'We've won a battle, but not the war' declares the Greek Prime Minister as a four-month loan extension looks set to keep the country afloat.
‘Real difficulties’ lie ahead, warned Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras following long and sometimes heated discussions with the euro group.
A deal agreed on Friday (February 21) gives his Syriza government until Monday to submit a list of reforms to Greece’s lenders. If the list is approved, Tsipras will secure a four-month extension to euro-zone funding, which will keep Greece afloat.
“Yesterday, we won a battle, but not the war,” said Tsipras. “The difficulties – not just those regarding the negotiations and our relations with our partners – the real difficulties are ahead of us.”
The deal is seen as a step backwards. Despite campaign promises to the contrary, Athens will now be forced to accept a conditional extension of the EU/IMF bailout and – for the time being – continue to deal with the troika: inspectors from the European Commission; the European Central Bank; and the IMF, who are closely monitoring Greece’s compliance with its austerity promises.
However, the collapse of the agreement could provoke a Grexit – Greek exit from the euro zone – something the new government is keen to avoid.
