Crucial year for Greece

People gather at an indoor basketbal hall as the municipality of Athens organized a Christmas meal for homeless and the poor in Athens on December 25, 2017. - AFP

ATHENS: For Greece, 2018 is a crucial year.

The key question in the months ahead for what was once the epicentre of the European credit crisis is: Will it turn the corner and wean itself of external aid like Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus – something the Greek government wants? Or, will the current bailout programme, which ends Aug 20, be followed by a similar arrangement – as some observers expect?