EU exec says Greece meets conditions for next aid tranche

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Thursday Greece met conditions necessary for the next, 9 billion euro ($11.6 billion) tranche of euro zone financial aid to be paid out to Athens in September.

A mission of the International Monetary Fund and the Commission to Greece said on August 5 that Athens has made substantial fiscal progress in reining in its budget deficit but needed to push on with reforms to restore investor confidence and be able to return to markets NEXT (NXT.LO)year as it plans.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, writing by Jan Strupczewski, editing by Charlie Dunmore)