European Commission spokesman Simon O’Connor has confirmed that the troika teams will be visiting Athens after all, after news agency Reuters reported late last week that the trip had been postponed, due to significant delays and differences of opinion.
On Friday afternoon European Commission representative Chantal Hughes explained that the troika team would return to Athens “when the conditions are right”, while the IMF stated that Poul Tomsen was expected in Athens on Monday, as normal.
The Ministry of Finances in Athens later issued a statement explaining that the troika representatives were scheduled to meet Minister Stournaras at noon on Tuesday and the Minister of Labor Vroutsis at 4pm. Mr. O’ Connor later revealed that the European Commission expected certain important information before returning to Athens.
The troika trip is delayed because there is a fundamental disagreement about the 2014 budget gap; the creditors estimate a 2.9-billion-euro shortfall, while the Samaras coalition government believes it will not exceed 500 million euros. Furthermore, the two sides have disagreed on the restructure plans for Greek defense industries EAS and ELVO.
