Eurozone Said to Be Nearing Accord on Four-Month Extension of Greece Bailout

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (L) speaks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (R) during a special Eurogroup meeting of Finance Ministers on Greece, Brssels, 20 january 2015. Photo EPA/BGNES

Finance ministers from the 19 eurozone member states were discussing a potential four-month extension for Greece’s bailout programme at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday night.

The WSJ quoted a Greek official as saying there was a “broad consensus” on a common statement by finance ministers.

The draft statement foresees a four-month extension to Greece’s bailout from the eurozone, short of the six-month period initially requested by Greece earlier this week.

The blueprint was still being discussed by all eurozone ministers and could change, according to officials close to the talks.