Germany: ‘very limited expectations’ of Greece deal Friday

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis gives a speech during a banking conference in Athens, on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Greek local authorities were on the brink of revolt Tuesday against the central government's move to use cash reserves from state agencies — including hospitals and kindergartens — to help the country make ends meet.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis gives a speech during a banking conference in Athens, on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Greek local authorities were on the brink of revolt Tuesday against the central government's move to use cash reserves from state agencies — including hospitals and kindergartens — to help the country make ends meet.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

By Associated Press April 22, 2015 1 min read

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Germany says expectations are low that a eurozone meeting on Friday will yield an agreement with Greece that would allow the immediate release of urgently needed bailout funds.

Germany’s finance ministry spokesman, Martin Jaeger, said Wednesday that finance ministers were heading to the meeting in the Latvian capital of Riga “with very limited expectations.” He said the meeting would likely yield an interim assessment but not a full deal on the reforms Greece is expected to make.

Athens had agreed in February to produce a comprehensive package of reforms in order to unlock the final 7.2 billion euro installment of the international bailout that has kept the country afloat since 2010. But little progress has been made, and Greece is perilously short of funds.