EU urges more reforms on Greece

The European Union (EU) on Monday urged more reforms on Greece to unlock the country's third bailout money as talks between EU institutions and Greek authorities are ongoing in Athens.

"Teams from the institutions are now already on the ground in Athens," Deputy Chief Spokeswoman for EU's executive European Commission Mina Andreeva told a daily press briefing.

The Greek parliament has approved two sets of austerity measures demanded in a statement clinched by 19 heads of the single currency bloc on July 13, paving the way for the start of negotiations on its third bailout plan worth up to 8.6 billion euros.

"Progress is made step by step towards a supportive program for Greeks under the ESM (European Stability Mechanism)...in a timely and overall satisfactory manner," Andreeva commented.

The spokeswoman, however, urged more efforts on Greek side. "More reforms are expected from Greek authorities to allow for a swift disbursement under the ESM, and this is also what is being discussed right now."

"The negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding should now progress as swiftly as possible," she noted.

Cash-strapped Greece is facing a fresh 3.2-billion-euro repayment to the European Central Bank on Aug. 20.
Xinhua  -china.org.cn
28/7/15