Greek bail-out
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The Greek government and the international creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - have failed to agree on a bailout loan tranche ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on Monday, local media say.

The three inspectors are to return to Athens on Wednesday, and hopes are that the parties will be able to agree on the next tranche by March 16. The monitors will assess the extent of financial aid to the debt-stricken southern EU nation based on the state of its economy and its commitment to requirements that are sine qua non of the loan deal, but major issues still appear to be unresolved.

Greece hopes for a cash injection of $10.1 billion, something it will never get without the green light from inspectors.

Greece's Proto Thema website has said that the country's Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras is due to take part in the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels today. He is going to the Belgian capital without an agreement, the news site stressed, adding the finance chief expects to have the troika's positive statement after the meeting.

Mr. Stournaras chairs the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), EU's key economic summit that meets every six months. The Greek finance chief is going to discuss with his EU colleagues further consolidation of their banks. They are expected to strike common ground by the end of this week and vote on a slew of draft laws.

Among the big issues that still need to be settled are banking capital requirements, lay-offs in the public sector and employers' contributions. International creditors also want to restore the right to impose lockouts on enterprises that are crippled by strikes and have a profound discussion on milk, books and prescription-free drugs.

Athens has highlighted a total of 300 changes it has introduced across all of its economy sectors to secure the next tranche.