BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) – EU finance ministers are preparing to meet on Greece amid signs that country may fall short of economic commitments it needs to meet for its next tranche of aid under a multi-billion euro bailout plan.
Greece is struggling to keep up with bailout reforms demanded by creditors in exchange for continued loan payouts, and is hoping to start talks by the end of the year for more lenient debt repayment terms.
The national debt is set to peak this year at a whopping 182.8 percent of gross domestic product, according to European Commission estimates.
The ministers open their two-day meeting Friday as the EU economy struggles with anemic growth. The European Central Bank urged governments in the 19-country euro currency union Thursday to do more to improve economic fundamentals.