German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble has said the rest of a €130 billion package of loans from euro zone governments under a second Greek bail-out will be signed off this week.
"There's no more doubt," he told reporters on arrival for talks with euro zone counterparts in Brussels.
Euro zone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels this evening to consider approving the release of billions of euro in bail-out funds to Greece. The release of more money from Greece was contingent on a massive writedown of privately-held Greek debt that was completed today.
Earlier, a Greek banking source said the country had completed an exchange with private investors for bonds issued under Greek law, part of a historic debt writedown to erase nearly a third of its debt. Today's swap involves most Greek bonds earmarked for writedown, with another exchange for bonds issued under international law to take place on April 11.
The exchange reduces the near and mid-term debt owed by Greece by over €100 billion. Greece has a total public debt of over €350 billion.
A statement from the chair of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, suggests that ministers are likely to approve the release of funds at their meeting this evening.
Athens will not get the money immediately as some states' laws, including Germany, demand that parliament also gives its stamp of approval to the plan.
The Government will have to amend legislation, via a Dáil vote, in order for the second Greek bail-out to proceed. However, given Ireland is in an EU-IMF programme, the Government is not required to contribute any funds.
Meanwhile, another issue to be discussed by euro zone finance ministers today is whether or not to increase the size of the permanent bail-out fund, the European Stability Mechanism.
One option is to combine the €250 billion currently in the temporary bail-out fund, the European Financial Stability Facility, with the €500 billion in the ESM.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has been calling on other euro zone leaders to significantly increase the financial firewall in order to restore calm in the bond markets - a position supported by the Taoiseach.
However, Germany has long argued that it is only painful structural economic reform in individual member states which will bring back market confidence in the euro.
EU sources say no decision on the matter will be taken at today's meeting.
