Ministry of Finance

Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis was meeting with deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos at 10 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss the apparent deadlock in ongoing negotiations between the Greek government and troika representatives.

A teleconference between troika and Greek government officials on Tuesday led to the lenders’ estimate for next year’s fiscal gap being reduced but not to the point where the two sides are in full agreement over the content of the 2015 budget, which is due to be submitted to Parliament this week.

Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis on Tuesday called for calm in tense negotiations with the country's international creditors.

Pressure on the government to make concessions to the troika grew on Monday as European officials indicated that a review by the country’s creditors must resume within the next couple of days if it is to be completed in time for a Eurogroup summit on December 8 when Greece’s post-bailout prospects are to be discussed.

 Latest GDP data show economy has returned to growth, Samaras promises that recovery will be felt by all

Following a difficult week for the government, Friday’s news that Greece has returned to growth following a protracted recession was welcomed enthusiastically by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras who declared, “Greece is back.”

Responsibilities for tax-related affairs are to be transferred from Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis to Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Mavraganis, according to a decision by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, and Hardouvelis, which was published in the Government Gazette.

Six people, including two Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) employees and a Finance Ministry employee, were arrested on Monday over bribery and extortion charges, the Greek police department announced on Tuesday.

Troika envoys have sent Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis (photo) a list of 19 tough reforms they want authorities to carry out for their latest review to be completed in time for a Eurogroup summit due on December 8, Kathimerini understands. The list was addressed to the finance minister last Friday.

Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis on Wednesday secured the commitment of his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble that Greece’s eurozone partners would approve the country’s early exit from the memorandum with a precautionary credit line if all is in place by year-end.

New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyannis on Wednesday criticized the conservative-led government for failing to take action to compensate about 15,000 small bondholders hurt by Greece's debt restructuring program, or PSI, in 2012.