Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Hardeep Matharu

Greece deal all but agreed, says government

Greece is close to reaching a new bailout deal with the EU (Getty)

Greek has all but reached an agreement over its latest bailout deal - with only two or three minor issues to be resolved.

Euclid Tsakalotos, Greece's finance minister, has said that discussions had “moved very far forward” and that only “two or three details” remained to be considered after he emerged from talks throughout the night with negotiators from the EU, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Athens.

He said the country was near to securing a new bailout agreement, possibly within the day.

Greece requires a loan of up to €86bn to stay in the Eurozone and prevent a financial crisis.  It owes the ECB €3bn by 20 August.

Its government is hoping to push the new three-year agreement through its parliament this week.

Many in the ruling left-wing Syriza party have voiced their opposition to the deal, which would see further spending cuts and a series of austerity measures.

Figures next week are set to confirm that Greece's recession deepened in the second quarter as concerns over the country's Euro future dented confidence, it has been reported.

In pictures: Riots on the streets of Athens as Greek parliament votes on a bailout deal  

But, according to a new study, the Greek debt crisis has actually saved Germany €100bn in lower borrowing costs as investors have sought safety in German bonds.

The German IWH institute found that even if Greece defaults on its debt, Germany would still benefit.

Germany, which has given Greece €90bn in bailout funds so far, is keen to impose stringent conditions for a new bailout package.

It wants Greece to make reforms to its pensions system and sign up to privatisation plans, while the Athens government is seeking urgent funds to recapitalise the country’s banks.

Last month, the Greek people voted ‘no’ in a referendum asking them whether they would be willing to accept more austerity measures from the EU, ECB and IMF, in return for a bailout deal which would stave off a financial collapse. 

Read more: Eurozone ministers fail to agree bailout deal
IMF staff baulk at signing up to new bailout deal
Humbled Athens starts delayed talks on bailout with hated 'troika'
Tsipras steers bailout reforms through parliament after night of unrest

Additional reporting by PA

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.