Gov’t eyes fiscal space of 1.5 bln in talks with creditors

The government's negotiations with the country's creditors are focused on five fronts, as Athens seeks to secure additional fiscal space so it can implement tax breaks and handouts in accordance with its policy. Among the government targets for this year are cutting the solidarity levy and the further reduction of the Single Property Tax (ENFIA).

"Our priority is to secure some fiscal space to apply our policy," a senior Finance Ministry official said on Wednesday, stating the five fronts in the negotiations.

They are the change of use for the profits of eurozone central banks from Greek bond holdings (SMPs and ANFAs), to investments rather than servicing the national debt; the option of transferring any primary surplus overrun from one year to the next; the exemption of the funds for tackling the increased migrant flows from the fiscal result as the post-bailout...