Greece racing to finalize reforms and remain in euro

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s government is racing to finalize a plan of reforms for its third bailout, hoping this time the proposal will meet with approval from its European partners and stave off a potentially catastrophic exit from Europe’s joint currency, the euro, within days.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was meeting Thursday with finance ministry officials a day after the government requested a new three-year aid program from Europe’s bailout funds and promised to immediately enact reforms, including to taxes and pensions, in return.

Details of Greece’s reforms must be submitted by Friday morning, giving time for creditors to review them ahead of a summit of the European Union’s 28 members set for Sunday.

The last-minute negotiations come amid bank closures in Greece, where capital controls have been imposed.