Brussels Group talks continue

European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas, meanwhile, stressed that all three institutions in the talks were "working on one main scenario," which was that Greece should remain in the eurozone. The spokesman had been asked to comment on a statement made by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde to a German newspaper on the possibility that Greece might exit the euro. 

Schinas referred to a recent interview given by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to that effect, in which Juncker noted that the three institutions might occasionally have different viewpoints but a single goal.

Greek sources said that technical talks were held on Friday at various levels, with the negotiations on the level of the Brussels Group resuming in the early afternoon. The same sources said these talks were on issues such as VAT, public administration, pensions and mechanisms to collect public revenue, among others.