Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras requested on Wednesday the addition of the European Parliament in the so-called quartet of creditors in the regular review process of the country’s loan agreement agreed with its creditors, in a letter to the Parliament’s head, Martin Schulz.

“I’m sending you this letter to request the direct and full involvement of the European Parliament – as the fifth body in the so-called ‘quartet of creditors’ – in the regular evaluation procedure for the implementation of the loan agreement between Greece and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM),” Tsipras wrote in his letter.

The premier said the request was made as the European Parliament is the “only European institution with a direct popular mandate and can act as the ultimate guarantor of democratic accountability and compatibility of economic policy in Europe with the European political and social acquis.”

According to government sources, the premier spoke earlier on the phone with Schulz on the issue and his first reaction was positive on the request, adding that it is also a request made by several political groups in the European Parliament. The request will be put forward for consideration by the parliamentary groups immediately after the start of Parliament’s work.