European Commission Vice president Valdis Dombrovskis is in Athens on Monday at a crucial time for Greece’s negotiations with the representatives of three of its creditors (European Commission, European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund).

Dombrovskis, who is responsible for the portfolio of the fiscal and growth issues on Greece will be accompanied by the general director of the General Directorate of the European Commission Servaas Deroose whose participation in the delegation was not initially scheduled.

The EU Commissioner will be accompanied in meetings with Greek ministers by Maarten Verwey, Director General of the newly established European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service.

Speaking with Greek newspaper To Vima on SUnday, Dombrovskis noted that a “top priority is the implementation of the program and the successful completion of the review” for Greece. He said that the longer repayment of debt is “extremely important to ensure that the program is on the right path when the time comes for the recapitalization of Greek banks”. Asked about the disbursement of 2 bln euros benchmarked for Greece, Dombrovskis held back and said that it would all depend on the implementation fo agreed prior actions.

Sources point to the importance of Monday’s visit showing the huge EU interest in the promotion of a Greek program. It comes just after a visit by French President Francois Hollande and 70 businessmen and days before a planned visit by European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on November 3-4.