The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
Yeah - I'd much prefer it to end in a more orderly fashion - a negotiated, controlled Grexit, a Greek wonder plan that puts an end to all financial subidies for good, whatever you can imagine - but end it must.
But apparently a chaotic end with bank crashes, fear and loathing is what Tsipras wants, and so it might be exactly what he gets.
who put the "United States" in my profile?
You did. There is a choice of countries when you sign up. If you're not paying attention, you get the default, which is (fortunately or unfortunately, according to your point of view) the US.
You can change your country under profile then settings.
So, why not accept Greece's last proposal? This is silly. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
neither this latest version of the document, nor an outline of a comprehensive deal could be formally finalised and presented to the Eurogroup due to the unilateral decision of the Greek authorities to abandon the process on the evening of 26 June 2015.
that would have included not just the measures to be jointly agreed, but would also have addressed future financing needs and the sustainability of the Greek debt. It also included support for a Commission-led package for a new start for jobs and growth in Greece, boosting recovery of and investment in the real economy, which was discussed and endorsed by the College of Commissioners on Wednesday 24 June 2015.
On some points they shifted to the greek position:
- The new VAT system will: (i) unify the rates at a standard 23 percent rate, which will include restaurants and catering, and a reduced 13 percent rate for basic food, energy, hotels, and water (excluding sewage), and a super-reduced rate of 6 percent for pharmaceuticals, books, and theater;
Namely hotels and energy and the existence of the third rate.
The planned raise of the corporation tax looks also like a concession.
On the whole this can't the greek proposal. To illustrate that on the pension chapter:
"Effective from July 1, 2015 the authorities will phase-in reforms that would deliver estimated permanent savings of ¼-½ percent of GDP in 2015 and 1 percent of GDP on a full year basis in 2016 and thereafter by adopting legislation to:"
Not only is the 1% of GDP in 2016 very ambitious and very far from even the last greek proposal but the numbers for 2015 - savings of 0.25% to 0.5%, starting July 1th (!) are simply impossible to achieve.
That is the general problem. A well run government would be hard to put to achieve all the proposed changes of the pension chapter until January First, 2016. Together with all the other chapters that should be implemented until January First, 2016 this simply not doable.
(who put the "United States" in my profile?)
by Oui - Dec 9 7 comments
by Oui - Dec 5 10 comments
by gmoke - Nov 28
by Oui - Dec 97 comments
by Oui - Dec 815 comments
by Oui - Dec 620 comments
by Oui - Dec 612 comments
by Oui - Dec 510 comments
by Oui - Dec 44 comments
by Oui - Dec 21 comment
by Oui - Dec 181 comments
by Oui - Dec 16 comments
by gmoke - Nov 303 comments
by Oui - Nov 3012 comments
by Oui - Nov 2838 comments
by Oui - Nov 2713 comments
by Oui - Nov 2511 comments
by Oui - Nov 243 comments
by Oui - Nov 221 comment
by Oui - Nov 22
by Oui - Nov 2119 comments