The Minister of Finances Yanis Varoufakis claimed stated on Monday evening that he was happy to sign and agree to a draft which the European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici presented to him, but ultimately this draft was withdrawn.
Mr. Varoufakis claimed that the draft spoke of extending the loan contract (not the program), which would result in a four-month intermediary, transitional stage, before a new program – focused on growth – could be designed. This draft also included the provision of technical assistance from the Commission to expedite reforms.
According to a Reuters report though, which cited an EU officer, the European Commission was mere contributing ideas to a discussion with Mr. Varoufakis. The Financial Times’ Peter Spiegel claimed that there was no significant difference between the two drafts and even claimed that the Moscovici draft did not even exist. The Greek government however claims to have a copy of the draft.
This is the draft @yanisvaroufakis claimed @pierremoscovici presented then withdrew. pic.twitter.com/tE1HJQOY4z
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) February 16, 2015
No #eurozone official I talked to can div out why @pierremoscovici draft ok to #Greece but not other one. They say no diff on substance
— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) February 16, 2015
For everyone looking for a @pierremoscovici draft, I’m told it doesn’t exist. It was more a statement of principles agreed by the two sides.
— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) February 16, 2015
In @pierremoscovici plan, #Greece also agreed to keep primary surplus. In return «institutions» start on new program https://t.co/N9G24H9QaT
— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) February 16, 2015
Many #Greece tweeps seem confused re my @pierremoscovici tweets. Twitter bad for good journalism! Read story instead: https://t.co/N9G24H9QaT
— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) February 16, 2015
@SpiegelPeter the real question is if @yanisvaroufakis actually agree on those @pierremoscovici principals! not if there was a printed draft
— Anastasios Theofilou (@Tasos_Theofilou) February 16, 2015