"The troika will return to Athens, after the 9 December Eurogroup," said finance minister Yannis Stournaras after his meeting with the Prime Minister, precipitated by the troika's postponment of next week's visit.

Continuing talks with troika officials augur a crucial week for the government.

The meeting between prime minister Antonis Samaras and government vice president Evangelos Venizelos, ended late Thursday evening, with discussion focusing on the fate of the Skaramanga shipyards and the course of the EU's National Strategic Reference Framework funds.