Greece needs boosted reform for future funding: EC

ATHENS
Greece will need to pick up the pace of reforms in order to secure future funding from international creditors, the European Commission said Wednesday
In a country report on Greece, the commission reiterated that the economy is seen contracting at an annual pace of 4.7% in 2012, with the potential risk for further deterioration, and that the country's medium-term economic performance will depend on the implementation of structural reforms
"Comprehensive international financial assistance can continue to be provided only if policy implementation improves," the commission said in its report
"The determination of the Greek authorities to stick to the agreed policies will be tested in the coming months when deficit-reducing measures to close the large gap for 2013-14 need to be identified," it said
Under the terms of the country's latest EUR130 billion bailout, Greece must detail in June some EUR11.5 billion worth of spending cuts to close fiscal gaps in 2013 and 2014
The commission said Greece has made insufficient progress in reforming public procurement procedures and its tax policy -- a change that was supposed to have been voted in by lawmakers in September last year
Additionally, progress in privatizations has been slower than planned on account of adverse market conditions and technical and legal hurdles in preparing assets for sale, it added