Greece has submitted its request for a rescue deal from Europe's bailout fund.

Michel Reijns, the spokesman for the eurozone's top official Jeroen Dijsselbloem, says Greece submitted the request for a new support program from the European Stability Mechanism Wednesday morning.

The government's request is the first step in a process toward a new bailout for the debt-laden country.

Athens has to follow the request up with a detailed plan by the end of Thursday of how the government plans to reform its economy if it is to receive fresh bailout cash to stave off bankruptcy and a possible exit from the euro.

Greece has been effectively told it has to have a deal in place Sunday when the leaders of the 28 EU nations meet in Brussels.