Samaras, Venizelos discuss pending issues amid ongoing troika negotiations [Update]
A meeting between Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos concluded on Wednesday with reports suggesting that the two men agreed that negotiations between the government and Greece’s lenders, known as the troika, should be concluded soon in an effort to restore a sense of stability in the country. Samaras and Venizelos also reiterated their position that no new horizontal measures would take place.
On the issue of the country’s Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS) Venizelos repeated his position regarding the company’s streamlining while in operation.
The meeting’s agenda also included issues arising from a new property tax bill which has caused friction within government ranks. A number of Conservative New Democracy deputies demand that the proposed legislation excludes land used for agricultural purposes while several PASOK MPs are calling for the bill to be revised altogether.
On Tuesday talks between government and troika officials reportedly focused on the reduction in the level of social security contributions employers are obliged to pay as well as the closure or streamlining of Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS), among other issues.
