EU Comm: No Change In Amount Of Eurozone Loan Offer To Greece

BRUSSELS (MNI) – There is no change in the amount of bilateral
loans being offered to Greece by Eurozone countries, the European
Commission said on Wednesday.

Eurozone member states and the International Monetary Fund have
offered Greece an aid package worth up to E45 billion this year and more
in subsequent years, but reports Wednesday said that the amount could be
higher.

“For the euro area, the figure for the first year…is clear… for
next year no figure has been discussed and identified,” European
Commission spokesman for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Amadeu Tardio
told reporters at a press conference in Brussels.

The Eurozone has said it will offer up to E30 billion in bilateral
loans to Greece this year and possibly more in subsequent years.
Officials say this is likely to comprise two-thirds of the total
package.

Tardio referred questions about whether the IMF’s contribution to
the package could rise to the IMF. The Financial Times reported Tuesday
that the IMF amount could be as high as E25 billion.

–Brussels: 0032 487 (0) 32 803 665, echarlton@marketnews.com

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