MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Greek Ekathimerini newspaper, the Greek government submitted the legislation to Parliament on Tuesday morning.
On July 13, the leaders of the Eurozone countries agreed a new bailout plan that would allow Greece remain in the currency bloc and receive financial aid of up to $96 billion over the next three years in exchange for the implementation of strict austerity measures.
The measures Athens agreed to implement include tax increases, changes to VAT rates, pensions reforms, ensuring the complete independence of the Greek statistical authority, ELSTAT, and adhering to the provisions of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union.
All these measures, apart from the extremely unpopular pension reforms, which was postponed following an agreement with creditors, were approved by the Greek parliament on July 15, according to Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili.
On Tuesday, government spokeswoman Gerovasili told journalists that the country’s authorities would start negotiations with lenders right after the second bill is approved by Parliament. The final agreement is expected to be reached before August 20.
Gerovasili stressed that, despite information in the media, higher taxation rates for farmers is not among the reforms required to be approved before the final negotiations can begin.
