by Dan Alexe The European Union's executive says it is unlikely that a final agreement with Greece over easing its bailout debt load will be reached at meetings this week. A report by news wire MNSI, citing sources, said the European Commission would table a compromise proposal and that according to the plan Greece should ask for a six-month period during which it will discuss and agree with lenders all pending issues and a post-bail-out plan. Eurozone finance ministers will hold a special meeting Wednesday and EU leaders will gather for a summit Thursday. Mina Andreeva, spokeswoman for the EU's executive Commission, said Tuesday that the meetings will be a first opportunity for officials to speak with the newly elected Greek government. Greece's radical left government wants a lightening in its bailout debt as well as an easing in required budget austerity measures. Eurozone nations have said Greece should not count on any forgiveness of its debts, although several countries have hinted that changes — such as to repayment schedule — might be considered. Greek officials have made it clear that they have some "red lines", namely a refusal to run large primary budget surpluses (the balance before interest payments on debt) and that the debt must be restructured. The Greek approach to date has been to talk about negotiations but make strident and sometimes threatening demands, rationalized by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' anti-austerity sweep in popular elections.
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