The troika arrives back in Athens this morning with pressure mounting on the Greeks to speed up reforms as German politicians re-ignite the idea of kicking them out of the eurozone.

Greece is in a “Great Depression” similar to the American one in the 1930s, the country’s prime minister Antonis Samaras has told former US president Bill Clinton.

Germany has sharply lowered its growth forecast for next year to 1%, from 1.8 % previously, because of the impact of uncertainty in financial markets.

The Greek government is submitting a bill to parliament today suspending thousands of civil servants and cutting public sector salaries as it pushes ahead with harsher austerity measures.

Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition is squabbling so much over the eurozone debt crisis that even the opposition is urging her to quash the infighting.

OFFICIALS from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition sent a tough message to Greece yesterday that it might have to leave the eurozone if it fails to meet conditions for its bailout.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition suffered a new blow as Germany’s main opposition parties celebrated gains in a state election.

EXTRA EU aid totalling €98 million could be unlocked for Ireland by a proposal to increase the Brussels funding contribution to projects in areas such as infrastructure and rural development.

THE European Union voiced support for Italy and Spain under attack on financial markets but acknowledged that investors now doubt whether the eurozone can overcome its sovereign debt woes.

GERMAN finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has denied that this month’s Greek bailout deal paves the way for a future “transfer union”, in which eurozone countries are liable for each others’ debts.