/news-brief-cover/1020231-eu-hits-athens-fatal-bullet
EUObserver, 4.10.11: Unrest spreads to military as retired Greek officers storm defence ministry http://euobserver.com/13/113821
EUObserver, 4.10.11: Eurozone chiefs: Greece can wait till November http://euobserver.com/19/113815
EurActiv, 4.10.11: Euro zone postpones Greek loan, agrees on collateral http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/euro-zone-postpones-greek-loan-a-news-508112

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