International Monetary Fund

BELGRADE - Serbia is looking at an ambitious deficit reduction plan and a reform package that would not be possible without the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said Fiscal Council President Pavle Petrovic.

BELGRADE - Serbia is looking at an ambitious deficit reduction plan and a reform package that would not be possible without the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said Fiscal Council President Pavle Petrovic.

By Marcus Bensasson & Nikos Chrysoloras

One phrase echoed from Brussels to Frankfurt and Washington as Greece?s creditors examined and then waved through the country?s new economic policies: ?starting point.?

IMF chief Christine Lagarde’s review on Tuesday of Yanis Varoufakis’ list of reforms to eurozone creditors was summed up as this: “comprehensive but not very specific”.

Lagarde’s comments were included in a letter to Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem. Nevertheless, the powerful IMF chief added that this is to be expected, as the Greek government is new in office.

Minister: Goal is to reduce public debt and deficit

BELGRADE -- Dusan Vujovic said on Tuesday the fundamental goal of the new three-year arrangement with the IMF was to reduce the public debt share in GDP by 2017.

Another is to lower the budget deficit to around 3 percent of GDP, the finance minister said.

Eurozone finance ministers on Tuesday gave the green light to Greece's reform proposals that will enable extension of the country's bailout programme, VOA reported.

IMF deal "confirms credible policy of government and NBS"

BELGRADE -- The arrangement with the IMF is a positive signal for potential investors looking to place their funds in Serbia, the central bank (NBS) has said.

It is also "an indicator that the government and the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) are conducting a credible economic policy."

Eurogroup FinMins approved the loan extension that Greece has applied for, giving the country another four months breathing room in order to properly formulate a plan for the future.

The agreement was ratified by a teleconference call on Tuesday. It was first confirmed by Slovak FinMin Peter Kazimir on Twitter.

Greece's reform plan is sufficient to continue giving the country aid but is lacking necessary detail, International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday.

In a letter to Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Lagarde said the Greek list was comprehensive but «not very specific."

"Dacic could be here more often," PM tells cabinet session

BELGRADE -- Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday chaired the 100th meeting of his cabinet and remarked that Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic "could attend more often despite his trips."