Greece hopes to get clearance for new loans
BRUSSELS - Greece is hoping its eurozone creditor nations will approve Tuesday the payment of the next batch of rescue loans that will allow Athens to avoid defaulting on its debts this summer.
Greece's parliament passed a bill over the weekend providing for tax hikes, more budget-cutting reforms and a new privatization superfund, which will manage almost all state property.
Those austerity measures were required before the finance ministers from the 19 euro nations can unfreeze more loans.
The ministers meeting in Brussels Tuesday will also debate the next step: how to help Greece handle its mountain of debt.
Eurozone experts have been drawing up possible measures, but nations refuse to consider any outright debt haircut.
Greece's debt is predicted to reach more than 333 billion euros ($379 billion) this year.