'I can't say that we are fully in agreement with the budget' Simon O'Connor, press secretary to European Commission Vice President Olli Rehn told a press conference today.
 
'There are still some issues that need further work before we can say that an agreement has been reached”, he added. 'One of the issues is, of course, the fiscal gap and more broadly the discussions on the 2014 budget. The government  is indeed intending to submit the draft budget to parliament today. There are further discussions that need to take place on this before we can say that we fully in agreement. We will have to see in the coming weeks how this evolves and should it turn out that there is a need for further adjustments to the budget the possibility is there for Greece to submit a supplementary budget and my understanding is that the Government would be willing to do that.'
 
O'Connor also outlined some of the key reforms the Europeans are pushing the Greek government to make. He pointed out that '…a key element of what is still to be agreed is of course the fiscal package for 2014 and 2015 but also a number of the other elements of the reform agenda which need to be taken forward including for example the adoption of different tax reforms, making the privatization process more efficient and taking stes to improve competition and product and services market regulation – all steps aimed at boosting the capacity and competitiveness of the Greek economy to recover and grow in a sustainable way.'