27/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 27 March, the Board of Directors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) approved the disbursement of a tranche of aid of €6.7 billion to Greece, as part of the conclusion of the third monitoring mission of the third bailout plan. There was a political agreement on this tranche at the Eurogroup meeting of 22 January (see EUROPE 11944), but measures were still required for it to be paid out. The Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) of the Council gave its agreement in early March (see EUROPE 11976). A first sub-tranche of €5.7 billion, to be paid out on Wednesday 28 March, will cover the servicing of the debt, pay off arrears and build up a liquidity buffer for Athens' return to the markets. A second sub-tranche of €1 billion may be paid sometime after 1 May. (LT)