Brussels considers handing back reins of reform to Athens

Brussels is considering scrapping the troika that supervises Greek reforms to allow Athens to pursue its own plan to bolster the economy — in return for a drip-feed of debt relief, according to European officials.

The discussion, still in its early stages, will gather pace as Greece and its eurozone backers chart a new course for the country with its second European bailout programme due to end later this year.

Dismantling the troika, a trio made up of the European Commission, ECB and IMF and likened by some in Greece to the German Nazi occupation, would likely be central to the new plan for Athens.