MADRID: A new Greek bailout deal is possible before an end-April deadline but it will not come before Easter, EU president Donald Tusk said Tuesday.
Experts from the IMF and the EU are scrutinising a list of economic reforms proposed by Athens in a bid to unlock another 7.2 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in loans to stave off possible bankruptcy and a euro exit.
Greece says the reforms would help raise an extra three billion euros for government coffers without resorting to wage and pension cuts.
"The process of assessment of this plan is very complex and I don't foresee any breakthrough before Easter," Tusk said.
Easter this year falls on Sunday, April 5.
"I think that today we can say that the (economic) situation in Greece is under control," he said.
"I hope we will reach an agreement by the end of April, for me it is possible."
Greece's Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas said earlier that Athens was hoping for a deal this week.
"We are heading towards an agreement with our partners tomorrow (Wednesday) or the day after (Thursday)," Mardas told Greek television channel Skai.
In April, Athens needs to roll over 2.4 billion euros in short-term debt and repay another 820 million euros, including 460 million euros to the International Monetary Fund.
A defiant Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told lawmakers late on Monday he wanted a deal but would not submit to creditors unconditionally.
"Our priority is to reinforce the real economy with investments that will strengthen growth, with public sector participation," he said.
He swept to power after January elections on a pledge to end the austerity measures imposed as part of a massive bailout by Greece's creditors, which Athens blames for hammering the economy.
Rajoy reiterated his hope that the negotiations on a new debt deal would be successful and that Greece would remain in the eurozone.
Greece "must understand that for the European Union it is very important that the message that is sent is that the rules of the game must be respected," said Rajoy, who has been accused by Athens of taking a hard line on Greece.
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