After delays, Greek bailout talks with debt inspectors resume in Paris

Greek government officials have resumed negotiations in Paris with bailout inspectors to try and overcome differences over a feared budget shortfall next year and the future of painful cost-cutting reforms.

Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis said "we have made progress and are continuing to make it" before the meetings started Tuesday with representatives from the "troika" of the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The weeks-delayed talks took place as Greece's parliament began debating the 2015 budget that predicts 2.9 percent growth next year following a six-year recession, and a near-zero budget deficit. The debt inspectors find those forecasts rosy.

The final parliament vote on the budget is expected on Dec. 7.