ECONOMY

Stournaras to resume talks with troika in Athens

Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras is due on Wednesday to embark on a third round of negotiations with European Union, European Central Bank and Intenational Monetary Fund officials — collectively known as the troika.

The talks are part of the effort to finalize a series of measures amounting to a 13.5 billion euro austerity package demanded by the country?s creditors before the release of a 31.5 billion euro tranche of Greek bailout funding.

According to Stournaras, the next tranche is expected in November, while the Greek government was also seeking the release of an extra 5 billion euros which were part of a tranche due in September but which was not disbursed.

On the negotiating table on Wednesday issues included the liberalization of so-called closed professions, the opening of the Greek energy sector, the establishment of a public procurement system, a reinforcement of tax collection systems as well as labor issues.

According to Stournaras the negogiating agenda also included the issue of an extension to Greece’s fiscal adjustment, although he admitted to journalist on Tuesday that the eurozone has asked Athens to suggest how this could be funded.

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