Troika Officials See State Expenditure Off The Track
 
                         The  building of Treasury has become a battleground between Greek government  and IMF/EU/ECB (troika) representatives, focusing on the progress of  2011 measures.
Finance Ministry attempts to convince the troika that the €3b revenue  measures are adequate, but the objections of the international lenders  are numerous and more intense than ever. Time is running out, as Friday  is the last day of negotiations, ahead of the arrival of troika’s top  officials on Saturday. 
Sources note that the troika questions the government’s ability to raise  funds through fighting of tax evasion in order to cover the gaps of the  first quarter of 2011. In addition, it has seen huge deviations in  expenditure. 
The Ministry of Labour has already admitted that crisis and unemployment  have resulted in deviations in revenues of €600m in the organization of  insurance of free-lancers (OAEE) and €600m in IKA, the country’s  largest social security organization. 
The interventions in municipalities and local authorities, which were  expected to save €500m, are delayed, while the publication of the  progress of public enterprises is expected to be postponed. 
In this context, the closure of state deficit below €17b in 2011 is  considered impossible, given the high deficit in 2010 (10.5% of GDP).  The government unsuccessfully attempts to reverse the sentiment, showing  evidence of interventions in the state budget. 
The review of Greece’s progress by the troika starts on Saturday, after  the arrival of the troika’s top officials: Poul M. Thomsen (IMF), Klaus  Masuch (ECB) and probably Matthias Mors (EU). 
The faster implementation of the single payroll, increased objective  values and income criteria on social benefits are under study, while the  equation of tax on oil and heating fuel and the change in VAT rates  will be under discussion.
(capital.gr)
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Prime indiscrezioni sulla missione della troika.