During a meeting that was held in Milan on Thursday night, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi told the Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis that he was positive to the implementation of a third support program for Greece in order to boost liquidity and facilitate Greek banks.

According to Ministry sources, Draghi was not as pressing on the specific issue as he was during the two men’s previous meeting last July.

However, during their meeting, Gikas Hardouvelis told Draghi that the Greek government is opposed to the implementation of a third support program.

Banking sources said that the ECB’s view is that with a new program, the European Central Bank would be able to accept low credit rating Greek state bonds as collateral to offer liquidity to Greek banks.

At the moment, the ECB offers liquidity worth 44.6 billion euros to the Greek market through bonds.

According to Ministry officials, 11 Finance ministers met to discuss taxation on financial transactions before an informal Eurogroup meeting in Milan.

The Greek side’s view expressed in this meeting was that taxation on derivatives products on state bonds creates problems as it affects liquidity, and that there should a distinction between hedge funds and speculators.