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"If
the Greek government upholds all the agreements, European
finance ministers could complete the review on May 22 and then
soon after that release the next tranche," Schaeuble told the
Funke media group newspapers.
Greece and its international creditors reached a preliminary
agreement at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in April
to set up the next transfer of some 7 billion euros in aid. But
the finance ministers will not release the tranche until the
audit is completed.
"The longer it takes, the more uncertainty will be in the
financial markets and economy," Schaeuble added.
He said the Greek government had promised to make further
adjustments in pensions as well as improve tax collection.
Asked why he was optimistic the aid could soon be released,
Schaeuble said, "Because we negotiated in a very determined
fashion and the Greek government said it would adjust the
pensions more strongly to the economic situation.
"That's not easy - I know that. And it wants to improve the tax
collection system so that tax revenues will rise again from
2020."
(Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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