Eurozone finance ministers agree to unlock new aid for Greece

Eurozone finance ministers have agreed to unlock 6.8 billion euros in fresh aid for Greece on condition it press ahead with urgently needed reforms. However, the funds would not be handed over in one lump sum, but in different installments subject to certain conditions being met. “The Eurogroup commends the authorities for their continued commitment to implement the required reforms that have already led to a significant improvement of cost competitiveness, an impressive strengthening of the fiscal position and a more resilient banking sector,” the group said in a statement read out by its chief, Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, at a news conference following a meeting that was also attended by IMF chief Christine Lagarde. “At the same time, significant further work is needed over the next weeks to fully implement all prior actions required for the next disbursement,” Dijsselbloem added. In particular, the required reforms of the public administration, Athens has pledged to axe 4,000 state jobs by the end of the year, as well as redeploy 25,000 civil servants across its vast bureaucracy, needed to be carried out. And further efforts were needed to improve tax revenue collection. “It is time to step up momentum of reform in Greece,” said EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn. Under the terms of the deal, some 4.0 billion euros would be paid out “in the coming weeks,” and a further 1.0 billion euros in October, both sums shared by the Eurozone rescue fund EFSF and European central banks. And the International Monetary Fund would stump up 1.8 billion euros. IMF chief Lagarde said the board of her institution would review the report of Greece’s “Troika” of creditors (the IMF, the European Central Bank and the EU) at the end of July. And it would “review the various prior actions agreed with Greek authorities.