Greece seeks eurozone backing for reforms

Greece pushed Europe on Monday to back its reform plans and free up cash before a huge repayment to the IMF, but ministers meeting in Brussels warned there would be no bailout deal yet.

The eurozone's 19 ministers meet in Brussels one day before Greece must pay a 750 million euro ($840 million) debt bill to the International Monetary Fund that some fear the Mediterranean nation cannot afford.

French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on his way to Brussels that the talks "must show there is movement, but that more work is needed."

"We have to show that things are advancing but they are not ready yet" for a deal, he added.

Eurozone ministers are so far unswayed by the threat of financial catastrophe in Athens and have ruled out imminent compromise to unlock the 7.2 billion euros still owed Greece under its 2012 bailout.

The bailout, the second since Greece's debt crisis erupted five years ago, expires next month, putting huge pressure on Athens.

Led by Germany, the Europeans still expect a rigorous regime of reforms from Athens, but Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government in power since January has so far refused to deliver.

With no overall deal in sight, Greek officials laid out hope for a "positive statement" on Monday from the Eurogroup -- the eurozone finance ministers -- that will allow for the last tranche of the bailout to be paid.

The symbolic gesture would also help persuade the European Central Bank to keep emergency funds flowing to Greece's fragile banks.

"We want a clear confirmation of the progress that has been made" in the talks, Tsipras told a marathon cabinet meeting late Sunday.

But European leaders were gloomier.

"We have made progress, but we are not very close to an agreement," said Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who is also the Dutch finance minister.

"We need more time," he said.