Alexis Tsipras confident of EU deal before cash runs out

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday said he was “firmly optimistic” his government would reach a deal with foreign creditors by the end of April despite friction over issues such as pension and labour reform.

Tsipras said several points of agreement had been found since talks first started, especially on areas such as tax collection, corruption and initiatives to distribute the tax burden on those who have the ability to pay.

However, he acknowledged the sides disagreed on four issues: Labour issues, pension reform, a hike in value-added taxes, and privatisations, which he referred to as “development of state property” rather than asset sales.