ATHENS, Greece (AP) – France’s finance minister says Greece is on course to reach a crucial funding deal with bailout lenders this week.
“A new crisis on the Greek issue must be calmly avoided,” Bruno Le Maire said after meeting Monday with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
The French minister traveled to Athens ahead of a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday of finance ministers from countries using the euro currency.
Loan payouts from the eurozone countries have been delayed for months, and Greece urgently needs them as it faces a July spike in debt repayments worth some 7 billion euros ($7.8 billion).
“We are not far at all from a solution. That solution must be found on June 15,” Le Maire said.