The European Commission does not believe that Greece will require a fourth programme of loan assistance, according to Guenther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources.

“We believe the Greeks will return to the market in the immediate future,” Oettinger said.

The competent Commissioner’s remarks came straight on the heels of a statement by European Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi, who said that it is up to Greece to decide, in accordance with the needs of the economy, whether it will request a fourth bailout.

The government has insisted that the end of the current programme in August will mark the end of Greece’s subjection to bailout memorandums, though fiscal discipline will be constant.

In the event that Greece requires funding, it must be able to turn to the markets.

Given the emerging signs of recovery, experts believe that Athens will not need the full 86 billion euros that are available in the context of the current third bailout, which ends in August.