Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-17 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Tsipras, Merkel agree on the need to find a solution on the Greek debt at the Eurogroup [02] It is estimated that Greece can tap the markets in summer [03] Draft law on agreement ratification to be discussed in parliament plenary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Tsipras, Merkel agree on the need to find a solution on the Greek debt at the Eurogroup Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in a telephone contact that a solution to the Greek debt issue is necessary and feasible at the next Eurogroup meeting on May 22. According to the prime minister's press office, Tsipras had a phone contact with Merkel on Tuesday to discuss the Greek issue. The two leaders agreed on finding a solution at the next Eurogroup. They also discussed the refugee issue and the EU-Turkey relations. The Greek prime minister also had a phone contact with the Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades to discuss the Cyprus issue. [02] It is estimated that Greece can tap the markets in summer Greece can participate in the European Central Bank's (ECB) quantitative easing programme even this summer, according to banking officials and financial analysts. As they said, Greece meets all its commitments with the voting of the omnibus bill in the parliament and it is now the creditors' turn to implement their own commitments. It is estimated that after Greece's participation in the ECB's quantitative easing program, the central bank will buy bonds of around three billion euros, boosting the liquidity of banks in order to finance the real economy, households and businesses. The most important of all is, however, that it will give a signal of stability to the markets and allow Greece to tap the markets for the first time since 2014. [03] Draft law on agreement ratification to be discussed in parliament plenary The draft law on the ratification of the agreement will be tabled in parliament plenary on Wednesday and the discussion is expected to be concluded late on Thursday with the speeches of the political leaders and the voting procedure. The bill was voted by a majority in the parliamentary committees on Tuesday.