Government seeks to reach an initial agreement with troika representatives by Saturday in order to have a basis for discussion of a revised memorandum and on the disbursement of the EUR 8.1 billion tranche during a Eurogroup meeting scheduled for Monday, July 8, sources told AMNA.

“The negotiation is in full swing taking note of all prior actions needed to be included in an omni-bill intended to be tabled to Parliament on Monday,” the sources said.

Key cabinet ministers attended yesterday afternoon a new meeting with the troika representatives, chaired by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.

According to government sources, the presence of ministers at the finance ministry indicates an effort to complete the negotiations with the troika as quickly as possible.

Greece has three days to reassure its lenders it can deliver on conditions attached to its international bailout in order to receive the next tranche of aid, four euro zone officials said to Reuters.

There is a general dissatisfaction with progress in Greece when it comes to reforming its public sector, such as tax and custom collection or health care services, a senior euro zone official involved in negotiations said.

“All agreed that Greece has to deliver before the Eurogroup on Monday. That’s why they must present again on Friday,” a second source said. Link

However, European Commission yesterday denied media reports according to which Greece had been given three days to settle pending issues of its current review by the troika of lenders mission in Athens before jeopardising the disbursal of its next loan tranche.

Simon O’Connor, a spokesperson for European Commission Vice President Olli Rehn, said that the only truth in the reports is that in order for the Eurogroup to be able to reach a decision or an agreement this coming Monday, talks in Athens must be through earlier.

“We have set no deadline,” O’Connor said on behalf of Rehn, referring to the Reuters report. He said the Commission does not comment on ongoing negotiations.

Asked whether the next loan tranche of EUR 8.1 billion will be released in further installments, O’Connor said that in the last six months, the usual practice is to disburse the loans in installments, depending on the political terms agreed upon.