EU denies reports of troika ultimatum to Greece

The European Commission has denied reports that the so-called troika has given Greece a three-day deadline to assure foreign lenders it can meet the terms of its bailout deal before it can receive the next tranche of aid.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Tuesday, Commission spokesman Simon O’Connor rebuffed a report by Reuters earlier on Tuesday as making “something out of nothing.”

Unnamed euro area officials involved in negotiations reportedly told Reuters that there is “a general dissatisfaction with progress in Greece when it comes to reforming its public sector, such as tax and custom collection or health care services.”

“All agreed that Greece has to deliver before the Eurogroup on Monday. That’s why they must present again on Friday,” the news agency quoted a second source as saying.

Greek government officials resumed tough negotiations with troika envoys on Monday.

Emerging from a meeting with foreign inspectors on Tuesday, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said the two sides had reached “total agreement.”

“[The ministry] raised the issue that there can be no further cuts in health spending,” Georgiadis said adding however that more reforms were on the way.