Valdis Dombrovskis

''Bulgaria is on its way to the eurozone'', Valdis Dombrovskis, EC Vice-President and European Commissioner for the Euro and Social Dialogue, said at the presentation of recommendations to Bulgaria in the framework of European Semester 2017, quoted by  FOCUS News Agency.

The European Commission presented its proposal for possible ways to deepen Europe's Economic and Monetary Union a few days ago, as part of the public debate on the European Union's future.

With Athens pushing for a speedy conclusion to the second review of the country's third bailout, government aides said on Wednesday they were confident that a staff-level agreement with bailout creditors is likely by next Wednesday at the latest. 

Once this is achieved, the government plans to pass the measures it has agreed to in Parliament in May before the May 22 Eurogroup.

Greece has exceeded its primary surplus targets so we have the basis for the conclusion of the review of the Greek programme, said European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.

The EU launched legal action against Hungary on Wednesday over a law that could shut a university founded by US billionaire George Soros, the European Commission said, AFP reported.

"We have decided to take legal action on the higher education law by sending a letter of formal notice to the Hungarian government," EU vice president Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference.

The European Union's head office has said Greece is delivering on its fiscal targets and that an agreement to hand more bailout cash to Athens could come next month.

The head of the EuroGroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem disclosed the content of the April 7 Malta EuroGroup agreement between Greece and its creditors. In a letter he sent to the EuroGroup members Mr. Dijsselbloem presented the results of the Malta meeting. With regards to Greece the official meeting covers the following:

4. Greece – State of play

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis expressed optimism Friday that a meeting of euro area finance ministers in Malta will produce a breakthrough in Greece's months-long bailout talks with creditors.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Dombrovskis said he expected good progress in talks with Greece that will enable the return of the institutions to Athens.

A high-ranking European official has ruled out any chance that the second review of the country's third bailout will be concluded by Monday's Eurogroup.

The official, who declined to be named, said that at best, and if the leftist-led coalition accepts creditors' proposals, eurozone ministers will green-light the return of technical experts to Athens to continue negotiations.

There are costs in delaying agreement on Greece's bailout review, the European Commission's vice president responsible for the euro was quoted as saying on Thursday, and a solution needs to be found swiftly.

Inconclusive talks between Greece and its international creditors on economic reforms and debt relief have cast doubt over the future of Greece's 85 billion euro bailout program.