Top gov't meeting on new austerity measures concluded

A top government meeting with no less than 15 ministers concluded late Sunday afternoon at the Maximos Mansion after six and a half hours, focusing directly on urgent and controversial new austerity measures aimed to ensure the disbursement of the latest tranche of a bailout package by Nov. 16.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras reportedly instructed ministers to accelerate actions to conclude talks with the representatives of the EC-ECB-IMF troika by Oct. 29.

In speaking to reporters afterwards, Labour Minister Yannis Vroutsis appeared optimistic over the course of the labour sector changes, while Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras reminded that an "omnibus bill must be tabled in tandem with the state budget in order to be ready for the disbursement of the tranche, approximately in mid-November". On labour sector issues, Stournaras said negotiations are underway and should show results in a couple of days.amna

The government is expected to table the new austerity measures in two draft bills within an allocated "fast track" parliamentary procedure, and in parallel with tabling the 2013 draft state budget.

SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS AGENCY