BRUSSELS - Greece's prime minister rushed to Brussels on Sunday, a day before eurozone finance ministers have to decide whether his country will get a $170 billion bailout and avoid a potentially devastating default.
Leaders from Germany, Italy and Greece have said they are optimistic that the deal on a second massive bailout for Athens can be clinched at the meeting after months of delay, but critics have expressed doubts over Greek political leaders' commitment to austerity, and there are still difficult details to be ironed out.
Pressure is on Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to seal the deal, and his presence in Brussels could lend more weight to the country's efforts and promises.
Today's meeting could "result in the need to take very important decisions for the country and require immediate and thorough consultation between the prime minister and minister of finance," Papademos' office said in a statement. He is also expected to hold talks with representatives of Greece's private creditors on a related $132 billion debt-relief deal.
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Greece is straining to secure the rescue loans and the debt-relief deal quickly to avoid defaulting on a $19.2 billion bond redemption on March 20. The government has already pushed a massive austerity and reform package though Parliament and is expected to introduce in Parliament today two more pieces of emergency legislation, including wage and pension cuts.
