ESM freezes short-term debt relief measures plan for Greece

The European Stability Mechanism's board of directors decided on Wednesday to freeze a deal regarding short-term measures to lighten Greece's debt load until a fiscal assessment of measures announced last week by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been carried out, Kathimerini's Eleni Varvitsiotis reported from Brussels.

Tsipras announced that 617 million euros would be handed out to 1.6 million pensioners in the form of a special supplement, and that certain eastern Aegean islands would be exempt from a VAT hike. The money for the measures was expected to come from a budget surplus.

Greece's creditors say the measures were not discussed with institutions beforehand, as stipulated under the country's bailout agreement.