Euro zone officials have approved the transfer of 4 billion euros ($5.3 billion) of funding to Greece and euro zone governments are expected to approve disbursement by Monday, the European Commission said on Friday.
"With the proviso that the national approval procedures are completed, which we expect to happen by Monday, the disbursement can take place," Commission spokesman Simon O'Connor told a briefing, referring to the approval by euro zone governments.
The money approved amounted to 4 billion euros, O'Connor said, split between 2.5 billion from the euro zone's temporary bailout fund, the EFSF, and income generated from national central banks' holdings of Greek government bonds.
Following delays, Greece on Thursday adopted the last piece of legislation the international lenders required to unlock 5.8 billion euros from the euro area, its national central banks and the International Monetary Fund.
"All prior actions were implemented. This means we can approve," said one official.
Germany this week postponed signing off on the disbursement of Greece's next tranche of bailout aid until next Monday to ensure conditions are met, a government document shows, but officials said that was now mere formality.
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