Intense 3-month period in economy ahead of next tranche

The government will enter an intense three-month period of interventions in the economy as of Monday with March looming large on the horizon -- when according to a published timetable, the EU-ECB-IMF bailout mechanism's fourth and biggest tranche (15 billion euros) is set for disbursement to Greece. 

 

 The period is considered crucial since, apart from the new inspection by the EU-ECB-IMF "troika" in February, the issue of an extension for the repayment of the bailout's installments will also be raised. 

 

 A draft bill on the opening of so-called "closed professions" is a top priority. Another important issue is the reform and cost-cutting plan for state-run utilities and wider public sector organisations. 

 

 The "troika" is expecting a detailed plan for every sector, particularly in terms of privatisations and the better utilisation of state real estate. 

 

 January will be an important month since at the end of it, or early February at the latest, a draft law on the reform of Greece's creaky tax administration must be tabled in Parliament. Announcements are also expected in January on actuarial studies concerning the main social insurance funds (Ika, Oaee and Oga). 

 

 Additionally, a detailed action plan must be presented by the end of February -- with specific deadlines -- for the long-south unified salary scale in the country's cavernous public sector, in order to allow the relevant bill to be ratified by the end of June.






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