FinMin to meet troika ahead of leaders' talks

FinMin to meet troika ahead of leaders' talks Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras was to meet again on Wednesday afternoon with envoys representing Greece's international creditors -- the so-called troika of the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund -- for talks aimed at finalizing an 11.5-billion-euro package of austerity measures. State television reported that a range of onerous measures were «back on the table» -- including reductions to low-level pensions -- after troika officials expressed doubts about the enforceability of counter-measures proposed by the ministry such as the raising of the retirement age and further cutbacks to state administrative costs. Stournaras' talks with the troika, scheduled for 5 p.m., come ahead of a fresh meeting between Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partners -- socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left chief Fotis Kouvelis -- at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The premier is to seek to forge a common line with his coalition partners on the measures before traveling to Rome for a three-day official visit. Stournaras, who is to stay in Athens and continue talks with the troika, has said he hopes for a final agreement on the measures by Sunday. ekathimerini.com , Wednesday September 19, 2012 (13:24)