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Greek sources had earlier said representatives of European
institutions and the International Monetary Fund were due to
wrap up a week of consultations later on Tuesday.
"Some progress was made yesterday so they will try to take it
the furthest possible," one source close to the lenders said,
requesting anonymity. The source declined to comment further.
A review on Greece's bailout progress has dragged on for months,
reviving fears of a new financial crisis in the euro zone as
investors' nerves are jarred by unpredictable elections in the
Netherlands, France and Germany.
Athens and its foreign creditors - euro zone member states and
the International Monetary Fund - agreed on Feb 20 to resume
talks on Greece's long-stalled bailout review, but only after
Greece accepted to examine reforms for 2019 onwards.
Lenders have sought further reforms to pensions and tax credits,
arguing that the present system is based on a relatively small
number of taxpayers supporting a large contingent of pensioners.
Greece has agreed to discuss additional measures the equivalent
to two percent of its gross domestic product, or worth 3.8
billion.
However, it says that is contingent on introducing relief
measures of the same value, netting its fiscal impact on a
population already worn down by three bailouts, heavy taxation
and the highest unemployment rate in the euro zone.
Greece has debt repayments of 7.2 billion euros due in the
summer. Lenders, who are extending a credit line of 86 billion
euros to Athens, need to sign off on a review of bailout
progress before releasing new funds.
(Reporting By Lefteris Papadimas, writing by Michele Kambas,
editing by Angus MacSwan)
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