Greek talks progressing well, government claims

Greece sounded an upbeat tone yesterday over talks with its European and IMF creditors, which it said continued through the weekend as the cash-strapped country races to agree on reforms that will unlock more aid.

The eurozone member will run out of money by April 20, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, if it does not secure funding from its European partners.

In February, Athens agreed an extension to its €240bn international bailout, but with the money frozen until a set of reforms is decided upon.

Referring to the country’s EU and IMF creditors, a Greek government official said: “The Brussels Group discussions continue in a good climate of co-operation. We have agreed that we need to draw up suitable policies which will shift the burden from those on the lowest incomes to those on the highest.”

The leftist government, elected in January by Greeks weary of austerity imposed under the bailout, submitted a list of proposed reforms on Friday.

It said these would raise €3bn while excluding “recessionary measures” such as wage and pension cuts. Prime minister Alexis Tsipras said the country’s liquidity problems would be resolved immediately after an agreement and that he sought no rift with Europe.