By T. Tsiros
[email protected]
Beyond the still unfinished legal framework for protection of primary residences in Greece from creditors, the country's Eurozone partners and other European institutions will also consider whether another 16 "prior actions" have been fulfilled by the Tsipras government ahead of the second post-bailout evaluation.
A successor framework for the now expired "Katselis law" has overshadowed other commitments that Athens must fulfill in the post-bailout period, although a handful of reforms are considered as decisive. Among others, the Greek government present European creditors with completion of a tender to sell-off "3+1" lignite-fired power units operated by the state-run Public Power Corp., the dominant electricity utility in the country. Three units are operational, while a mature license for construction of another unit is included.
Athens has also "dragged its feet" in a concession for the Egnatia motorway crossing the breadth of northern Greece, as well as staffing for the Independent Public Asset Authority, a wholly administrative reform.
While not included in the list of the 16 "prior actions", creditors also reportedly want to see the complete clearance of the state's arrears to the private sector, which as of January 2019 remain "struck" at the two billion euros figure.
The next significant date on the calendar for the Greek finance ministry is April 5, when a Eurogroup meeting will convene.
