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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jose Manuel Barroso set for Greece economy talks | Jose Manuel Barroso set for Greece economy talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is heading to Athens for talks on Thursday amid concern over whether Greece has done enough to get its next tranche of bailout loans. | |
| It is his first visit for three years and he is expected to say the EU wants Greece to stay in the eurozone. | It is his first visit for three years and he is expected to say the EU wants Greece to stay in the eurozone. |
| But there will be tough talking behind the scenes, analysts say. | But there will be tough talking behind the scenes, analysts say. |
| Greece's international lenders are also in Athens in an attempt to get deficit-cutting measures "back on track". | |
| After months of political deadlock and two general elections earlier this year, Greece is struggling to meet the economic targets it has accepted as a condition of its bailouts. | After months of political deadlock and two general elections earlier this year, Greece is struggling to meet the economic targets it has accepted as a condition of its bailouts. |
| Inspectors from the EU and the IMF are trying to work out whether or not Greece has done enough to receive its next tranche of loan money. | Inspectors from the EU and the IMF are trying to work out whether or not Greece has done enough to receive its next tranche of loan money. |
| The European Commission says the country's financing needs will be met in August, but a decision on further payments will have to be made in early September. | The European Commission says the country's financing needs will be met in August, but a decision on further payments will have to be made in early September. |
| Without sufficient progress, it may not receive the final part of its bailout, worth 31.5bn euros ($38bn; £24.5bn). | |
| Crisis jargon buster Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of key financial terms: AAA-rating The best credit rating that can be given to a borrower's debts, indicating that the risk of borrowing defaulting is minuscule. Glossary in full | Crisis jargon buster Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of key financial terms: AAA-rating The best credit rating that can be given to a borrower's debts, indicating that the risk of borrowing defaulting is minuscule. Glossary in full |
| Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greece would suffer a much deeper recession than thought this year. | Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greece would suffer a much deeper recession than thought this year. |
| He expects the economy to shrink by 7%, greater than the 5% forecast by the crisis-hit country's central bank. | He expects the economy to shrink by 7%, greater than the 5% forecast by the crisis-hit country's central bank. |
| Mr Samaras said Greece would not return to growth until 2014. | Mr Samaras said Greece would not return to growth until 2014. |
| He is expected to ask for more time to repay its loans. | He is expected to ask for more time to repay its loans. |
| 'Regular meeting' | 'Regular meeting' |
| BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Barroso's visit is overdue, as Greeks often complain about European political leaders who spend plenty of time talking about them, and not much talking to them. | |
| The Commission president is unlikely to be out and about shaking hands, but at least he will be in Athens to speak directly to the Greek people, our correspondent says. | The Commission president is unlikely to be out and about shaking hands, but at least he will be in Athens to speak directly to the Greek people, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Barroso's spokesman said the purpose of his visit was "to meet Mr Samaras and discuss the overall economic situation in Europe and in particular in Greece". | Mr Barroso's spokesman said the purpose of his visit was "to meet Mr Samaras and discuss the overall economic situation in Europe and in particular in Greece". |
| He said it was "a regular meeting" and that the preparation for the talks had been "under discussion for some time". | He said it was "a regular meeting" and that the preparation for the talks had been "under discussion for some time". |