World

Greece debt crisis: Eurozone backs €7bn bridging loan

06:31 am on 17 July 2015

Eurozone ministers have agreed to give Greece a €7 billion ($NZ11.7 billion) bridging loan from an EU-wide fund to keep its finances afloat until a bailout is approved.

The loan is expected to be confirmed on Friday by all EU member states.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande (centre) and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during an earlier session of talks. Photo: AFP

In another development, the European Central Bank (ECB) agreed to increase emergency funding to Greece for the first time since it was frozen in June.

The decisions were made after Greek MPs passed tough reforms as part of a eurozone bailout deal.

The bridging loan means Greece will be able to repay debts to the ECB and IMF on Monday.

Greek banks, which have been closed for nearly three weeks, could also reopen on Monday, Greek media reported, although credit controls will remain in place.

Pro-eurozone protesters gather in front of the parliament building in Athens on 30 June. Photo: AFP

Anti-austerity protestors hold a banner during a peaceful march in central Athens, marking a 24-hour public sector workers' strike. Photo: AFP

Eurozone leaders agreed on the bailout in principle in Brussels on Monday (local time), on the condition that the Greek parliament passed reforms on taxation increases and pension curbs by Wednesday.

Opponents of the bailout measures took to the streets of Athens in mainly peaceful protests ahead of the vote on Wednesday.

However, one group threw petrol bombs at police officers who responded with tear gas.

Riot policemen run after protesters throwing petrol bombs in central Athens. Photo: AFP

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won the parliamentary vote in the early hours of Thursday by 229 votes to 64, but needed the support of opposition MPs to do so.

His left-wing Syriza-led government is expected to survive, despite losing its majority after 38 Syriza MPs rejected the reforms.

It paves the way for eurozone finance ministers to open detailed talks on the bailout, worth up to €86 billion ($144 billion), and on Thursday they said they agreed "in principle" to start negotiations.

The €7 billion bridge loan was agreed in a conference call on Thursday to tap the EU's EFSM emergency fund.

Finland's parliament on Thursday approved the bailout talks - one of a number of eurozone states which require a mandate from their own parliament for Greece to secure new funds.

Germany's parliament is due to vote on the deal on Friday.

Since capital controls were imposed and the banks shut on 29 June, Greeks have been limited to withdrawing €60 a day.

- BBC