Italy says new Greek bailout must focus on both budget and growth

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras attends a parliamentary session in Athens, Greece July 16, 2015. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Friday that negotiations with Greece on a third bailout programme must be balanced and aimed at both keeping spending in check and fostering growth.

"The programme must be balanced, containing measures that put it on a path toward a sustainable budget while also helping growth and creating jobs," Padoan said in a statement. "It will be a delicate negotiation that must keep in mind the lessons learned from past experiences."