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EU Commission: final deal on Greek debt unlikely this week

A worker cleans a marble sign that reads in French ''National Bank of Greece'' in Athens, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. Investors hammered Greece's markets Monday after the country's new government renewed a pledge to seek bailout debt forgiveness and dubbed the rescue package a "toxic fantasy" — comments that presage a clash with European lenders at high-stakes meetings this week. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A worker cleans a marble sign that reads in French ''National Bank of Greece'' in Athens, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. Investors hammered Greece's markets Monday after the country's new government renewed a pledge to seek bailout debt forgiveness and dubbed the rescue package a "toxic fantasy" — comments that presage a clash with European lenders at high-stakes meetings this week. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

By Associated Press February 10, 2015 1 min read

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union’s executive says it is unlikely that a final agreement with Greece over easing its bailout debt load will be reached at meetings this week.

Eurozone finance ministers will hold a special meeting Wednesday and EU leaders will gather for a summit Thursday.

Mina Andreeva, spokeswoman for the EU’s executive Commission, said Tuesday that the meetings will be a first opportunity for officials to speak with the newly elected Greek government.

Greece’s radical left government wants a lightening in its bailout debt as well as an easing in required budget austerity measures.

Eurozone nations have said Greece should not count on any forgiveness of its debts, although several countries have hinted that changes – such as to repayment schedule – might be considered.