Troika talks to resume on Friday as Eurogroup gets under way
As Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras prepared to face his eurozone counterparts in Dublin on Friday, Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras was to continue talks in Athens with troika envoys with the key focus on a contentious overhaul of the civil service.
The talks on Friday were to resume at 3 p.m. after another long session of negotiations on Thursday when the two sides reportedly inched closer to an agreement in several areas. «The government and the troika are closer on all points of negotiation,» a ministry source said late on Thursday.
Administrative Reform Minister Antonis Manitakis has been tasked with overseeing the downsizing of the civil service but, according to sources, he will withdraw and allow the coalition leaders to take over negotiations if troika envoys ask more of Greece than what it committed to in last year’s loan agreement.
Athens is hoping to be able to announce the outcome of negotiations with the troika by Tuesday.
