Greece seeks changes to EU-IFM deal - Gayo Lues

Antonis Samaras told the parliament on Friday that his government was not seeking a change of the goals set in the 130-billion-euro bailout deal, but that it will ask for changes in the austerity policies imposed to meet them.

“We don’t want to change the targets,” Samaras told the parliament in his first policy speech since taking office. “What needs to change is that which is hampering us from attaining the targets. We want to fight the recession.”

The premier then promised to stick to reforms and measures to restore growth in a bid to ease the pain on the country’s economy that is struggling in its fifth year of recession.

He also told the MPs that Greece had missed targets to reduce debt but said he will work to ensure the country remains in the eurozone.

Samaras also asked the EU-IMF creditors to extend a 2014 deadline for the bailout program.

“The adjustment must not take place over two years, but longer. And the program misses its targets because of the recession, this is no reason to take more fiscal measures as we have done so far. Recession must be stopped, not continuously deepen.”

“With this uncontrolled recession, the program’s funding needs are rising. We want this to stop and to start getting out of this dead end. This is the subject of our ‘renegotiation’,” he added.

Samaras‘ remarks outlining Athens’ priorities came as his coalition government is expected to face a vote of confidence on Sunday.

His government is under pressure from international creditors to press ahead with unpopular austerity measures. But measures intended to reduce debt, such as reducing the minimum wage, will risk damaging the country’s economic growth.

SAB/MA