Greek FinMin expects conclusion of bailout review by March 20 Eurogroup meeting

Greece expects that the bailout review will be completed in time for the next Eurogroup meeting scheduled for March 20, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said here on Tuesday, as envoys of international lenders returned to resume negotiations on a final deal.

The Greek official appeared optimistic that all pending issues would be resolved in coming weeks, addressing the parliament's economic affairs committee.

The second review of Greece's third three-year bailout should have been wrapped up a year ago, under the initial timetable agreed in 2015.

During his speech, which was broadcast by parliamentary television, Tsakalotos denied that the Greek side was to blame for the delay.

He attributed the delay mainly to the "systematic differences" between the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the sustainability of the Greek debt load, whether the IMF would eventually fund the current bailout and in general the way forward.

After a three-month "freeze" on talks regarding the second evaluation, the Feb. 20 Eurogroup decision set the framework for progress.

On the table of discussions over the next weeks will be fiscal goals for the next three years, structural reforms, privatizations, as well as relief measures to support growth.

Should the second review close in time for the March meeting, Athens hopes that in addition to the disbursement of the next aid tranche, the European Central Bank will soon include Greece in its quantitative easing program, which is expected to help the ailing nation's economy recover. Endit