• Euro zone gives Greece six-day deadline to revise reforms: paper | Reuters
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/09/us-eurozone-greece-talks-idUSKBN0N00PG20150409

    Euro zone deputy finance ministers gave Athens a six working day deadline to come up with revised reform proposals to enable a deal to be reached at a Eurogroup meeting on April 24 to unlock bailout aid, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Thursday.

    The two sides met in Brussels on Wednesday to bridge differences over a reform package that Greece’s creditors have demanded before they release urgently needed bailout funds.

    A deadline of six working days was given to the Greek side to present proposals that can be acceptable by creditors,” the paper said.

    Athens has submitted a 26-page reform list but EU/IMF negotiators say it is too optimistic on revenue projections and omits the key issues of pensions and labor markets, which are the most sensitive for Tsipras’ leftist Syriza party.

    A euro zone official has said discussions will reach a critical point at the April 24 meeting of the euro zone’s finance ministers in Riga.

    On Thursday, Greece’s minister of state Alekos Flabouraris expressed confidence that a deal would be reached by then.

    I believe it (that an agreement will be reached in Riga) 100 percent,” he told Mega TV.