ATHENS
Greece cut its 2017 growth forecast to 1.8 per cent from 2.7 per cent, according to a mid-term budget plan unveiled late on Saturday, driven by uncertainty caused by delays in concluding the latest review of bailout reforms.
Greece and its foreign creditors reached a deal on reforms in early May after six months of tense negotiations but the wrangling hurt economic activity.
The Greek central bank governor had warned the delays could hobble economic recovery.
The 2018-21 plan was submitted to parliament along with the reform deal which lawmakers need to approve.
It forecasts growth of 2.4 per cent in 2018 and 2.6 per cent in 2019. The projections are lower than those of the EU Commission, which also cut its growth estimates last week to 2.1 percent this year from 2.7 per cent forecast three months ago.
GDP growth was also set to shrink to 2.5 per cent in 2018 from previously estimated 3.1 per cent, the Commission said.
The government hopes that legislating the new measures by May 18 will allow its Eurozone partners to approve the deal when they meet on May 22 and release a new tranche of bailout funds.
It also wants the ministers to sign off on the review to qualify for inclusion in the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing program and return to bond markets after three years of isolation.
