German finance minister to offer Greece €100m

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is expected to offer Greece 100 million euros (130.9 billion dollars) as part of a support programme for small and medium-sized businesses during a visit to Athens on Thursday, according to Greek Finance Ministry officials. Schaeuble’s visit comes one day after Greece’s parliament passed unpopular legislation that paves the way for public-sector mass layoffs and job transfers in order to secure the country’s next tranche of bailout aid worth 6.8 billion euros, the (DPA) news agency reported. The German finance minister is scheduled to hold talks with his Greek counterpart Yannis Stournaras and with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. Many Greeks blame Germany’s tough stance on austerity for their economic crisis, with unemployment surpassing 27%, the DPA said.