Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Greek debt crisis: Tsipras seeks to thrash out deal

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras smiles as he arrives at Maximos Mansion in Athens on Tuesday, June 23, 2015

The Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, is to hold fresh talks with his country's creditors as he tries to secure an urgent deal on Athens' debt.
Greece must repay €1.6bn (£1.1bn) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of the month, or face default and possible exit from the EU.
European Union leaders have broadly welcomed Greece's latest proposals for reforms - but obstacles remain.
Eurozone finance ministers are due to finalise a deal on Wednesday evening.
The agreement being formed is believed to include:
  • New taxes on businesses and the wealthy
  • Selective increases in VAT
  • Savings in pensions linked to curbing early retirement and increasing pension contributions
  • No further reductions in pensions or public-sector wages - "red lines" for Greece's Syriza government
On Wednesday, the ECB again increased additional emergency funding for Greek banks to stave off fears of a bank run - the fifth time in eight days it has done so as fearful savers withdraw up to €1bn a day from domestic banks.
Only once agreement is reached will creditors unlock the final €7.2bn tranche of bailout funds.

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