Senior officials working for European Union finance ministers have recommended lending Greece 7 billion euros (4.9 billion pounds) in bridging funds with formal approved expected later on Thursday, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said. The Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers held a teleconference on Greece earlier on Thursday and are due to consult with the nine other finance ministries in the EU this afternoon to agree the release short-term funding for Athens. "The 7 billion in terms of the short-term loan has now been authorized by the Ecofin group, that will be approved later in the afternoon I would expect," Kenny said on national broadcaster RTE.