Eurozone lenders approve Greek aid tranche, payment on Mon

Officials working for eurozone finance ministers signed off on the payment of the next batch of aid for Greece yesterday and the money will be disbursed on the approval of member states on Monday, eurozone officials said.

“Approval is now given, national procedures will be finalised by Monday noon,” one senior eurozone official said.

Greece adopted on Thursday the last piece of legislation international lenders required to unlock 5.8 billion euros of aid from the euro area, its national central banks and the International Monetary Fund.

Deputies of eurozone finance ministers approved the payment at a conference call at 0830 GMT yesterday.

Germany this week postponed signing off on the disbursement until next Monday to ensure all conditions are met, but officials said German approval was now a mere formality.