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Greek authorities might be obliged to bring forward plans to lower the taxfree threshold on income to 2019 from 2020 if the country's creditors deem that the primary surplus target of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product for 2019 is beyond reach.

The potential demand is mentioned in a draft compliance report by the European Commission made public on Monday by Bloomberg.

The Euro Working Group gave the green light on Friday for the completion of the third bailout review in principle, but property auctions are still causing concern as they are seen as crucial to determining the course of Greek banks and whether or not a new recapitalization will be required.

Thousands of Greek protesters marched in central Athens on Friday against new reforms, including restrictions on the right to strike, that Parliament is set to approve next week in return for bailout funds.

In the first major industrial upheaval of 2018, the shutdown of the Athens metro, used by some 938,000 commuters daily, caused traffic gridlock in the city of 3.8 million people.

Protesters take part in a demonstration against property foreclosures outside a court in Athens on Wednesday. The placards read 'No to the crime of foreclosures.' Property auctions at Greek courts were suspended again yesterday - until the end of the month - following a decision by notaries who claim to have come under attack from anti-austerity protesters for simply doing their job.

Government officials were in talks with representatives of the country's international lenders into the early hours of Tuesday, putting the final touches on a multi-bill containing the final measures Greece needs to legislate to enter the last stretch of its current bailout program.

An amendment introduced on Wednesday to a Justice Ministry draft bill says that anyone trying to prevent foreclosure auctions with violence or the threat of violence will be instantly prosecuted.

The new law is aimed at cracking down on the vociferous and sometimes violent protests witnessed across the country against the sale of properties seized by banks from debtors.

As of January, funds will be able to buy all kinds of loans, including those collateralized by main residences with a taxable value of less than 140,000 euros.

Foreclosures on Greek properties will soon be carried out henceforth only electronically, according to a government plan aimed at curbing a spate of protests at courthouses that has led to the cancellation of numerous auctions.

Government officials will go into talks with the institutions on Saturday hoping they will culminate in a staff-level agreement (SLA). Some common ground was achieved on Friday but the Greek side had to make several concessions.

Banks are preparing to offer mortgage loans especially for the acquisition of houses through auctions, in a bid to support property transactions that look set to increase in the coming months due to the start of online foreclosures.