European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is heading to Athens for talks on Thursday amid concern over whether Greece has done enough to have the next tranche of bailout loans.

It is his first visit for three years and he is expected to say the EU wants Greece to stay in the euro zone.

Barroso's spokesman said the purpose of his visit was to meet Greece Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and discuss the overall economic situation in Europe and in particular in Greece.

He said it was "a regular meeting" and that the preparation for the talks had been "under discussion for some time".

Correspondents in Athens however expect tough talking behind the scenes.

Greece's international lenders are also in Athens in an attempt to get deficit cutting measures "back on track".

After months of political deadlock and two general elections earlier this year, Greece is struggling to meet the economic targets it has accepted as a condition of its bailouts.

Inspectors from the EU and the IMF are trying to work out whether or not Greece has done enough to receive its next tranche of loan money.

The European Commission says the country's financing needs will be met in August, but a decision on further payments will have to be made in early September.

Without sufficient progress, it may not receive the final part of its bailout worth EUR 31.5 B.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greece would suffer a much deeper recession than thought this year.

He expects the economy to shrink by 7%, greater than the 5% forecast by the crisis-hit country's central bank.

Samaras said Greece would not return to growth until 2014.

He is expected to ask for more time to repay its loans.

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