EU and IMF inspectors will not conclude an audit key to releasing aid to Greece before the government comes up with a bolder and more detailed privatisation plan, officials said on Thursday.
At stake is a 12 billion euro ($17 billion) aid tranche Greece hopes to get in June to meet refinancing needs, with the debt-choked country under increasing pressure from its peers to step up reforms to get back on track with its bailout plan.
The inspection visit, described by Greek officials as the toughest review to date of Athens' progress on the 110 billion euro bailout, has already been prolonged. Officials hope it can be concluded some time next week but can give no target date.
"On privatisations, we are waiting for a big bang from the government," a source with direct knowledge of the inspection visit said.
Senior EU policymakers are pressing Greece to show it will deliver on a plan to raise 50 billion euros from privatisations by 2015. Athens appointed financial advisors for a host of privatisation projects on Wednesday.