EU Updates – FXWW Chatroom

Citi: EU draws up secret plans to expel Greece from EUR “By tacit approval of the other Eurozone countries a process is started that in effect results in Greece being expelled from the euro” – Helsingin Sanomat The Times has today picked up on an article from Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat. A document leaked to the paper, dated March 27, indicates that the Finnish finance ministry, a close ally of Germany’s administration, has been preparing for a Greek exit from the common currency. The Times reveals that there will be “very difficult political decisions” this spring amid predictions that Greece will be bankrupt next month unless the Eurozone agrees the next tranche of aid for it within the next three weeks”. Reminding readers that despite positive progress and the repayment of yesterday’s IMF funds, the country’s position remains precarious: “Greece has been given until next Friday to come up with a new programme of reforms that must then be agreed by all its Eurozone creditors to unlock €7.2 billion (£5.2 billion) of loans needed to pay bills in May and June”. “In a sign that time is running out more quickly than expected, Greek bank deposits fell yesterday indicating a capital flight of more than €1 billion in the first week of April. The unexpectedly rapid deterioration led the European Central Bank to almost double emergency bank assistance to Greece. Greek finances are expected to be stretched to the limit next Tuesday as the government pays public sector payroll and pensions bills”. The article also suggests that the Eurozone is now better-prepared to absorb the after-effects of a Grexit: “Finland is convinced that, following reforms over the past three years and measures taken by the European central Bank, the euro can weather the storm of Greece leaving the single currency” Finally, Greek PM Tsipras’ recent trip to Russia is highlighted as a provocative move.

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