(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, AUGUST 3 - The Greek government is
expected to wrap up on Sunday its first round of talks with
troika representatives in Athens on the 11.5 billion euros of
spending cuts for the next two years as the online edition of
daily Kathimerini reports. Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras is
due to meet on Sunday afternoon with the troika officials to
brief them on the progress in finalizing the savings. The final
version of the measures, however, will be agreed in early
September, when the troika will also finish compiling the review
of the Greek program. Among the subjects that Stournaras will
discuss with the representatives of the European Commission,
European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund are where
else Greece will find more than 200 million in savings so it can
avoid cuts to "special" salaries in the civil service and how it
will make up a shortfall in revenues that would be caused by
allowing Greeks to pay their income tax in instalments. Sources
told Kathimerini that the government has yet to agree with the
troika on its plan for income tax to be paid in nine or 10
instalments. The Greek side had wanted this option to apply to
anyone earning under 100,000 euros, while the troika has
suggested the ceiling be set at 60,000. If the instalment scheme
applies, the government hopes to collect 70% of this year's
income tax by February. It is not clear if Samaras's wish for
low pensions not to be cut will be fulfilled. The government had
been aiming to cap pensions at a maximum of 2,400-2,600 euros
but there are doubts about whether this would stand up in court.
Given that the savings from such a measure would be fairly minimal, the government may look to trim pensions below 1,000 euros. There will definitely be cuts to all pensions above 1,400 euros. (ANSAmed).
Given that the savings from such a measure would be fairly minimal, the government may look to trim pensions below 1,000 euros. There will definitely be cuts to all pensions above 1,400 euros. (ANSAmed).
