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The government is making desperate attempts to reach agreement on contentious issues with creditors in the next 24 hours as well as to complete the first phase of the assessment and obtain the tranche of 10+2 billion euro. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is starting to play a leading role in regulating the refugee crisis with the approval of the EU.

According to the latest information, an agreement will soon be reached on the protection of the main housing, which will be very close to the Greek proposals and probably a compromise on retaining the regime of the 100 contributions.

According to the same information, the partners have accepted the equivalent measures proposed to replace the imposition of 23% VAT on private education, as well as 28 other measures that will be included in a bill.

Since the regulation of non-performing loans requires changes that cannot be made by a simple decision of the government, they will be included in a bill that will be tabled in parliament next week. The government is expecting the Euroworking Group on Monday as well as the green light for the transfer of 2 billion euro plus another 10 billion euro for recapitalisation.

Tsipras stressed before the Council of Ministers that the success of the government to separate the first assessment from recapitalisation was very important.

He spoke about the ongoing negotiations on the completion of the first cycle of measures and defined as positive the fact that the Greek government had held its position on the open issues (such as the Katseli law on over-indebted households, the 100 contributions and VAT on education).

Tsipras seems determined to drive his ministers to implement the policies to which they have committed and which concern the programme declaration of the government. Therefore, he has asked them to submit an action plan and schedule by the end of next week.

The activities related to the public administration, the fight against corruption and the black labour market, the health sector, the stable and fair tax system, the national dialogue on education are a priority for the government.

"The purpose of the government is to leave an indelible progressive mark and to undertake to implement the reforms that Greek society needs," the Prime Minister told the ministers. He informed them of his forthcoming visit to Turkey, adding that the government will play a major role in negotiations between the EU and Turkey on the refugee crisis.

During his two-day visit on 17-18 November in Istanbul Tsipras will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and watch with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu a friendly football match between Greece and Turkey. The next day he will have an official meeting with President Erdogan.