Greece talks with skeptical creditors resume today

BRUSSELS -- Bailout discussions between the Greek finance minister and his skeptical counterparts in the 19-country eurozone will resume today, following hours of talks that yielded no apparent breakthrough in securing the country's future in the euro.

During talks yesterday, Greece failed to give what its creditors in the eurozone have been demanding: proof that it can deliver on its promises to implement tough austerity and reform measures in return for billions more in rescue money.

"We had an in-depth discussion of the Greek proposals and the issue of credibility and trust was discussed," Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the eurozone's top official, said upon leaving the meeting.

The talks will resume at 11 a.m. local time, just a few hours before the European Union's 28 leaders are meant to descend on Brussels for a summit that has been billed over the past week as Greece's last chance to convince creditors that it deserves more financial help.

"It's still very difficult but work is still in progress," Dijsselbloem said.

The pressure was on Greece all yesterday even after the country's parliament passed a harsh austerity package that it hopes will lead to a three-year bailout. In Brussels, finance ministers and top officials of the eurozone repeated the same thing: We don't fully trust you to make good on your promises.

A European official at the discussions, when asked what more needed to be discussed when ministers reconvene today, said "everything."

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said ministers wanted "more specific and binding commitments" and that the Greek government's proposals were "too little, too late."

Assuaging those concerns is the task facing Euclid Tsakalotos, who has been Greek finance minister for barely a week, following the resignation of his predecessor, Yanis Varoufakis.

Greece desperately needs the money to avoid a financial collapse. Its banks, according to some accounts, have barely enough cash to see the country through the week.

Greece's banks have been shuttered for the best part of two weeks and daily withdrawals from ATMs have been limited to a paltry 60 euros. The economy is in free fall and the country faces big debt repayments in coming weeks.