Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (second left) addressed the European People's Party Group Presidency and heads of national delegations meeting in Athens on Thursday.

Businesses and individuals who have agreed payment plans with tax authorities in the past due to difficulties meeting their obligations but which have failed to keep up their monthly payments will be excluded from a new scheme being drawn up by the government, Kathimerini understands.

The program, which the Finance Ministry is likely to have ready next week, foresees those owing taxes or social security contributions being allowed to pay their debt in 36 monthly tranches. The government had proposed extending this to to 60 months but the proposal was rejected by the troika.

Finance Ministry sources said that under the new scheme, it wants to avoid extending the offer to companies and individuals who only intend to pay their first installment in order to get clearance from tax authorities to continue their business activity but not to continue with their payments after that. As a result, those who have failed to keep up with previous payment plans will be excluded from the new scheme.

Another issue still under discussion with the troika is the reduction of civil servant numbers. Administrative Reform Minister Antonis Manitakis took the unusual step yesterday of issuing a statement to deny that he had clashed with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras over the issue.