EU warns Greece reform push 'not there yet'
The EU warned Monday that Greece and its creditors had yet to hammer out a new list of reforms despite talks lasting all weekend aimed at staving off bankruptcy and a euro exit. "We're not there yet," European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters when asked about the progress of the talks.
"This is why the talks should benefit from further fact-finding in Athens that should continue."
Experts from the IMF and the EU are scrutinising reform plans that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agreed earlier this month to provide, in a bid to receive the last 7.2 billion euros ($7.8 billion) of Greece's 240 billion euro bailout. Tsipras -- whose hard-left government was elected in January with a vow to roll back austerity -- said last week that the reforms would be ready by Monday, but Greek officials and experts from the creditors were still negotiating towards a final list.
"The fact that experts worked through the entire weekend and continue today is a positive sign that shows the willingness and seriousness of both sides to engage with each other," Schinas said.
The final list must be accepted by the 19 finance ministers of the eurozone, who would then decide whether to release bailout funds to cash-strapped Greece.
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