Greece needs to clear more hurdles before ECB bond buys, Coeure says

Greece is making progress with reforms but it must clear several more hurdles before the European Central Bank will consider including its debt in its 2.3 trillion euro bond purchase program, ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said.

Eurozone officials need to agree on specific measures to reduce the Greek debt pile and the International Monetary Fund's board must also decide whether to join the bailout program after holding out for several years, Coeure told Reuters in an interview.

Such a timeline suggests that Greece may still be months away from inclusion in the program, a largely symbolic but coveted move that could prop up investor confidence and speed the country's recovery just two years after coming close to being ejected from the currency bloc.

"I don't see a discussion starting in the Governing Council on [asset purchase program] inclusion...