The lengthy negotiations with the troika are being completed successfully, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on March 18. Speaking after the conclusion of talks at the finance ministry between the government and the troika representing Greece's lenders, Samaras also emphasized that there would be no further austerity measures.

More than €500 million of the nearly €3.0 billion primary surplus achieved in 2013 will be distributed as a social dividend in May, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced yesterday. The deal struck with the troika also called for significant structural reforms, mainly by adopting proposals from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) toolkit, which would boost growth by liberalizing the economy, increasing competitiveness and leading to a reduction in prices, the prime minister added.