After the conclusion of Monday’s Eurogroup, the Minister of Finances Yanis Varoufakis announced that the country’s funding problem and relationship with Europe is undergoing a “normalization process”.
Mr. Varoufakis explained that talks with the technical teams of the institutions will begin on Wednesday and that it was agreed at the Eurogroup to specialize the reforms, in preparation of a growth contract to come into effect in June. The Finance Minister also referred to a second wave of 7-8 reforms “which has already been completed” and another that will follow next week.
He added that the three institutions would be “welcomed” to Athens, but was quick to clarify that it would be different to the troika visits, which had a “colonial attitude”. He also expressed his dismay at the references to the defunct “troika” by the other European Finance Minister and quipped that “if they miss it so much, we can it send it to them”.
The Greek Finance Minister defended the legislative bill for tackling the humanitarian crisis in Greece, arguing that it will not have a negative impact on finances, growth or the credit sector. He also clarified that he was never under attack by his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schäuble, and further added that Greece cannot ask permission for everything.
Finally, he stated that he will not give Mario Draghi instructions on how to do his job, which he stressed was to build a climate of trust that is necessary for the European Central Bank.
