protoThema — Athens and its creditors are discussing the additional measures Greece will need to take in 2018 when the Greek bailout program ends, according to Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
The new measures at the end of the present programme will effectively lead to a fourth rescue package.
While Athens awaits debt relief discussions at the Eurogroup on December 5, the Dutch Finance Minister has announced that reducing the surplus target below 3.5% of the GDP is not an option for 2019.
Dijsselbloem has also dashed Greece’s hope for debt relief, saying that “the long term (the surplus target) can be reduced a bit more, and this is truly a realistic approach.”
Mr. Dijsselbloem added: “We are standing by the Greek people and will help them manage their debt, if and when the Greeks fulfill the terms of the program, and on this basis the IMF could also continue participating in it as well.”
