Despite the Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras saying in 2010 that that the participation of the IMF was not necessary and believing that the programme could be handled by euro zone authorities alone, on Thursday Greece “fully accepted” the proposal for the International Monetary Fund to take a role in the bailout programme.

The Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said;

“Tsakalotos (Greek Finance Minister) confirmed to me that the Greek government accepts that the IMF needs to be part of the process. It was absolutely clear to him, it was part of the agreement this summer,”

Jijsselbloem has however confirmed that the intervention from the IMF is not straightforward, saying that the IMF will require Greece to push through pension reforms and the euro zone.

The EU’s economic affairs commissioner has warned Athens “not to play games” with the IMF in their role in the three year, 86 billion euro rescue package agreed in July.

 

14/01/2016