Schäuble: Greece is no longer a threat to the euro

Greece is making progress and its economy is now performing better, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said speaking to students in Berlin, noting that "Greece is no longer a threat to the euro."

From his side, Dutch Finance Minister and Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said he’s hopeful the euro-area finance ministers will reach a positive decision on the disbursement of the next tranche to Greece at a meeting in Athens on April 1st. “A bit more than 8 billion euros is now foreseen,” Dijsselbloem said. “I don’t know yet. The troika will also advise on the amount needed.”

Dijsselbloem added that Greece’s return to the markets is a wise decision. “But one must also be able to manage expectations,” he said. “So it starts carefully. Portugal is doing the same, slowly. Ireland as well. Slowly you issue bonds. First short term and then gradually longer term,” he said. “I think it’s good they start this year.”