Moscovici in Athens for talks on progress of bailout program
European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici started a two-day official visit to Athens on Monday for talks expected to focus on the progress of Greece's bailout program implementation.
Moscovici is to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at 5 p.m. following a meeting with Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou. At 6.15 p.m., Moscovici has a meeting scheduled with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and later in the evening is to speak at the Greek Economy Conference organized by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.
In an interview with Ethnos newspaper on Sunday, Moscovici backed the launch of debt relief talks for Greece without delay. "According to the conclusions of the first review and the good progress which has been achieved in the second, I believe the circumstances are right for talks at the next Eurogroup," he said, referring to the next scheduled meeting of Eurozone finance ministers on December 5.
Moscovici added that discussions about the debt "will play a significant role in the IMF remaining in the program," referring to the International Monetary Fund.
On Tuesday Moscovici is to have further meetings with key ministers before giving a press conference at the offices of the European Commission in Athens.
