EWG to discuss disbursement of Greek bond profits

Representatives of the eurozone's finance ministers are expected in their next meeting on Thursday to prepare the ground so that profits made on the country's bonds by the European Central Bank (ECB) and euro area central banks during the economic crisis can be transferred to Greece, according to sources.

It is estimated that the ECB and eurozone central banks hold some 12.8 billion euros through the former's bond-buying securities and markets program (SMP), and the agreement on net financial assets (ANFA).

The discussion at the Euro Working Group (EWG) will be mainly technical, as the substance was already agreed upon at the Eurogroup of June 22, as part of debt relief measures to smooth out Greece's return to the international markets.

Central bank profits will be disbursed to Greece in equal amounts on a semi-annual basis in December and June, starting in 2018...