EU says work has picked up on talks with creditors to keep Greece from going bankrupt

A Greek woman speaks with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis as he leaves from a meeting with Greek Prime Minister in Athens, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. Varoufakis, who has come under fire from his European peers for dragging his feet in the bailout talks, continued to enjoy the government's support. He will continue to lead the negotiations with the help of Euclid Tsakalotos, who is minister of international financial relations and part of the foreign ministry.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (The Associated Press)

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis leaves from a meeting with Greek Prime Minister in Athens, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. Varoufakis, who has come under fire from his European peers for dragging his feet in the bailout talks, continued to enjoy the government's support. He will continue to lead the negotiations with the help of Euclid Tsakalotos, who is minister of international financial relations and part of the foreign ministry.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (The Associated Press)

Greece's Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis arrives at the Finance ministry in Athens, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. The European Union says that talks with creditors to keep Greece from going bankrupt "are being made more productive and efficient" as the country faces a growing cash crunch. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (The Associated Press)

The European Union says that talks with creditors to keep Greece from going bankrupt "are being made more productive and efficient" as the country faces a growing cash crunch.

EU Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said Tuesday that the pace of talks "have intensified" since a weekend meeting of eurozone finance minister, where Greek minister Yanis Varoufakis came under intense pressure from his colleagues.

She refused to elaborate on reports of the sidelining of Varoufakis as the prime contact in the bailout talks beyond saying ministers were happy to talk to any Greek representative, "as long as they have a mandate to negotiate."

Euclid Tsakalotos, minister of international financial relations and a close ally to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, will handle the coordination within Varoufakis' negotiating team.