Bailout inspectors back in Greece, focus on banks

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Representatives of Greece's bailout creditors are in Athens to review progress on measures demanded in return for relief on the country's massive national debt.

The inspectors started meetings Tuesday with senior government officials to review issues including delayed privatization projects, a plan to help banks reduce a high amount of non-performing loans, and measures to protect low-income families from property foreclosures.

Eurozone ministers are expected to decide in March whether to grant relief measures to Greece including the payout of some of the profits made by the European Central Bank on Greek bonds.

Greece's third international bailout ended in August but the country is still struggling to manage its national debt, which reached 335 billion euros ($380 billion) in the third quarter of 2018, or 182 percent of GDP.