ATHENS: European Parliament President Martin Schulz said yesterday he was in favour of providing additional aid to Greece if the debt-wracked country achieves a primary surplus.
“If there is surplus we should discuss immediately... to stabilise recovery” of the economy, Schulz said during a press conference in Athens after his meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
Schulz estimated that such a discussion could take place in the spring, after Eurostat has published its macro-economic results for 2013.
Greece has predicted a slight primary surplus — not including debt servicing costs — of 0.4 percent of GDP or ¤812m ($1.1m) this year.
“After six years of recession, Greece will achieve primary surplus, something the country has not experienced for decades,” said Samaras.
In November last year, the eurozone states agreed that a new write-down of Greece’s huge debt would be possible if the heavily indebted country fulfils the terms of its bailout deal and achieves a primary surplus.
“We have to stick to our promises,” said Schulz.
In 2012, Greece erased nearly a third of its immediate debt, nearly ¤106bn, thanks to an unprecedented write-down agreed with private creditors including banks and pension funds.
AFP
