Greek officials lobby EU, ECB for swift loan payout
By Associated Press
May 5, 2015 3:23 AM CDT
A woman paints tables before going on sale at her shop in Athens, Greece, on Monday, May 4, 2015. Weekend negotiations between Greece and rescue lenders have made progress, officials on both sides said Monday even though Athens stressed it needed a swift release of delayed bailout money to keep up with...   (Associated Press)

PARIS (AP) — Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis is meeting top European officials in Paris and Brussels as the cash-strapped country seeks the swift release of delayed bailout money that it needs to keep up with its debt payments.

Varoufakis met French Finance Minister Michel Sapin Tuesday morning. He's scheduled to hold talks with European Union Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici in Brussels later in the day.

Meanwhile Greek Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis is due to meet in Frankfurt with European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

The Greek government is struggling to deliver economic reforms and budget measures demanded by creditors to unlock the remaining 7.2 billion euros ($7.7 billion) in its bailout fund.

Without that money, Greece may run out of cash and decide to leave the euro.