A spokesperson for leading Greek opposition party New Democracy has called for finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to be replaced following his threat of a referendum on fiscal policy.

The Guardian reports that Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a parliamentary spokesperson for the party, called him "dangerous" and criticised his approach to negotiations:

“Every time he opens his mouth he creates problems for the negotiating position of the country. Mr Varoufakis has managed to do something unique which is to get all of Europe [to support] Mr Schäuble," he said, calling for prime minister Alexis Tsipras to remove him from his post.

Varoufakis yesterday said that the Greek government would ask for popular support if talks with the country's creditors continued to struggle.

He spoke to Italy's Il Corriere della Sera on Sunday ahead of today's Eurozone meeting.

"We are not attached to our posts. If needed, if we encounter implacability, we will resort to the Greek people either through elections or a referendum."

A day before, Panos Kammenos, head of junior coalition partner ANEL, said a ballot could be a "possible response" to deadlocked negotiations.

The government later clarified that a referendum would only take place if negotiations have failed, and will address fiscal policy and not an exit from the Eurozone.

The 'institutions' (formerly known as the troika), have demanded reform before Greece can access a tranche of €7.2bn which has yet to be taken from the €240bn Greek bailout package.

A letter outlining proposed reforms was sent to euro group chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem on Friday.

The reforms, which included a plan for members of the public to gather evidence on tax evasion with hidden recording devices, did not impress EU officials. One said it "bore no relation" to the recent agreement to extend Greece's bailout programme until June. 

Other reforms included a new Office for Fiscal Responsibility, recovering tax by offering discounts tot hose in arrears, and granting new food, rent and electricity allowances for the county's poorest.

Greece's creditors are looking for "harder facts and figures" ahead of today's meeting, and guarantees on the privatisation of state assets - a line in the sand which many of Syriza's members refuse to cross.

Eurozone ministers will arrive for today's meeting at 1.45pm Irish time.