BRUSSELS — Greece cleared a hurdle Tuesday in its ongoing battle to remain solvent as its European creditors approved a four-month extension to its financial bailout – but the cash-strapped country has much more to do to convince its partners that it deserves longer-term help beyond the summer.

The country’s creditors in the 19-country eurozone endorsed Greece’s request for the extension after the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund – the main institutions handling Greece’s loans – provisionally backed a list of reforms that Athens proposed Monday.

Greece had to draw up the list, which includes measures to combat tax evasion and corruption, to get the bailout extended. Without a financial lifeline, it faces the possibility of going bankrupt and ditching the euro.

“The three institutions agreed to start the process with this,” eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said. “They thought it was a serious enough list and all the countries have just agreed with that in the meeting so we can start.”

Tuesday’s deal comes days before Greece’s $270 billion bailout program expires. The extension must be approved by some national parliaments, including Germany’s, before midnight Saturday.


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