Eurogroup tells Greece: 'Get back to work'

By Idyli Tsakiri

ATHENS

Eurozone finance ministers meeting in the Slovakian capital Bratislava on Friday pushed Greece to work harder on reforms demanded by its international creditors.

During the unofficial Eurogroup meeting, ministers and officials expressed concern over the slow progress of Athens in implementing reforms it had agreed to in exchange for financial help.

In comments streamed live, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said Greece had completed just two out of 15 “milestones”.

“We insist that the job is done; it is necessary.

And the Greek authorities must know that we are waiting for them, for the matter of trust and efficiency,” Moscovici added.

Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said time had been lost already, stressing that “the pressure is back on”.

"The summer is over. Pack up the camping gear; get back to work," he added.

Greece has agreed to implement reforms -- mostly on privatization and the energy sector -- in order to receive 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) by the end of October.