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Eurogroup agrees on elements for Greece's successful exit from stability support programme in August

At their meeting on 21 June, euro area finance ministers discussed the fourth (and final) review of Greece's ESM programme and commended the Greek authorities for the completion of all the agreed prior actions.

Mr Pierre MOSCOVICI, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs; Mr Mario CENTENO, President of the Eurogroup. © European Union, 2018
European Union, 2018

date:  28/06/2018

See alsoEurogroup, 21/06/2018

At their meeting on 21 June, euro area finance ministers discussed the fourth (and final) review of Greece's ESM programme and commended the Greek authorities for the completion of all the agreed prior actions. The ministers agreed on the elements to support Greece's successful exit from the programme in August of this year. Based on an updated debt sustainability analysis provided by the European institutions, Greece committed to maintaining a primary surplus of 3.5% of GDP until 2022 and, thereafter to continuing to ensure that its fiscal commitments are in line with the EU fiscal framework. This will imply a primary surplus of 2.2% of GDP on average in the period from 2023 to 2060. The Eurogroup also agreed to implement medium-and long-term debt measures to help ensure that the gross financing need remains below 15% of GDP in the medium term and below 20% of GDP thereafter. The Commission will activate the Enhanced Surveillance procedure to enable closer monitoring of the economic, fiscal and financial situation as well as Greece’s post programme policy commitments. Subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to approve the disbursement of the fifth and last tranche of the ESM programme amounting to EUR 15 billion, which will include EUR 9.5 billion to build up cash buffers for debt service, in case needed.