Jeroen Dijsselbloem: Eurozone Finance Ministers 'Losing Patience' with Greece

Eurozone finance ministers are losing patience with Greece's slow progress in fulfilling its obligations to international creditors, the leader of the Eurogroup has told a leading Greek newspaper.

"Many eurozone finance ministers have started losing patience. Talks continue in Athens at this time about the country's progress - or rather lack of progress - in fulfilling its obligations," Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the president of the Eurogroup told Ta Nea, the daily Greek newspaper.

The Eurogroup is made up of the finance ministers from the 17 nations that use the single European currency.

Dijsselbloem's comments come on the back of a draft budget submitted to parliament by Greece's finance minister Yannis Stournaras, which is due to be voted on in early December.

Greece's deputy finance minister, Christos Staikouras, said the country's contracting economy would shrink by 4% this year, below the 4.5% that was originally forecast.

"For the first time, the major sacrifices made by the Greek people are paying off, with the first signs of recovery this year. The conditions are being created for Greece's return to international markets within 2014,'' he said.

Athens also confirmed it would emerge from a six-year recession with growth of 0.6% in 2014. The economy has shrunk by nearly a quarter since 2008 as it grappled with a deep financial crisis.

Creditors expect Greece to miss its targeted budget surplus for 2014 by €2bn.

The Greek government said the sum would likely be much smaller at around €500m thanks to "structural reforms".