Greece considers selling strategic ports to reach deal with EU

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s new leftist government had sought to cancel significant terms of Athens’ bailout programme, calling it a “crime” to sell off strategic national assets. But hard-pressed for cash and with its euro zone partners and the International Monetary Fund demanding policy concessions before they agree to release remaining bailout aid, the government has softened its stance.

This has not been decided but in order to reach a deal we may do it.

A government official told reporters

Cut off from markets and fast running out of cash to pay salaries, service loans and redeem maturing debt, Athens has only days left to reach a cash-for-reforms deal. Compromises the government is willing to consider in its bid for a deal include value-added tax rates and some pension reforms. Another government official said mass layoffs and pension cuts were still among the government’s red lines.