Greece submits economic reform proposals

The Greek government has submitted economic reform proposals to try to secure a further bailout from its creditors, eurozone officials say.

They say they received the plan late on Thursday - just two hours before a midnight deadline. They will now study it ahead of EU meetings at the weekend.

The measures include tax rises, pension reforms, privatisation and spending cuts, Greek media say. Greece needs a third bailout to avoid a default and a possible euro exit.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the head of the 19-member eurozone group of finance ministers, confirmed that he had received the Greek proposals.

Earlier, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spent the day seeking agreement on the reforms from his government partners.

On Friday, the Greek parliament will vote on Mr Tsipras' proposals. The plan will be then considered by eurozone finance ministers on Saturday, and by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Sunday.

According to Greek media reports, the measures submitted on Thursday include raising taxes on shipping companies and removing tax discounts for islands, unifying VAT rates at a standard 23% across the board, incluing restaurants and catering, phasing out the solidarity grant for pensioners by 2019 and cutting €300 million from defence by next year.