The European Parliament will again debate, on Wednesday 12 March, during a plenary in Strasbourg, the role and the performance of the “troika" of international lenders (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) in bailout countries. A vote will follow on Thursday, 13 March.
The lenders have come under fire over accusations of conflicts of interest and lack of democratic accountability for their activities in Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, and Ireland. Some deputies have even spoken of "infringement of the basic rules of democracy" for the way in which austerity rules have been imposed, especially in Greece.
In Athens, government is still trying to bridge its differences with international debt inspectors in negotiations over fiscal reforms needed for the country to receive its next bailout installment.
Yannis Stournaras, the finance minister, said the government hoped to have at least a "good progress report" from representatives of the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank, collectively known as "the troika".
"Nothing is unbridgeable. We are trying to bridge our differences,” said Stournaras.
Greece has been relying on bailout funds from other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund since mid-2010, and has had to overhaul its economy in return. The troika is currently pressing for sweeping changes in market practices and labor rules.
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