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                <p>BRUSSELS (AFP) – Experts from the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF will visit Lisbon this week for talks on an 80 billion euro bailout for Portugal, a commission spokesman said Sunday.</p>
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The mission will lay the groundwork for political-level talks between the so-called "troika" and Portugal's political parties the following week, spokesman Cezary Lewanowicz told AFP.</p>
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The experts will meet Tuesday with Portuguese finance ministry officials to discuss the "technical details" of the plan, worth $115 billion, Lewanowicz said.</p>
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The European Union and IMF offered to save Portugal from a debt crisis on Friday but warned that in return Lisbon would have to implement more public spending cuts, tax rises and far-reaching privatisations.</p>
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The commission hopes to meet with all of Portugal's political parties to discuss the rescue programme ahead of snap elections on June 5, Lewanowicz said.</p>
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"The goal is to have the strongest possible consensus and a clear commitment, whatever the outcome of the elections," the spokesman said.</p>
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The International Monetary Fund said the political-level meeting would take place on April 18.</p>
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"Following a request by the Portuguese authorities, IMF experts will join European Commission and European Central Bank teams for a technical assessment of the current situation of the Portuguese economy this coming Tuesday," said IMF external relations director Caroline Atkinson.</p>
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"This will serve as the basis for the policy discussions that will start the following Monday, April 18," she said.</p>
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Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates asked for the bailout after parliament last month rejected austerity measures proposed by his minority government, prompting his resignation.</p>
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Portugal is the third eurozone country to go cap in hand to the EU and IMF after Greece and Ireland received multi-billion bailouts last year.</p>
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            </p></div></div><p><strong>Read more:</strong> <a class="rssreadon" rel="external" title="EU, IMF experts to discuss bailout with Portugal on Tuesday   (AFP)" href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110410/bs_afp/portugalfinanceeconomyeuecbimf" target="_blank">http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110410/bs_afp/portugalfinanceeconomyeuecbimf</a></p>