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More debt relief, less austerity; Tsipras

Tspiras's call comes as the European Commission said Greece's fiscal performance was better than expected last year
Tspiras's call comes as the European Commission said Greece's fiscal performance was better than expected last year

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has rejected the idea of more austerity measures and called for debt relief for Athens.

It comes as the European Commission said Greece's fiscal performance was better than expected last year.

Economic progress has been a sticking point in bailout talks, which have dragged on for months. 

The European Union and the International Monetary Fund disagree over whether Greece can achieve a 3.5% primary surplus in 2018.

Athens and the EU believe the target is feasible.

The IMF considers it too optimistic and says debt relief is essential, combined with additional measures.

Today, the EU Commission said Athens had attained a primary surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2015 based on Eurostat data, comfortably beating a target for a 0.25% deficit.

"Greece, which has a primary surplus of 0.7%, does not need extra measures. What Greece needs is an essential debt relief," Mr Tsipras told Euronews. 

"Greece, in this last turn, needs a push forward not backwards. Those who have made huge mistakes, wrong choices and projections, should not be allowed to repeat their mistakes," he added.

Earlier, a government official said Greece's fiscal performance last year raised doubts over the credibility of the International Monetary Fund's projections and its insistence on more austerity measures.

The left-led government, which has a fragile parliamentary majority, hopes the new data could help conclude its bailout review signalling a better performance also for 2016.