The ill-health that struck the top echelons of the country's new government forced the postponement of a visit to Athens by the country's international debt inspectors, known as the Troika — representatives from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF.
"[...] our concern is for the health of the prime minister and finance minister," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said in Brussels.
Samaras' government, comprised of his New Democracy conservatives, their long-time socialist rivals PASOK and the small Democratic Left party, issued a policy statement on Saturday outlining changes it would like to make to the terms of its international bailout agreement with other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund.
The changes include repealing certain tax hikes, freezing public sector layoffs and extending by two years the mid-2014 deadline for tough austerity measures.
Germany, the largest single contributor, has repeatedly said Athens must stick to delivering on the spending cuts it has promised in return for billions of euros (dollars) in rescue loans.
Revenue, however, was below target with the state budget net revenue standing at €19.666 billion, €926 million short of the targeted €20.592 billion, due in part to lower domestic consumer demand and lower tax revenues.
In preparation for the summit, Avramopoulos met on Monday with outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias — who still holds the official title as Rapanos has not been officially sworn in — Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis and Alternative Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, as well as with the government spokesman.
"[...] our concern is for the health of the prime minister and finance minister," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said in Brussels.
Samaras' government, comprised of his New Democracy conservatives, their long-time socialist rivals PASOK and the small Democratic Left party, issued a policy statement on Saturday outlining changes it would like to make to the terms of its international bailout agreement with other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund.
The changes include repealing certain tax hikes, freezing public sector layoffs and extending by two years the mid-2014 deadline for tough austerity measures.
Germany, the largest single contributor, has repeatedly said Athens must stick to delivering on the spending cuts it has promised in return for billions of euros (dollars) in rescue loans.
Revenue, however, was below target with the state budget net revenue standing at €19.666 billion, €926 million short of the targeted €20.592 billion, due in part to lower domestic consumer demand and lower tax revenues.
In preparation for the summit, Avramopoulos met on Monday with outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias — who still holds the official title as Rapanos has not been officially sworn in — Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis and Alternative Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, as well as with the government spokesman.
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