Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-06-08 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Tsakalotos, Achtsioglou brief SYRIZA MPs on remaining prior actions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Tsakalotos, Achtsioglou brief SYRIZA MPs on remaining prior actions Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and Labour Minister Efi Achtsioglou briefed SYRIZA lawmakers on Thursday about the remaining prior actions which will be voted in a parliament session on Friday, a parliamentary group source said. The legislation of the 5 amendments that include the prior actions will close all pending issues of the second program review ahead of the Eurogroup on June 15. According to MPs who participated in the meeting, Tsakalotos said he believed the Eurogroup will reach a decision which will be backed by the IMF and which will suggest that, with the measures voted by the Greek parliament, the country's debt will enter a path of sustainability. The decision will also allow ECB chief Mario Draghi to add Greek bonds in the central bank's bond buying scheme. The same sources said the minister argued that Greece aims at returning to an economic normality. "The aim is to be able to borrow [from the markets] like France and Italy," he was quoted as saying, adding that the EU is preparing a growth plan for over-indebted countries such as France and Italy, noting that Greece could benefit from this plan if the country manages to return to normalcy. On her side, Achtsioglou assured SYRIZA lawmakers that there is no risk for collective labour agreements. The last prior actions will be tabled as amendments in a draft bill on fishing and voted on in Parliament on Friday. The debate will begin at the plenum at 10:00 and is scheduled to end at 17:00. If a roll-call is requested it will conclude at 18:00. Opposition parties have voiced strong objections to the prior actions being tabled as amendments.