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Greece debt crisis: Eurozone backs €7bn bridging loan Greece debt crisis: Eurozone backs €7bn bridging loan
(about 1 hour later)
Eurozone ministers have agreed to give Greece a €7bn (£5bn) bridging loan from an EU-wide fund to keep its finances afloat until a bailout is approved.Eurozone ministers have agreed to give Greece a €7bn (£5bn) 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.The loan is expected to be confirmed on Friday by all EU member states.
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.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 decisions were made after Greek MPs passed tough reforms as part of a eurozone bailout deal.
It means Greek banks, which have been closed for nearly three weeks, could reopen in the next few days. The bridging loan means Greece will be able to repay debts to the ECB and IMF on Monday.
Greek media reports say banks are preparing to reopen on Monday, although credit controls will remain in place. 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.
Read the latest updatesRead the latest updates
Eurozone leaders agreed on the bailout in principle in Brussels on Monday, on the condition that the Greek parliament passed reforms on taxation increases and pension curbs by Wednesday.Eurozone leaders agreed on the bailout in principle in Brussels on Monday, on the condition that the Greek parliament passed reforms on taxation increases and pension curbs by Wednesday.
The €7bn bridge loan was agreed in a conference call on Thursday to tap the EU's EFSM emergency fund.The €7bn bridge loan was agreed in a conference call on Thursday to tap the EU's EFSM emergency fund.
Britain, which is in the EU but not the eurozone, later said it had won an agreement to protect UK money in the EFSM.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said the concession would also apply to other non-eurozone states.
At a news conference on Thursday, ECB President Mario Draghi said emergency funding - ELA - to Greek banks was being raised by €900m over one week.At a news conference on Thursday, ECB President Mario Draghi said emergency funding - ELA - to Greek banks was being raised by €900m over one week.
"Things have changed now," he said. "We had a series of news with the approval of the bridge financing package, with the votes, various votes in various parliaments, which have now restored the conditions for a raise in ELA.""Things have changed now," he said. "We had a series of news with the approval of the bridge financing package, with the votes, various votes in various parliaments, which have now restored the conditions for a raise in ELA."
Analysis by Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondentAnalysis by Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent
The European institutions are now picking up the pace to make sure this rather chaotic show stays on the road.The European institutions are now picking up the pace to make sure this rather chaotic show stays on the road.
There's more emergency funding for Greek banks from the ECB. And there's progress towards agreement on a €7bn bridging loan to get the Greek state through the next few days. There's more emergency funding for Greek banks from the ECB. And agreement on a €7bn bridging loan from the EFSM to get the Greek state through the next few days.
Greece needs to repay €4.2bn to the ECB on Monday, as well as making up all its missed payments to the IMF. In other words it needs to spend the €7bn almost as soon as it gets it. Greece needs to repay €4.2bn euros to the ECB on Monday, as well as making up all its missed payments to the IMF. In other words it needs to spend the €7bn almost as soon as it gets it.
There are still one or two flies in the ointment. Some creative financial engineering has ensured that short-term funding from the EFSM will get final approval tomorrow. And then attention will turn to negotiations on the three-year bailout programme that Greece has applied for.
Officials have been working on ways to ensure that non-eurozone countries are protected from any "negative financial consequences" of the bridging loan, because the EFSM fund which is being tapped to help Greece involves all EU member states. Those negotiations are likely to last for weeks, and plenty of things can still go wrong.
Britain and others aren't happy - especially because David Cameron thought he'd received a cast iron promise (he mentioned it in his election manifesto) that the EFSM would never again be used for eurozone rescues. There's scepticism in Greece that the deal is too tough; scepticism elsewhere that it isn't tough enough.
But some creative financial engineering should ensure that the EFSM deal gets done. And then attention will turn to negotiations on the three-year bailout programme that Greece has applied for. Even today, the German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has repeated his suggestion that maybe a "time-out" from the eurozone would be the best thing for Greece.
Plenty of things can still go wrong. It is pretty unprecedented language. And it suggests that the battle to keep Greece in the eurozone is far from over.
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.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.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 €86bn, and on Thursday they said they agreed "in principle" to start negotiations.It paves the way for eurozone finance ministers to open detailed talks on the bailout, worth up to €86bn, and on Thursday they said they agreed "in principle" to start negotiations.
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.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.Germany's parliament is due to vote on the deal on Friday.
Passionate opposition came from within Mr Tsipras's own Syriza party, with parliamentary speaker Zoe Constantopoulou calling the measures "social genocide".Passionate opposition came from within Mr Tsipras's own Syriza party, with parliamentary speaker Zoe Constantopoulou calling the measures "social genocide".
Former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was another vocal opponent.Former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was another vocal opponent.
In his address to parliament Mr Tsipras said: "I acknowledge the fiscal measures are harsh, that they won't benefit the Greek economy, but I'm forced to accept them."In his address to parliament Mr Tsipras said: "I acknowledge the fiscal measures are harsh, that they won't benefit the Greek economy, but I'm forced to accept them."
Since capital controls were imposed and the banks shut on 29 June, Greeks have been limited to withdrawing €60 a day.Since capital controls were imposed and the banks shut on 29 June, Greeks have been limited to withdrawing €60 a day.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, known for his hardline approach, told national radio he would submit a request for parliament to reopen negotiations on the third bailout with "full conviction".German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, known for his hardline approach, told national radio he would submit a request for parliament to reopen negotiations on the third bailout with "full conviction".
What happens next?What happens next?
But he also said he believed a temporary "Grexit" - Greece leaving the eurozone - would perhaps be a better option.But he also said he believed a temporary "Grexit" - Greece leaving the eurozone - would perhaps be a better option.
By 22 July, Greece must also commit to a major overhaul of the civil justice system. It has to agree to more privatisation, to review collective bargaining and industrial action, and make market reforms, including Sunday trading.By 22 July, Greece must also commit to a major overhaul of the civil justice system. It has to agree to more privatisation, to review collective bargaining and industrial action, and make market reforms, including Sunday trading.
The vote in the early hours of Thursday approved:The vote in the early hours of Thursday approved:
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.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.